Who is Janine Pope Mays?
Janine Pope Mays, a 1983 graduate of Southwestern University, navigated the challenges of being one of the few and early African-American students on a predominantly white campus with resilience, courage, and a dedication to fostering inclusivity. Her experiences as a student not only shaped her personal growth but also left a legacy for future generations of Black students.
Janine Pope Mays ‘83 stands as an important and influential advocate for inclusivity on campus. As an African-American student in a predominantly white institution, Janine faced considerable challenges yet played a vital role in promoting Black awareness and creating a supportive community for minority students who came after her. Her leadership, especially in renaming and reviving the student group EBONY, leaves an enduring legacy on campus.
Arriving at Southwestern in 1979 as an eager and determined psychology student, Janine entered an environment where few students looked like her. Her excitement was quickly dampened by an unsettling encounter with racial discrimination in a local Georgetown store, where she was bluntly told, "We don't serve your kind." This incident marked the beginning of a journey filled with both personal and institutional challenges.
As one of the early Black students on campus, Janine frequently questioned her place at Southwestern. She grappled with being the only person of color in many of her classes and living spaces, often feeling isolated and misunderstood. Her initial struggles were compounded by the academic rigor of her pre-med coursework, which called for her to adjust her study habits and expectations.
Despite these obstacles, Janine's resilience grew, thanks in part to her mentor, Dr. Douglas Hooker, a Southwestern psychology professor, and her mother’s wise counsel. Their support encouraged her to persevere, embrace her identity, and remain at Southwestern, ultimately shaping her as a leader and advocate for diversity.
Janine made her mark as a student leader in numerous capacities. In the fall of 1982, she was elected chairperson of EBONY, a club she helped reorganize from its previous form as, BOSS, or the Black Organization for Social Survival. Janine advocated for the name change to EBONY (Encouraging Blacks and Others to Never Yield), seeking a more positive and less militaristic identity for the group. Under her leadership, the aim of EBONY was to promote Black awareness and enhance the social conditions for Black students at Southwestern, while still also welcoming membership from all students interested in promoting inclusivity.
The significance of EBONY’s rebranding would resonate for decades, as it became a cornerstone of Black student life at Southwestern. In 2022, the organization underwent another name change, switching to the Black Student Union (BSU) to better reflect its current mission and identity.
Beyond her work with EBONY, Janine was a member of the Student Foundation, a selective organization that served as a liaison between the student body and the university administration. In this role, she helped plan and execute significant events like Homecoming and worked on alumni relations, showing her dedication to bridging connections between students, faculty, and alumni. She also demonstrated her commitment to Southwestern through her fundraising efforts, tying for third place in the most alumni pledges solicited during the university’s 1982 Phonathon.
Janine’s story at Southwestern University is one of perseverance, leadership, and transformation. She not only broke barriers, but also worked to ensure that future generations of students had a more welcoming and inclusive experience on campus. Janine’s advocacy for minority students, her role in reviving EBONY, and her encouragement for students to be resilient in the face of challenges have had a lasting impact on the university’s culture.
Today, as a self-employed HR consultant, Janine continues to influence organizations by leveraging her extensive experience in HR leadership roles. Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion remains at the heart of her work, carrying forward the lessons and impact she helped shape during her years at Southwestern.
