The WashU Black Alumni Council (BAC) began with the 10th reunion of the Class of 1973. In early 1983, Alex Carroll, AB ’73, initiated the reunion in honor of the largest Black graduating class. Campus administrator and alumna, Cynthia L. Cosby, BS ’93, and others worked with Alex in organizing the first Black alumni reunion. During the reunion weekend, classmates discussed forming an alumni association with special interests and a steering committee was selected. In May 1983, the BAC was founded.
The Black Alumni Council (BAC) held its first dinner-dance fundraiser for scholarships in February 1989, and in 1993, the BAC established the Black Alumni Council Endowed Scholarship with a $50,000 gift to Washington University. Many WashU students have received support from the BAC Endowed Scholarship through the years. The BAC also provides support to students with unanticipated financial needs through the Black Alumni Council Emergency Fund.
Today, there are more than 8,000 Washington University Black alumni worldwide and there are BAC regional chapters in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, St. Louis, and Washington D.C.
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Midlife brings fresh momentum for the Black Alumni Council, which continues to build upon its mission to help Black alumni cultivate meaningful relationships with WashU and each other.