Wade Hudson is president and CEO of Just Us Books, Inc., an independent publisher of books for children and young adults which he founded with his wife, Cheryl. His career as a writer spans more than three decades and has resulted in more than 30 published books for children and young adults. They include Book of Black Heroes from A to Z; Jamal’s Busy Day; Pass It On: African American Poetry for Children; Powerful Words: Two Years of Outstanding Writing by African Americans; the Great Black Heroes series; and We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, which he co-edited with his wife Cheryl. A second anthology, The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth, was just released in August 2020.

Wade serves on a number of boards and speaks around the country about issues of inclusion, empowering Black boys to succeed through literacy and other topics. He has received numerous honors for his contributions to children’s literature, including the Stephen Crane Literary Award, induction into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent, the Harlem Book Fair Phyllis Wheatley Award, the Ida B. Wells Institutional Leadership Award presented by the Center for Black Literature, and the Madame C. J. Walker Legacy Award given by the Zora Neale Hurston-Richard Wright Foundation.

Cheryl Willis Hudson is publisher of Just Us Books, Inc., an independent publishing company she founded with her husband Wade that focuses on Black interest books for young people. She has authored over 25 books for children including AFRO-BETS ABC Book; Good Morning, Baby; Bright Eyes, Brown Skin; Hands Can; What Do You Know, Snow!; My Friend Maya Loves to Dance; Brave. Black. First. 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World; and We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, which she co-edited with her husband Wade. A second anthology, The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love &Truth, was just released in August 2020. A member of PEN America and Society of Children’s Book Illustrators and Authors.

Cheryl speaks on the topic of diversity in literature and served as a parenting expert for Club Mom. Her honors include induction into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent, the Harlem Book Fair Phyllis Wheatley Award, the Ida B. Wells Institutional Leadership Award presented by the Center for Black Literature, and the Madame C. J. Walker Legacy Award given by the Zora Neale Hurston-Richard Wright Foundation.

Tune in to their first lecture on Wednesday, October 14 from 6 to 8.  A Zoom invitation will go out prior to the event and we encourage you all to attend.

The Distinguished Professorship is generously funded by David J. Pecker