Oct. 2, 2009

For Immediate Release

Receiving awards from Campbellsville University were from left: Front row - Dr. Lincoln Bingham, Dr. Betty Griffin and Delquan Dorsey. Others making the presentation and in attendance at the presentation were from left: Back row - Dr. Frank Cheatham, Dr. Jay Conner, Ava Bingham Reynolds, Otto Tennant and the Rev. John Chowning. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY HONORS GRIFFIN, DORSEY WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University awarded two African-American Community Leadership Awards to Dr. Betty Griffin, chief executive officer of The Griffin Group; and Delquan Dorsey Sr., executive director of the Governor's Office of Minority Empowerment, at a luncheon Sept. 30 in the Chowning Executive Dining Room of the Winters Dining Hall.

The awards were presented by Dr. Jay Conner, chair of the CU Board of Trustees; Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs; and John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president.

Chowning pointed out that both serve with him on the Kentucky Long Term Policy Research Center Board.

He said, “Dr. Betty Griffin's consulting company was contracted to analyze diversity at CU and one of the things they found was that we were not telling our story.”

CU Board Chairman Jay Conner spoke briefly to the group to say how proud he was to be working alongside them.

“I'm proud that we have one of the few African-American head football coaches in the NAIA. That is quite an accomplishment,” Conner said.

Conner said Perry Thomas was “hired not just because he is black, but because he is an outstanding coach with outstanding character and devotion to developing Christian athletes.”

Larry Martin, missions consultant with the Kentucky Baptist Convention, showed a print of Dr. Lincoln Bingham, senior pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church at Shively Heights in Louisville, which was presented to CU and announced that a documentary of Bingham's life is being made for television.

Bingham was honored at the luncheon with the Campbellsville University Leadership Award.

Griffin is a former director of the Kentucky Beginning Teacher Internship Program. Honored as “Who's Who Among Black Americans,” “Outstanding Young Women of America,” Danford Fellow and African-American Adult Achiever of the Year by the Lexington Young Men's Christian Association.

Griffin is a former president of the National Forum of Black Public Administrators, Bluegrass Chapter.

She is a former member of the Governor's Commission of Vocational Education and Governor's Commission on Black Affairs, state of Oregon.

Her volunteer service includes the Governors Scholars Program; Urban League, Lexington; Girl Scouts Program, Louisville; and the National Council on Negro Women.

Griffin completed the following postgraduate training: Executive Leadership Training, Harvard University, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Texas at Austin.

Dorsey is the former director of network organizing for Making Connections in Louisville, a previous policy advisor for former Jefferson County Commissioner Darryl T. Owens and the assistant state coordinator for the NAACP Voter Empowerment Program.

Dorsey is the second person to be appointed to CU's Louisville Center Board of Visitors.

He provides leadership to the African-American community and worships at the Bates Memorial Baptist Church.

Some of Dorsey's involvements includes the board of directors of Kentuckiana Minority Business Council and as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

He has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.

He is married to Shealonda Dorsey, and they have two sons, Delquan Jr. and Destin, and reside in Louisville.

Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2010 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 23rd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and fourth in “up-and-coming” schools in the south. CU has been ranked 17 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges® and to G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his 11th year as president.   

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