Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future: Dickinson Marks Milestone in Africana Studies Program
Lynn Johnson (center) poses with Judith Rogers '65 (left) and Maureen Newton Hayes '65, for whom the Africana studies chair is named. Photo by Dan Loh.
College announces renamed, newly appointed position
by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
Dickinson alumni, students, faculty and friends recently filled every seat in the Stern Center Great Room to witness a milestone for the college’s Africana studies department. They’d gathered to celebrate the department’s endowed faculty chair—now newly named, newly appointed and newly energized by two powerful sources of inspiration.
Originally named the Endowed Chair in African Studies, the position was established by the Moraine Foundation under the direction of Trustee Susan Wyckoff Pohl ’80, P’06, and John Pohl ’78, P’06. It launched on Jan. 19, 2009, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 80th birthday and the eve of Barack Obama’s historic inauguration.
On April 28, the chair was rededicated as the Judith Rogers ’65 and Maureen Newton Hayes ’65 Distinguished Endowed Chair in Africana Studies. It honors two trailblazing alumnae, both honorary-doctorate awardees, who, as students, integrated Dickinson’s women’s residence halls. Lynn Johnson, associate professor of Africana studies, will serve as the inaugural Rogers-Hayes chair.
During the April ceremony, President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, congratulated Johnson and acknowledged the far-reaching effects of her work. “The endowed chair is the highest academic honor Dickinson can bestow on our faculty. It is reserved for extraordinary educators who exceed expectations for teaching and scholarship,” he said. “Dickinson faculty like Professor Johnson make an enduring impact on their students and the world.”
Johnson, who joined Dickinson’s faculty in 2004. spoke movingly about the personal and professional significance of her appointment. “This is one of the highest honors I have received … It marks a major milestone in my journey as an educator and as a scholar,” she said. “That this chair is named for two alumnae of African descent resonates deeply with me as an African American woman and professor.”
The newly named chair also reflects the vision of Susan and John Pohl, who’ve long supported global climate research at Dickinson, including the establishment of the Moraine Chair in Arctic Studies. In her own remarks, Susan Pohl emphasized the urgency and enduring relevance of Africana studies at Dickinson and beyond. “We are seeing academia come under attack. While some may be backing down, I hope that together we will stand firm—just as Judith and Maureen did when they made the bold decision to integrate the residence halls,” she said. “Through this chair, and with the skills gained through classes, internships and discussions, students will be equipped to lead across many fields—civil rights, scientific research, social work and beyond.”
Jones closed the ceremony by voicing gratitude to the distinguished guests and to the many alumni and friends who traveled to Carlisle to be part of the occasion. Johnson echoed that sentiment. “To see so many students and alumni—some of whom traveled from across the country—come together for this moment in my life is something I will never take for granted,” she said. “Thank you for your energy, your presence and your belief in this work.”
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Published May 28, 2025