Edward Waters University just added a new leader to its Intercollegiate Athletics department. Learn more in the EWU release below.
The Edward Waters University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has selected Marquita Mines as the new Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field and Cross Country Head Coach.
Mines comes to Jacksonville after spending two seasons as the assistant indoor/outdoor track & field coach at Division III Roanoke College. During her first indoor season, Mines mentored 13 top 8 finishers including an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Indoor Conference Champion in the high jump, two Third Team All-ODAC members, and 4 Maroons who claimed All-South Region honors. During the outdoor season she had 10 top 8 finishers including Two Third Team All-ODAC members. Her first year also saw 16 Maroons who recorded personal best performances
Prior to her time at Roanoke, Mines spent five seasons with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore coaching staff (2017-21) as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, working with the sprinters, jumpers, and multi-event participants during the indoor and outdoor seasons, while also assisting cross country runners in the fall. While at UMES, Mines led several athletes to All-Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) finishes and All-East Region honors. She also coached the 2018 MEAC Outdoor Conference Champion in the Javelin.
Mines enjoyed a fantastic career as a student-athlete for Christopher Newport University, where she won six NCAA All-American honors for track and field, ultimately earning induction into CNU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
In her professional career Mines became a fixture in Virginia’s track and field scene, serving as the head coach for J.R. Tucker High School in Henrico, Virginia from 2012-2017. Under her leadership, the Tigers girls’ team won their first conference title, and Mines earned a pair of Coach of the Year accolades. Mines cracked the college coaching circuit as an Assistant Volunteer Coach with Virginia Commonwealth University.
Mines received her undergraduate degree in Leisure Studies with a Concentration in Sports and Wellness Studies before obtaining a master’s degree in Sports Management with a certification in Athletic Administration for Southern New Hampshire University.
Mines is a member of several committees, including the United States Track & Field Association, USATF Women’s Commission, and the Virginia Track Coaches Association. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer with American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA) and a Certified Strength and Conditional Specialist with International Sports Science Association (ISSA).
Airlines struggling with shortages want to recruit more diverse pilots, and Florida Memorial University may be the solution. Learn more in the story by Curtis Bunn at NBC News.
Tremaine Johnson. Courtesy Tramaine Johnson.
“We want to be a pipeline for Black pilots,” said William McCormick, chairman of Florida Memorial University’s Board of Trustees.
At Florida Memorial University, a small historically Black university in Miami Gardens, Tremaine Johnson is training to become one of the country’s few Black pilots.
Less than 2% of commercial airline pilots are Black, according to one report, making Johnson’s decision to become a pilot — rather than an air traffic controller, as he’d originally intended — notable. His choice also comes at a particularly crucial time, as airlines around the country experience a pilot shortage due to cutbacks during the pandemic.
At 21-years-old Johnson still remembers the exact moment that inspired his career change: It was when he flew in a plane for the first time last year.
“I could feel us going up and up,” Johnson recalled about his flight to Ohio. “I felt an adrenaline rush.”
As Johnson watched the aircraft separate itself farther and farther from the ground, after a few minutes he heard the captain announce that they were cruising at 30,000 feet.
“I look at my dad and he’s laughing,” Johnson said. “At first, I was thinking, ‘I gotta get off this thing.’ But the pilot hit the thrust and we just started climbing up in the air. I saw the whole Miami below me. I saw the houses get smaller and smaller. I saw the ocean. It was another world up there. And that’s when my curiosity became strong.”
Suddenly, the small plane at Florida Memorial University he’d walked by for years as a student took on new meaning. Florida Memorial is one of a few HBCUs with an aviation program. William McCormick, chairman of Florida Memorial University’s board of trustees and a FMU graduate, proudly shared that a Florida Memorial alum, Capt. Barrington Irving, once held the record as the youngest person, at 23, to fly the 24,600-mile trip around the world. McCormick is confident there are other Irvings on campus.
