WATERBURY, Conn. – (August 19, 2023) – Post University is thrilled to announce associate faculty member and alumna Akia S. Callum, M.Ed., has been named among the 2023 “Women of Inspiration” by the Connecticut Sun. Recipients will be celebrated in a special pregame reception at the August 31 game against the Phoenix Mercury.
The annual event and its awards recognize achievement and hard work, and acknowledges the potential that every woman has to create positive change in society. Additional honorees include “Good Morning America” Co-Anchor Robin Roberts, Community Speaks Out Co-Founder Tammy De La Cruz and social justice advocate and educator Jen Fry.
“I’m humbled and grateful to be recognized by the Connecticut Sun,” said Callum. “As the daughter of immigrants, being a woman of inspiration means embodying strength, resilience, and wisdom to overcome challenges while maintaining an unwavering commitment to racial equity. I am immensely thankful to my community for their unwavering support in nurturing my dreams as a social justice advocate and educator.”
A powerful influencer working to move the needle on critical matters related to youth involvement, community and racial justice, Callum currently serves as an associate faculty member in the John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education at Post University and as deputy director of Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnerships.
In 2015, Callum founded the Post University’s Black Student Union and subsequently held various leadership positions within the NAACP at the state and national levels. In recognition of her remarkable dedication, Akia was honored with the NAACP Region II Youth Organizer of the Year award in 2019. In 2021, she was named the inaugural recipient of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award by former Connecticut Secretary of State, Denise Merril.
A proud lifelong learner, Callum was selected as one of 20 inaugural Yale Law School ‘Access to Law’ fellows in 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and a Master of Education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction from Post University, and she is a Juris Doctorate Candidate at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Earlier this year, she was honored as part of the inaugural Connecticut Afro-Latino “30 under 30.”
“Women comprise over 70% of our online student enrollment and associate population at Post University, all of whom are an inspiration. Therefore, sponsoring Women of Inspiration night with the Connecticut Sun is a natural fit for us,” said Post University CEO & President John L. Hopkins. “The honorees are extraordinary trailblazers who exemplify strength and confidence. To our own Akia Callum, a Post alumna and current law student, you are our inspiration. You have the gift of curiosity, embrace new ideas, and push the boundaries of what is possible, not what is predictable or probable. You pave the way for others to follow.”
In 2022, Post became the “Official Education and Career Planning Partner of the Connecticut Sun and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE).” In addition to the educational opportunities this partnership fosters, the university is also a Jersey Patch Sponsor for the Connecticut Sun through the 2026 season.
To learn more about the Connecticut Sun’s “Women of Inspiration” recognition, visit https://sun.wnba.com/. To learn more about the partnership between Post and the Connecticut Sun, visit www.post.edu/ctsun.