Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA)
Charge
The Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) is designed to cultivate and connect black faculty and staff with the greater university community. The BFSA serves as the organized support system to help black faculty and staff navigate the university system while providing a platform to vocalize their thoughts, concerns, needs and ideas to support the overall mission of the institution.
BFSA membership is open to all faculty and staff at Iowa State University, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, age (40 and over), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, status as a U.S Veteran (disabled, Vietnam, or other), or other protected class.
Activity
BFSA committees include Welcome, Social Action, Professional Development, Community Outreach, Events/Social
Networking, Communications, and Honors and Awards.
Like our Facebook Page (ISU Black Faculty & Staff Association)
Individuals may request to be added to the BFSA newsletter listserve by contacting Samone Whitfield
For more information, visit the BFSA webpages at https://www.diversity.iastate.edu/connect/fsa/black
Black Faculty and Staff Association Committees 2019-2020
1. Chairs
a. Outgoing Chair: Angela Shaw <angelaml@iastate.edu>
b. Current Chair: Samone Whitfield <swhitfield@foundation.iastate.edu>
c. Incoming Chair: Vacant
2. Welcome Committee
a. Purpose: Reaching out to potential hires and newly hired employees to help them transition to Iowa State and the Ames Community.
b. Lead: Tera Jordan <trh@iastate.edu>
3. Social Action Committee
a. Purpose: Work with University Administration to determine appropriate courses of action to address identified concerns of the BFSA constituency.
b. Lead: Connie Hargrave <cph@iastate.edu> and Brenda Jones <eppright@iastate.edu>
4. Professional Development
a. Purpose: Seeks to support Black faculty and staff in promoting lifelong learning that impacts all areas of life-mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual
b. Lead: Jowelle Mitchell <jowelle@iastate.edu>
5. Community Outreach
a. Purpose: Facilitates the organization’s support of the Ames community through services
b. Lead: Brenda Thorbs-Weber <btweber@iastate.edu>
6. Events/Social Networking Committee
a. Purpose: Coordinates efforts to plan and organize special events designed to cultivate social networks
b. Lead: Audrey Kennis <kennis@iastate.edu>
7. Communications Committee
a. Purpose: Disseminate information about programs, events, and opportunities to the BFSA membership
through an email newsletter and social media
b. Lead: Osomiyor (Somi) Abalu <ooabalu@iastate.edu>
8. Honors and Awards Committee
a. Purpose: (1) solicit nominations for faculty, staff, and alumni; (2) complete award nominations for department,
college, university, and other professional organizations, where appropriate; and (3) make recommendations
to departments , offices, and professional organizations about faculty, staff, and alumni who may be strong
candidates for awards.
b. Lead: Tera Jordan <trh@iastate.edu>
https://www.diversity.iastate.edu/connect/fsa/bfsa
Welcome to the Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) website! Our goal is to build community and highlight resources that enhance the personal and professional development of Black faculty and staff. We encourage your participation and support throughout the academic year.
BFSA membership is open to all faculty and staff at Iowa State University, regardless of race, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
African American Resource Guide (2018)
Upcoming BFSA Meetings
Please mark your calendar for upcoming BFSA meetings that being at 12:00 pm.
We would love to have you join the conversation. Locations announced in Email Newsletter and Facebook Group (ISU Black Faculty and Staff Association).
September 12th - 4 - 6 pm (Welcome Back)
October 30th - Empowering Resiliency During Challenging Times (Professional Development)
November 20th – Planning for Retirement (Professional Development)
December 13th - Holiday Social (Social Event)
January 8th – Estate Planning (Professional Development)
Juneteenth (Social Event)
Contact Information
Contact Samone Whitfield or Osomiyor (Somi) Abalu for more information about our organization and/or to join our listserv.
Be sure to check us out on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/IsuBlackFacultyStaffAssociation
Resources for Faculty and Staff Candidates and New Hire
Schedule a Visit with BFSA Welcoming Committee
Chair
Samone Whitfield, current chair
Grant Coordinator, LAS External Research Support (LASERS)
Upcoming events
October: Professional Development
November: Professional Development
December: Holiday Social
January: Professional Development
February: Black History Month Events
June: Juneteenth Celebration
Current Members
| Name | Role | Representation | Start Term | End Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaw, Angela | Chair | At-large | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
| Whitfield, Samone | Past Chair | At-large | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
| Lazard, Kevin | Member | At-large | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
| Behnken, Monic | Member | BFSA Committee Chair or Co-Chair | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
| Jones, Brenda | Member | BFSA Committee Chair or Co-Chair | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
| vacant, | Member | BFSA Committee Chair or Co-Chair | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
| Hargrave, Connie | Member | BFSA Committee Chair or Co-Chair | 01 Jun 2018 | 30 Jul 2020 |
| Thorbs-Weber, Brenda | Member | BFSA Committee Chair or Co-Chair | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
| Jordan, Tera | Member | BFSA Committee Chair or Co-Chair | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
| Kennis, Audrey | Member | BFSA Committee Chair or Co-Chair | 01 Jul 2018 | 30 Jun 2020 |
Resources
Composition
- At-large (3)
- BFSA Committee Chair or Co-Chair (8)