Women's History Month Spotlight: Thurgood Marshall College Fund Founder Dr. N. Joyce Payne Discusses Equity in Education and Corporate America

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2024 / Las Vegas Sands
Las Vegas Sands

As part of Women's History Month 2024, Sands is spotlighting women leaders who are driving success in their organizations while advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). As the founder of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), Dr. N. Joyce Payne has made breaking down barriers her mission and vision through establishment of the nation's largest nonprofit organization exclusively representing the Black college community.

Sands has partnered with TMCF, which marked its 35^th anniversary last year, on Sands Cares programs that encourage Black college students to consider hospitality careers, while aiming to cultivate a diverse workforce in the industry. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in K-12 and higher education.

Dr. Payne founded TMCF in 1987, building on and extending her distinguished career in education and politics, which has included posts as executive director of the National Alliance for Public Trust, an organization committed to advancing principled leadership in American institutions, and vice president of the Office for the Advancement of Public Black Colleges of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU).

She also was a senior staff member in President Jimmy Carter's administration, which included positions with the President's Advisory Committee for Women, the President's National Advisory Council on Women's Education Programs and the White House Conference on Families. In addition, Dr. Payne taught at the former Federal City College and George Washington University. A recognized authority on women's issues in relation to higher education and labor force participation, she has published and presented several papers on the pursuit of equality for women and African Americans in higher education.

With this wide range of experiences, Dr. Payne relayed her views on the needs of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the evolution of DEI initiatives and progress toward the creation of a more democratic society.

What inspired you to enter the field of education and become an advocate for advancing educational resources?

"Because of segregation, we had teachers with Ph.D.s in Black schools. When you see that caliber and that quality of professional educators in your elementary, junior high and high schools, teaching became a revered profession. I always admired my teachers and their deep commitment to education despite nearly insurmountable barriers. They even lived in the same apartment building we lived in because they couldn't live anyplace else. Consequently, these personal relationships inspired me to pursue higher education as a profession."