Honoree Profiles:
Light of Justice Award
Honoring individuals whose vision, courage, and dedication advance justice and equity through impactful policy advocacy.
Dr. Jerry W. Ward, Jr. was a towering figure in American letters and a fearless advocate for justice through the power of language, scholarship, and mentorship. A renowned poet, literary critic, and one of the nation’s foremost Richard Wright scholars, Dr. Ward dedicated more than three decades of his life to Tougaloo College, serving as a professor, department chair, and the esteemed Lawrence Durgin Professor of Literature.
With a scholarly voice rooted in courage, clarity, and compassion, Dr. Ward helped shape the intellectual identity of generations of students, particularly through his unwavering commitment to African American literature and cultural critique. He co-founded Callaloo, one of the most influential journals of African Diaspora arts and letters, and established the Richard Wright Circle and Newsletter, amplifying voices that have historically been silenced or sidelined.
Dr. Ward’s prolific body of work—including Trouble the Water: 250 Years of African American Poetry, The Katrina Papers , and The Richard Wright Encyclopedia —has been cited in classrooms, cultural institutions, and global academic circles. His literary activism extended beyond his published works; he engaged with countless communities through lectures, mentorship, and institutional leadership that challenged inequity and encouraged critical thought. Despite numerous accolades and awards throughout his career, Dr. Ward considered his most significant achievement to be the intellectual legacy he cultivated in others. Many of his former students and mentees—his “intellectual sons and daughters”—now carry forward his values as writers, educators, and advocates for justice.
Tougaloo College is proud to honor Dr. Jerry W. Ward, Jr. with the Light of Justice Award , recognizing a life marked by truth, transformation, and tireless devotion to advancing equity through education and the written word. His spirit continues illuminating the path toward a more just and thoughtful world.
Vanguard Award
Honoring extraordinary individuals whose groundbreaking achievements have secured their place in history.
Dr. Richard P. McGinnis was a pioneer in STEM education and a deeply respected academic leader whose transformative work helped redefine what was possible for generations of Black students pursuing careers in medicine and the sciences. As Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Tougaloo College, Dr. McGinnis spent decades building one of the nation's most rigorous and respected science programs at an HBCU.
After earning his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University, Dr. McGinnis chose Tougaloo as his academic home, bringing with him a commitment to academic excellence, research innovation, and student-centered mentorship. Through his visionary leadership, Tougaloo became a national leader in producing Black physicians, researchers, and health professionals. His deep belief in the potential of his students—and his relentless pursuit of institutional excellence—laid the groundwork for countless lives to be transformed through education.
Known affectionately by his students as a compassionate mentor and challenging instructor, Dr. McGinnis created an environment of high expectations and unwavering support. His Kincheloe Kids, as they proudly called themselves, became his extended academic family—many of whom credit their professional success to his guidance, encouragement, and fierce advocacy.