The history of the Chancellor's Advisory Commitee on African American Recruitment & Retention

The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on African-American Recruitment and Retention (CACAARR), was founded in 1985.  In April of that year, collegiate members of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and their key advisors met with Chancellor Marchello to express concerns about recruitment and retention programs for African-American students at UMR (now known as Missouri S&T). This historical meeting generated the inception of CACAARR through the direction of interim Chancellor John Park and the newly selected Chancellor Martin Jischke at that time.  We are grateful for the courageous actions of these original members and their accomplishment for establishing a platform to voice concerns about African-American students directly to the Chancellor and his delegated staff.  In addition to raising the much needed awareness, key members of this original committee and the unselfish commitment of alumni lead a fierce scholarship drive in the fall of 1988 which generated $10,000 in less than six weeks to endow the Martin Luther King Scholarship.  Through the gifts of several partnering employers such as matching gifts this fund grew to over $100,000 in four short years after it was established.

Founding and original members:

Eugene D. Jackson, '67, Lawrence C. George, Roscoe R. McWilliams, '72, Larry E. Goodwin, '71; Wayne C. Harvey, '69; Gregory D. McClain, '72; Zebulun Nash, '72; Veo Peoples, '70; Bennie Young III, '86, Charles L. Casteel, '70; David B. Price, Jr., '68; Louis W. Smith, '66; Robert F. Henry, ’79; Natalie J. Jackson, ’81; Charles B. McField, ’80; Robert R. Morrison, ’71; David B. Price, ’68; Gregory D. Skannal, ’85; Melanie A. Tindley, ’85; and student representatives Sheila G. Williams, '85; and Joseph Williams, '89