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Records the first part of an interview with Deborah Tompkins Johnson, documenting her experiences as a student at Madison College beginning in 1974. The interview describes her transition to campus life, including residence in Eagle Hall and early academic experiences in the communications program (radio, television, and film), including studio work and internships. Johnson details her participation in the Black Student Alliance (BSA), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Contemporary Gospel Singers, with discussion of activities such as Black Emphasis Week programming, step shows, performances, and events such as a student-organized fashion show. The interview recounts student advocacy efforts for institutional change, including demonstrations, meetings with administrators, and requests for increased representation across faculty, curriculum, and student services, as well as the establishment of a Minority Affairs coordinator role. Additional topics include student social life, residence hall dynamics, dining, participation in campus events, and graduation. The interview was held in Wilson Hall at James Madison University.

Records the second part of an interview with Deborah Tompkins Johnson, exploring aspects of her career and contributions as a distinguished alumna. Topics include her service on the Board of Visitors between 1998-1994, her memories of the growth and transformation of JMU in the early 1990s, and her involvement in alumni organizations. She also discusses her reappointment by President Alger nearly a decade after her earlier term ended. She reflects on the President's task Force on Racial Equity, which she cochaired, and shares her thoughts on how the experiences of contemporary students compare to her own days at Madison College.