Participants join hands at the annual Rachel B. Noel event at Shorter Community AME. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Pews were packed at the Shorter Community AME Church on April 23, 2025. Photo by Alyson McClaran
CNN host Van Jones talks with Emcee Tamara Banks. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Rachel B. Noel's son Edmond "Buddy" Noel Jr., at the event. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Criminal- justice-reform activist, author and CNN commentator Van Jones gives the keynote speech at the annual Rachel B. Noel event at Shorter Community AME Church. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Student award winner Daneilia Whyte with Michael Benitez, Ph.D., associate professor and vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, and President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. Photo by Alyson McClaran.
Student award winner Juan Izaguirre with Michael Benitez, Ph.D., associate professor and vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, and President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. Photo by Alyson McClaran.
Student award winner Precious Osei with Michael Benitez, Ph.D., associate professor and vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, and President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. Photo by Alyson McClaran.
Award winner Russell Noles, MSU Denver alumnus and longtime trustee, with Michael Benitez, Ph.D., associate professor and vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, and President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. Photo by Alyson McClaran
MSU Denver Associate Professor Rashad Anderson, Ph.D., with Michael Benitez, Ph.D., associate professor and vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, and President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Michael Benitez, Ph.D., associate professor and vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, speaks at the event. Photo by Alyson McClaran
President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., speaks at the event. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Choir lead Daryl Walker. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Van Jones, criminal-justice-reform activist, author and CNN commentator, inspired and wowed an audience as the 2025 Rachel B. Noel Professorship honoree.
Hundreds of community members, including Metropolitan State University of Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., and Michael Benitez, Ph.D., associate professor and vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, gathered on April 23 to hear Jones at Denver’s Shorter Community AME Church.
The event also honored this year’s Hope for the Future award winners Russell Noles, MSU Denver alumnus and longtime trustee, and MSU Denver Associate Professor Rashad Anderson, Ph.D. Five MSU Denver student winners of the Rachel B. Noel scholarship were honored as well: Christine Emereuwa, Janet Nyepan, Precious Osei, Juan Izaguirre and Daneilia Whyte.
Event recordingWatch Jones and others speak at Shorter Community AME Church. |
MSU Denver launched the Rachel B. Noel Visiting Professorship in 1981 to celebrate diversity and academic excellence at MSU Denver through classes, seminars, performances and lectures for faculty members and students as well as the larger Denver community.
Noel was a civil rights champion in Colorado and the first Black woman elected to the Denver Public Schools Board of Education.
