Membership Spotlight: Dr. O.J. McGhee
Q: What inspired you to attend Clark Atlanta University (CC, AU, or CAU), and how did your time there shape who you are today?
A: A high school teacher who knew about my passion for Communication suggested Clark College, believing that both the school and its city were reminiscent of my hometown, Washington, DC and would be a great fit for me.
Despite her advice, I initially chose to attend a small college in Iowa that had recruited me to play football. While I met some good people there, I found myself missing the sense of cultural familiarity and community I had grown up with.
Transferring to Clark turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only did I continue playing football, but I also found a home in the Mass Media Arts program, where I gained hands-on experience working at the campus cable television station, and of course, enjoying Atlanta's nightlife. Surrounded by nurturing faculty and talented peers, I grew both personally and professionally.
Clark didn’t just shape my skills; it shaped my mindset. It instilled in me a lasting belief that no matter the challenge, “I will find a way or make one.”
Q: Can you share a memorable experience or tradition from your time at CAU that still resonates with you?
A: I attended Clark before Freaknik became the widely infamous event it is known for today. Back then, it was a grassroots celebration of Black unity, originally organized by students from the DC Metro area.
It was about community, joy, and cultural pride. That spirit has stayed with me ever since. No matter where I’ve been, I’ve found ways to celebrate Black excellence, whether by hosting gatherings that bring people together over good food, music, and conversation, or by creating spaces where we can decompress, connect, and uplift one another.
Q: In what ways do you stay connected to CAU, and how would you encourage other alumni to get involved?
A: Since graduating, I’ve maintained a steady connection to the university through annual donations and returning each year for Homecoming to reconnect with former teammates and classmates. But becoming an active member of my alumni chapter and club has deepened that bond in a truly meaningful way.
It’s been incredibly rewarding to help create scholarship opportunities for CAU students and to build lasting relationships with fellow alumni, all while fostering a strong sense of Panther Pride.
Q: Is there a scripture, quote, book, movie, or TV show that has had a big impact on you and why?
A: "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” -James Baldwin
I was raised in a church and by a mother who encouraged me to stand up for what’s right, even if it meant getting into what the late Congressman John Lewis called “good trouble.” That foundation shaped how I see the world and why James Baldwin’s quote resonates so deeply with me.
This quote has been a guiding light, especially in moments when the political and social climate feels overwhelmingly divided and unjust, particularly toward Black Americans and other marginalized communities.
Even when change seems distant or even impossible, Baldwin’s words remind me that we must still confront injustice head-on. Because only by facing it can we begin to transform it.
