Dr. Albert “Al” Broussard, a professor in the Department of History at Texas A&M University, has been recognized with the 2023 Kevin R. Carreathers Award for Impact and Service for his dedication to quality education and the experience of Black Aggies at Texas A&M.
Named after Kevin Carreathers, former director of the Department of Multicultural Services at Texas A&M and founder of the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference, this award is a way to acknowledge individuals like Broussard who have worked hard to improve the quality of education for Black students.
Broussard was presented with the award on Saturday, Nov. 4, during the 4th Annual Aggie Impact Gala at Ford Hall of Champions in Kyle Field. Both the event and the award are sponsored by the Black Former Student Network.
“I was honored and incredibly grateful to receive such a prestigious award named after someone that I have worked with during his nearly two decades of employment at Texas A&M in the Office of Multicultural Services,” Broussard said in response to the prize.
Broussard, an activist and professor of African-American history, joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1984 to develop courses on Black history. Today, these courses have reached high numbers of enrollment, Broussard said.
During his time at Texas A&M, Broussard co-founded the Africana Studies minor and was a part of the decision to create the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute. He also served as a former president of the African American Professional Organization and the faculty advisor for the Texas A&M NAACP Chapter.
“This award means that former students, staff and faculty have recognized my teaching and services to students of all races and nationalities at Texas A&M since my arrival in 1985, and that I have had a positive impact on many of their lives,” Broussard said.
In addition to his dedication to the university, Broussard has also been an active member of the Bryan-College Station community and has spent his time here promoting diversity and inclusion. He has taken on leadership roles in several areas of community involvement and co-founded the Brazos Valley African American Museum with his wife Mary.
“Since the time I arrived in College Station, I have made inroads in the Black communities in Bryan and College Station as well as the small Black communities on the Texas A&M campus,” Broussard said. “It has been a challenge, for sure, but the reward always outweighs the effort.”