Howard University has found their own special way to cement Chadwick Boseman’s legacy. If you didn’t know, the late actor was a proud alumnus of the historically Black institution. Now, his presence will be forever felt on campus. On Wednesday, Howard announced that their re-established College of Fine Arts will be named after Chadwick.
The announcement detailed Chadwick’s commitment to the university, in particular the College of Fine Arts. According to Howard’s release, Chadwick led a student protest on campus during his time there. The protest highlighted his opposition to the school’s decision to blend their College of Fine Arts and College of Arts & Sciences.
After he graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing, Chadwick continued to have conversations about re-establishing the college as a stand-alone. In 2008, he returned to serve as a commencement speaker and called the university a “magical place.”
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“During his visit, I announced our plans to re-establish the College of Fine Arts and he was filled with ideas and plans to support the effort in a powerful way,” said Howard’s President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “Chadwick’s love for Howard University was sincere, and although he did not live to see those plans through to fruition, it is my honor to ensure his legacy lives on through the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts with the support of his wife and the Chadwick Boseman Foundation.”
The college has not yet been built. However, The Walt Disney Company’s Executive Chairman Bob Iger will be leading fundraising efforts to build a “state-of-the-art facility.”
We recently reported that alumnus Phylicia Rashad will begin her role as the College of Fine Art’s dean in July. Chadwick actually received training and mentorship from Phylicia during his time at Howard. She described Chadwick as “unrelenting in his pursuit of success.”
“…Chadwick was possessed with a passion for inquiry and a determination to tell stories – through acting, writing, and directing – that revealed the beauty and complexity of our human spirit,” Phylicia said.
His wife, Simone Ledward-Boseman, also revealed that she is “extremely pleased” that her late husband will be honored in this manner.
“Chad was a very proud Bison — both Howard and Ms. Rashad played integral roles in his journey as an artist,” Simone said. “The re-establishment of the College of Fine Arts brings this part of his story full-circle and ensures that his legacy will continue to inspire young storytellers for years to come.”
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