Stephanie Gibson Kelly oral history - December 2, 2022

Hi, I'm Juliana Allen, and I'm interviewing Stephanie Kelly for the Inclusive History and Images Project, a project which seeks to recover the histories of the diverse members of the LMU family.

We are on the LMU campus in the Creative Space Studios, and today is Friday, December 2, 2022. Do you give me permission to interview you for the Inclusive History and Images Project?

And do you allow the recording to be used in accordance with the stated goals of the project? Yes. Okay.

So first I'm going to start with some biographical questions. What is your name and what was your name when you were at LMU, if different? Yeah, so my name is Stephanie Kelly, but as a

student at LMU, I was Stephanie Gibson. When and where were you born? Um I was born in Lawrence, Kansas, um, but I grew up in California, um, specifically Gardena, California.

Um. And where do you currently live? I live in Inglewood. What is your current occupation?

Um, so I work for the Hartford Insurance Company and my title is Service Account Executive. And that's um, basically just an account manager um, managing the property casualty insurance um, clients that uh, that we write.

Yeah. And how do you identify yourself? Um, well, I identify myself um, first and foremost as a female, as an African American slash Black female.

Um, I kind of use those interchangeably. Um, a wife, and a mother, and a Christian. Yeah. Um, so I noticed that you were an early volunteer

to be interviewed for IHIP. What made you want to take part in this project? Um, well, I was contacted by Lisa Farland, and um when she explained the project, I just thought it would be good

because um— excuse me [laughs]—um, the campus has changed quite a bit. And there—there's a lot of history um that I know kind of hasn't been told from a local level, if

you will. Um, so I just thought it would be a um, good project to be involved in—in order to kind of get some of those stories out.

Yeah. Thank you so much for being here. And how did you learn about IHIP, the Inclusive History and Images Project?

I learned about it from Lisa, um, when she called. Um, like I said, she explained what it was all about and it just sounded intriguing, like something I wanted to be a part of.

So what years did you attend LMU? I was here from 1985 to 1989. And what was your major and minor? Um, I entered as an accounting major, and um, I was an

accounting major until probably the second semester of my junior year. And um, at that point, I think it had just gotten to a point where I felt like I needed a

change or like I needed a little bit more flexibility. Um, and I just, you know, if I'm honest, I didn't want to spend any more nights um working on one problem for three hours. [Laughs.]

So um, I changed it. I changed it to um, to finance. So my degree is a Bachelor of Business Administration. Um, my emphasis was finance.

And um, that allowed me to stay on track because most of my classes had already been—you know—like business um, related. And so it wasn't that big of a—of a jump.

But I did have some electives and things like that that kind of gave me a little bit of movement in my senior year. What were some of the electives?

Um, oh gosh, I knew you were going to ask me that. I think I took a um—I took a um—what was that class?

It was um—well I know I had dance [laughs]—which sounds crazy—but I loved it. Um, so that was an elective. And I took a class and I want to say

it was called like Christian Celebration in the Sacraments or something like that. I think that was like an elective or something extra that I took outside of my major.

Um, I can't remember. It's been so long, but all I know is that I had a few extra—you know—electives that I could—could get into, so I did that.

That's fun. Yeah. Um, why did you decide to come to LMU? Well, I had a visit here, so when I was

in high school, um, I used to always go into, like, the counseling center, and um, there was some brochures on LMU and—you know—I was just looking for some local colleges um, because I really didn't want to go too far.

I really only applied to three schools, one private, one state, and one um—um UC. And um, so I came for a visit since I was local here and fell in love with the campus.

It was just beautiful. I remember standing um, like looking at Sacred Heart Chapel, like right at the beginning of of the Sunken Garden. And I just thought, it is so peaceful here and

beautiful. And I loved the fact that it was a small university too, I think I was a little bit intimidated— you know—by possibly going to a bigger school.

And I just—I just thought for me, it would be a better fit. So yeah, that was one of the reasons why I chose LMU.

