Ruth T. Sheffey, PhD, the second longest-serving faculty member at Morgan State University and a renowned scholar in literature, was honored by Gov. Martin O’Malley and First Lady Katie O’Malley at the 2012 Black History Month reception Feb. 23 at Government House.
The event, held in conjunction with the Maryland Legislative black Caucus and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, annually brings together prominent African-American business owners, elected officials, national, state and local NAACP representatives, faith leaders, professionals, HBCU presidents, labor union representatives, Black fraternity and sorority representatives.
The 85-year-old Sheffey, an expert in 18th century British literature and Shakespeare, a professor of advanced composition and the founder of the Zora Neale Hurston Society, which revived interest in and the study of the writer, was honored for her 62 years as a faculty member at Morgan and for her contributions to the field of education.
Many of Sheffey’s former students have gone on to become major contributors to American society, including a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, the Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, head speech writer for a U.S. president, a nationally acclaimed singer and numerous academic leaders.
Among those on hand to honor Sheffey were: Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley, Anthony Lewis, Verizon vice president for the Mid Atlantic Region, Anthony Lewis, Afro Charities president and CEO Diane Bell-McCoy, Morgan State University President Dr. David Wilson, Dr, Charles Simmons, President of Sojourner-Douglass College and Rev. Duane Kay of First Baptist Church in North Brentwood, Prince Georges County.
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) sets the annual national theme for Black History Month and dedicated the 2012 celebration to exploring the roles and contributions of African American women in the making of America, from the American Revolution to the present.
“In our One Maryland, our diversity is what makes us stronger as a people. It’s a hallmark of who we are and who we’ve always been as Marylanders,” O’Malley said. “If there is a common thread running through our efforts together as a people, it is the thread of human dignity; the dignity of work, the dignity of a home, the dignity of family and the dignity of every individual.”