Howard University has renamed its College of Fine Arts after the late actor and humanitarian Chadwick Boseman, who passed last year at the age of 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer.
The historically Black university unveiled the name change after a brief time-lapse video of the installation and will now be known as the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. In a tweet on Friday, the school thanked Boseman, recognizing him as “an icon in his own right who has left an immeasurable legacy for the next generation. Thank you Mr. Boseman.”
Boseman is an alumnus of the school and graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in directing. Coinciding with the renaming, Walt Disney Company’s Executive Chairman Bob Iger is looking to establish an endowment named after Boseman and raise money to build a new arts facility on the school’s campus.
“Through his tremendous example he inspired millions to overcome adversity, dream big and reach beyond the status quo,” said Iger in a statement back in May. “This college named in his honor…will provide opportunities for future generations of artists to follow in his footsteps and pursue their dreams.”
Boseman continues to be an inspiration and will live on through his portrayal of The Black Panther, James Brown and Jackie Robinson. His final role as T’Challa in Disney’s ‘What If’ Animated Series, now streaming on Disney Plus, closes with a simple dedication: “Dedicated to our friend, our inspiration, and our hero – Chadwick Boseman.