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68 GU I D E to Y E L L OW S P R I NG S | 2O22 – 2O23 through Africa, and swept through her own life. Seon experienced what she consid- ered a call to ministry. In addition to her other edu - cation, which includes a Ph.D. in African American humani- ties, from 1979 to 1981, Seon worked towards her divinity degree at Howard University, once again becoming a pioneer — the first African American woman minister in the Unitar- ian Universalist denomination. Seon said that while her life is marked by a pioneer - ing spirit and a good dose of practical “bush-woman” drive, her passion is African-Amer- ican studies. After multiple instructor and professorship positions, Seon became a tenured professor of African- American studies in the history department at Prince Georges Community College, the position she left to return to Yellow Springs. Back in Yellow Springs among family and friends, Seon’s life has been filled with honorary recognitions that force her to look back and consider her life’s work, she said. Seon’s recogni - tions are formalized by the many awards that sit upon her mantel, including one from the African Scientific Institute, which is inscribed to Yvonne Reed Chappelle Seon: “Mama Inga.” Seon hopes to go back to Congo to see the Inga Dam, so that she may see how things have changed for the Congolese since the construc- tion of the first phase. If there is one principle Seon can cite as a driving force behind her experience and accomplishments, it is the notion that, in life, we have a certain duty to fulfill. “Each of us is called upon to address the human condition, and some of us have more responsibility than others,” she said. As for her own role, Seon said, “to whom much is given, much is expected.” ♦ Seon returned to the states, to her new husband Bill Chap- pelle and to their new home, Yellow Springs. “My husband had friends in Yellow Springs and we were excited about job possibili - ties,” Seon said. The pace of life was different than the city metros and this was very appealing to both of them. In 1968, the year Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassi - nated, Seon began a posi - tion at Wilberforce as the coordinator of student affairs, a role she cites as potentially her most challenging experi- ence. The student unrest was great, and her job involved many responsibilities, ranging from advocating the need for African American studies in the curriculum to trying to improve the quality of food and the upkeep of the dormi - tory, Seon said. And as a fall-out from those student issues, ten - sions between faculty and administration also became a challenge. Student riots led to the occupation of the campus by the national guard. “We were the very first institution in the nation to use arbitration to deal with these issues,” Seon said. “We were pioneers,” she said, “and I had the responsibility of seeing that we didn’t go to court.” The process left Seon “burned out,” and she resigned her position after seeing the arbitration through its final report in 1971. Meanwhile, student unrest at Wright State University led students to request the creation of a Black cultural resources center, and Seon accepted the position of founding director for Wright State’s Bolinga Center. Seon and Chappelle moved back to Washington, D.C., separating in 1974. Seon stayed in Washington to work with Congressman Diggs, the chairman of the Commit- tee on Africa, and Chappelle returned to Yellow Springs, where he had made a long career at Antioch College. Their three children shared time between Washington, D.C. and Yellow Springs. “Children are a great foundation point for your life,” Seon said. “They are the anchor, if you will, that makes the rest of it worthwhile.” When Seon’s work seemed a strain to balance with the needs of her family, she fig - ured it was time to move on to something different. During her time on Congressman Diggs’ staff, more winds of change swept ▲ Seon, left, was the first director of the Bolinga Black Cultural Center at Wright State University. In that role, she worked with students to develop programming that would teach the university community about Black history and the current social movements. 937-767-9330 110 Dayton St. Wed.–Sun. Noon–5 pm Appointments available during closed hours — Full line of Accessories — — Authorized TREK Dealer — — Sales & Service — www.vcbikes.com vilcyclery@woh.rr.com (Visit us on Facebook!) SERVING BIKE ENTHUSIASTS IN YELLOW SPRINGS & THE MIAMI VALLEY SINCE 1987