Elijah Heyward III ’07 M.A.R., YDS Campaign Co-Chair

Elijah Heyward III is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. He has degrees from Hampton University, Yale Divinity School, and UNC-Chapel Hill. While at Yale Divinity School, he served on the Student Council, Curriculum Committee, Admissions Committee, and as Co-Chair of the Black graduate network.He was the recipient of the Yale President’s Public Service fellowship. The fellowship supported the development of the Youth Scholar Academy, a nationwide college access program he founded focused on preparing young men from under-resourced communities to thrive in high school, college, and beyond.

Elijah is currently the Chief Operating Officer at the International African American Museum. The museum highlights the impact of enslaved Africans in America — their contributions to the arts, to intellectual property, and much more. 

Elijah earned his Ph.D. in American Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill where he curated the show “Beyond Walls: Designs for 20th Century Murals at the Ackland Art Museum” and contributed to a traveling exhibition focusedon the work of artist Ronald Lockett. He has published and presented on his various research interests, which include African American history, popular culture, religion, and contemporary Gullah/Geechee culture. His resume, in addition to all the above,includes varied experiences in fundraising, arts production and management, and collaborative projects focused on cultural retentions and preservation.