2016 Award Recipients
William M. Brown, known as Lew Brown, a Hartford resident is a retired broadcast journalist in both radio and television. While working as a letter carrier, he became interested in delivering honest, accurate new reporting and began at WKND Radio, rising to News Director. He assisted in establishing the Sunday morning “What’s on Your Mind Program” that for twenty years highlighted issues pertinent to African Americans. He became the Hartford Bureau Chief at WPOP when it was an all news station. In 1979, he made the move to television news at Channel 30 as a general assignment news reporter, where he remained until he retired in 2000.
Lew often remarks that he was a “third world correspondent on the home front”, covering issues that plagued the community, including crime, gangs, drugs and housing issues. He was respected for truth and integrity in reporting, and treated the everyday “little nobodies” as equals to the powerful leaders at City and State levels.
Lew was a founder of the former Russworm WellsSociety, an organization developed to provide support for African American journalists which evolved to become the CT Association of Black Communicators. He was honored in 2003 by this group which established a scholarship in his name, now providing needed assistance to aspiring journalists at Quinnipiac University.
Lew received numerous awards and citations over his professional career, including the NAACP Frederick Douglas Media Award, and Journalist of the Year Award from the Region I National Association of Broadcast Journalists. The professional awards he cherishes most come from local community and civic groups, including recognition from the Carpe Diem Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Hartford Public Schools, Hartford Police Department, and the Hartford Tenants Rights Federation.
Since retiring, Lew has remained active in issues he cares about. He served as an advisor to former Mayor Eddie A. Perez. He is a member and Co-Chairman of the Hartford Housing Authority Commission. He is a former board member and Secretary for the Artists Collective. He is active in his church community at St. Michael’s and was acknowledged with the 2012 St. Joseph Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation for his commitment. Lew challenges others to become involved because, after all,
“The revolution will not be televised. It is a revolution of the mind, and that, in fact, is live.”
Lew often remarks that he was a “third world correspondent on the home front”, covering issues that plagued the community, including crime, gangs, drugs and housing issues. He was respected for truth and integrity in reporting, and treated the everyday “little nobodies” as equals to the powerful leaders at City and State levels.
Lew was a founder of the former Russworm WellsSociety, an organization developed to provide support for African American journalists which evolved to become the CT Association of Black Communicators. He was honored in 2003 by this group which established a scholarship in his name, now providing needed assistance to aspiring journalists at Quinnipiac University.
Lew received numerous awards and citations over his professional career, including the NAACP Frederick Douglas Media Award, and Journalist of the Year Award from the Region I National Association of Broadcast Journalists. The professional awards he cherishes most come from local community and civic groups, including recognition from the Carpe Diem Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Hartford Public Schools, Hartford Police Department, and the Hartford Tenants Rights Federation.
Since retiring, Lew has remained active in issues he cares about. He served as an advisor to former Mayor Eddie A. Perez. He is a member and Co-Chairman of the Hartford Housing Authority Commission. He is a former board member and Secretary for the Artists Collective. He is active in his church community at St. Michael’s and was acknowledged with the 2012 St. Joseph Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation for his commitment. Lew challenges others to become involved because, after all,
“The revolution will not be televised. It is a revolution of the mind, and that, in fact, is live.”
Dr. Scheuster E. Christie was born in Jamaica West Indies. He attended Glen Muir High School and subsequently completed his High School education at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, New York. He then attended Columbia College of Columbia University in New York and graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry. Dr. Christie continued his studies at New York University School of Medicine, and graduated in 1980 with a Medical Doctor degree. Following this he did his post-graduate training in General Surgery at Presbyterian University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia, and Mount Zion Hospital Medical Center in San Francisco, California. He completed his Trauma training at the University of California, San Francisco. In January of 1986 Dr. Christie started his private practice in General Surgery here in Hartford, Connecticut and since then has continuously served the Greater Hartford Community. He is currently in group practice with Saint Francis Medical Group, a specialist in Trauma, Breast and General Surgery.
