Susan Taylor will speak about her rise to chief editorial executive vice president and editor-in-chief of Essence magazine, at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at Fresno State’s Satellite Student Union.

Her presentation is part of the university’s African Peoples History Month, whose theme is “Black Women in American Culture and History.”

Taylor, once lauded as “the most influential black woman in journalism today” by American Libraries, will discuss her journey and success in entrepreneurship. She began that journey when she created Nequai Cosmetics, one of the first companies to create beauty products for African-American women.

In 1970, she joined Essence, whose audience is predominantly African-American women, as beauty editor and later fashion editor. In 1981, Taylor was promoted to editor-in-chief, a post she held until retirement in 2000. She was elected vice president of Essence Communication Inc. in 1986 and became senior vice president in 1993.

Taylor was the host and executive producer of “Essence,” the country’s first nationally syndicated African-American oriented TV magazine, and of the Essence Awards show and the Essence Music Festival.

She retired from Essence in 2008.

She has written “In the Spirit: The Inspirational Writings of Susan L. Taylor” and “Lessons in Living.” Taylor co-authored a third book with her husband, Khepra Burns, “Confirmations: The Spiritual Wisdom That Has Shaped Our Lives.”

Taylor’s presentation is free and open to the public.

The same day as Taylor’s talk, Fresno State will conclude its participation in the annual California State University Super Sunday program of visits by university officials to African-American churches throughout the state. The officials tell students and their families the advantages of earning a degree through Fresno State or one of the 22 other CSU campuses.

Fresno State’s final visit this year is at 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at New Beginnings Community Baptist Church, 5151 N. Fresno St., where the speaker will be Tawanda Kitchen, a counselor in the Educational Opportunity Program.

Other African Peoples History Month events:

  • “Obama Revisited,” panel discussion 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the Alice Peter’s Auditorium in the University Business Center.
  • “What They Invented! Black History Exhibit,” 7:08-9:08 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Alpha Nu at the University Student Union Pavilion.
  •  “Africana Culture Night,” 6-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the African American Historical and Cultural Museum (1857 Fulton St., downtown Fresno).
  • “Black Voter Registration,” 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in the Free Speech Area.
  • “Rosa Parks Awards,” 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at the Smittcamp Alumni House.
  •  “Back of the Bus Panel Discussion,” 7:13-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Inc. Location to be determined.
  • “Honoring ‘The Help’: A Tribute to Black Domestic Workers” panel discussion among former domestic workers and local historians 3:30 p.m. March 4 at the Henry Madden Library, Room 2206.

For more information about African Peoples History Month events held on campus, contact the Africana Studies Program at 559.278.2832.

(Copy by University Communications student news assistant Reganie Smith-Love)