This article is part of a series focusing on the grads of the 麻豆社 Class of 2025. Spring Convocation takes place May 30 and from June 9-19 in Halifax and Truro. Read all our profiles听here in one place听as they are published.
This spring, 麻豆社 marks a historic milestone as the first graduates of its Black and African Diaspora Studies (BAFD) major cross the Convocation stage.
As James Dixon and Portia Wright celebrate alongside family, friends, and the Dal community, they鈥檒l walk not only for themselves, but for a program rooted in years of vision, advocacy, and community strength.
The major was heralded as a big step forward when it launched in fall 2023 as one of the first programs of its kind in Canada. The graduation of Dixon and Wright marks an important personal achievement, but it鈥檚 also a landmark moment for 麻豆社 that will serve as a call to future scholars driven to explore Canada鈥檚 long-overlooked Black and African Nova Scotian history, heritage, and culture.
Meet James and Portia, the first of many BAFD scholars to come.
James Dixon, Arts and Social Sciences
James Dixon didn鈥檛 see much of a future for himself or a clear path towards success while in high school, so to be graduating from 麻豆社 this spring with a double major in Black and African Diaspora Studies (BAFD) and Philosophy feels like a huge accomplishment.
After the death of a close friend in high school, James struggled but found strength in family, friends, and faith. Encouraged by a school advisor, he enrolled in Dal鈥檚 Transition Year Program (TYP).
鈥淗e saw something in me and believed TYP could give me a real chance,鈥� says James. 鈥淚 found a sense of belonging there almost immediately. The classroom became a safe and inspiring space.鈥�
That year changed my life
He says many of the people he met in the TYP are still close friends and colleagues today. 鈥淭hat year changed my life 鈥� and once I found my footing in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, I kept building.鈥�
Finding home and purpose
James grew up primarily with his mother in Bedford, N.S., but spent a lot of time with his father and siblings in nearby North Preston. He recounts memories of living 鈥榰p home鈥� as a kid, but most of his upbringing was shaped by life 鈥榦ver town鈥� with his mother in a single-parent household.
鈥淭hat experience played a big role in how I鈥檝e come to understand identity, responsibility, and community,鈥� he says.
James explored different offerings in FASS, but it wasn鈥檛 until he started taking philosophy courses that he found a discipline that truly resonated with him and gave him the tools to think critically. Still, he struggled in some of the more rigidly Western-focused classes and began questioning his path.
It was right around the same time that Dr. Isaac Saney announced the launch of a major in the Black and African Diaspora Studies program, previously offered only as a minor.
It was like someone finally turned the lights on
鈥淚t was like someone finally turned the lights on,鈥� James says. 鈥淚 immediately redeclared and took on the double major.鈥�
In those final years, he says he excelled academically, spiritually, and culturally.
A voice validated
James鈥檚 academic progress was recognized this year when he learned an essay he鈥檇 written was selected as the winner of the 2025 Mushkat Memorial Essay Prize 鈥斕齛 contest within the FASS Essay Competition.
听鈥淭he Reality of Race: Critiquing Logical Positivism through the Lens of Africana Philosophy,鈥� a paper he had written for a philosophy class, earned him the $7,000 prize in a competition that initially felt like a longshot.
鈥淚t was personal, passionate, and academic all at once,鈥� says James, of his paper. 鈥淲hen I found out I鈥檇 been chosen, I was genuinely overwhelmed. It wasn鈥檛 just validation of the essay 鈥� it was validation of my voice, my intellect, and my right to be in spaces that often don鈥檛 expect us to thrive.鈥�
Scholar, artist, changemaker
Being one of the first two students 鈥� along with Portia Wright from the Faculty of Science 鈥� to graduate with a Black and African Diaspora Studies major is 鈥渋ncredibly meaningful and deeply personal,鈥� says James.
鈥淔or Black students, it offers a space where we鈥檙e not just objects of study, but subjects with voices, agency, and lived wisdom. And for all students, it鈥檚 an opportunity to confront the gaps and silences that traditional disciplines often overlook. Studying BAFD doesn鈥檛 just make you smarter 鈥� it makes you more rooted, more aware, and more human.鈥�
He adds that the program didn鈥檛 just affirm his identity but also gave it depth and direction.
