We've been quietly building for a while now, and we're glad to finally share it: YBAA has a brand new home online at yaleblackalumni.com.
For the first time in a while, it's all up to date in one place:
Huge thanks to Dr. Kristian Edwards '09, our DMV chapter lead. She started this initiative earlier this year and was a chief collaborator throughout. Thank you as well to everyone who built and maintained the YBAA website over the years, and to the volunteers keeping this one current. It takes a village, and I'm immensely grateful to all of you who have kept YBAA going for nearly two decades.
Take a look and let us know what you think. Find your city on the Chapters page, make sure your YAA profile is up to date if our emails aren't reaching you (or someone you know), or send us your news — a chapter recap, a milestone, a photo, or a blog post you want to write. With the new site, we'll be pushing updates more frequently and we want to hear from the community on what we should be including!
Yours in Black and Blue,
Five New Members Join the National Board
Please welcome the newest members of the YBAA National Board!
Their bios, and the rest of the board, are on the Leadership page.
Thank you to everyone who applied. There was far more interest than there were open seats, and the applications were a reminder of how much this community is willing to give. We will be following up in the near future as we continue to build out our committees and chapters.
Upcoming YBAA Events: A Central Park Picnic and One Last Send-Off
Two more gatherings before summer is out!
Blankets and Bulldogs: A YBAA NY Picnic & Potluck
Join the YBAA New York Chapter for a summer afternoon of great food, good vibes, and even better company at our summer picnic & potluck in Central Park! Bring a blanket, your favorite dish, snack, or dessert to share, and a beverage of choice (BYOB) as we gather to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new friends, and welcome new alumni. The exact location within Central Park will be shared closer to the event, so please RSVP below - come ready to relax, eat, and celebrate community together.
Virtual: Summer Send-Off 2
One more gathering to welcome new students heading to Yale, online, for members and family who could not make an in-person send-off.
Heading to the Vineyard? The Hustle List Has the Calendar
If Martha's Vineyard is on your August plans, The Hustle List has already done the work. Their guide tracks the island's Black summer calendar with dates, times, venues, prices, and where to buy, and it runs into September.
A few still to come:
Martha's Vineyard Soulfest and Greek Week both run August 15–22, and the Comedy Fest runs through August 21.
A Summer of Send-Offs and Chapter Gatherings
Between Summer Send-Offs for the Class of 2030 and chapters getting together on their own, July was filled with YBAA gatherings, including:
This summer gave us a few opportunities to connect. Send-Offs welcomed the Class of 2030, chapters picked up new members, and people exchanged stories about the paths that led them here. Welcome to everyone who showed up!
MiChaela Barker Named a 2026 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow
MiChaela Barker, SOM and YSPH '24, has been named a 2026 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow. This June, she became one of 120 women founders nationwide selected to join this dynamic community of entrepreneurs. The Foundation, created by fashion entrepreneur and philanthropist Tory Burch in 2009, supports women building businesses that last by providing access to community, expert resources, and strategic support. As the founder and CEO of Matcha Scrubs, she is representing the Yale community while joining a network working toward a bold goal of generating more than $1 billion in economic impact by 2030.
While at Yale, she founded Matcha Scrubs, an innovative healthcare apparel company creating patent-pending, satin-lined scrub caps designed to improve comfort, functionality, and inclusivity for healthcare professionals of all hair types and textures. Since launching in June 2025, Matcha Scrubs has grown to serve healthcare professionals across the country, established hospital partnerships, and received national recognition for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Matcha Scrubs is at matchascrubs.com, and @MatchaScrubs everywhere else.
Please join us in congratulating MiChaela!
Alicia Washington Elevated to Co-Chair at Pierson Ferdinand
Alicia Washington, YC '05 (Trumbull), was elevated on July 28 to Co-Chair of the White Collar Defense & Investigations practice group at Pierson Ferdinand LLP. She joined the firm a year ago after time as a federal prosecutor — including as Chief of the Criminal Division for the District of Maryland and an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York — and as a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Please join us in congratulating Alicia!
Save the Date: Elizabeth Alexander '84 at Beinecke, November 4
Elizabeth Alexander is Yale College '84, and she spent fifteen years on the faculty here, chairing the Department of African American Studies. Both the reading and the exhibition are free and open to the public.
2026 Mark Strand Memorial Reading: Elizabeth Alexander
The reading will be followed by a celebration at the library with members of the Cave Canem and Yale Poetry communities.
Cave Canem: A Home for Black Poetry
Cave Canem: A Home for Black Poetry celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the groundbreaking poetry collective founded in 1996 by poets Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady. Drawing on archival materials and poetry from the Cave Canem Records and from the literary papers of the two founding poets, collections now held by Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the exhibition explores the formation and progress of this influential and constantly growing organization.
Please direct any questions to Nancy Kuhl at nancy.kuhl@yale.edu.
Got Something to Celebrate?
This section is new, and we would like to keep it going. A new job or promotion, a degree, a book, a business, an award, a move, a milestone — if it matters to you, send it in!