Name: Lena Hill

Hometown: Marietta, Georgia

Lena Hill is the interim Chief Diversity Officer at UI, as well as Associate to the President and professor. She works with leaders, units, students, and staff to think about UI diversity, equitability, and inclusivity, focusing on creating a welcoming campus culture. Hill does this by recruiting faculty and students of color, and by increasing communication to measure improvement.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

“The meaning of BHM has changed for me as I reflect on how I thought about it as a child as compared to now. As a child growing up in a white suburb of Atlanta, I was always excited to learn about black history in school — we paused to learn about black inventors and other African-Americans throughout history, which made me proud.

“We had a special program at church, and I always attended. I still think Black History Month is important, but I think it’s just as important that we celebrate African-American accomplishments and try to learn about African-American history outside the month of February. As a professor of African-American literature, it’s been a pleasure to teach those courses and to have conversations about the history and literary production of black authors over the years. I definitely treasure that, and my ability to write and publish on that topic is a privilege.”

Name: Caleb Thomas

Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa

Caleb Thomas is the Executive Director of Strive for Success, a program to help at-risk youth succeed in their academics, and a counselor for Cornerstone Brief Therapy. As a counselor, he works with adults, children, and couples to provide “hopeful, solution-focused approaches.” Thomas is also a minister for Lifepoint Christian Faith Center

What does Black History Month mean to you?

“This society, and not just in the U.S. but in other countries, was built on the backs of African Americans. Black History Month is a time to show the work, dedication, enslavement, embarrassment, and atrocities that have happened from slavery on. This month always helps to bring that back into remembrance. We are only here surviving still because of African Americans and what they’ve gone through. Black history needs to be addressed more in schools, and to stop being ignored as something that’s on the calendar in February. It needs to continue to be celebrated.

“The Bible said, ‘There is no new thing under the sun,’ and so the things that have been done are continuously being done, just in a different form.”

Name: Eddie Moore Jr.

Hometown: Punta Gorda, Florida

Eddie Moore Jr. is the Diversity Consultant for America & Moore, Founder & President of The Privilege Institute, and Founder & Director of The White Privilege Conference. He is committed to educating communities on topics like diversity, race, oppression, and white supremacy/privilege. He travels across the nation to work with a variety of diverse communities, and strives to be an advocate for peace, equity, and justice.

What does Black History Month mean to you?