SYNERGY - Juneteenth 2022

Dr. Rik Stevenson

Story By: Beth Herbert

Rik Stevenson believes that communities are only as strong as their leaders. By engaging in opportunities to invest in generational growth, he has been able to find success and teach others along the way. Stevenson is a scholar of many trades and a dedicated educator, specializing in divinity and African-American studies. Born in Philadelphia, Stevenson attended Penn State University and Lincoln University before moving to Los Angeles.

While there he studied theology at Fuller Theology Seminary and received a Doctorate of Divinity from the Southern California School of Ministry. He lived in Los Angeles for 20 years and started his career as a full time minister in 1983. After his time in LA, he moved to Grand Rapids, MI where he pastored a church and taught at Grand Valley State, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and Michigan State University where he earned a PhD in African American and African Studies. His research focuses on suicide by drowning as a form of resistance during the Middle Passage.

He received the opportunity to move to Florida in 2019 when he was invited to fill a position as a Visiting Assistant Professor in African American Studies at the University of Florida. After his second year, he was hired as a full time lecturer in the African- American Studies program where he teaches courses in Middle Passage Studies, Ante-bellum Studies, The Black Power Movement, Civil Rights and Religion

His parents had a great impact on his journey towards success. His mother was a Civil Rights activist and her activism encouraged him to join The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Likewise, his father was a very loving, hardworking, and dedicated father and husband.

Stevenson learned at an early age that teaching came easy to him. Like his father, Stevenson almost always had three jobs at a time and believes that he learned the importance of hard work by watching his parents. and has taught for over 40, he loves what he does; teaching is his passion. He believes as a scholar his job is to transform his students’ lives and minds, challenging what they know so that he can change their environment. He believes that part of his responsibility as a scholar and teacher is to invest in his students so that they become change agents.

Stevenson states that one of his greatest accomplishments was completing his PhD at the age of 59, while also teaching at two different institutions of higher learning and pastoring a church. He’s also honored that he had the chance to fall in love with his wife, Victoria. One other area of pride is the development of his two sons, both of whom are dependable, respectful and ethically strong men.

Stevenson advises other leaders to acquire the skills of time management. If they’re really interested in leadership they should perfect their craft in order to find success and strive to always engage in organizations that excite their passions. Stevenson encourages others to invest in themselves to identify their craft, perfect it, then invest in others. Likewise, he credits networking and surrounding himself around like-minded individuals as they have been instrumental in shaping his leadership skills.

He has accomplished this in many ways, like by pledging for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in 1971 and serving as the chairman for a mentoring program, Kasserian Ingera, which translates to “How are the children?” This mentoring program introduces young boys to the fundamentals of manhood, by enhancing their gifts and talents to make them better for their communities.

Stevenson believes that we are in a crucial time of community development and we have to prepare and take care of ourselves. We must stay persistent in our own growth and development.

He encourages members of the Gainesville community to work together to uplift each other, not seeing others as threats or competition but as unique individuals who can add stability and retention to the community. By working together we can all find success and create an environment that is thriving and positive.