The theme of the Blackburn Institute’s 2024 Annual Symposium, “30 years of Fellowship: Building the Bonds of Ethical Leadership,” will highlight the work of Dr. John L. Blackburn against the backdrop of desegregation at The University of Alabama, the creation of the Blackburn Institute, and our efforts to change the state in the present and into the future. Attendees will hear from speakers and panelists sharing the challenges of the past and working to affect positive change in the state of Alabama
The event held Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24 will take place at Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa and will end with the 30th Anniversary Black-Tie Optional Gala to celebrate the Institute during this milestone year. We encourage you to advantage this anniversary to reengage with the Blackburn community.
Call for Session Proposals
If you would like to present a session or have a suggestion for one, please submit the proposal form by Sunday, June 16 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
Schedule of Events (open to the Blackburn Community)
Please view the preliminary 2024 Annual Symposium schedule for registered Blackburn members.
Registration
Blackburn Society members, Advisory Board members, Fellows, and students may register for Annual Symposium. This year, registration covers both days of the in-person event. Please see the registration timelines for each group below.
Blackburn members register here
Blackburn Society, Advisory Board, and Fellows
| Registration Type | Registration Deadline | Fee |
| Regular | July 31 | Free |
| Late | August 15 | $50 |
Blackburn Students
| Registration Type | Registration Deadline | Fee |
| Regular | August 15 | Free |
| Late | August 25 | $50 |
30th Anniversary Black-Tie Optional Gala
Saturday, August 24, 2024, 6 p.m., Bryant Conference Center
Reunite at the Capstone for a night you won’t want to miss. This event will include
Discount Hotel Room Blocks
Hotel Capstone (320 Paul W Bryant Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401), next door to the Bryant Conference Center Annual Symposium venue
- Reserve: Use the Hotel Capstone discount reservation link or call (205) 752-3200 and ask to book into the “Blackburn Institute Symposium 2024” block
- Reservation deadline: July 22.
- Rooms: Single king or double queen at $149/night
- Dates: Aug 22 through 25
Hotel Indigo (111 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401), downtown Tuscaloosa
- Reserve: Use the Hotel Indigo discount reservation link or call 877-666-3243 and ask to book into the “Blackburn Institute Symposiums” block
- Reservation deadline: July 23
- Rooms: Single king at $139/night
- Dates: Aug 23 and 24
Non-Student Attendees (as of 08/01/2023)
Advisory Board and Blackburn Society
- Akiesha Anderson (2016)
- Danielle Blevins (2007)
- Star Bloom
- Cheree Causey
- Prince Cleveland (2002)
- John Covington
- Kathleen Cramer
- Bradley Davidson (2002)
- Royce Dickerson
- James Kemp (2014)
- Terry Lamar
- Gordon Martin
- Isaac McCoy
- Rosalind Moore-Miller
- Marjorie Kay Nix
- Rashmee Sharif (2012)
- Meghan Stringer (2004)
- Lita Waggoner (2015)
- Tammie Williams
- Yardena Wolf (2013)
Fellows
- Jonathan Adams (2001)
- Christine Allen (2017)
- Keegan Allen (2017)
- Anika Ames (2021)
- Caroline Baird (1994)
- Mary Eliza Beaumont (2020)
- Malea Benjamin (2021)
- Bob Boylan (2005)
- John Brinkerhoff (2011)
- Leigh Brinkerhoff (2013)
- Kathy Brunot (2022)
- Matt Calderone (2011)
- Jennifer Carlson (2001)
- Danielle Cassady (2014)
- LaTonya Chiles (1998)
- Claire Chisolm (2002)
- Sean Coffman Atchison (2021)
- Lexi Crowe (2022)
- Lauren Davis (2022)
- Caroline Dean (2018)
- Samarria Dunson (2002)
- Patrick Dutton (2020)
- Osric (Oz) Engram (1995)
- Jordan Evans (2021)
- Lewis Fischer (2021)
- Heather Gann (2020)
- Al Gilani (2013)
- Anna-Margaret Goldman (2012)
- Nivory Gordon (2016)
- Vincent Graffeo (1999)
- Martha Griffith (2007)
- Cameron Harris (2016)
- Kristen Harris (2016)
- Andrea Hayes (2016)
- Marie Hebbler (1994)
- Aaron Howard (2014)
- Ashton Howser (2021)
- Ella Huffaker (2021)
- Anthony James (2014)
- Kendra Key (2007)
- Allison Koszyk (2018)
- Dalis Lampkins (2020)
- Terrance Lewis (2015)
- Gideon Lombardo (2023)
- Jilisa Milton (2016)
- Miguel Mojica (2022)
- Evelyn Moton (2009)
- Colby Murray (2018)
- John Pace (2021)
- Lawrence Perry (2023)
- Aoife Kate Pitts (2019)
- Kaila Pouncy (2022)
- Amelia Pugh (2021)
- John Richardson (2022)
- Zac Riddle (2002)
- Chris Sanders (2002)
- Alexandra Scissom (2014)
- Walt Shelton (2021)
- Julie Smith (1999)
- Julli Sparks (2010)
- JaiOnna Terry (2020)
- Tyler Thull (2018)
- Nick Tolbert (2022)
- Chance Tudor (2018)
- Carina Villarreal (2019)
- Molly Wade (2017)
- Megan Welborn (2007)
Spouses and Guests
- Edwin Brunot
- Claire Calderone
- Nate Carlson
- Jim Causey
- Jackson Dean
- Tristan Gardner
- Kevin Gregroire
- Colin Hammond
- David Hebbler
- Andrea Hill
- Layla HOward
- Hunter Johnson
- Jasmine Kemp
- Paul Kolotka
- Shaquana Lamar
- Jonathan Lane
- Connor Lunney
- Jeremiah Moton
- Patrick Murphy
- Elliot Panek
- Maria Parsons
- Sally Ann Peacock
- Elizabeth Riddle
- Victoria Robinson
- Jeffrey Scissom
- Wale Shodiya
- Stephen Shol
- Janine Smith
- Walt Smith
- Katy Taylor
- Maitland Thull
- Lucia Tisea
- David Welborn
- Jake Willett
