On this historic 145th year of Bowie State University’s founding, two icons received candidates for honorary degrees: Sam Gilliam for Doctor of Fine Arts and Catherine Liggins Hughes, for Doctor of Humane Letters.
Gilliam was honored because of his exceptional contributions to the fine arts as one of America’s leading color field artists. Gilliam’s work has been recognized for ushering in a new approach to color field art when he pioneered liberating the canvas from the previously ubiquitous stretcher. His draped canvas technique soon became a popular and internationally accepted method of art making that enabled art to interact with its surroundings in an entirely different way. His creative genius has been acknowledged in the form of commissioned works that are displayed in major public spaces such as airports, museums, libraries, and preeminent galleries located around the world. Gilliam’s display of his works has brought color and inspiration to communities, artists, and art appreciators who have looked upon them and his contributions to the fine arts extend beyond the body of his creative works to include the selfless acts of mentoring other artists and serving in leadership roles for institutions that promote the arts.
“He embodies the educational mission for which our great university was founded 145 years ago, by bringing his outstanding skills and accomplishments to the practice of teaching the fine arts in Washington’s public schools and at major universities throughout the world,” stated Mickey L. Burnim, president of Bowie State University.
Gilliam was presented the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts Honoris Causa.
The second honorary degree presented, the Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa, was bestowed on Catherine Liggins Hughes. She has received numerous other honors and accolades she has accomplished and it gave the BSU community great pleasure to honor her today. Hughes has overcome significant personal challenges to build an expansive radio network that serves listening communities which had previously been underserved or ignored altogether. This radio network, known as Radio One, owns Giant Magazine, interests in TV One, LLC -- a cable/satellite network that offers programming primarily to African-Americans, and Reach Media, Inc. Hughes is the first woman owner of a radio station ranked #1 in any major market and she is the first African-American woman to head a publicly traded company. She is often referred to as the most powerful woman in radio.
“Cathy Hughes is an extraordinary communications executive who has demonstrated that perseverance, hard work, and reliance on inner strength are powerful traits which lead to success,” stated Burnim.
Hughes was also Bowie State’s principle orator for Spring 2010 Commencement. She is known is the current Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Secretary of Radio One. Radio One is one of the nation’s largest radio broadcasting companies and one of the largest radio companies that primarily targets African-Americans and urban listeners. The following are highlights of her accomplishments:
· She began her career in radio as General Sales Manager for WHUR-FM; the Howard University owned station.
· She has worked in various capacities in the radio industry including sales, general manager, talk show host and president.
· She was one of the founders of Radio One’s predecessor company in 1980.
· Her company operates 53 radio stations located in 16 urban markets, including Baltimore, Washington, DC and Philadelphia to name a few.
· Dr. Hughes and her son Alfred Liggins, President & CEO, took their company public in 1999.
· She made history by becoming the first African-American women with a company on the stock exchange.
· In 2000, Black Enterprise magazine named Radio One “Company of the Year”, with a value in excess of 2 billion dollars.
· Fortune magazine rated her company as one of the “100 best companies to work for.”
· Essence magazine name Dr. Hughes as one of the “100 Who have changed the world.”
Nearly 600 Bowie State graduates walked across the stage on May 21 to receive their degrees.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Friday, May 21st 2010 at 5:37PM
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