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Randolph's winning submission from the student poster contest sponsored by the 50th anniversary committee.

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Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Janet Brown Strafer arrived at William & Mary in 1967 as part of the first cohort of African Americans in Residence. During her time at William & Mary she was involved in the Young Democrats and the Black Students Organization. Brown Strafer graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and again in 1977 with a Master of Education degree. She pursued a career as a Department of the Army Civilian and worked in federal service for 35 years. Lynn Fontanne Briley arrived at William & Mary in 1967 as part of the first cohort of African Americans in Residence. During her time at William & Mary she was involved in the Black Students Organization. Briley received a Bachelor of Arts in English and graduated in 1971. She then went on to pursue a career in education, teaching for Portsmouth Public Schools for over 40 years and continuing her career at Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth Campus. Karen Odell Ely arrived at William & Mary in 1967 as part of the first cohort of African Americans in Residence. During her time at William & Mary she was involved in the William & Mary Chorus, Circle K, and the Black Students Organization. Ely received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and graduated in 1971. She then went on to pursue a career in the field of radiation protection, serving as a health physicist for over 27 years.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Michael Engs arrived at William & Mary in 1967 after transferring from Christopher Newport College, now University, where he had been the first African American student at the institution. During his two years at William & Mary, Engs was a member of the ROTC, the first African American to do so at the college, and participated in intramural sports. He also worked as a historical interpreter for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation during his time as a student. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1969, Engs was commissioned into the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Eustis, VA before deploying to Korea. After retiring from the service, Engs continued his academic career at the University of Arizona, receiving his Master of Education in 1977 and at Northern Arizona University, receiving his Doctorate in Education in 1996. He went on to work for the Pima Community College District for 32 years as an administrator, counselor, and instructor. During his tenure he received numerous awards including Post-Secondary Counselor of the Year in AZ and Administrator of the Year for Pima College. In his interview, Engs recounts his time as the "first African American male undergraduate for the College of William & Mary" in the 1960s. He expands on the hardships his parents endured as African Americans in the military and speaks on the racism he faced throughout his own schooling and career. He emphasizes the importance of history, research, and literature in his time at the College and how this pushed him towards working in higher education himself. William & Mary gave him invaluable exposure to the narratives of people of color, thus affecting his worldview.While he encountered many difficulties at the College, he claims the value of William & Mary has increased over the years for him, much like "currency." From his time in ROTC and working in Williamsburg to his teaching career, Engs emphasizes the importance of African Americans in his growth. He owes his success to those people of "good will" surrounding him. He reflects the obstacles he faced and acknowledges that he paved the way for future African Americans at William & Mary.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Thomas L. Johnson, Jr. arrived at William & Mary in 1988. During his time at William & Mary he participated in Ebony Expressions, the Black Students Organization, and was a member and president of Alpha Phi Alpha. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and graduated in 1992. He then went on to pursue a career in law, receiving his J.D. at Wake Forest University, and has worked as both Assistant and Deputy Commonwealth Attorney in the state of Virginia. He is currently an attorney at Bricker Anderson P.C. in Richmond, Virginia. In his interview, Johnson outlines the negative experience he experienced at an admissions visit to UVA, ultimately leading to his attending William & Mary. He recalls that the dichotomy between minority and majority students was most apparent in the amenities provided to the majority (white) organizations, while black individuals and organizations had to actively request similar amenities. He reflects fondly on the impact of individuals such as Dean Carroll Hardy, members of the cafeteria staff, and the black community of broader Williamsburg. When asked if William & Mary prepared him for law school and his professional trajectory following, Johnson replies, "Definitely. The answer to that is 110% yes." He ends the interview by expressing his gratitude that the college is supporting efforts to memorialize the African American experience.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Michele Mason arrived at William & Mary in 1992. During her time at William & Mary, she was a member of the Women's Soccer Team, participated in the Black Students Organization, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Mason was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. After graduating in 1996, Mason worked in a variety of fields including the fashion industry before transitioning into education. She received her Master of Arts degree in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University in 2009. Mason currently serves as the Executive Director of the Newark Charter School Fund, advocating for all students to have access to high-quality schooling.

