Juneteenth Observance

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

This weekend we will observe Juneteenth, a day when we pause to reflect upon the nation-shaking struggle to abolish slavery one hundred and sixty years ago. The day brings to our minds the lasting legacy of those centuries of bondage, the bravery of those who fell in the cause of justice, and the duty we have as citizens to confront the unalloyed truth of the past and the unseen possibilities of the future.  
 
“No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.”
--Frederick Douglass
 
By stopping to observe Juneteenth, we honor the contributions of Black Americans to this country.  Franklin University will commemorate Juneteenth by observing a moment of silence on June 19. The University invites the community to observe this moment of silence in communion with the university community.
 
Dr. David Decker
President
Franklin University
 

Juneteenth Event
In observance of the Juneteenth Holiday, the University will be holding a moment of silence on Monday, June 20th, 2022 at 10 am. In addition, the University will welcome guest speaker Dr. Shakeer Abdullah at noon on June 20 to discuss the history of Juneteenth. During his presentation, Dr. Abdallah will focus on discussing the significance of this day and why it is important we continue to recognize and celebrate the final acts of emancipation of slaves in the U.S.  

Dr. Shakeer Abdullah, PhD. earned his undergraduate degree from Wittenberg University, his M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the Ohio State University, and his Ph.D. in the Administration of Higher Education from Auburn University.  His education includes extensive international study including travel to Lumbadzi, Malawi and participation in programs at the University of Cairo (Cairo, Egypt) and Lancaster University (Lancaster, England).

An emerging scholar-practitioner, Dr. Abdullah has published in the area of multicultural competence and remains an active national presenter, consultant, and trainer.  He has written a 2012 book entitled Baptism by Fire: An Investigation of the Experiences and Multicultural Competence of Diversity Staff in Higher Education (Lambert Academic Publishing).  His research takes a broad view of the issues of diversity on college campuses and connects the imperative of inclusion to the core enterprise of teaching and learning.  Abdullah, S. A., Llanes, J.R., Henry, D. (2015) White Disadvantage: The Effects of Racial Isolation on White Pre-Service Teachers. In the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education Vol 3, No 2.

His work includes a 2011 chapter on The implications of Muslim beliefs, practices, and traditions on university teaching and learning in Groccia, Alsudairi , and Buskist’s (Eds.) Handbook of College and University Teaching:  A Global Perspective (Sage Publications).  Dr. Abdullah’s writing includes the 2012 chapter entitled Memoirs of a Mighty Mite Muslim in Ali and Suratwala’s (Eds.) All-American:  45 American Men on Being Muslim (White Cloud Press).

For more information or to register, please email the Diversity Dimensions Committee at diversitydimensions@franklin.edu.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).