ENLIGHTENED LIVING

In many ways, Dr. Pamela Higgins Saulsberry’s entire career has been a reflection of her life. Born to parents who felt the sting of discrimination firsthand, and then growing up through the turbulent civil rights era taught Pamela the need for finding a path to understanding among — and about — these critical issues of our times. Pamela has spent her life helping others to achieve dignity, regain lost hope, and move forward with their lives. Because of her determination to make a positive impact on the lives of countless others, Dr. Pamela Higgins Saulsberry is our February Bayou Icon.

Article by Georgiann Potts and Photography by Kelly Moore Clark

PAMELA HIGGINS SAULSBERRY has seen it all. In many ways, her life story is the story of the civil rights movement in America. From her childhood watching a father working 16 hours a day at 2 jobs because his ethnicity limited the opportunities that should have been afforded him based on his distinguished military service record and education, to the moment in 2008 when she stood before the ULM Summer Commencement’s graduating class giving the formal commencement address, Pamela and her family have personally experienced the highs and lows of our country’s struggles with race relations.

Each of those experiences has influenced Pamela, helping to mold her into the strong woman she is today. One gets the impression that she has learned from every experience life has given her — good or bad.

Pamela has devoted much of her professional career to social work, doing what she can, where she can, to help others. Such work has brought her into contact with countless individuals whose lives were at a crossroads, and she has worked to help them overcome their challenges. Much of her success in helping others is derived from the lessons she has learned in her own life.

For example, when asked recently what was the most memorable experience of her childhood, her answer was unexpected, direct, and brutally honest. “Having a cousin die when she was just nine years old from a domestic violence situation on her block when I was 12 is something that I shall never forget,” Pamela says. “One spouse shot at another and the bullet hit her as she played in front of her house a block away. I realized then that anyone could die at any age. It was devastating for the family and for me.”

That tragedy not only awakened at an early age Pamela’s awareness of the mortality that we all face, but also helped her to begin to understand the need to help families in crisis. As she grew into adulthood, Pamela developed a true passion for helping others that has served her well.

PARENTS SET THE EXAMPLE
Pamela’s parents were remarkable individuals. Her father, Otis Marcus Higgins, Sr., was born in Oklahoma and grew up in rural, predominately black towns there. He had completed 2 years at Langston University when he was drafted into the United States Army to serve in WWII. His distinguished service in that war earned him the Bronze Star.

Gladys Louise Hall, Pamela’s mother, was born and reared in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from Manual High School in Denver and then married Otis and began homemaking. She worked in her home until the last of their 5 children (one son and 4 girls – including a set of twin girls) entered school fulltime. At that time, she began working at various jobs, eventually retiring from the City and County of Denver’s Housing Authority.

When Otis received an honorable discharge from the Army, he faced the harsh reality of discrimination. Even with his service record and education, he was denied jobs that both qualified him for. This reality was true for so many at that time, but Pamela’s father refused to let those blocks stop him. He worked two jobs for the next 22 years, putting in 16 hours a day at Gates Rubber Company and Lowry Air Force Base. Eventually Pamela’s father became a postal worker, and reduced his workload to a single job requiring 8 hours.

Both of her parents were extremely intelligent, according to Pamela, and both set examples of dignity and hard work for their children. Her father would speak with his children often about dealing with a social environment that was undervaluing black people. He passed away in the fall of 2008, and his last civic act was to vote for candidate Barrack Obama for president. He said at the time that he never thought he would live to see that happen in the America he loved. One particular lesson that he taught his children has remained with Pamela. She remembers him saying often, “Some people believe bumblebees are not supposed to fly. Bumblebees don’t care; they fly anyway. Society doesn’t believe that black people are supposed to achieve anything. Black people don’t care, we do it anyway.”

All of his children listened, and all of them excelled. Pamela’s brother is an Air Force veteran, former Morse Code translator, and IBM administrator. Her twin sisters are, as Pamela describes, as different as twins can possibly be. Gilda retired as an administrator for the Colorado Workforce Commission following a career with the City and County of Denver. Her twin, Wilda, is a retired postal worker who previously worked for Denver public schools as community liaison. Sister Cynthia is a retired high school guidance counselor who spent 14 years in Germany and England working with the Department of Defense Schools.

