College Ambassador

Community Health Minor in Spanish

Janai Shockley is an undergraduate student at Indiana University Bloomington, studying Community Health and Spanish on the premedical track. Currently, Janai serves on the executive boards of IU's BSU and Essence Hip Hop Dance Team. Janai advocates for social justice and serves in her community through organizations like CLD, Faith in Indiana, and Eastern Star Church. She plans to continue her passion for service as a medical professional.

College Ambassador

Pre-Law Political Science Major, Minor is AAADs LinkedIn

My name is Imani Chambers and I am a Sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington. I am a Hutton Honors College Student who is a Pre-Law Political Science Major with a Minor in African American African Diaspora Studies through the College of Arts and Sciences. As President of the NAACP IUB Chapter, I am able to continue the fight for social justice and work toward brining change on IU's campus. FBL, Inc. is an organization that promotes the continuous growth for our Black students within our communities and is a movement that I knew I had to be apart of to continue the necessity of intergenerational leadership for our youth.

College Ambassador

Law and Public Policy Minor: African American & African Diaspora Studies LinkedIn

I am a Sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington studying law and public policy with a minor in African American & African Diaspora Studies. I am originally from Indianapolis, IN. In my free time I enjoy reading,journaling,listening to music, and going to the gym. I am the Freshman Action Team Advisor for the Black Student Union as well as the Event Coordinator for IU Campus Curls and Coils. A fun fact about me: I have 7 siblings.

College Ambassador

Cybersecurity & Global Policy| Minor: Fashion Design LinkedIn

My name is A.b. Sako, and I am a Sophomore at Indiana University studying CyberSecurity and Global Policy with a Minor in fashion design as well. Im a passionate content creator with a love for music, fashion, and spreading joy. I craft engaging visuals and stories, compose music, and express my unique style. I'm dedicated to bringing happiness to others through my infectious enthusiasm. I'm also a car enthusiast, always seeking new adventures. My mission is to inspire creativity and happiness in everything I do.

College Ambassador

Sana Saleh

Marketing and International Business

Hello, my name is Sana Saleh. I am a sophomore at Indiana University studying marketing and international business. I recognize the current need and seek to connect with like-minded peers for impactful change and education advocacy. FBL, Inc. is not only a non-profit addressing social issues for Black students in universities and schools but also creates fun and enjoyable environments which are programs I love to surround myself in.

College Ambassador

Community Health and Pre Nursing LinkedIn

Hey! My name is Chris White and I am a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington studying Community Health and Pre/Nursing. Growing up I always took the initiative to be the change so being apart FBL and uplifting Black Communities that would lead them to endeavors that we as black people may not be often seen in is my passion! I’m the activities coordinator for STEM Outreach. I enjoy getting out of my comfort zone and traveling!

College Ambassador

Clinical Psychology LinkedIn

Treasure Sparkling (19) is a rising Junior at Indiana University Bloomington where she is currently in a Bachelor of Science program for Clinical Psychology through the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a Hudson and Holland Scholar, an executive board member of the Indiana University Black Student Union and an executive board member of the IU Women of Color Leadership Institute. Following undergrad, Treasure hopes to specialize in Child/ Adolescent Psychology and/ or addiction and rehabilitation counseling and eventually open her own private practice.

1893

Preston Eagleson, BA 1896, MA 1906, became the first African American to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Indiana University. According to local newspapers, Eagleson, who played football for three seasons, was a “standout on the field” despite the racial prejudice he faced. He would later become the first Black student to graduate from IU with an advanced degree—a master of arts in philosophy

1895

Marcellus Neal, BA 1895, was the first Black student to graduate from Indiana University. He was on campus at the same time as Preston Eagleson, and it’s likely the two were acquainted, but according to the 1895 Arbutus, Neal spent much of his free time with the Married Folks’ Club.

1900

J.B. Stradford, JD 1900, was the first Black graduate of the IUPUI Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He went on to become a founding member of “Black Wall Street,” a section of Tulsa, Okla., where he opened a hotel and owned large tracts of land.

1919

Frances Marshall Eagleson, BA 1919, was the first Black woman to graduate from Indiana University. Because of this accomplishment, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center was named in honor of her and Marcellus Neal in 2002.

Frances, the daughter-in-law of Preston Eagleson, went on to become a sought-after registrar

1949

Bill Garrett, BS’51, was the first Black basketball player to land a spot on the Hoosiers’ roster and regularly play in the Big Ten conference. In June 2020, the intramural center on the IU Bloomington campus was renamed in his honor.

1949

George Taliaferro, BS’51—well remembered for his role in the desegregation of Bloomington, Ind.—was the first Black player drafted into the NFL. He was originally picked up by the Chicago Bears, but a prior contract with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference prevented him from playing. He would later begin his NFL career with the New York Yanks.

1957

Milton “Milt” G. Campbell Sr., ’57, was the first African American to win Olympic gold in the decathlon. Campbell was a senior in high school when he won his first Olympic medal, the silver in the decathlon at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, Campbell earned the gold medal.

At IU, he was an NCAA champion in the high hurdles and a standout for the football team.

1959

Nancy Streets-Lyons, BA’62, was the first Black student to be crowned Miss Indiana University. In 2013, she returned to IU Bloomington for the first time in more than 50 years. The hours she spent on campus were documented by Charles Scudder, BAJ’14, a former Indiana Daily Student reporter.

1961

Just a year after Nancy Streets-Lyons made headlines across the country, Thomas Atkins, BA’61, was elected the first Black student body president of IU and a Big Ten university. His legacy lives on through the Thomas I. Atkins Living-Learning Center, located in the Forest Quadrangle Residence Hall on the IU Bloomington campus.

1988

Juanita Kidd Stout, JD’48, LLM’54, LLD’66, made her mark on history by becoming the first Black woman in the country to serve as a state supreme court justice. In 2019, more than 30 years after her death, she became the first African American woman with a professorship named in her honor at Indiana University.