Inaugural Black Excellence Award Presented to Undergraduate Pathways Director Reuben Burnley

Reuben Burnley, director of undergraduate pathways at Dominican University is the first recipient of the Center for Cultural Liberation’s Black Excellence Award.

The award was created to recognize a staff member, faculty member or community partner who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship and community service while elevating inclusion and access to education and resources for Black and African American students at Dominican.

“Leader, mentor, innovator, intellectual, visionary and dedicated are some of the ways that Reuben and his work were described by members of the Dominican University community,” a statement from the CCL said.

Burnley was presented with the award during the Black Achievements Ceremony on April 25 at Dominican.

“It’s very shocking and very humbling to receive this award,” Burnley acknowledged. “It’s an award I wasn’t expecting, knowing there are other faculty and staff members out there I feel are more deserving, but I do appreciate receiving it.”

Burnley has worked in university admissions at Dominican for 16 years and in his current role for the last year. As director of undergraduate pathways, Burnley works to recruit future students who are part of college enrichment programs within local high schools and nationwide.

His job involves visiting high schools and community-based organizations that support students. Here, he gives presentations on Dominican and talks about the admissions process. He also hosts a Community-Based Organization Day where organizations bring high school students to campus to hear from various representatives of Dominican programs, as well as current students. This partnership has been beneficial in enrolling new students, Burnley noted.

Additionally, Burnley recruits students for Dominican’s Pillars Scholarship, which offsets tuition and housing costs for Black and African American students, and for the Dream.US organization scholarship, which helps undocumented students attend college.

“Seeing and hearing from students is the most gratifying part of my work,” Burnley said. “It's also hearing about their successes, like learning they are finishing up law school at Northwestern, or that they have gone on to medical school, are practicing as ER doctors in New York, or are running a business.”

Among Dominican students, Black excellence encompasses many things, Burnley says, but one important area is student visibility through participation and involvement. He points to Black and African American students showcasing their research and special projects during the recent Scholarship and Ideas Expo as one example.

“It’s being there, being representative and being able to be a role model,” Burnley said. “Students don’t think they are role models for faculty and staff, but sometimes they are, just by the things they are doing.”

Helping to continue the work of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters at Dominican is a source of pride for Burnley.

“It brings joy just knowing the work the Sisters have done for this institution,” he said. “You feel like you have to pay it forward to keep their legacy going.”