Medill alumna Mara Brock Akil to speak at Medill on Oct. 5

The creator of the hit television shows “Girlfriends,” “The Game” and “Being Mary Jane” will be honored with Medill's highest alumni honor.

The creator of the hit television shows “Girlfriends,” “The Game” and “Being Mary Jane,” will be honored with Medill's highest alumni honor. Mara Brock Akil (BSJ92) will receive Medill's Hall of Achievement award in a ceremony at 2 p.m.., Thursday, Oct. 5 at the McCormick Foundation Center Forum. Request a seat at the event.

The Hall of Achievement was established in 1997 to honor Medill alumni whose distinctive careers have had positive effects on their fields.

“Mara truly represents the best of Medill,” said Dean Bradley J. Hamm, “She has distinguished herself in her field and is a credit to her alma mater. We are proud to recognize her outstanding achievements.”

Brock Akil is writer, creator and producer of several hit television series including “Being Mary Jane,” starring Gabrielle Union; “Girlfriends,” which ran for eight years on UPN and The CW; and the “Girlfriends” spinoff “The Game,” which finished its history-making run with 147 episodes and nine seasons on The CW and BET. She is credited with adding an authentic African-American female voice to television offerings. Brock Akil has been a consulting producer for ABC’s sitcom “Cougar Town,” supervising producer and writer on “The Jamie Foxx Show” and writer on “Moesha.”

Brock Akil and her husband Salim run Akil Productions. She wrote and co-produced and he directed the movie “Sparkle,” which featured Whitney Houston in her final big screen performance. Brock Akil is currently developing a show with Warner Bros. called “Documenting Love.”

Brock Akil is a part of the 2017 Medill Hall of Achievement class. Other 2017 recipients include two Pulitzer Prize-winners, a U.S. ambassador, the executive editor of NPR and a top marketing executive. 

While on campus in October, Brock Akil will also received the Northwestern Alumni Medal—the highest honor given by the Northwestern Alumni Association—during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.