Important Community Update from Board President

Dear Umoja Community, 

Umoja is a community of educators and learners committed to the academic success, personal growth, and self-actualization of African Americans and other students. The Umoja Community seeks to educate the whole student–body, mind, and spirit. 

I am writing to inform the entire Umoja Community that Nzingha Dugas has decided to leave her position as Umoja Executive Director to pursue other leadership opportunities. On behalf of the board, we want to publicly thank Nzingha for her years of service to the organization and her many contributions.  

In response, the Umoja board will begin a search for a new executive director.  We will be "intentional and deliberate" in finding someone we believe embraces and embodies Umoja principles, values, and above all, its mission: 

Umoja is the preeminent global educational organization that provides transformative, emancipatory education to uplift and inspire academic excellence and self-actualization for students of African descent. 

We believe that allowing the organization’s mission, Umoja Practices, as well as the organizing principles, to inform our search will assist us in finding the best person for the job. Please know that we will also be intentional and deliberate about including the Umoja Community in this selection process as your input is vital to our collective success. 

The national search will take time; therefore, a search for an interim Executive Director has begun with expectations of filling it within the next 30-45 days. In these transitional times of change, the opportunity for something new to emerge is exciting. The board’s excitement is grounded in a historical truth that we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and we must build stronger shoulders for those who will come after us. Let us all move forward in the spirit of Umoja. 

In Community, 

Dr. Darla M. Cooper, Board President 

Umoja Community Education Foundation