Arthur Dillard
Dillard earned a bachelor’s degree from FAMU, and his artwork has been exhibited throughout the United States in Florida, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and California. He has served on the Board of Manatee County Cultural Alliance and was a Board Member and Founder of the Manatee County African American Festival of the Arts.
In Addition, Dillard’s artwork has been shown at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, La., as well as at a national gala commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education Decision in Washington, D.C. Dillard was also commissioned in 2014 by The Newtown Bicentennial Committee of Sarasota, Fla. to paint a historical piece for the city’s 100th year Anniversary.
His unique style of painting watercolor portraits has won him many awards including the “Best of Show” with a portrait of his Aunt Easter in the Manatee County Art League Portrait and Figures Show and “Best of Show” at the 2014 Lakewood Ranch Art Festival. Dillard’s studio is located at 318 Old Main Street, Bradenton, Fla.
Adriel A. Hilton, Ph.D.
Hilton is a Rattler in Tiger territory as he has accepted a new position as chief of staff and executive assistant to the president at Grambling State University. He previously served as assistant professor and director of the Higher Education Student Affairs program at Western Carolina University, and assistant vice president for inclusion initiatives at Grand Valley State University (GVSU), among numerous other roles in higher education administration.
Hilton’s distinguished career includes many honors and awards, notably, the 2015 Sadie M. Yancey Professional Service Award by the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals and the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education 2009 Outstanding Doctoral Student Award for his doctoral dissertation.
A noted author and presenter, Hilton’s works are published in journals such as Teachers College Record, Journal of College Student Development, Community College Review, Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, and the Journal of the Professoriate. Membership on the editorial board of the Journal of Negro Education is among his numerous service commitments.
Hilton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration (finance) from Morehouse College; a master’s of applied social science (public administration emphasis) from Florida A&M University; and a Ph.D. in higher education (administration) from Morgan State University.
Michael Jefferson
Jefferson reached a milestone in the education sector when he was recently named “Teacher of the Year” for the entire Marshall County School District, located in Northern Mississippi. The district serves around 3,300 students in nine schools. The accomplishment is particularly impressive as this is only Jefferson’s second year teaching chemistry, physics, and physical science at Byhalia High School in Byhalia, Mississippi. He started on this path as a 2014 Teach for America (TFA) Corps Member assigned to Mississippi.
In TFA, Jefferson is the chairperson for the Mississippi Black Connection, a support organization for teachers of color in the state and works as a Science Corps Leader, supporting science teachers throughout the Mississippi. Also, Jefferson was also awarded the 2014 College Board AP Rural Fellows Scholarship and Project MAST (Mississippi Academy for Science Teachers) at Jackson State University. During his time at FAMU, Jefferson served as SGA Student Body Vice President and was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. He earned his environmental science degree in 2013.