Dr. Christie is presently:
Director of Surgical Education at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Surgery.
Associate Director for the University of Connecticut Surgical Residency Training Program.
Senior Attending at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Served as the Chief of General Surgery at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Board Certified in General Surgery.
Dr. Christie participates in multiple educational programs, volunteer services and community outreach programs. He serves on several hospital and university committees and community boards. He received several teaching awards at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. He also received multiple community awards for volunteer service primarily for services to the Hartford medically underserved community. Dr. Christie presently provides surgical services to the Hartford medically underserved community through the Burgdorf Clinic. He gives numerous lectures to community and church organizations on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. He also participates in several medical foreign missions to Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
Dr. Christie is married to Norma. They both have two children Jamila and Scheuster Jr.. He is a participating member of Crossroads Community Cathedral in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Dr. Christie is presently:
Director of Surgical Education at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Surgery.
Associate Director for the University of Connecticut Surgical Residency Training Program.
Senior Attending at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Served as the Chief of General Surgery at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Board Certified in General Surgery.
Dr. Christie participates in multiple educational programs, volunteer services and community outreach programs. He serves on several hospital and university committees and community boards. He received several teaching awards at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. He also received multiple community awards for volunteer service primarily for services to the Hartford medically underserved community. Dr. Christie presently provides surgical services to the Hartford medically underserved community through the Burgdorf Clinic. He gives numerous lectures to community and church organizations on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. He also participates in several medical foreign missions to Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
Dr. Christie is married to Norma. They both have two children Jamila and Scheuster Jr.. He is a participating member of Crossroads Community Cathedral in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Dr. Olusegun Sogunro is Professor of Educational Leadership at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), New Britain, CT and an active member of the CCSU’s Master degree program in Educational Leadership in Jamaica.
Born in Nigeria, Dr. Sogunro completed primary and secondary education in Nigeria and graduated from Lagos State Polytechnic and Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Portharcourt, Nigeria with National Diploma and Higher National Diploma, respectively. He earned B.Sc. Agricultural Education (Summa Cum Laude) and M.Sc. Educational Administration, from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCATSU), Greensboro, NC, USA as well as Ph.D. in Educational Administration and a diploma in postsecondary education from University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
At CCSU, he teaches graduate courses in educational leadership, supervises administrative interns in the field, and advises doctoral students in their dissertations. Dr. Sogunro is Founding Co-Chair, Annual Networking Reception for Distinguished Educational Leaders at CCSU and Founding Co-Chair, Annual Amistad Lecture and Banquet (the signature event of the Black History Month Activities at CCSU). His love of education extends to his work with Jamaican students as his painstaking efforts culminated into the formation of the following: two CCSU Alumni Associations in Jamaica (i.e., Eastern Alumni Chapter in Kingston and the Western Alumni Chapter in Montego Bay); the Annual Alumni Professional Conference in Jamaica; and the Jamaican Education Development Support Network, JEDSN, at CCSU. He was instrumental to organizing the 2006 International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on Learning in Montego Bay, Jamaica. More recently, he continues to serve as Member of the Mico University College Graduate School Advisory Board, Kingston, Jamaica (2012 –present).
Dr. Sogunro is a recipient of numerous awards, including 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 Excellence in Teaching Award (Semi-Finalist) at CCSU; 1991-1995 Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship; 1994 Mary Louise Imrie Graduate Student Research Award, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 1985-1987 Scholarship, Agency for International Development, USA; 1986-1987 Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities (USA); 1986-1987 National Dean's List (USA); 1987 Certificate for Outstanding Accomplishments in Scholarship (USA); and 1987 National Collegiate Education Award.
Dr. Sogunro has published numerous articles in educational leadership and reviewed several journals and books for publishers. Some of his articles have appeared in refereed journals, including International Journal of Higher Education, Journal of School Leadership, Journal for the Advancement of Educational Research, Journal of Management Development, Educational Research Quarterly, Multicultural Perspectives, The Journal of Leadership Studies, Journal of Research and Development in Education, and Evaluation Review.