Pamela’s mother had, as Pamela describes, “ . . . tremendous practical organizational skills.” She taught her children the importance of reading. Because their schoolbooks rarely had black people in them, Pamela’s mother made certain that her children’s leisure reading did. As a result of her mother’s efforts, Pamela read Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Maya Angelou, Angela Davis, and other important black figures. “I looked at what they accomplished through what struggles they had, and knew I could and should do the same,” Pamela explains.

EARLY JOBS AND EDUCATION
Pamela’s first job for pay was to go around the block every Saturday morning to her grandmother’s home to get her laundry so that her mother could wash it. Because her grandmother worked as a domestic cleaning Union Railroad trains, her work clothes were heavy denim, too hard to hand wash. Pamela made 50 cents for this, which she readily describes as “big money” back then. She also worked for her uncle ironing the pillowcases that he would give the passengers on the train. She made 10 cents per pillowcase.

She attended Wyman and Columbine Elementary schools and then Smiley Junior High. Her high school years were spent at East Denver High School (now an official Denver Historic Landmark so designated by the Denver Landmark Commission and the Denver City Council). Her favorite sport was track and field, but she also played basketball and softball. She even found time to serve as a representative on the student government association and as a safety patrol officer while at Columbine.

During this time Pamela landed her first job independent of her family. She worked at a fast food ice cream shop that sold the usual — hamburgers, fries, and – of course – ice cream. Later on, she also worked at the Fashion Bar (now known as Stage), and even did a stint as a long distance operator for Mountain Bell — all summer jobs before she graduated from Colorado State University (CSU).

Pamela enrolled at CSU primarily because it offered a degree in social work. Pamela recalls that it was her mother who first told her that there was such a thing as a social worker – a person whose job was to help other people. Her mother’s sister had worked in the field. After considering several options for a career — mathematician, dancer, model, and teacher, among them — Pamela selected social work. She knew this was the path for her when she graduated high school and says that she has never looked back. “I’ve always gravitated towards those who appeared to need help,” she says. “I just liked the feeling I received from being of assistance to someone.”

She loved sports and was probably good enough to earn a sports scholarship, but during those days there were very few scholarships available for women. Following her parents’ examples, she found another way that she could use her athleticism and participate. She tried out for cheerleader and become one of 2 who were the first non-white cheerleaders for the university. During that time she flew in an airplane for the first time, amazed that CSU actually paid for students to go cheer out-of-state. “There were no scholarships for cheering at that time,” Pamela remembers. “This was considered extracurricular. We got to travel with the teams though with expenses paid!”

While at CSU, Pamela came under the influence of Dr. Owisoka. Dr. Owisoka served as her advisor and also taught several of her social work courses. When it was time to do an internship, Dr. Owisoka served as her field intern supervisor. “She saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself, like a dedication to young people,” Pamela remembers.

Two courses as an undergraduate were particular favorites. Pamela loved anthropology so much that after taking one course as an elective, she ended up minoring in the field. An avid reader of National Geographic magazine when in high school, Pamela loved learning about human societies and cultures and how they developed. The other class that she particularly enjoyed was Special Topics in which students were allowed to choose a topic they were especially interested in and do research in it. Pamela chose interracial adoptions, an innovative concept at the time.

When Pamela graduated college, she worked as a community liaison in Denver at a local junior high school. Here she began to work in community-based programs for adolescents part-time and she loved it! She also became a relief houseparent at a home for girls that she counts as a wonderful learning experience. It was to instill in her a desire to continue working with young people whenever she could. “I have always been interested in the interactions of people,” Pamela explains. “ I therefore looked for opportunities to do so in my first work experiences.”

AN OUTSTANDING CAREER IN SOCIAL WORK
Over the years, Pamela has amassed an enviable career that focused on her singular passion of wanting to help others. On the basis of her experience and qualifications, she has worked as a consultant for several important groups – Office of Youth Development and Workforce Investment Board, Foster and Adoptive Family Resource Center of the ULM Social Work Department, Monroe City School Safe Schools/Healthy Schools Program, and the Delta Regional Authority.

