Hulon Willis Association (HWA)
Hulon L. Willis Sr. M.Ed. ’56 was the first African-American student to attend 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.
Upcoming Events
Stay connected and in the know about upcoming events.
Get ready to elevate your hosting game just in time for the holidays!
Register for this Event
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.
For more information:
- Valerie Brown Wilkins, M.Ed. '08, Director Alumni Admission Engagement & Inclusion Initiatives
- (757) 221-2514
- vtwilkins@wm.edu