“But the biggest problem is that flight school is expensive,” McCormick said. Florida Memorial owns a small plane, but purchasing flight time can be prohibitive. A flight school program for an experienced student costs $71,000. With no previous experience, the cost can be as high as $91,995, according to ATP Flight School. McCormick noted that even for an experienced student awarded a $10,000 scholarship to the Red Tail Flight Academy, a school named after the Tuskegee Airmen who fought in World War II, that’s still a hefty price to pay.
“A lot of kids who don’t look like me can come to the program because they can afford to pay for flight time,” McCormick said. “We have to fix that so our students from an HBCU can join the program with ease, too. We want to be a pipeline for Black pilots just like we did with teachers and principals. But we need partnerships with people who care.”
How the local community is stepping up to make it happen
Community support is one of the reasons why Florida Memorial University students will have a fighting chance in aviation. Local inventor Freddie Figgers said he believed in the university’s plan and teamed up with Black car dealership magnate Vince Young to donate $50,000 to the aviation program.
“When I learned about how outstanding the aviation program is at Florida Memorial, we at the [Figgers] Foundation felt the need to help,” said Figgers, the owner of Figgers Communication, the nation’s only Black-owned telecommunications company. “I understand the road to becoming a pilot is long and hard and carries a large price tag, and we as a community have to do our part to change the numbers and give our kids a chance to be great.”
As a former pilot, Young believes that a career in aviation is more than flying a plane.
“Having something to hang on to like aviation really allows you to discover that there are no ceilings and that you can keep growing,” he said. The urgency of safely flying a plane instills diligence and drive, he added. “It just makes you so much better, more focused and more skilled at everything you do.”
Retired pilot Bernard Harrison, 58, can attest to Young’s sentiment. After graduating from Norfolk State University, the Houston resident served as a pilot for 19 years: 12 in the Navy and seven in the Air Force. After leaving the service, Young flew as a commercial pilot for 15 years before taking early retirement from Southwest Airlines.
Bernard Harrison.Courtesy Bernard Hairston
“I had a great career that I loved,” Harrison said. “But I’m glad a program like what we’re seeing at HBCUs exists because it’s a great profession that can be lucrative — and we are nowhere to be found.”
A closer look at the diversity gap in aviation
Harrison recounted walking into pilot lounges at airports and not seeing another person of color. “Just middle-aged white guys. Fox News is blaring on the TV. And everybody’s looking at me like, ‘What are you doing here?’
“It’s been their industry the whole time. The first Black commercial pilot didn’t fly until 1963 — and it took a change in law to get that done,” he added, referring to Marlon Green, who became the first Black pilot hired by a commercial airline after the Supreme Court ruled in his favor. A year later, David Harris became the first Black pilot to fly a commercial plane.
Unfortunately, the needle has not moved much since then — although there seems to be some interest from major airlines to recruit Black pilots. In May, Delta hired Eric Hendrick, a retired Navy pilot who attended Norfolk State, though not at the same time as Harrison. He became Delta’s first director of pilot outreach — a pivotal role that Hendrick said will provide more opportunities for Black pilots. Hendrick said he will hire more diverse pilots for the airline; he will oversee Propel, its pathways program, which creates opportunities for potential young Black pilots; and he will supervise Delta’s diversity equity and inclusion program, which includes community and corporate outreach.
Eric Hendrick.Courtesy Eric Hendrick
Hendrick said he was content in retirement, but the importance of the job roused him back to work. “If you’re going to make a difference, you have to be at the table,” he said.
“This position gives me the opportunity to not only do good work for the company by hiring pilots in general, but I also get to write the narrative of how women and minorities get invited into the industry,” he added.
Like Delta, other airlines are starting to think of ways to address the lack of diversity in aviation.
