RCC Celebrates Black History Month | The Rockland County Times

RCC is celebrating Black History Month with enriching and engaging events throughout February, focusing on the theme “Black Excellence: 100 Years of acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of African Americans,” honoring the heritage, history, culture, leaders, and more.

Christian Cesar, a 2025 graduate of RCC’s Visual & Performing Arts program

“At Rockland Community College, we believe education is most powerful when it reflects the full richness of our shared history,” stated Dr. William P. Mullaney, President of RCC. “This year’s Black History Month programming highlights a century of African American excellence and invites our community to engage deeply with the voices, stories, and contributions that continue to shape our world.”

Left to Right: Melissa Roy, JD, RCC Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/Chief Diversity Officer; Dr. Christa Grant, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer; Tinny Cheung, RCC Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs; Dr. David Lucander, RCC Professor of Multicultural Studies; Andrew Marshal, Senior Administrator for the Empowerment Zone, Springfield Public Schools (MA); Dr. William Mullaney, President, Rockland Community College; Allegra Abrahams, Sabrina Charles-Pierre, and Dr. Bert Schillingford, RCC Black History Month Planning Committee Co-Chairs.

Rockland Community College received the 2025 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Academia magazine, the nation’s oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The HEED Award recognizes institutions with comprehensive, campus-wide initiatives for all underrepresented groups, including Black students and faculty. This national honor recognizes RCC’s outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging, and community building across all levels of campus life, and marks the fifth consecutive year the College has earned this distinction.

Thursday, February 19, 7:00 pm EST

I’ll Make Me a World: The 100-Year Journey of Black History Month

In collaboration with the African American Historical Society of Rockland County, Rockland Community College is hosting a virtual Zoom Black History Month program marking 100 years of Black History Month’s origins and legacy. This event will feature a keynote conversation with Jarvis R. Givens, Ph.D., Professor of Education and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University.

Monday, February 23, 12:45 pm EST

Presentation on Poet Audre Lorde and Artist Carrie Mae Weems

Student Art Gallery Walk

Tuesday, February 24, 12:30 pm EST

Importance of Financial Planning and Planning for Retirement

Professor George Repic presents the topic of “Importance of Financial Planning and Planning for Retirement”

Thursday, February 26, 7:00 pm EST

Keeping it Funky! Black Female Voices of the 1970’s

Celebrate the music of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Chaka Kahn, Roberta Flack, Betty Wright, and Betty Davis with student musicians from the RCC Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Friday, February 27, 12:00 pm EST

Black Film Friday

Screening of the documentary film Soul Food Junkies, where filmmaker Byron Hurt explores soul food and its connection to the Black community.

Saturday, February 28, 11:00 am EST

Black History Month Closing Ceremony

Event includes Song, History of Black History Month, Poetry, East Ramapo Band, East Ramapo Drumline, Choir, Chiku Awali, Vendors

Go to sunyrockland.edu/events/ for more information on these events.

RCC Celebrates Black History Month added by BQE Admin on February 19, 2026
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