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By: David Tisdale
The daughter of a prominent Mississippi civil rights leader who is an accomplished advocate for diversity and inclusion in her own right will be the presenter for The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) 2020 Armstrong-Branch Lecture.
Angela Juzang, marketing director for Gulfport, Mississippi’s Memorial Hospital health care system and an author and popular guest speaker, will give the annual lecture Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center Ballrooms. This event honors Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong and Raylawni Branch, who integrated USM when they enrolled at the University in September 1965. Admission is free and open to the public.
Juzang is founder of The Legacy Group, an organization devoted to enhancing economic prosperity for African American professionals and business owners. The organization was a tribute to Juzang’s father, the late Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, Sr., a physician and civil rights leader who successfully paved the way for African Americans to utilize Gulf Coast beaches, and helped integrate the Biloxi Public School District, among other accomplishments. Recently, she expanded the scope of work and co-founded the Legacy Business League to help minorities make a stronger financial, political and community impact.
In the fall of 2019, a new, $100 million National Science Foundation (NSF) oceanographic research ship was named Research Vessel (R/V) Gilbert R. Mason, in honor of Dr. Gilbert. The ship is operated by the Gulf – Caribbean Oceanographic Consortium (GCOC), and led by USM and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON).
Juzang’s talk will examine the life and work of her father and how his legacy has positively impacted today’s Mississippi and the nation, among other topics.
“Angela Juzang’s commitment to expanded opportunities for all people is a wonderful continuation of the important work of her father, and makes her a great choice as presenter for our 2020 Armstrong-Branch Lecture,” said USM Assistant Dean of Students Delores McNair, coordinator of the event.
A graduate of Georgia State University (GSU) with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Juzang helped relaunch GSU’s NAACP branch and implement a new chapter of the National Organization for Women. She has received multiple community awards, including the NAACP Drum Major of Peace, Top 10 Under 40 and Top Community Business Leader from the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, and the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Business Women in Mississippi.
Juzang currently serves on the boards of directors for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast, Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Gulfport Civil Service Commission, as 1st Vice Chair of the Gulfport branch of the NAACP, and president-elect for Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi.
For more information about the 2020 Armstrong-Branch Lecture, contact McNair at delores.mcnair@usm.edu.
