Illinois Wesleyan’s partnership with the Posse program is set to end around its tenth anniversary, in 2027. Right before Posse’s class of 2027 was to be welcomed onto Illinois Wesleyan’s campus, this was announced in an email sent by former university President Georgia Nugent on June 30, 2023.
This correspondence was sent out the day after news broke of a Supreme Court ruling where affirmative action was ruled a violation of “the Equal Protection Clase” and “Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
Posse is a scholarship and outreach organization whose New Orleans Chapter started their relationship with Illinois Wesleyan in 2017.
Since its inception in 1989, Posse has offered over 13,000 students surrounding their ten recruitment cities four years of full tuition, mentorship, retreats, leadership training and job opportunities. Posse’s funding comes form grants funded by private organizations and donors, such as Wesleyans $375,000 five-year grant from the Tortora Silcox Family Foundation for their Posse partnership.
After being elected for the scholarship, students attended meetings that introduced them to Posse and began the interview process. Hundreds are nominated, with only dozens being chosen per city.
Prior to the third and final round of interviews, prospected Posse scholars needed to apply and be accepted to a partnered university such as Illinois Wesleyan. For applicants, this process coincides with high school graduation.
”It was like working a full-time job while going to high school. I had to find a way to get to the meetings and find my way back. I left when the sun was up, and got home when the sun went down,” Demond McDonald ‘25, a member of Posse-4, said.
In the email Nugent detailed the future of Diversity and Inclusion at Illinois Wesleyan. She condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling
and criticized other universities’ choices of dismantling the entirety of their Diversity and Inclusion departments, such as the University of Missouri.“ IWU is strengthening our commitment,” Nugent said.
She explained in a diversity report written by alumni and board member Derrick Tillman-Kelly ‘09 in 2021, he had offered ten recommendations for the future of diversity and inclusion at Wesleyan. One of which was, “to examine the university’s relationship with the Posse Foundation.”
In the email, this was cited as what may have led the University’s decision not to renew a partnership with Posse. Nugent explained the program will receive funding through the class of 2027. After, the funds will be allocated to other scholarship organizations such as The Chicago Scholars Program, Niche and Greenlight Match.
Although seemingly directed as a response to the new legislation, Sharla Brown-Ajayi, the Student Advancement Officer and the Posse Liaison, contests this.
“We had to let people know we understand this is terrible timing, but it does not have anything to do with the Supreme Court ruling,” Brown-Ajayi said. “A lot of us were disappointed that the partnership was not going to continue.”
The Posse organization placed value on leadership over any other quality it bolsters, through factors like their prestigious selection process.
Eligibility for Posse has a sole focus on merit, without consideration of need or background. “I think it’s a great opportunity,” Brown-Ajayi said.
“It’s a leadership program. And to know the extent of how all posse scholars – whether they are from Posse New Orleans or Posse Boston, – have to go through a really rigorous application process and interview process.”
The organization emphasizes internally to scholars that it is not a “minority scholarship” –with any type of person being eligible for nomination, and hard work being the reason.
The public facing ‘diversity and inclusion’ marketing by Universities can help in fabricating this misinterpretation about the scholarship being a ‘golden ticket’, when in actuality it is a catalyst for the already successful– leaving Posse to justify to their scholars these optics behind-the-scenes.
“No one is a monolith,” Brown-Ajayi said. “There’s a difference. There’s diversity, richness and depth in all cultures. I don’t like people being pigeonholed just because of how they look. And not just here, but anywhere in our entire society.”
Brown-Ajaya said, “We have a saying, ‘Posse Love’. I love the Posse program and it is emotional. It’s sad to see it go.
“The scholars who come through that program are outstanding. I think posse leaves a great legacy for our campus because of our scholars. Because of those students.”
Kaysha Molizone ‘27 is a part of the final class of Posse students, Posse-7. Before her nomination for the scholarship she started suicide awareness week at her high school, interned at a local hospital, was a beta club member and a teacher assistant for psychology.
“I’m devastated about the University’s decision to end the Posse scholarship on campus. I can confidently say, having the guidance of a Posse mentor, alongside my Posse, has greatly bettered me as a student. I’m sad to see the program go and I hope the school will revisit their decision on ending Posse.” Molizone said.