鈥淧ortia and I are proof that this program matters 鈥� not just to us, but to every Black and African Nova Scotian student who deserves to see themselves reflected in what they study.鈥�
I want to stay connected to my community, continue speaking truth, and create platforms for others to do the same
In addition to finding his niche in academia, James balanced school with producing hip-hop and R&B music, working part-time jobs on campus as a tutor and mentor with the TYP, and off campus in the local restaurant industry. He also co-founded 鈥� a grassroots campaign raising funds for community initiatives.
鈥淏alancing all of it wasn鈥檛 always easy, but I learned how to view my time like currency,鈥� he says.
James plans to continue his charity work, explore graduate studies, and stay active in music and creative projects.
鈥淚 want to stay connected to my community, continue speaking truth, and create platforms for others to do the same,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hatever comes next with the many doors I鈥檝e opened for myself, I know it will be grounded in purpose.鈥�
鈥� Genevieve MacIntyre
Portia Wright, Science
Though Portia Wright鈥檚 undergraduate journey did not begin at Dal, it will end with her crossing the 麻豆社 Arts Centre stage as a milestone graduate with a double major in Black and African Diaspora Studies (BAFD) and Psychology uniquely suited to her future career plans.
Born and raised in Dartmouth with roots in the historic African Nova Scotian communities of Beechville, Lincolnville, and Africville, Portia ventured outside of the Halifax Regional Municipality to begin an undergraduate science degree but admits she didn鈥檛 feel at home.
鈥淭here were not a lot of Black students or a big Black community,鈥� she says of her first year. Portia opted to transfer to Dal for her second year, a decision that proved to be the right choice, both personally and academically.
I found the Black community at Dal was so welcoming
鈥淚 found the Black community at Dal was so welcoming,鈥� she says, praising the opportunities available on campus and through the Faculty of Science. Over the summers, she worked with Black youth through and as lead counsellor with the long-running Black Educators Association鈥檚 麻豆社 Math Camp. The latter felt like a 鈥渇ull circle moment鈥� for Portia, who participated in the camp when she was 13.
Combining her passions
As a self-proclaimed 鈥渟ensitive person who is into discussing feelings and emotions,鈥� Portia knew in high school that she wanted to study psychology. Her discovery of BAFD, then available only as a minor, happened somewhat by accident after taking a course with Dr. Isaac Saney, who was in the process of developing the major.
鈥淚saac was so passionate about the program that I felt I should at least look into it,鈥� she says.
Though planning to focus on psychology, Portia realized she had already taken many of the courses required to major in BAFD when it launched in fall 2023, so a double major was possible. An added benefit was the freedom BAFD provided, compared to the more structured upper-year psychology courseload.
鈥淚t felt like I was taking classes I genuinely enjoyed that I could coincidentally make a major out of,鈥� she says, referencing courses like Philosophy and the Black Experience (PHIL 2165) and Philosophy of Race (PHIL 4700), both taught by Dr. Chike Jeffers.
鈥淭hey really helped to stretch my thinking of what it means to be a Black person, what is race, how was the idea of race born, is it a tangible thing?鈥�
She recommends that any student looking for an elective consider taking a course in Black and African Diaspora Studies.
They really helped to stretch my thinking of what it means to be a Black person
鈥淭he things you learn are not just about African Nova Scotians or African Canadians. It covers so many issues that still exist to this day that deserve to have a light shined on them.鈥�
While psychology and BAFD represent very different subject areas, Portia feels both majors will complement her aspirations of becoming a counselling therapist, especially given her interest in working with Black youth.听While she is graduating, she won鈥檛 be leaving Dal behind. She will begin a Bachelor of Social Work this fall.
Pushing to the finish line
Knowing she could be among Dal鈥檚 first BAFD graduates helped power Portia through the final year of her studies. 鈥淚t was a big motivator to push me toward the end of my degree,鈥� she says.
听With the hard work behind her, she is looking forward to experiencing Convocation with her friends and family, 鈥減eople who have known me since the very beginning of my journey and seen the highs and lows of my university career.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to share the moment with them.鈥�
-Kenneth Conrad