Trauma, Truth, and Triumph: The Story of Charleston's International African American Museum

Trauma, Truth, and Triumph: Unvarnished Stories from Charleston's International African American Museum Header Image

• Presented by Hopkins at Home
• Featuring Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, SOM '06 (PhD), President and CEO of the International African American Museum (IAAM)

Join us for "Trauma, Truth, and Triumph: The Story of Charleston's International African American Museum", featuring Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, SOM '06 (PhD), President and CEO of the International African American Museum (IAAM). Located at the historically sacred Gadsden’s Wharf—where an estimated 40% of enslaved Africans first set foot in America—the IAAM opened in June 2023 and stands as a powerful tribute to resilience, remembrance, and reclamation.

In this virtual talk, Dr. Matthews will guide attendees through the Museum’s mission of authentic, empathetic storytelling and its groundbreaking Center for Family History—a resource that brings buried African American genealogies to light through archives, oral histories, webinars, and one-on-one consultations. Drawing from her unique background as a poet, engineer, and equity visionary, Dr. Matthews will share how trauma can be transformed into truth, and truth into triumph, as the IAAM continues to disrupt institutionalized racism and uplift individual and collective narratives.

Our conversation will be moderated by Brandon Ball, BUS '16 (MBA), President of the Johns Hopkins Society of Black Alumni (SOBA).

 

Learn more about Charleston, SC and visit the IAAM! 

This February, Hopkins Journeys will host an enriching travel opportunity where guests will explore the rich African American heritage of the city through exclusive tours, private lectures, and immersive cultural experiences. 
Click here to view the itinerary and register.

ABOUT Dr. Tonya M. Matthews
President & CEO, International African American Museum

Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, SOM '06 (PhD), is president and CEO of the International African American Museum (IAAM), which is located in Charleston, S.C. at the historically sacred site of Gadsden’s Wharf, one of our nation’s most prolific former slave ports.  As a champion of authentic, empathetic storytelling of American history, IAAM is one of the nation’s newest platforms for the disruption of institutionalized racism as America continues the walk toward “a more perfect union.” 

A thought-leader in inclusive frameworks, social entrepreneurship, and education, Matthews has written articles and book chapters across these varied subjects. She is founder of The STEMinista Project, a movement to engage girls in their future with STEM careers. Matthews is also a poet and is included in 100 Best African American Poems (2010), edited by Nikki Giovanni. Matthews received her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and her B.S.E. in engineering from Duke University, alongside a certificate in African/African American Studies. 

ABOUT Brandon Ball, BUS '16
President, Johns Hopkins Society of Black Alumni (SOBA)

Brandon Ball, BUS '16 (MBA), is an innovation strategist and consultant with experience across the public and private sectors. He is the Co-Founder and Design & Brand Experience Director at Ball-N-Co., an Atlanta-based design and brand experience firm specializing in strategy, immersive experiences, and storytelling. He is a graduate of the Design Leadership MBA program between Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). He is one of the first African American male graduates of this dual degree program, and as an alum, gives back to students of color by teaching courses in design thinking and mentoring. Brandon also earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. 

 Event Date
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Start Time: 9:00am EDT
End Time: 10:00am EDT

 Location
Virtual Livestream

Hopkins at Home
Livestream

 Contact
Office of Alumni Relations
Joe Letourneau
Lifelong Learning
(800) JHU-JHU1
hopkinsathome@jhu.edu

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