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 Special
Founder's Day Message from
Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe/October 17, 2011
On
October
17, 1990 at the rapturous
age of 29, I began what continues to
be an amazing journey since
establishing the first chapter of
SAAB at Georgia Southwestern State
University to address the academic
and societal needs of the African
American males on that campus.
As we mark our
21st anniversary, I would like to
express my appreciation and
gratitude to the thousands of
students, advisors and SAAB alums
along with our many friends and
partners. Thank you all for your
hard work, commitment, dedication
and Prayers! You have all aided in
helping to grow SAAB from that small
foundation laid forth 21 years ago
to become one of the country’s best
practices and model initiative in
addressing the many challenges and
ills impacting males of color in our
nation today.
We still have
a long way to go as we continue the
much needed work to transform and
graduate males of color while at the
same time helping our country to
rebuild an economy that can compete
on a global stage. I am confident
that SAAB will experience
exponential growth and make a
substantial impact in educational
and economic equality to be
witnessed within my lifetime. |
Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe resides in
Toledo, Ohio. He was born and raised in Grenada, Mississippi. He received his Bachelor
of Arts Degree and Master’s of
Education degree from Mississippi State University. He earned
his
Ph.D. in Counseling
and Student Affairs Administration from the
University of Georgia; and was
chosen as the Outstanding
Doctoral Student in the State of Georgia and was
most recently recognized as the Outstanding Doctoral Alumnus
by the University of Georgia.
Recently, he served as Vice President for Student Life and
Special Assistant to the President at The University of Toledo
but has now transitioned temporarily to the role of Executive
Director of the SAAB National Headquarters. He is the founder
of the Student African American Brotherhood Organization (SAAB),
which is a national organization established to enhance the
experiences of and instill a “spirit of care” in African
American males in high schools, colleges and universities around
the country. He is a contributing author of recently released
book “African American
Men in College”, Jossey-Bass Publisher.
 He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and is very
active in the arena of higher education. He is highly
recognized by several professional associations for his
research, publications, presentations and scholarly work. In
1999, he was invited to Oxford, England to serve as a guest
lecturer to discuss his work with
African
American males at the Oxford University Roundtable Institute,
which is sponsored by the British Council. Recently, he was
invited to join an international research team to address issues
around men of color in Europe, Trinidad, Barbados and the
Bahamas. Also, he has appeared on talk shows such as “Perfect
Union” hosted by Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. to discuss his
work involving African American and Latino Males.
He is deemed as one of the most gifted and dynamic
motivational speakers by the thousands who have heard him speak. Recently, he
was chosen as one of the most outstanding social innovators in the world by the
Ashoka International Organization. He is a very spiritual and thought-provoking
lecturer. And most importantly to him, he is the father of one adult son, Tyrone
Bledsoe,
Jr.
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