Pamela says quickly, however, that her favorite work experiences have been those in the classroom, working directly with students. She has taught at Grambling State University’s Social Work program as an adjunct professor, and at ULM where she is a full professor. “In the beginning, my encouragement came from my students,” Pamela explains. “They were so happy to have me there at the university. That made me believe that I could find purpose there.”

Today, Pamela has been at the University of Louisiana at Monroe for 42 years, working daily to help students and others get their lives on track. She is currently the Director of School of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Professor of Social Work. Even with this demanding job, she still finds time to volunteer in her community and to share her expertise wherever she can. She has loved being able to touch so many students’ lives, to serve the community, and to be a role model for others. For her work – professional and volunteer — she has earned countless awards and honors, each reflecting her passion for helping others.

Among the awards Pamela has earned are the Foundation Award for Excellence in Service given by ULM in 2017, Families and Children Award given by the State of Louisiana in 2014, Delta Sorority Woman of FIRE Award for Community Service in 2014, Association of Black Social Workers Humanitarian of the Year by the North Louisiana Regional Chapter in 2003, and the CAMEO Award for Outstanding Leadership in Education from the March of Dimes in 2003.

Volunteerism in support of the community is a cornerstone of Pamela’s life. She has given her time to such groups as Empower Families to Live Well Louisiana Council State of Louisiana; United Way Read, Learn, Succeed; Masur Museum of Art Board of Directors; Christopher’s Youth Center Board of Directors; Swanson Center for Youth; GO Care Board of Directors; Extra Mile Board of Directors; Northeast Louisiana Sickle Cell Foundation; and the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Commission.

Clearly, Pamela understands the importance of working hard, having learned that not only from her parents’ examples, but also from her own life experiences. She earned her Ph.D. from Jackson State University while teaching fulltime – quite a feat! “That took every ounce of fortitude I had to keep going and not quit,” she remembers.

As her career developed, Pamela also earned LSCW-BACS (Licensed Clinical Social Worker – Board Approved Clinical Supervisor) credentials to go with that terminal degree.

FAMILY TIES
While her career has focused on helping others, Pamela has also spent a lot of time focusing on her two children and three grandchildren. Although they are no longer married, Pamela refers to her former husband as her “Wasband” and they remain close friends.

Pamela’s son works for Vantage using his considerable internet technology (IT) skills to forge his own career. Pamela describes him as the “strong, silent type.” Her daughter is more verbal. A gifted writer, she works in social media/marketing with the Morris Bart law offices. She is also an active blogger/influencer.

Pamela also revels in the joys of grandmotherhood. She is blessed with three grandchildren, all of whom are delights to her. Her granddaughter is a junior at Grambling State and both beautiful and academically strong like her grandmother. She is currently Miss Junior, and was previously Miss October. Pamela’s twin grandsons are now high school freshmen. Their interests at the moment are IT and sports.

When asked what she thinks her life will be like in five years, Pamela was quick to respond. “I will be doing grandmotherly things with my grands, and traveling to places when I want to,” she says with a smile. “But I hope that I will mostly be doing what I want, when I want.”

A STELLAR MOMENT
In the 2008 Summer Commencement at ULM, Pamela stood at the podium and delivered the commencement address to the graduating class. This singular honor meant much to both Pamela and her parents. Her father especially enjoyed seeing his daughter at the pinnacle of her career stand before those hundreds gathered, urging them to face their futures with courage and dignity.

Years ago, Pamela’s mother taught her daughter a short poem that Pamela has never forgotten: “Love many, trust a few, and always paddle your own canoe.” Clearly Pamela has paddled her own canoe carefully, fearlessly, and with a determination to succeed that has served her well.

Pamela has lived much of her life based on an inspiring quote from one of her favorite writers and civil rights activists, Maya Angelou. Angelou wrote, “We can learn to see each other and see ourselves in each other and recognize that human beings are more alike than we are unalike.” Thanks to Dr. Pamela Higgins Saulsberry’s efforts, many have learned the wisdom in Angelou’s sentiment.