Society of Black Alumni (SOBA)

The Executive Committee consists of nine members that serve staggered three-year terms, renewable once. With the exception of the president, vice president, and at-large members, Executive Committee members are elected by a majority of the votes received from members of the Society of Black Alumni.

Wesley Wood, A&S '97
President

Brandon Ball, Bus ’16 

Jarvia Meggett, Nurs ’20 

Khadijah Mitchell, SPH, Med ’14 

Tanjala Purnell, SPH ’12 

Lauren Redditt, Peab ’20 

The Center for Africana Studies in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences pursues a broad inquiry into the ideas and experiences of African peoples throughout the world. 

History
Health Equity Discussions began in late November 2020, developed by a group of alumni who participated in a Johns Hopkins Alumni Association Hopkins at Home program. This discussion group is comprised mostly of Hopkins alumni, but also includes non-Hopkins affiliated members and friends of Hopkins.

Mission
The Johns Hopkins Health Equity Group is a solutions-driven group that works to create healthier communities through advocacy, policy review and reform, and community empowerment to create more equitable health outcomes in underserved communities.
 
Vision
The group's collective efforts empower underserved communities through education and provide resources to create equity in health and wellbeing. We are committed to addressing social determinants of health through:

• Health advocacy;
• Community engagement and empowerment;
• Policy review and reform; and
• Achieving equitable health outcomes.

Have a suggestion for a future discussions! Complete our survey here.

Future Discussions
The Health Equity Group meets virtually, normally at noon on the first Thursday of each month. Join us at a future event.

The SOBA Presidential Professorship is the university's first Presidential Opportunity Professorship. 

Johns Hopkins University has a long-standing commitment to recruit nationally and internationally prominent faculty in all fields. When opportunities arise to recruit such scholars, university policies on faculty recruitment permit direct hires outside the typical faculty search procedures. The university has criteria defining who qualifies as a "prominent scholar." In situations where a prominent African-American scholar is identified who meets this criteria, the SOBA endowment is intended to provide financial support for recruitment of such scholars.

The scholar would be offered the SOBA professorship which includes the title and funding for five years.  After five years, the scholar would continue on the faculty in a permanent tenured position with salary support in accordance with the department's normal budgetary procedures and funded by the division. Through this rotation, the SOBA professorship would then be available to recruit and support the hiring of new or additional prominent scholars.

The SOBA professorship will generate opportunities for generations of faculty and students at Johns Hopkins University. The professorship would be placed within the division that demonstrates the greatest need for African-American faculty, as determined by the provost of the university.

This endowment reflects the Society of Black Alumni's commitment to Johns Hopkins and its interest in enhancing educational diversity at the university through its support of a professorship that will bolster Johns Hopkins' efforts to identify and hire top African-American scholars. This endeavor is in concert with the institution's commitment to attract outstanding faculty in all disciplines.

The SOBA Scholarship Fund provides Johns Hopkins undergraduates with financial assistance to complete their education.

If you would like to make a contribution to the SOBA Scholarship Fund, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations. You can make a donation online or by mail using the following address:

SOBA Scholarship Fund
6225 Smith Ave, Suite 100-B
Baltimore, MD 21209