The Neal-Marshall Alumni Club (NMAC)’s 26th biennial reunion celebrated Black alumni, faculty, and staff by issuing seven Exemplar Awards on Saturday, October 21, 2023. These awards are a special recognition presented by the NMAC board is to promote awareness of the Black legacy, traditions, and history of Indiana University; and to assist Indiana University in the recruitment and enhancement of BIPOC faculty, students, and staff.
“Black excellence is a term used across Black/African American communities to celebrate success and encourage continued leadership and the pursuits of excellence. The best way to honor the legacy of the NMAC is to do our best to assure we continue to celebrate Black/African American Indiana University alumni, faculty and staff who demonstrate uncompromising commitment to their discipline, community involvement and professional excellence. As President of the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club, I am proud to salute each deserving awardee this year.” – Angelia Wiggins, BS’85
2023 Neal-Marshall Alumni Club Reunion XXVI Exemplar Award honorees
Denise Abdul-Rahman
Denise is an Executive Director focused on energy justice, and environmental climate justice and earned a graduate certificate at the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. A former National NAACP staff, and current Indiana NAACP state chair of environmental climate justice. She is a guest lecturer at numerous universities. She has been a delegate to Conference of Parties 21 (Paris), 26 (Glasgow) and 27 (Sharm El Sheik), and served the US Consulate as a speaker in Brazil. She is on the IU Environmental Resilience Institute Advisory Board. She is the former Vice Chair of the City of Indianapolis Air Pollution Control Board. An awardee of the IU Robert McKinney School of Law Environmental Protector Award.
Aaron Barnes, BS’12
Aaron Barnes graduated in 2012 with Honors with a B.S. in Marketing from the Kelley School of Business. His classmates voted him most likely to become a Kelley professor. While he’s not on the faculty at Kelley, he is currently an Assistant Professor of Marketing in the University of Louisville College of Business. He earned his PhD from the University of Illinois Gies College of Business in 2020. Prior to joining U of L, Aaron spent 4 years running Dapper Black Box (his own subscription company) and 2 years in a marketing role he created at a consulting firm in New York City. He stays connected with IU students through his beloved Alpha chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, where he serves as the President of its Alumni Support Group, and through regular gifts (most recently, his family donated to the Tau chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Centennial Fundraiser). He lives in Louisville with his wife Lauren and two children, Erin and Adrian.
Ellis Dumas, III, BA’09
Ellis was not content with achieving success only in his professional life. He also dedicated his time and energy to the community. In 2018, he was appointed to the IU College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Board, where he continued to give back through service. Ellis was an active member of the Gary Branch of the NAACP and a NAACP Next Gen Graduate in 2018. He served as the 1st Vice President for the Gary Branch and sat on the Executive Board, contributing to important civil rights initiatives.
Amidst his remarkable professional and community accomplishments, Ellis treasures his most precious achievements: his loving and supportive wife, Jervai, whom he met at IU, and their four beautiful children—Ellis IV, Jaci, Jamie, and Julie. His dedication to his family is a testament to his character and values.
Arthur Jones, BAJ’16
Arthur played defensive back for the Hoosiers en route to four consecutive Old Oaken Bucket game victories (2013-2016). He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and was also awarded the Ted Whereatt Senior Academic Excellence Award in 2016. He graduated from IU in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and an outside concentration in Spanish.
Arthur is currently based in Washington, DC as a producer/reporter at ABC News. Prior to ABC, he was a producer, reporter, and podcaster at CBS News. In 2022, he won a News Emmy for his contributions to CBS Mornings, the network’s daily morning show, which won Outstanding Live News Program. Additionally, his stories have been featured on CBSNews.com, ESPN’s The Undefeated, AFRO and more.
Sarah Taylor, BA’09
Sarah is the first African American Executive Director of Southold Dance Theater. In Bloomington, Sarah danced with the African American Dance Company under the direction of Professor Iris Rosa for eight seasons. Dance company will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. Sarah made the 2022 Michiana Forty Under 40; is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.; and is the 2023 South Bend Empowerment Zone Inaugural Excellence and Service Award Recipient.
Leslie K. Etienne
Dr. Leslie Etienne is the director of the Africana Studies through the School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University – Indianapolis. He’s also the founding executive director of the Center for Africana Studies and Culture. He has served in several roles on campus at IUI, including as project director for the School of Education’s Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School site. Dr. Etienne is also the founding Managing Director of the Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI.
Leslie attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, and later served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guyana, South America. He received his master’s in international affairs and development from Clark College in Atlanta; his MPA from Troy University; his Ph.D. in leadership and organizational change from Antioch University; and his Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from IU Indianapolis. Leslie’s research includes Black emancipatory education, Black internationalism, Black cultural production, museum education, and historical and contemporary manifestations of Black radical and intellectual traditions.
Rubin Pusha, MS’09, JD’12
Rubin Pusha, III is an accomplished deal lawyer who represents healthcare industry clients and investors in transactional matters. He is a partner at McGuire Woods LLC, a nationally recognized healthcare practice in Chicago. Rubin was selected for inclusion on Best Lawyers’ “Ones to Watch” list recognizing attorneys for professional excellence. He also was named to The National Black Lawyers’ “Top 40 Under 40” list. Rubin earned his law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, and he sits on the school’s alumni board.