Dr. (Ed. D.) Brelinda Johnson, vice president of student success at Motlow State Community College, will be the featured speaker for the 2023 observance of Black History Month slated for noon on Feb. 11 at Bernard Gym.
Dr. Johnson has ties to Warren County, as she was a former student teacher at Warren County High School. Her unique educational background is in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Child Development, Family Studies, and Assessment, Learning and Student Success.
As an education professional for seventeen years, she is experienced in supervision, advising, teaching and multiple areas related to student success. She is a creator of effective programs for at-risk populations such as probation, first-generation and minority students. She enjoys developing creative and essential programs to assist first-generation and underrepresented students to navigate college. It is gratifying for Brelinda to see students grow within their first year, and the years to follow, until graduation.
She previously directed programs in the Office of Student Success and the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences Advising Center at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). She has also taught courses related to adolescent development, consumer education, and family relationships throughout her time at MTSU. Before working at MTSU, she was a high school family and consumer sciences education teacher and track coach in Clarksville. Brelinda attended Tennessee Technological University (TTU) for her undergraduate degree in family consumer sciences education, where she was a student-athlete and student teacher at White County High School, in addition to Warren County High School.
Dr. Johnson will be speaking on this year’s theme, “Black Resistance." The Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the founders of Black History Month, states that “Education, whether in elementary, secondary or higher education institutions have been seen as a way for Black people and communities to resist the narrative that Black people are intellectually inferior.”
The Black History Museum of Warren County and Young Men United will host this program in addition to a Youth Day event on Feb. 25, also starting at noon. Youth Day will bring generations of local Black youth together to discuss issues ranging from race relations, to the evolution of African American-centric programs at Warren County High School, to unique career paths for future graduates.
During the month of February, Ben Lomand Connect Channel 6 will be airing documentaries on the history of Bernard School as well as a photo montage of the images associated with the school’s 100 year celebration that was held in May, 2022.
The Black History Museum of Warren County will be open during normal hours in the month of February and will be taking personal appointments for tours. Wayne Wolford can be reached at (931) 304-8851for appointments.
For additional information, please contact James “Mickey” Gwyn at mickeygwyn@comcast.net or 615-962-9985.
