STUDENTS AND FACULTY WORK TO PRESERVE “MAMA LEWIS’” LEGACY
The New Paltz Oracle
By Jenn Von Willer
Contributing Writer | Jvonwiller76@newpaltz.edu
A pioneer that was warm, genuine, kind— are just some of the many truths said about the late Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis. Wade-Lewis, who worked at the State University of New York at New Paltz for 36 years, passed away on Dec. 30, 2009, but her spirit remains alive in the hearts of many students and faculty members. A few organizations, including the Black Student Union, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and the African Women’s Alliance, banded together in celebration of her life on Monday night at 8 p.m. in the basement of Shango Hall. There were murals displaying campus-wide organizations that Wade-Lewis personally contributed her time and leadership toward over the last three decades.
Besides working with EOP and the Scholar’s Mentorship Program, she helped with the New Day Theater and contributed to the efforts of the African Women’s Alliance and Black Student Union. According to her Hudson Valley Press obituary, which was read aloud, she was raised in Haskell, Okla. Throughout her early life, she excelled in writing, literature, speaking and dramatic interpretation. She was said to have cherished her parents and enjoyed growing up in a large family. When she was eight years old, she was baptized by her father, the late Rev. J. E. Williams. After graduating from the Booker T. Washington High School with honors and completing her undergraduate and graduate studies at Langston University in Langston, Okla., she became a member of the New Paltz community. There, she met and married David Lewis. For many years, her and her husband strived to provide a welcoming home for children who needed loving parents on a short- or long-term basis. She was the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Linguistics from New York University in 1988. In 1974, Wade-Lewis started out as an assistant professor in Black Studies and Linguistics. She soon became the co-founder and director of the Scholar’s Mentorship Program, a networking initiative for students of all ethnic backgrounds, in addition to chairperson of the Black Studies department. From her hospital bed, she was still writing feedback on her students’ research papers. She taught favorable courses including Black English, Contemporary Black Literature, Black Poetry and Drama and Africana Culture. She was expected to teach Contemporary Blacks in Literature this semester.
Despite her title, she was fond of her nicknames—Mama Wade or Mama Lewis—given to her by her fellow students and club advisees. About 30 students showed up for the event and shared their experiences and memories together. There was laughter and at times, heated debates regarding the strict policy guidelines set by the SUNY Board of Trustees in order to rename college buildings. According to President Steven Poskanzer, renaming College Hall to Wade Hall would cost $5 million. However, the action to continue in the professor’s footsteps and encourage other alumni and current students to further progress what she stood for was very important in the discussion.
Some “baby step” plans include unifying the Black and Latino organizations, and for college president Steven Poskanzer to keep her memory alive in her scholarship, her work and continue to preserve the murals of Shango Hall. Most importantly, students want to permanently preserve her name by informing new students about Wade-Lewis’ legacy. She was a beloved sister, wife, mother, devout Baptist, keynote speaker, adviser, thesis adviser, mentor, conference organizer, but those who knew her said she was a positive role model that never complained and easily made you smile no matter what type of day you were having.
For more information on donations to the Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis Scholarship, please contact the Black Studies Department in the Faculty Offi ce Building West 2located by the Student Union Building and behind the Coykendall Science Building. Or call 845-257-2760.
“I really feel like the meeting helped form a dialogue about how important she was to us and how we should exemplify what she has taught us in our lives,” said fourth-year organizational communication and Black Studies double major Anthony Lino, who was one of the organizers of the event.
“After this meeting, it really unified us. There’s so much we’d like to do but we don’t know how. Those students that do know those policies, they’ll talk to us and make us understand everything,” said third-year Black Studies and sociology double major Latosha Belton, who shared “Libate,” a heartfelt poem dedicated to Dr. Wade-Lewis.
Jenn Von Willer 