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Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Andrew Ojeda arrived at William & Mary in 2008. During his time at William & Mary, Ojeda worked as a research assistant and fellow on the Lemon Project, a research initiative on the College's role in perpetuating slavery and racial discrimination. Additionally, he was involved with Alma Mater Productions and a sitcom called Ghostburg on William & Mary TV. After graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in American Studies in 2012, Ojeda pursued a Master's degree in the same field at the University of New York. He went on to work for Colonial Williamsburg, researching the Transatlantic slave trade. Ojeda later joined investment company Morning Star and now works in sales for an asset management company in Chicago. Currently, he serves on the William & Mary Chicago alumni board. In his interview, Ojeda says William & Mary caught his attention due to its "strong academic reputation." After his rejection from the school's football team, Ojeda was forced to find a new college identity. Consequently, William & Mary lead him to discover his "true self." Through working with the Lemon Project, taking mentors like Jody Allen and Betsy Slavach, forming close friendships with fellow students, and taking academically enriching classes, Ojeda found an academic niche in the school's community and learned more about his own racial identity. His college education attuned him to injustices in communities beyond his own and generated his passion for improving race relations. He stresses the importance of having "difficult" conversations to create change and claims his greatest regret is not engaging in those conversations with different organizations at the College. Ojeda discusses his post-grad trajectory into sales and attributes his success to his liberal arts background. Finally, Ojeda's involvement with the Chicago board shows his continued support for the College. He hopes William & Mary's future includes increased diversity and representation for marginalized communities.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Michael K. Powell arrived at William & Mary in 1981 on an ROTC Scholarship. During his time at William & Mary, he served as President of Theta Delta Chi, was a member of the Men's Gymnastics Team, and became the first black commander of the ROTC. Powell graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. He has since held positions as chair of the Federal Communications Commission and currently serves as president and CEO of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. He also served on the Board of Visitors at William & Mary from 2001 to 2009, serving three years as the school's first African American Rector. In his interview, Powell discusses what he states was a "fantastic" experience at William & Mary, marked by his involvement in many student organizations and key figures such as Sam Sadler and Tom Graves. However, his life, both at William & Mary and beyond, has not been without difficultly, and he speaks about the moments throughout his life in which his plans were uprooted, sometimes drastically. He views a liberal arts education as providing the skills necessary to adapt and adjust in those situations. The interview ends with poignant ruminations on the value of diversity and inclusion.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Justin Reid arrived at William & Mary in 2005. During his time at William & Mary he participated in the African Cultural Society, was a President's Aide, served as president of the W&M Chapter of the NAACP, served as a Resident Assistant and an Admission Tour Guide, and helped to establish the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Reid received a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and graduated in 2009. He went on to work extensively in the nonprofit sector, working at Colonial Williamsburg, managing a grant project for the U.S. Department of Education, and working as the first associate director for Museum Operations at the Moton Museum. He currently works for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities as director of African American programs. In his interview, Reid expresses that William & Mary had actually not been his first choice of college but that President Gene Nichol's commitment to diversity and inclusivity was "music to his ears." Thus, he points to Nichol's resignation as a defining moment of his experience at W&M. Reid recalls numerous other individuals whom positively impacted his time as a student and reflects fondly on major moments, such as founding Omega Psi Phi on campus. Reid's professional experience and involvement in the Hulon Willis Association have kept him in close proximity to W&M since his graduation. The interview closes with Reid discussing the changes he would like to see occur at the school, including increasing faculty diversity and efforts to make a W&M education more affordable.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Yvonne Smith-Jones arrived at William & Mary in 1985, earning a Master of Arts of Education, an Education Specialist Degree, and a Doctorate of Education by 1997. After graduating with her Ed.D. Smith-Jones worked at Hopewell City Public Schools for over 22 years, contributed to special projects with VCU and ODU, and has served on the School of Education Development Board at William & Mary. She has also been involved with the Hulon Willis Association. Yvonne currently works as an Educational Consultant through Highly Effective Services, Inc. In her interview, Smith-Jones expresses that, from a young age, she intuitively felt that she would, one day, attend William & Mary. Though she recalls the graduate experience as being largely separate from that of undergraduates, like others, she recalls the impactful presence of Dean Carroll Hardy and holds fond memories of going to Swem Library and basketball games. In her professional life, Smith-Jones notes connections to William & Mary, from serving on the School of Education Board to witnessing one of her students, Eboni Brown, come to William & Mary and become the first female African American president of the Student Assembly.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Beverly Thompson arrived at William & Mary in 1994, four years after graduating from the University of Central Florida with a Master's degree in Computer Science. In her five years at the College, Thompson forged lasting relationships with faculty and completed a dissertation as a part of her program. After graduating in 1999 with a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Thompson began working at Sandia National Laboratories. Shortly after, she moved to take a position at Leidos, formerly named Science Applications International Corporation. She currently serves as a senior scientist under Leidos while also doing humanitarian work under the United Nations. She also works with Career Girls, an online platform providing young women access to career exploration tools. In her interview, Thompson says that she owes her husband's assignment to Fort Lee for her time studying computer science at William & Mary. Despite the College's historically unwelcoming environment towards African Americans, Thompson says that her department created a "family type of space." She cites the presence of female faculty as contributing to this feeling of community. In the computer science department, Thompson researched in the agricultural field. She claims that this research aimed at "helping humanity" inspired her to continue working on humanitarian causes throughout her career. In discussing identity, Thompson describes feeling burdened by expectations and stereotypes surrounding African Americans at the College, while also feeling supported as a woman in the computer science department. Thompson emphasizes how the College's program prepared her for the research she would do after graduation both in the biomedical field and in international development.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Mallory Walker arrived at William & Mary in 2013. During her time at William & Mary, she served as an Orientation Aide, a W&M tour guide, and was a member of Delta Gamma sorority. Additionally, she wrote a column, "Behind Closed Doors", for the Flat Hat, and gained work experience through Phone-a-thon and the Reeder Media Center. After graduating in 2017, Walker was chosen as a Mosaic Fellow as part of the Mosaic Program at Swem Library. She spent the 2017-18 school year working on a number of projects in Special Collections, including processing materials, cohosting a Digital Preservation Workshop, and fabricating several exhibits using university collections. She will begin a graduate program at Simmons College in Fall 2018. In her interview, Walker speaks fondly of William & Mary's beautiful campus, outstanding education. Since her older brother also attended the College, she recalls that she never "really felt like William & Mary wasn't home." She describes her favorite memories with her friends as "quintessentially college." Despite this, Walker describes serious flaws in campus culture, such as the microaggressions she experienced as a black woman, the feelings of tokenization she felt in her white sorority, and the stigma surrounding mental health. Walker states that the institution likes to "skirt over the harder truths." These factors have complicated Walker's original "rose-colored" view of William & Mary. As an alum, she hopes the school will "reevaluate" tradition and prioritize diversity, inclusion, and equity into the future.

