1940 – present
LaVerne Kenon Sci is a world expert on the life and work of Paul Laurence Dunbar and chiefly responsible for the growth of Dunbar’s
reputation in the city and beyond. The long time site manager for the Paul Laurence Dunbar House State Memorial, she took over a
building in a state of disrepair and shepherded it through a renovation and expansion project. Her care of the legacy of Dunbar led to engagement in the revitalization of the neighborhood
surrounding the Memorial. Visitors to the Dunbar House were often greeted by Sci in the character of Hallie Quinn Brown, one of Dunbar’s teachers and a world renowned elocutionist. The use of this character is just one example of Sci’s unparalleled ability to bring Dunbar and his period to life in a direct and impacting way. She has
received many awards, including the Dayton Daily News Top Ten Women award, induction into the Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame, and the Paul Laurence Dunbar Humanitarian of the
Year Award.