2025 Pulitzer Center Fellow from Huston-Tillotson University Heads to Portugal for Research on Afro-Portuguese Narratives
Monday Jun, 23 2025
Austin, Texas (June 23, 2025) — Huston-Tillotson University student Dominic Polidor has been named a 2025 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow. Through this national program, administered by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Polidor will travel to Portugal to pursue an independent reporting project titled, “Echoes of Africa: Afro-Portuguese Stories of Struggle, Pride, and Resistance.”
Polidor will spend the summer conducting fieldwork documenting the experiences of Afro-Portuguese communities and exploring how cultural memory and heritage continue to shape contemporary narratives of identity and resistance. Specific emphasis will be placed on the enduring impact of Africa’s Diaspora on Portugal, examining the intersections of cultural identity, historical legacies, and contemporary narratives of resilience.
Each year, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, an internationally respected journalism organization based in Washington, D.C., selects student fellows from its network of over 30 university and college partners across the country. Fellows are chosen based on the strength of their proposal, journalistic potential, and commitment to covering underreported global issues with depth, fairness, and cultural sensitivity.
As a Pulitzer Center Fellow, Polidor will receive mentorship from professional journalists and have the opportunity to publish his work through the Pulitzer Center’s media platforms. His reporting will also be shared with global classrooms as part of the Center’s education outreach.
Dr. Michael L. Hirsch, dean of the HT College of Arts and Sciences and professor of sociology, expressed his enthusiasm for Polidor’s upcoming journey: “Dominic’s commitment to uncovering the narratives of Afro-Portuguese communities underscores the importance of storytelling as a tool for social change. This fellowship will not only expand his academic horizons but also bring much-needed attention to voices that have historically been marginalized.”
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About Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University, the first institution of higher education in Austin, Texas, has roots dating back to 1875. Huston-Tillotson University is an independent, church-related, historically Black, four-year liberal arts institution located on a 23-acre tree-lined campus near downtown in East Austin. Huston-Tillotson University’s mission is to nurture a legacy of leadership and excellence in education, connecting knowledge, power, passion, and values. The University offers associate and master’s degrees in addition to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 19 areas of study. Huston-Tillotson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