Oral history conducted for the Living the Legacy: 50th Anniversary of African Americans in Residence commemoration. Hulon Willis, Jr. arrived at William & Mary in 1973, a little of two decades after his father, Hulon Willis, Sr. became the first African American student to attend the College. During his time at William & Mary, Willis, Jr. participated in the Student Association, the Baptist Student Union, the Judo & Karate Club, and the Black Students Organization. He was also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. After graduating in 1977, Willis pursued his Master of Social Work at Howard University, earning the degree in 1985. He has since worked in the Corrections field in both Washington, D.C., and Virginia. He has remained active at William & Mary through the Hulon Willis Association, the African American Alumni affinity organization, named in honor of his father. He has also served as a board member of the Richmond Alumni Chapter. In his interview, Willis Jr. emphasizes William & Mary's lasting impact on his life. He looks back on his time in Sigma Phi Epsilon fondly, describing the parties, concerts, and culture of the 70s as "some of the high points" in his college career. His sociology degree led him to work in both corrections and the juvenile justice system, instilling him with an awareness and sensitivity for minorities in difficult situations. Despite this, he acknowledges both the academic challenges of the College and the racism he faced on campus and in surrounding Williamsburg. His feelings of "isolation" stemmed from both living off-campus and the limited number of black students at the time. Although he often feels some resentment towards his time at William & Mary, his daughter's admittance to the College revitalized his involvement as an alum. He admits that the amount of students of color at William & Mary now compared to his father's time is a "great feeling." He values the efforts of the administration to increase and celebrate diversity, and he hopes the school continues to prioritize this in the future.

Connie Swiner III arrived at William & Mary in 1977. During his time at William & Mary he served as the President of Alpha Phi Alpha, and was a member of the Biology Club, Ebony Expressions, the Black Students Organization, and the Affirmative Action Committee.

Swiner graduated early in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and went on to get his doctoral degree in Medicine at Howard University. He pursued a career in medicine, as is currently working as an anesthesiologist in Chicago. He also served on the Board of Directors at William & Mary's Swem Library from 2010 to 2013.

In his interview, Swiner speaks about the moments of solitude walking through the campus and Colonial Williamsburg that broke up a rigorous academic experience as a biology major. Memories of his time as a TA for Comparative Anatomy, of being a member of Ebony Expressions, and of receiving the parental support of staff persons in housekeeping and the cafeteria stand out in particular. Connie has remained involved with William & Mary, stating that: "I still love the school. So I give back. I go back to visit all the time. Because had it had a negative impact, they wouldn't see a red from me. But obviously that's not the case."