African American Alumni Association

Who We Are

The African American Alumni Association (AAAA) was officially established in October 2009. During Alumni Weekend 2010, AAAA elected its officers and board of directors and began forming its committees. The purpose of AAAA is to offer support and create networking opportunities for alumni of Case Western Reserve University. It also serves as a platform for the university to recruit students and build lasting connections among individuals who have been affiliated with CWRU.

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Nominate a Candidate for the 2026 Awards

We invite you to nominate yourself or someone you know for the 2026 awards. All nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Recipients will be notified in advance and honored during the African American Alumni Association homecoming awards event on October 10, 2026.

• Stephanie Tubbs Jones Leadership Award
• Ella Mae Johnson Service Award
• Rising Star Award
• Distinguished Academic Award 

Stephanie Tubbs Jones Leadership Award

Recipients of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Leadership Award are Case Western Reserve graduates who provide service to the broader community and demonstrate loyalty to the university through participation and/or financial support. They demonstrate strong effective leadership and resilience in the face of adversity.

Previous Winners

• 2010 Robert Madison (ARC ’48)
• 2012 May Wykle (NUR ’62, ’69, ’81)
• 2014 Harold McCrae (ADL ’65)
• 2016 Vincent Holland, PhD (GRS ’79)
• 2018 Debra Lewis-Curlee (WRC ’74)
• 2020 Teresa Dews (MED ’88)
• 2022 Justin Bibb (LAW ’18, MGT ’18)
• 2024 Linda Sharpe-Taylor, PhD (WRC '78)

Ella Mae Johnson Service Award

Recipients of the Ella Mae Johnson Service Award are Case Western Reserve graduates who have made a difference in the lives of others. They have provided direct service to the university and the community through volunteerism and civic engagement.

Previous Winners

• 2010 Fred Gray (LAW ’54)
• 2012 Annette Butler (FSM ’66)
• 2014 Joan Southgate (SAS ’54)
• 2016 Donald Freeman (ADL ’61)
• 2018 G. Dean Patterson (WRC ’75; GRS ’82)                                 
• 2020 Francis Curd (DEN ’77)
• 2022 Constance Hill-Johnson (WRC ’80)
• 2024 Donté Gibbs (CWR ’10, SAS ’12)

Rising Star Award

Recipients of the Rising Star Award have graduated within the past 15 years and demonstrated the potential for long-term distinction.

Previous Winners

• 2010 Alicia Graves (CWR ’05)
• 2012 Paul Adams (GRS ’00)
• 2014 Gayle Williams-Byers (CWR ’96, LAW ’00, MNO ’00)
• 2016 Kari Cunningham (DEN ’10, ’12)
• 2018 Alesha Washington (MNO ’07)
• 2020 Brian Webster (CWR ’11)
• 2022 Tobili Hatcher (CWR ’20) 
• 2024 George Bukenya (GRS '23, medical physiology) 

Distinguished Academic Award 

Recipients of the Distinguished Academic Award are current or former faculty or department heads who have made significant contributions to Case Western Reserve and their professional areas of expertise.

Previous Winners

• 2018 John McCluskey                                               
• 2020 Joy Bostic, PhD
• 2022 Heather Burton, PhD
• 2024 Abidemi Bolu Ajiboye, PhD

President’s Award

Recipients of the President’s Award are selected by the president and honored for long-term invaluable service and contributions to the African  American Alumni Association.  

Previous Winners

• 2020 Sharon Jenise Brown (CWR ’97, MNO ’00)
• 2022 Linda Berry Wheatt (FSM ’72; GRS ’77, education)
• 2024 Sharyse Jones (SAS '08)