African-American trailblazers (pictured: Cecil Youngblood, George Williams. Erica Daniels, Ron WatsonOn Oct. 4 in Grace’s Place (named for Grace Ousley, the first African-American woman to graduate from Beloit College in 1904) sat four trailblazers in their own right: the first Black Dean of Students (Cecil Youngblood), the first Black tenured professor (George Williams), the first Black Chief of Staff (Erica Daniels), and the first Black political science professor (Ron Watson).

During Tuesday night’s discussion, they all shared their stories of “Living History” and what it takes to occupy new spaces on the campus of Beloit College.