Top photo: Isabel Wilkerson. Claude McCloud and Melanie Johnson, alumni of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University

Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications is celebrating its 55th anniversary year with an event honoring 55 of its own. The “55 for 55” Honoree Reception will spotlight 55 alumni from the School of Communication during Homecoming week.  

The invite-only reception brings alumni back to campus from around the country, and is part of the School of Communications’ yearlong commemoration of its milestone year dubbed “Beyond 55.” The campaign highlights the school’s past, present, and future with events throughout the year on and off campus, and celebrates the accomplishments of the school’s community, engages with communications students, and honors the people and moments that have shaped the school for the past 55 years. 

The late Tony Brown, the school’s inaugural dean, founded the School of Communications in 1971, and boasts a long list of notable alumni including Pulitzer Prize winners, renowned authors, prominent researchers, Fulbright scholars, award-winning journalists, and more. Among them are Isabel Wilkerson (B.A. ’84, H ’12), Sheila Brooks (M.A. ’03, Ph.D. ’15), Deborah Ayorinde (B.A. ’09), Fredricka Whitfield (B.A. ’87), Keith L. Alexander (B.A. ’91), Lance Gross (B.A. ’04), and more.  

Kimberly Moffitt (Ph.D. ’00) dean and professor at the School of Communications, said the “55 for 55” concept took shape after Moffitt and Shenita Denson, chief of staff for the School of Communications, brainstormed on ways to best honor alumni. 

“I was clear I did not want to do a big gala and all the things that come with that,” said Moffitt, who was appointed dean in 2025. “I felt we could do something different. And since I am a newer dean, I said let’s do something different so that people can feel the difference in the leadership.” 

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Leading up to “55 for 55,” the school began embarking on a 10-city “5+5 Alumni Tour” of the top ten cities including Atlanta, New Orleans, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and other cities where communications alumni “live, work, or play.” The tour spans the academic year and inspires giving among alumni. 

The school is also promoting its 55th Anniversary Giving Campaign, inviting alumni, friends and supporters to help strengthen the school for future generations. 

“I’m trying to reconnect with alum so they know I’m here and leading differently,” Moffitt said. “One way we thought we could really envelop our alumni to bring them back to campus and reconnect with what we’re doing was to be able to honor folks who are really making a difference in the communications world and have had an impact on in a way that Howard should be proud of and that we recognize. We’ll celebrate these 55 individuals and what they’ve done to make Howard look good.” 

While the school has recognized individual alumni in the past, the school’s leadership believed “55 for 55” would resonate even more strongly by directly playing off the anniversary year.

Honorees Meet Firm Criteria 

The selected honorees represent generations of excellence across industries and communities, each contributing to CHSOC’s enduring legacy of telling the story and shaping the culture. 

Click here or click here to see the full list of honorees. 

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The process allowed anyone—including self-nominees—to submit for consideration. A small selection committee comprised of faculty and two alumni narrowed 120 nominations down to the final 55.

The selection committee evaluated nominees across five core areas:  

• Professional excellence: Demonstrated achievement in the field of communications 

• Impact on the field: Meaningful contributions that have advanced, influenced, or strengthened communications 

• Leadership and Innovation: Evidence of leadership, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, or scholarship 

• Embodiment of CHSOC’s Legacy:  Reflects the school’s commitment to Telling the Story, Shaping the Culture 

Tribute to a Legend 

Moffitt said the reception will give the honorees the red-carpet treatment they deserve during the event, complete with the school’s commemorative 55th anniversary pin and the honoree award. 

Quinn Conyers (B.A. ’08) will host the event, and SOC students will speak about how the school’s legacy influenced their decision to attend. Moffitt said returning alumni need to hear directly from current students' voices. Those students are sophomore scholar Nile Randolph, junior scholar Jailen Grant, and senior scholar Aniya Northern. 

Before the ceremony officially begins, Brown’s foundational legacy will be recognized, something Moffitt said must take place. 

“There is no 55 years without him being the inaugural and founding dean of the School of Communications. We will acknowledge him in that space even before we start the event because that’s where it starts, with his presence.”