The Black Alumni Board Mamie Till-Mobley Scholarship
The Black Alumni Board Mamie Till-Mobley Scholarship
Mamie Till-Mobley never found justice in the courtroom for the brutal murder of her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, at the hands of racist vigilantes in the Jim Crow South. But her refusal to let the country ignore his death ignited the nascent Civil Rights movement and inspired leaders like Rosa Parks to activism. Mamie Till-Mobley channeled her passion for justice and her love for children into advocacy and a career as a teacher in Chicago schools. A 1971 graduate of Loyola University Chicago’s Graduate School of Education, she embodied the university’s Jesuit commitment to care for the whole person and act on knowledge in service to humanity. By educating Black youth about their history, Till-Mobley strove to instill a sense of worth and purpose in her students—preparing them for the opportunities she believed were coming as the Civil Rights movement grew in strength. Her fervent belief that each person could contribute to the fight for equality inspired her to form the Emmett Till Players, a student group that performed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches nationwide. The program engaged hundreds of youth and reinforced her message of hope and connectedness: that what happens to one happens to all.
Because of Mamie Till-Mobley’s dedication to teaching and inspiring young people, Loyola’s Black Alumni Board believes her name should also stand for education.
In honor of the contributions Mamie Till-Mobley made to the youth of Chicago and the cause of justice for Black children everywhere, Loyola’s Black Alumni Board and its supporters established an endowed scholarship at Loyola in her name. The scholarship will recognize and support a graduate of a Chicagoland high school (within 50 miles of Loyola’s three local campuses) who:
- Is engaged with the Black community through leadership or community service
- Has a GPA of at least 2.75
- Demonstrates financial need
This scholarship will serve as permanent recognition of Mamie Till-Mobley’s affiliation with Loyola and a fitting remembrance of her powerful role as a spokesperson for justice. The scholarship will send a clear message that activists working in the Black community will find rich opportunities to elevate their goals at Loyola. Memorializing Till-Mobley in this way will elevate her as an example for generations of Loyola students, calling all to emulate her courage, wisdom, creativity, and resolute determination to heal the wounds so many have borne. Support the scholarship
A Person for Others
The Loyola University Chicago community gathered on October 21, 2022, to celebrate the formal launch of the BAB Mamie Till-Mobley Scholarship. Till family members, Amberly Carter, Ollie Gordon, and Bertha Thomas, were in attendance.
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Beyond the Classroom
On June 29, 2023, over 100 alumni, staff, and community members gathered at the DuSable Black History Museum to celebrate Till-Mobley’s life, legacy, and equity work. It was an action-packed evening of inspiration and community, hosted by the School of Education.
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Second Annual Scholarship Luncheon
Hosted by Loyola’s Black Alumni Board, over 130 people attended the luncheon, which was emceed by Art Norman, anchor at NBC5 Chicago, a keynote address delivered by Dr. Carol Adams, and closing remarks provided by University President Mark C. Reed.
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About the Black Alumni Board
The Black Alumni Board (BAB) serves as a vehicle for inclusion, engagement, and connectivity of Black alumni across the Loyola University Chicago community. BAB aims to foster and further strengthen relationships between Black alumni and students, faculty, and staff, and to facilitate outreach from the university to the broader community.
- President: Karen Fleshman (MBA ’99)
- Executive Vice President: Ahmad Flex Omar (BBA ’05)
- Treasurer: Jay Yancy (BS ’84)
- VP of Student Relations: Shykira Richards (BA ’10, MSW ’12)
- VP of Communications: Genesis Emery-Foley (BASC ’11)
- VP of Member Relations: Rachelle Felix-Blackmon (BS ’02)
- Board Member: Jacque Stefanic (AA ’19, BBA ’21)
For more information, contact Alumni Relations at luc-alum@luc.edu
The Black Alumni Board Mamie Till-Mobley Scholarship
Mamie Till-Mobley never found justice in the courtroom for the brutal murder of her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, at the hands of racist vigilantes in the Jim Crow South. But her refusal to let the country ignore his death ignited the nascent Civil Rights movement and inspired leaders like Rosa Parks to activism. Mamie Till-Mobley channeled her passion for justice and her love for children into advocacy and a career as a teacher in Chicago schools. A 1971 graduate of Loyola University Chicago’s Graduate School of Education, she embodied the university’s Jesuit commitment to care for the whole person and act on knowledge in service to humanity. By educating Black youth about their history, Till-Mobley strove to instill a sense of worth and purpose in her students—preparing them for the opportunities she believed were coming as the Civil Rights movement grew in strength. Her fervent belief that each person could contribute to the fight for equality inspired her to form the Emmett Till Players, a student group that performed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches nationwide. The program engaged hundreds of youth and reinforced her message of hope and connectedness: that what happens to one happens to all.
Because of Mamie Till-Mobley’s dedication to teaching and inspiring young people, Loyola’s Black Alumni Board believes her name should also stand for education.
In honor of the contributions Mamie Till-Mobley made to the youth of Chicago and the cause of justice for Black children everywhere, Loyola’s Black Alumni Board and its supporters established an endowed scholarship at Loyola in her name. The scholarship will recognize and support a graduate of a Chicagoland high school (within 50 miles of Loyola’s three local campuses) who:
- Is engaged with the Black community through leadership or community service
- Has a GPA of at least 2.75
- Demonstrates financial need
This scholarship will serve as permanent recognition of Mamie Till-Mobley’s affiliation with Loyola and a fitting remembrance of her powerful role as a spokesperson for justice. The scholarship will send a clear message that activists working in the Black community will find rich opportunities to elevate their goals at Loyola. Memorializing Till-Mobley in this way will elevate her as an example for generations of Loyola students, calling all to emulate her courage, wisdom, creativity, and resolute determination to heal the wounds so many have borne. Support the scholarship