For over 10 years, Dr. Sogunro was the Secretary at the Cherubim & Seraphim Church Movement, Lagos, Nigeria. Dr, Sogunro and his wife, Sheri reside in Connecticut. They are happily blessed with three children.
Born in Nigeria, Dr. Sogunro completed primary and secondary education in Nigeria and graduated from Lagos State Polytechnic and Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Portharcourt, Nigeria with National Diploma and Higher National Diploma, respectively. He earned B.Sc. Agricultural Education (Summa Cum Laude) and M.Sc. Educational Administration, from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCATSU), Greensboro, NC, USA as well as Ph.D. in Educational Administration and a diploma in postsecondary education from University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
At CCSU, he teaches graduate courses in educational leadership, supervises administrative interns in the field, and advises doctoral students in their dissertations. Dr. Sogunro is Founding Co-Chair, Annual Networking Reception for Distinguished Educational Leaders at CCSU and Founding Co-Chair, Annual Amistad Lecture and Banquet (the signature event of the Black History Month Activities at CCSU). His love of education extends to his work with Jamaican students as his painstaking efforts culminated into the formation of the following: two CCSU Alumni Associations in Jamaica (i.e., Eastern Alumni Chapter in Kingston and the Western Alumni Chapter in Montego Bay); the Annual Alumni Professional Conference in Jamaica; and the Jamaican Education Development Support Network, JEDSN, at CCSU. He was instrumental to organizing the 2006 International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on Learning in Montego Bay, Jamaica. More recently, he continues to serve as Member of the Mico University College Graduate School Advisory Board, Kingston, Jamaica (2012 –present).
Dr. Sogunro is a recipient of numerous awards, including 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 Excellence in Teaching Award (Semi-Finalist) at CCSU; 1991-1995 Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship; 1994 Mary Louise Imrie Graduate Student Research Award, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 1985-1987 Scholarship, Agency for International Development, USA; 1986-1987 Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities (USA); 1986-1987 National Dean's List (USA); 1987 Certificate for Outstanding Accomplishments in Scholarship (USA); and 1987 National Collegiate Education Award.
Dr. Sogunro has published numerous articles in educational leadership and reviewed several journals and books for publishers. Some of his articles have appeared in refereed journals, including International Journal of Higher Education, Journal of School Leadership, Journal for the Advancement of Educational Research, Journal of Management Development, Educational Research Quarterly, Multicultural Perspectives, The Journal of Leadership Studies, Journal of Research and Development in Education, and Evaluation Review.
For over 10 years, Dr. Sogunro was the Secretary at the Cherubim & Seraphim Church Movement, Lagos, Nigeria. Dr, Sogunro and his wife, Sheri reside in Connecticut. They are happily blessed with three children.
In 1994, the late Rev. Collin B. Bennett, then Vicar of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church—Hartford, identified the need for an affordable Connecticut State Certified Nurse Assistant Training Program. Reverend Bennett asked certain parishioners to work with him in developing the program along with the collaboration of Seabury Retirement Community to provide the clinical training necessary for such a program.
Today, with the teaching offered under the direction of Mrs. Monica McDonald, APRN, (start-up Director), ably assisted by Mrs. Marva Donald, retired RN, this program—designated a “Jubilee Program” by the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, has graduated over 600 students.
A fair percentage of the graduating students have gone on to further training and have achieved RN, LPN, and EMT certification, and have excelled in various areas of health care. The most recent St. Martin’s stated-Certified ended on November ____ and classes will resume in April 2017.
“THE DREAM LIVES ON”
Today, with the teaching offered under the direction of Mrs. Monica McDonald, APRN, (start-up Director), ably assisted by Mrs. Marva Donald, retired RN, this program—designated a “Jubilee Program” by the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, has graduated over 600 students.
A fair percentage of the graduating students have gone on to further training and have achieved RN, LPN, and EMT certification, and have excelled in various areas of health care. The most recent St. Martin’s stated-Certified ended on November ____ and classes will resume in April 2017.
“THE DREAM LIVES ON”