The month of April is dedicated to acknowledging black women’s success, triumphs and milestones. While Black Women’s History Month is a celebration that few are aware of, the celebration is alive and well. 

Sam Houston State University is home to extraordinary black women that have impacted the community greatly. Bernadette Pruitt, a professor with the university since 1996, was the first black woman to earn a doctorate in history from the University of Houston. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in journalism with a history minor and her Master of Arts in history, both at Texas Southern University. With all of these accomplishments, she continues to educate students at SHSU full time. Not only are her academic achievements outstanding, but she has also taken part in numerous publications surrounding African American history.

Faculty members Aneika Simmons and Tiffany Driver are also notable names to mention from SHSU. Aneika Simmons is a professor of management, a public speaker and an author. She specializes in organizational behavior, human resources, leadership development, team dynamics, interpersonal relationships and principles of management. Simmons has published books and articles covering topics such as gender roles in management and creativity research while holding three degrees under her name from Texas A&M University, University of Houston and the University of Texas at Austin. 

Tiffany Driver is Assistant Director of Sam Houston ELITE, a department designed to support and coordinate minority retention. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from SHSU and a master’s degree in higher education with an emphasis in higher education administration from Abilene Christian University.

While their jobs seem vastly different, their impact and purpose remain the same. They are continuously making a difference in the lives of young black women that attend SHSU.

Black Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the extraordinary black women who have paved the way for black culture to thrive. Artists like Beyoncé, visionaries like Maya Angelou, wives like Coretta Scott King and educators like Bernadette Pruitt, Aneika Simmons and Tiffany Driver have made a tremendous impact on the lives around them, and their success deserves to be applauded and recognized.

For this reason, we celebrate April by uplifting black women that have the power to influence and touch an endless amount of souls.