Actor and alumnus Chadwick Boseman delivers the keynote address at Howard University's commencement ... [+]
Chadwick Boseman's death left an immeasurable void in the entertainment industry but now his legacy will live on at his alma mater.
On Wednesday, Howard University announced that it has named its newly re-established College of Fine Arts after the late actor, who attended the famed HBCU from 1997-2000. After graduating with a BFA in directing, he went on to leave his mark in Hollywood through iconic roles as Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, James Brown, and the Black Panther. He died in August 2020 at age 43 from colon cancer.
News of the honor comes a few weeks after esteemed actress and alunma Phylicia Rashad had been appointed dean of the college. Rashad had previously served as a guest lecturer and adjunct faculty member at the school, even helping Boseman acquire funding for an Oxford summer program.
"She pushed for us," Boseman told Rolling Stone Magazine in 2018. "She essentially got some celebrity friends to pay for us to go."
Rashad shared memories of her former acting student in a statement after the announcement.
"Unrelenting in his pursuit of excellence, 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," she said.
Boseman was a proud alumnus, and delivered the university's commencement speech in 2018. His wife, Simone Ledward-Boseman, voiced her support for the tribute.
"I am extremely pleased that Howard University has chosen to honor my husband in this way and elated that Ms. Rashad has accepted the role as Dean," she said in a statement. "Chad was a very proud Bison — both Howard and Ms. Rashad played integral roles in his journey as an artist. 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."
Boseman's family also expressed gratitude for the honor.
"Chad fought to preserve the College of Fine Arts during his matriculation at Howard and remained dedicated to the fight throughout his career, and he would be overjoyed by this development," the Boseman family said.
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"When Chadwick Boseman returned to campus in 2018 to serve as our commencement speaker, he called Howard a magical place," said Howard University president Wayne A. I. Fredrick. "During his visit, I announced our plans to reestablish the College of Fine Arts and he was filled with ideas and plans to support the effort in a powerful way."
He added, "Chadwick’s love for Howard University was sincere. Although he did not live to see those plans through to fruition, it is my honor to ensure his legacy lives on."
