Wilhelmina Boyd began teaching at Elon in 1987 when she was the only African-American professor on the campus. Boyd taught at Elon for eighteen years before her death in 20089, during which she served as a member of the Minority Affairs Council, a Hand to Hand Mentor, and an advisor to the Black Cultural Society. She introduced several popular African American Literature courses, ran the African American Reading Day, which brought hundreds of students and faculty to read the words of African American writers, and brought in a stream of wonderful speakers. Throughout her time at Elon, Boyd encouraged cultural diversity throughout the campus, and made many lasting impacts over the years. The Wilhelmina Boyd AAASE Scholar Award was created to honor the legacy, work, and contributions of Boyd’s eighteen years of service to Elon University.