American Airlines has its own flight school, Cadet Academy, where it promotes an “inclusive community” to build diversity among its pilots. American plans to hire 4,000 pilots by the end of 2023. Southwest has Destination 225° Cadet Pathway, which provides support for those with aspirations in aviation. Meanwhile, United has Aviate, a program that focuses on launching pilot careers.
But, Hendrick notes, the lack of diversity is “a very complex issue” to solve because airlines aren’t always focused on investing in programs that specifically target the issue.
“So the airlines are in a pickle,” he added. “We need pilots. We want diversity. They eventually are going to start putting money into initiatives that attract and support Black pilots. ”
Why outreach, educational programs and financial support are needed
Outside of the airlines, there are other efforts to promote diversity, including Sisters of the Skies, which specifically targets young Black women to help create a new pipeline for aspiring Black pilots. And there is the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), an influential group that works to create pathways for Black pilots into the exclusionary industry.
But Hendrick still feels there is a looming question: “How do we get Black people interested in aviation?”
“It’s just not one of those career fields that we have been exposed to and quite frankly, we don’t see ourselves being able to do,” he said. “So, there’s that hurdle that we have to clear, but we’re willing to do the outreach to make an impact.”
McCormick says this is where Florida Memorial can make a difference.
“We have young people who are very interested in this field,” he said. “The hope is that the airlines will partner with us and increase the chances of our students getting in and through flight school.”
For students like Johnson, that support can’t come soon enough.
“I hope there are people, companies that will support us,” he said. “I really want this. I’m determined to not let the resources be a problem. But they are.”
On a trip to Orlando for his birthday in June, Johnson used his last $250 to take his introductory flight, commandeering a Cessna Skyhawk. He executed 360-degree turns and rapid climbs in altitude. The experience was “incredible,” he said. “Amazing. I didn’t know Florida was full of swamps until I flew over them. It confirmed what I wanted to do.”
Johnson has been accepted into the Red Tails Academy in New York, where in September he will focus on private planes and instrument training, among other technical aspects of flying. “I’m excited because it’s really happening. I know we will have to find resources in the future. But I believe the resources will come. I have to.”
An HBCU education does extraordinary things for graduates’ careers and their health! Learn more in the story by Stephanie Kulke at Northwestern Now.
Further study of inclusive environments is key to fostering physician workforce diversity
A new study focused on Black medical students finds those attending historically Black medical schools report a greater sense of belonging and greater confidence in their scholastic abilities than those in predominantly white medical schools.
A survey administered three times during study participants’ second year of medical school compared the responses from students attending historically Black medical schools (HBCUs) with those attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs).
In addition to finding a greater sense of belonging, the study found HBCU students reported more confidence about being accepted into a top 10 residency and greater residency goal stability than those in PWIs.
“Our findings suggest that Black medical students in PWI schools may experience greater everyday discrimination relative to their HBCU peers that leads to reduced perceptions of their ability to succeed within medical school,” said Sylvia Perry, the study’s senior researcher.
Perry is an associate professor of psychology at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University and the principal investigator in the Social Cognition and Intergroup Processes (SCIP) Lab. She is also a faculty fellow of the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern.
Study co-authors include Northwestern alumnus James Wages ’21, now an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Central Arkansas, and corresponding author Max Jordan Nguemeni Tiako of Harvard Medical School.
The study builds on Perry’s prior research using a self-affirmation intervention to counter the impact of racial stressors that Black medical school students experience in PWIs. While the results indicated that the affirmation did not close the belonging, well-being or residency competitiveness gaps, it did reduce the gap in residency goal stability.
Other past research suggests that Black STEM students at PWIs report struggles with creating an inclusive campus climate, whereas HBCU students perceive STEM disciplines to be diverse and view their institutions as supportive.
Based on the new findings, the researchers recommend PWIs take action to increase representation within the medical field.
“We believe that it is important for predominantly white institutions to signal a commitment and make efforts to increase diversity among trainees and faculty,” Perry said.
