The Origin of UEAAA

In 1997, Michael Woodard attended the University of Evansville Black History Month Program. It was a beautiful program that included Julian Bond as the keynote speaker, a reenactment of the 1963 March on Washington and a presentation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. After the enriching, historical program, Mr. Woodard took the opportunity to speak with a few UE African American students, and to his surprise, they said they had no knowledge of the rich Afican American tradition that exists at the University.

Given the cumulative number of African Americans who have matriculated at UE over time, it seemed there was now a critical mass and that the African American tradition at UE must be formally recognized, documented and passed on to all those who come to UE in future years. Thus, Michael Woodard and some other colleagues established the University of Evansville African American Alumni Association in 1998 to fill this gap.