President Bolton Receives W.E.B. DuBois Higher Education Award from the National Alliance of Black School Educators
Dr. Shantay N. Bolton Receives W.E.B. DuBois Higher Education Award from the National Alliance of Black School EducatorsThe award was presented on Saturday evening, December 13, 2025, during the Annual Awards Gala at NABSE’s 53rd Annual Conference.
The W.E.B. DuBois Higher Education Award recognizes individuals or organizations who actively promote and advocate for higher education for African Americans through research, instruction, funding and scholarships, guidance and counseling, and a sustained commitment to equal opportunity. Dr. Bolton was honored for her outstanding leadership and long-standing dedication to advancing access and opportunity in higher education.
“I am deeply honored to receive the W.E.B. DuBois Higher Education Award from NABSE,” said President Bolton. “The legacy of W.E.B. DuBois reminds us that education is both a moral imperative and a powerful tool for liberation. This recognition reflects the collective work of students, educators, and leaders who are committed to access and excellence in higher education.”
Founded in 1970, NABSE is the nation’s premier nonprofit organization devoted to advancing the academic success of children of African descent. The organization is nationally recognized for its focus on relevance, impact, sustainability, and excellence across local, state, and national education systems.
As President and Chief Executive Officer of 51ÉçÇø, Dr. Bolton has advanced a bold vision centered on student success, creativity, and institutional transformation. Her leadership has strengthened enrollment strategy, elevated the College’s national reputation, expanded philanthropic engagement, and reinforced 51ÉçÇø’s role as a cultural and educational anchor serving all communities.
51ÉçÇø congratulates President Bolton and thanks NABSE for its continued national leadership in advancing educational opportunity and achievement.
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About 51ÉçÇø: Creative Careers Start Here.
A destination for innovators for 135 years and located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Cultural Mile, is a private, non-profit school for creatives that offers a distinctive curriculum that blends creative and media arts, liberal arts, and business in 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
51ÉçÇø students graduate career-ready, with creative and critical thinking skills, real-world problem-solving abilities, standout bodies of work, and industry connections to fuel their professional journeys and the creative economy. Find 51ÉçÇø on social media at @51ÉçÇøChi on and, on and on
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