Forrest Anthony Parker – founding director of the University of Mary Washington’s James Farmer Multicultural Center (JFMC) and co-creator of its annual Multicultural Fair – passed away on the first day of the new year, Jan. 1, 2024.
Parker will be remembered at Mary Washington, particularly by the many students he inspired, the positive impact he had on colleagues and the campus community, and the welcoming multicultural home he established on campus and in the Fredericksburg region. As chronicled in University of Mary Washington: A Centennial History, 1908-2008, he avowed to establish the fair from his first days on the job, and his work certainly lives on in the history books and through the individuals with whom he connected through the years.
Parker’s work at Mary Washington College began in 1989 as an associate dean for admissions, where he directed Project SOAR (Summer Orientation Adventure Retreat) and led the James Farmer Scholars Program. He became the founding director of the Multicultural Center at Mary Washington when it was established in 1990. As head of the center, he directed the SOAR and Summer Transition programs, as well as coordinated major celebrations, from MLK Jr. Day to annual heritage months. During his tenure, the center was officially named the James Farmer Multicultural Center in 1998. In 1991, he also imagined and implemented the first Multicultural Fair, now a much-anticipated tradition attended by thousands each spring.
As recounted in the spring/summer 2020 edition of University of Mary Washington Magazine, the central driver behind the creation of the Multicultural Center was inclusivity. Parker had come to Mary Washington from James Madison University, where he had led enrollment efforts and created two groups for African-American students – Brothers of a New Direction (BOND) and Women of Color. He brought those organizations to UMW, inspiring students toward leadership roles. He also encouraged the creation of organizations celebrating Latino, Asian, Jewish and other heritages in his first two years as the center’s director.
“We really worked hard in trying to embrace the uniqueness that each person brought to the table – and the likeness they brought to the table,” he said in the 2020 story.
Parker served as director through 1993, when he was promoted to vice president for multicultural affairs, and the center moved into Lee Hall, a central location to serve more students. Now the James Farmer Multicultural Center is a prominent part of the Cedric Rucker University Center with events spanning the entire academic calendar and more than 20 student clubs and organizations among the roster.
Parker was truly a visionary leader in establishing the mission and programs of the original Multicultural Center (now the James Farmer Multicultural Center). He created a space where students from diverse backgrounds felt supported, valued and celebrated. He was a mentor to and advocate for so many students throughout his tenure at UMW. In addition, he established long-standing traditions, including the highly anticipated Multicultural Fair and the Cultural Awareness Series events, that serve to showcase the importance and cultural richness embraced by the campus and broader community,” said Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Multicultural Affairs Marion Sanford. “The JFMC is deeply saddened by the passing of Forrest and very grateful for the legacy and commitment he gave to our ongoing mission and purpose.”
Parker continued his service in the Fredericksburg area, having been named CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of the Rappahannock Region in 2001 and remaining in leadership roles in the area until his death.
UMW extends its sympathies to all those who knew Parker and benefitted from his work, and honors his dedication to Mary Washington. More information is available online from A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home, where a visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held at James Monroe High School on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at 11 a.m.
