During her time at The Red & Black from 2005 to 2008, Juanita I. Cousins made an impact on the publication as a reporter, columnist and editor. When she was named Editor in Chief in 2007, she made history as the first Black woman named to the top position since The Red & Black's founding in 1893.

As an alumna, Cousins — now Juanita Traughber — has helped support the next generation of journalists as a donor to The Red & Black. In 2021, she gave the seed funds to create a dedicated scholarship fund to support diversity in journalism. The goal of the fund is to support diversity both in coverage and within newsroom leadership.

The Juanita Cousins Traughber Award will include a $1,000 scholarship presented annually to a member of The Red & Black staff who has demonstrated a commitment to these principles both through their own reporting and through their leadership in the newsroom. The first award will be presented in April 2023.

Your support for this fund will have a huge impact for one student journalist today — and an even greater impact on the news industry of the future.

Cousins Traughber Fund

Make a commitment to newsroom diversity and leadership

Team Members