Darlene Willis - Black UCI Alumni Oral History Project

I am the 4th of 6 girls, all one year apart, all of our names begin with D's and the proud daughter of James and Sheryle Griffin who was born and raised in Oakland, CA. I was married to my husband, Phillip, Jr. for almost 34 years before he passed this past April from illnesses affiliated with him being exposed to Agent Orange while serving our country in the Vietnam War. We have two sons, Phillip III and James Willis. I am a first generation graduate who is the first amongst my 5 sisters and 36 first cousins to earn my BA, MA and Ph.D. plus complete post graduate work at Harvard University. My husband and I are the Co-Founders of our non-profit, Concerned Parents Alliance, Inc and The College Bound Academy Programs in Northern and Southern CA. We are the Inaugural Co-Chairs of the Morehouse College Parent Council. I am a proud life and silver member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where I serve locally, regionally and on an international committee. I served as an Administrator in higher education for 22 plus years before working full time for our non-profit. This woman of faith is an author of two books and currently writing on my third one. I believe God has a purpose for me to help others and I am doing everything I can to reach, teach and empower scholars and their families.