MSUM Celebrates Black History Month with Esteemed Speakers

Dr. Yvonne Condell taught at the university for 30 years and is still beloved by staff and students alike.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR)  — MSUM is celebrating Black History Month by honoring the achievements of an educator who has changed lives in the Moorhead area for 60 years.

Dr. Yvonne Condell and her husband James put down roots in Moorhead in 1965.

Condell taught biology at MSUM for 30 years, while her husband became the first licensed psychologist in the state of Minnesota.

The couple were some of the very first African Americans in the area.

James died in 1998, but Yvonne remained active in the community, working to engineer social change and empower women of color looking to advance their education.

The event at MSUM honored her contributions and she spoke about what she hopes the future holds for society.

“We’re going to have to look at the world in a different light,” said Dr. Condell.

“We’re going to have to treat everybody as he or she should be treated. I hope that’s one of the things that comes out of discussions we have like Black History Month.”

Also speaking at the event was Dr. Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress.

She was the first woman and first African American to lead the nation’s library.