Um. And what was your personal experience like navigating LMU as a Black woman during the late 1980s? Um—so personally—I actually had a really good experience here

at LMU. Um, it was certainly different for me. Um, I came from a neighborhood where I went to all of the public schools in the area.

And so in terms of demographics, it was of course Black students and in Gardena specifically, a number of Asian American students as well, and some um, Latin students. Um, so coming here to LMU [laughs], it was a little bit

of a of a shock for me because um, I think at the time it was maybe three percent um, Black students on campus, which was extremely small, an extremely small number. And um, I didn't have a lot of experience in—you

know—going to school with white students, really. And so it was a learning, I think, for us and for—for them. [Laughs.] Um, I—I don't, I guess I was a little bit

more kind of like the naive side. I didn't see a whole lot of, um, of me being treated differently or anything like that. I don't have those types of memories being here, um, outside

of one incident. Um, there was one incident with a professor that I—you know—it's ingrained in me. And he in front of the class asked me if

I knew the leader of the WLCAC [Watts Labor Community Action Committee], which is an organization in Watts. And I just thought, like, why would you ask me the only Black student in the class? Like—you know—

if I knew this man? Like—anyway, to make long story short, he ended up apologizing because I confronted him about it and I thought—you know—these were stereotypes that you were portraying in describing this man.

And that's not the image that I really want the rest of the students to have of me, and my race, and my culture and all of that. And he did apologize, but that pretty much was

the only kind of like blatant incident or whatever that that I can remember. Outside of that, I mean, I—I had a lot of friends here.

I still have a lot of friends that I keep in contact with even after 30 some odd years. And um, and I have good memories. I'm glad.

I'm so sorry that happened to you, especially with the faculty members. You know, I think it was one of those things where it

wasn't like intentional. It just was something that he didn't think about, you know what I mean? And even in today's culture and what's going on now

and all of that, I just think a lot of it is you kind of don't know what you don't know. And um, it was probably only after I brought it to

his attention and he was like, oh, yeah, it's this that statement sounded like—you know—and that's not how I meant it. So anyway, we pushed past it.

But yeah. Um, so going up with that. LMU's current mission is committed to the encouragement of learning, the education of the whole person, and to the service

of faith and the promotion of justice. How important were these principles to you before coming to LMU and did you sense the importance of these principles during your time at LMU?

Yeah. So, um, I think coming in to the university, I don't know how aware I really was of that like broader mission per se.

Um, again, I was—I was pretty naive. I mean, the only thing really in my head was always—you know—I was raised that I was gonna go to college like it wasn't—it was an

extension of high school. It wasn't, um, like an option. And so that was really, for the most part, what was on my mind—you know—when I got here.

But when I got here—you know—just experiencing the different organizations and, the—you know—classes and, things like that. Yes,

my—my level of awareness was raised, um. And there are—were some things that I got involved in when I was here, so. Um, so what classes or educational program inspired you at

LMU? Hm. Um. Wow.

Good question. [Laughs.] Um. Inspired me. I would say.

Yeah. Again, I don't. I don't know if there was any like, revelations or what have you.

I mean, my curriculum was pretty—um, straightforward in being, um—you know—an accounting major, initially it was all like core classes and accounting classes and things like that. So I can't necessarily say I was inspired by them.

Um, I would say I was more inspired by my extracurricular activities. You know, being a part of the Black Students Association and um, being an orientation leader or working in the um, my—my job.

I had a work study— you know—I had work study while I was here. So the whole four years I worked in the Controller's Office.

But outside of that, I also did a little bit of work with the Admission Office. And so that particular position was working with a gentleman by the name of Michael Smith, and he was tasked

with really helping to increase the um, the Black student population on campus. So the program was really called Black Students Admissions Assistance Program.

