Howard University is rolling out a masterclass in honor of Chadwick Boseman, Dr. Wayne A. I Frederick, the university’s president, told TMZ. Boseman actually designed and pitched the program, and signed paperwork to get it started before his passing.
The masterclass template will help students at the fine arts college delve deeper into their specific fields of study through engagements with industry professionals, who can put life into the theories they study by sharing their real-life experiences with the students.
These professionals will serve as guest lecturers from time to time and their classes will be weaved into the campus coursework for the fine arts students.
Frederick said it is no surprise that Boseman pitched the masterclass idea which was supported by his mentor and former alum now named the new Dean of the fine arts college, Phylicia Rashad.
Boseman would have been very hands-on with the project since it is technically his baby if he were to be alive but as Rashad will be spearheading the initiative, Frederick trusts that The Chadwick Boseman-inspired masterclass will serve its aim of helping the students at the college.
This announcement comes barely a week after the HBCU named their newly refurbished college of fine arts after the Black Panther star. The decision was made based on a petition by students of the historically Black university. The students’ petition was based on Boseman’s fight against the consolidation of the school while he was a student there.
The Boseman family released a statement of gratitude to Howard while pointing to the departed actor’s contributions to the university.
“Chad fought to preserve the College of Fine Arts during his matriculation at Howard and remained dedicated to the fight throughout his career, and he would be overjoyed by this development.” the statement read. It also said Howard University was responsible for the actor’s commitment to truth, “integrity and a determination to transform the world through the power of storytelling”.
