Attendees joined us for the premiere of Best in Class: Blenda J. Wilson, Jon Onye Lockard, and the Portrait that Connected Them, a new short documentary exploring the story of Chancellor Blenda J. Wilson, the state of Michigan’s first Black woman chancellor, during her tenure at UM-Dearborn from 1988–1992. Produced collaboratively by UM-Dearborn faculty, staff, and students and through the partnership of the Inclusive History Project, the Office of Holistic Excellence, and the Inclusive Storytelling Hub, the film traces Wilson’s leadership at UM-Dearborn and tells the story behind her official portrait by acclaimed artist and U-M professor Jon Onye Lockard—an artwork that continues to illuminate the power of art to preserve, share, and engage with history. The portrait, part of the Stamelos Gallery Center collection, was on view during the event.
The program featured remarks from U-M and Inclusive History Project leadership, a screening of the documentary, and a panel discussion after the screening with Dr. Wilson and the filmmaking team, followed by a reception with light fare.
Invited speakers included Chancellor Blenda Wilson; members of the filmmaking team, Executive Producer Jennifer Proctor, student filmmaker Marcos Carrillo, and Rick Morrone; award-winning storyteller and educator Elizabeth James; and IHP Research Director for UM-Dearborn Camron Amin.
The documentary film Best in Class: Blenda J. Wilson, Jon Onye Lockard, and the Portrait that Connected Them is part of the IHP’s 1959 Project: University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Origins and Timelines. Best in Class: Blenda J. Wilson, Jon Onye Lockard, and the Portrait that Connected Them is executive produced by Jennifer Proctor and directed by Rick Morrone, with Jay Snyder-Phillipoff serving as associate producer. Camera and editing were completed by Anthony Fraga, Jabez Williams, Ben Filler, Marcos Carrillo, and Rick Morrone. The research team includes Camron Amin, Marlaine Magewick, Hannah Zmuda, Rebeca Maxon Sáenz, Wallace Bowie III, and Adam Almalekey.
The Best in Class Premiere and Panel Discussion was co-presented by the Inclusive History Project and the UM-Dearborn Inclusive Storytelling Hub, with support from the following at UM-Dearborn: the Office of Holistic Excellence, the Stamelos Gallery Center, the Campus Archives, the Mardigian Library, the Commission for Women, the African and African American Studies Program, and the Black Student Union.
Questions? Email us at [email protected].