Hulon Willis Association (HWA)

Hulon L. Willis Sr. M.Ed. ’56 was the first Black graduate of William & Mary and served as a pioneer for those who have followed in his footsteps. To honor his legacy and memory, the Hulon Willis Association was formed in 1992. As an integral part of the Wiliam & Mary Alumni Association, the Hulon Willis Association is dedicated to continued and sustained engagement of alumni of Black or African descent. It seeks to provide alumni opportunities to build community through connection with fellow alumni, students and alma mater. To this end, the Hulon Willis Association engages alumni through programmatic, leadership and philanthropic efforts.

W&M Black Alumni Reunion

Join us in Williamsburg to reconnect with fellow alumni, current students and the place that brought us together. Enjoy a wide range of career networking, educational and social activities throughout the weekend. Stay tuned for future dates.

Engage Online

Looking to connect with fellow alumni on social media? Be sure to like and follow the Hulon Willis Association page on Facebook! You will receive updates about upcoming events and have an opportunity to make connections with alumni near and far.

Scholarships

This Hulon L. Willis, Sr. Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of Hulon L. Willis Sr. M.Ed. ’56, the first African-American student to attend William & Mary. It provides undergraduate scholarship assistance to students with a record of leadership and/or service to the multicultural university and/or local community with a preference for need-based support.

Leadership

The Hulon Willis Association operates through a strong collaboration between a board of volunteer leaders and the alumni association.

Exciting news for William & Mary: The university moved from a 3.5 to a 4 out of 5 on the National Campus Pride Index in 2022!

On-Demand Webinars

Building Community in the Workplace

Recorded March 3, 2022

Presented by Erika Moritsugu ’94, S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ’06, Nina Cavazos ’13, Rita Sampson ’89 and  Amandeep Sidhu ’00

What does it mean to bring your whole and authentic self to work? How does diversity strengthen community in a workplace? Watch introductory remarks by alumna Erika Moritsugu ’94, senior executive in U.S. Government, followed by a discussion moderated by Erika with W&M alumni S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ’06, partner at Cohen Milstein and chairman of Global Playground, Nina Cavazos ’13, director of corporate relations at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Rita Sampson ’89, senior executive in U.S. Government, and Amandeep Sidhu ’00, partner at Winston & Strawn and co-founder of the Sikh Coalition.

Intersection of Race and Covid-19

Recorded on July 16, 2020

The Intersection of COVID-19 and Race is an honest discussion surrounding health disparities and the ways in which COVID-19 effects marginalized populations. We will be joined by three panelists. 

Mo Barbosa is the director of community engagement at Health Resources in Action (HRiA).

Professor Iyabo Obasanjo teaches public health courses at William & Mary. She has a Ph.D. in epidemiology from Cornell University, a master’s from University of California, Davis and a veterinary degree from University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Professor Angela Odoms-Young is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition and associate director of research and education for the Office of Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Invisible Racism

Recorded on October 7, 2020

Join author of Daughters of the Dream: Eight Girls from Richmond who Grew Up in the Civil Rights Era, Tamara Copeland '73 and moderator Viola Baskerville '73 as they discuss issues of race and invisible racism.

Adjusting Your Crown: The History of Black Hair and the Crown Act

Recorded on December 7, 2020

The CROWN Coalition established the CROWN Act in 2019. This is a movement to eliminate discrimination of race-based hairstyles.

Have you ever felt the need to change your natural hair texture to fit a professional “norm”? Has your natural hair ever been ridiculed for its texture and appearance?

We will be joined by three panelists for a discussion of the history and language around black hair. We will also discuss the CROWN Act and its implications for people of color in America. Interested in learning more about the CROWN Act? Visit https://www.thecrownact.com/.

Giving Opportunities:

Hulon Willis Association Operating Account (2101) - W&M Alumni Association

This fund supports the programming of the Hulon Willis Association, including alumni events and regional programming.

Hulon L. Willis, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Endowment (1695) - William & Mary Foundation

This fund is named in honor of Hulon L. Willis Sr. M.Ed. ’56, the first African American student to attend William & Mary. It provides undergraduate scholarship assistance to students with a record of leadership and/or service to the multicultural university and/or local community with a preference for need-based support.