Yvonne Carter Williams

Yvonne-Williams

Yvonne Williams recently received the Paul Robeson and Zora Neal Hurston Celebrated Elder Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service in the Promotion of Black Studies.

The award, which is presented annually by the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS), recognized her contributions to the development and promotion of Africana Studies at The College of Wooster, DePauw University, and the Great Lakes Colleges Association Black Studies Conference. Williams has delivered numerous lectures on a host of Black Studies topics, organized several faculty workshops, and provided exemplary leadership for Black Studies programs at Wooster and DePauw. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors of the NCBS since 2003.

“It was totally unexpected, but I was thrilled to receive this award,” said Williams. “The National Council for Black Studies has meant a great deal to me in my professional career. I have been a part of it almost since its inception and give it credit as the driving force behind the growth and legitimization of Black/Africana Studies in the Academy. I am proud to be recognized by this organization.”

Williams was honored during the 34th annual conference of the National Council for Black Studies last month in New Orleans. In acknowledging her work, Charles E. Jones, president of NCBS, said, “Professor Williams is the consummate Africana Studies scholar. She has consistently promoted the discipline throughout her distinguished academic career.”

Tenure as Dean and Department Chair

  • The College of Wooster: Dr. Williams spent the majority of her career at The College of Wooster, where she served as the Chairperson of the Black Studies program for 17 years.

  • Dean of the Faculty: She served as the Dean of the Faculty at Wooster for four years. During her tenure, she was a member of numerous elected faculty committees and was a key figure in shaping the college’s academic landscape.

  • Founding Influence: She is credited with founding one of the first Black Studies programs at a liberal arts college, guiding the development of both the major and the department.

Academic Contributions and DePauw University

Following her tenure at Wooster, Dr. Williams was recruited by DePauw University as the inaugural Hampton and Esther Boswell Distinguished University Professor of Black Studies.

Wooster Daily RecordWooster Daily Record

  • Curriculum Development: She played a key role in developing the Introduction to Black Studies course and establishing a formal Black Studies major at the institution.

  • The Boswell Symposia: She was responsible for organizing the Boswell Symposia, which hosted speakers to address topics including racial justice and media representation.

  • Mentorship: Known for her academic leadership, she was heavily involved in mentoring new faculty.

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iforcolor

ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia.

Here's a summary of his background and achievements:

Early Life and Family:
Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers.
He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King.
Education:
Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970.
Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University.

Career and Contributions
Theatre Professional:
Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films.
Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman.

Educator:
Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam.
Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988.
Artistic Activist and Historian:

Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook.
Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011.

Awards and Recognition:
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017.
Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation).
AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017.
Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017.
Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022.
ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor.
The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress.
Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.