And so it was really new when I was a part of that. And um, so what I would do is I would give tours—you know—to—to students that he brought on

campus and um, just talk to them about my life here and the things that I was experiencing. And I was able to actually, um—you know—kind of win over [laughs] some of the students and they were

able to come to LMU as well. And so, um, that—those were great experiences for me here. So that—that kind of inspired me more than I would say just my my basic like classes here.

Was there anything specific that drew you to um, those work study jobs or getting involved like that? Um, well. Nothing specific for the Controller's job except that um, I really

genuinely enjoyed working there. And um, at the time, the Controller's Office was um, one of the main—I guess she was my—my boss, if you will.

It was one of the nuns, Sister Yvonne, and Sister Yvonne was the kindest woman ever and um, and funny. And we share a birthday [laughs], so we always celebrated. And.

Um, and then I met um, someone there who worked in the office who actually is still a really good friend of mine today. She wasn't a student,

she was an actual—you know—um, Controller's Office employee. And um, we just forged a bond. And—you know—I've seen her through many years, you know, getting married, having a baby, um, now having a grandbaby.

And we still to this day keep in touch so. And—and then as far as the Black Student Admissions Assistance, again, that was um—that was very fulfilling and rewarding to—to be a part of that process at

the time to just kind of usher in kind of like what we're seeing now. I mean, I don't know what the percentage is now of African American students on campus, but I know it

has grown significantly since I was here. I mean, when I was here, there was no um, fraternities, any of the um, Black fraternities and sororities. They were non-existent.

And um, I know that there are other um, um students who came behind me who—you know—pledged here right on campus. That wasn't an opportunity that I had when I was here.

Um, was there a space on campus where you felt the most at home? Definitely. That would be the BSU office.

It's been called different things. I don't even know what it's called today. We call it the Black Students Union, the Black Students Association, the Office of Black Students Services (OBSS).

Um, but yes. So they actually reached out to me before I started at LMU telling me about events that were going on and um just kind of welcoming me to the campus.

And so I was engaged pretty early on and um, you know, just on a daily basis, you can go in that office, and you can talk to people, and you can study, and you can just kind of feel at

home, which was for me, needed—you know. We needed that space. Um, so yeah, that was—that was my—my place. I'm glad you have that.

That's such an important thing. Yeah, it is. Um, what historical event affected you the most during your time at LMU?

Um, you're talking about here on the campus, or worldwide or—? Um, like anything worldwide that was happening during your time at college?

Yeah. Gosh, a lot of things. A lot of things were going on in those years. Um, I wouldn't say there's anything that—that specifically affected me—

you know—or—or push me into action or anything like that. But I do know in the late 80s, there was a lot going on in the world. Um, war—

you know—I think we were still in the middle of the—what was it—Iran, Iraq war or something like that. Um.

The Berlin Wall and presidential elections and things like that. Um, nothing that really pushed me into action per se. Um, worldwide, I wasn't really, and kind of still not that much of a—of a political person, if

you will. I mean, I understand the process a lot more now— you know—because you have to understand, I was a kid.

I was a kid. [Laughs.] But now, um, I understand it. I am involved in it. I am an active participant—you know—things like that.

But back then, in my—you know—late teens, early 20s, um, not— not so much of an advocate. I hate that. I honestly hate that now.

But that's—that's just where I was at the time. Um, you mentioned already a little bit, but, uh, if—I'm not sure if there were any more you wanted to add on. What organizations were you a part of during

your time at LMU? Oh, okay. So, I was a part of the Black Student Union, um, and in my senior year I was president of that

organization. Um, I was a part of The Belles [Service Organization], which I enjoyed. Um, I—I don't know if you call them organizations, but again, I was an orientation leader.

I can't remember if it was one or two years, but I know one year for sure. I was an orientation leader and um, and every year I participated um, in Special Games.

I loved it. I love that. You know, because there's these—you know— individuals who are um—you know—challenged in one way or

another or whatever, but they were out there giving their all. And so it was great to be a part of that.