That Moment When…

When does life change? As Akilah Monifa J.D. ’83 read at a literary event in February 2017, she had no idea her future wife listened in the audience.

That Moment When…
Image Courtesy of Akilah Monifa J.D. ’83

Even after dating for a couple of years, Akilah Monifa J.D. ’83 and Natalie were not sure marriage was right for them.

But Akilah’s intuition was speaking. “I decided it would be foolish to hold on to this notion that I had before that I’ll never get married again,” says Akilah.

The union is based, in part, on the thing that first brought them together—writing. That’s why, following an October 2019 ceremony at Oakland’s Bellevue Club, the pair held a reception at the African American Museum and Library in Oakland where Natalie and Akilah took turns reading their work, exploring their own intersectionalities.

Natalie’s book, Black Woman White Skin, talks about growing up with albinism as a woman of color. The couple shares a passion for telling their truths. And these stories that brought them together all have a theme of love and acceptance.

Akilah and Natalie invited close family and friends to their three-day wedding celebration, including SCU associate professor of law Margalynne J. Armstrong.

A Bilingual Storyteller

Producer Griselda Ramirez ’08 shares her experience producing Rihanna’s NFL halftime show interview and how studying Spanish at SCU impacted her career.

How to Dress to Save the World

Innovation analyst Jyotsna Gopinath ’19 discusses small steps to addressing a big fashion problem.

Keeping Current

Alexis Loera ’21, M.S. ’21 signed a new three-year contract with the Kansas City Current getting her one step closer to the U.S. Women’s National Team.

What Goes Round

Dennis Awtrey ’70 recalls his career as a pro basketball player.