Black Cultural Center's Boateng dies

Boateng

Felix Boateng, director of the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center at Vanderbilt for the past four years, died Wednesday afternoon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after a brief illness.

"Felix Boateng was a dedicated teacher, a gifted mentor to students and an uncommonly principled, fair and generous individual," said Provost Thomas G. Burish. "He was unalterably dedicated to furthering diversity on campus and in the broader community. He was understanding without compromising his values; he could fight for equality and justice without becoming angry or inflexible; he taught by example but always quietly, with humility. Although his life was much too short, his legacy will be lasting and will live through the many students, the Black Cultural Center and the University he so loved."

Boateng set out to make the center a home away from home at Vanderbilt for African-American students but also developed programs aimed at helping the whole University community better appreciate and understand cultural diversity. He saw this as a way to help promote the retention and graduation of black students. He often collaborated with other campus offices, including the Opportunity Development Center, the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center and the Women's Studies program.

"I believe strongly that rather than making the students fit into the system we need to develop programs that will wrap around the interest of the students," Boateng told the Vanderbilt Register in October 1996. "I believe we should take their interests very seriously."

Among the innovations he initiated was a series of weekly one-hour conversations with black faculty. He also worked closely with the Association of Black Graduate Students to develop mentoring and tutorial programs for African- American students.

Sybril Bennett, who received her Ph.D. in education and human development last spring, was one of the students who benefited from Boateng's help as well as that of his wife, Ophelia, who worked for a time as a secretary at Peabody College. "He was always there with his personal support and a kind word. If I was ever in a bind, I knew I could count on him. That was true of him and his wife. They gave me the extra leg up I needed."

Francene Gilmer, director of Vanderbilt's Career Center and coordinator of the University's Black Graduates' Recognition Ceremony, said Boateng had been an integral part of the event since coming to Vanderbilt. "He even arranged for us to have Kente cloths imprinted with 'Vanderbilt University' and the year of graduation handmade in Ghana." This year's ceremony, scheduled for May 11, is dedicated to Boateng.

"We thank Dr. Boateng for his infectious smile, his sense of humor and his sincere dedication to making Vanderbilt a better place for students, faculty and staff," the printed program says in part.

Boateng's focus on students led to the formation of the Black Cultural Center's Student Advisory Council, comprised of representatives from all Vanderbilt African-American student organizations. The advisory council is responsible for making rules and regulations for the center, and for advising center staff on programming of interest to students.

Boateng, who began his career as an award-winning high school teacher, continued teaching at Vanderbilt with a class on teaching teachers to be effective in a pluralistic society.

He received his bachelor of arts in history and African studies from the University of Ghana. He received his master's degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, in international/intercultural education in 1972. He also received a doctorate in social and philosophical foundations of education in 1977 from USC.

Boateng began his career in education in 1968 as a social science teacher at Lennox High School in California where he received "The Most Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award" following his first year of teaching.

He served as assistant director of the Center for International/ Intercultural Education at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, from 1972 to 1977. He then joined Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., where he served as assistant professor of education and black studies and director of The Heritage House-African American Educational/Cultural Center until 1981. He was named director of the Black Studies program in 1981 and was an associate professor in the Black Studies program.

He joined the faculty of Eastern Washington University as director of the Black Education program and professor of black studies and education in the fall of 1983. He received the Black Educator of the Year Award from the Black Education Association of Spokane in 1991. At the time of his appointment to Vanderbilt, Boateng headed a $1 million U.S. Information Agency/U.S. Agency for International Development Faculty Development and Exchange Program between Eastern Washington University and the University of Cape Coast-Ghana.

Boateng's research and scholarly writing focused on African-American studies, education in Africa, African cultural traditions in America, and cultural relevance and diversity in the curriculum.

He served as president of the National Council for Black Studies, Pacific Northwest Region, and was a member of the National Board of the Council for Black Studies.

Arrangements, which are being handled by Lewis and Wright Funeral Directors, were incomplete at press time. In addition to his wife, Boateng is survived by two daughters, Brenda and Michelle, both of Nashville; his mother, Felicia Agyako Mensah of Ghana; and six brothers and sisters.