“Simply increasing the number of students and faculty of color is not enough,” she added. “These institutions should also focus on increasing underrepresented medical students’ sense of belonging by making the reduction of bias and discrimination explicit priorities. Medical schools must create an environment in which all students can thrive and feel safe.”
Future research will involve better understanding of the environmental factors that contribute to these disparities and providing targeted intervention strategies to increase belonging among PWI medical students.
Dr. Jorim E. Reid Sr. was named Morgan State University’s (MSU) Director of Bands. He succeeded Melvin N. Miles Jr. after the icon retired with 49 years of service at MSU. Reid will continue Miles’ musical legacy. He is now the principal conductor who oversees MSU’s Symphonic Winds, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo and “Magnificent Marching Machine” Marching Band. Reid possesses over 27 years of striving to teach and nurture young people musically. Photo Credit: Morgan State University
Dr. Jorim E. Reid Sr. was named Morgan State University’s (MSU) Director of Bands. He will also serve as assistant professor and the coordinator of instrumental music, according to a press release. Reid’s role entails working as the principal conductor who will oversee MSU’s Symphonic Winds, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo and “Magnificent Marching Machine.”
“Dr. Reid comes to the National Treasure after a nationwide search and an exacting selection process to name the successor to longtime MSU Director of Bands Melvin N. Miles Jr., who recently retired after 49 years of dedicated service to Morgan,” according to the announcement. “An accomplished and highly regarded composer and musician, Dr. Reid has an extensive background, leadership expertise and a creative approach to instruction, education, recruitment and marching band ensemble conducting that left a profound impression on the five-person search committee and ultimately proved to be key factors in his selection.”
Dr. Jorim E. Reid Sr. is Morgan State University’s Director of Bands. Photos courtesy of Morgan State University
Reid told The Baltimore Times that his musical journey officially began at MSU on July 25, 2022. Before joining the MSU community, Reid led the Marching Bronco ’Xpress as director of bands at Fayetteville State University. While working as professor of music, he taught wind symphony, “symphonic band, elementary and advanced instrumental conducting, music literature and arranging,” according to a press release.
Reid’s path to teach music at the collegiate level dates to his college years. The piano major did not initially aspire to become a band director. While attending Florida A&M University to complete his undergraduate studies, then continue his higher education pursuit at Florida State University during graduate school, Reid studied to become a film composer. Even before he began writing music for the band in undergraduate school, Reid composed music in high school and as a church musician. He initially believed that his work would entail playing at churches and writing music for commercials. While Reid was attending graduate school, a few professors observed performances from one of his compositions. The professors knew an individual who was seeking an arranger, composer, and assistant director at one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Their observation of Reid changed his career path.
“I interviewed and was offered the job there at North Carolina Central University where I was for 15 years,” Reid said.
Reid has worked on small films. He also has written, recorded, and mixed music for local commercials. Additionally, writing music for other universities, professional organizations, and productions outside of classical music have been other facets of experience he gained.
Despite Reid’s eclectic musical background, his musical specialty is conducting and arranging music. While continuing Melvin Miles’ legacy at MSU, Reid strives to lobby for Miles to be recognized as Director of Bands Emeritus. This would enable Miles to receive the highest recognition.
Reid wants to keep relationships intact that Miles had and create some new ones, As MSU’s new Director of Bands settles into his new position, Reid is diving into the musical work at hand. One thing on Reid’s to-do list is preparing band students for preseason drills. And while Reid works hands on with students, he mentioned that alumni and the community can support the band by donating for scholarships and operating costs, showing up at MSU games dressed in signature blue and orange university colors, and sharing any positive university news, including MSU president David Wilson’s tweets on Twitter.
Morgan State University’s Marching Band performs at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2019.
Reid pointed out that bands are important at HBCUs beyond their roles playing music at football games and parades.
“Most of the time, over 95% of the band, they’re not music majors. The band program at any university, not just an HBCU, will represent pretty much every single major on campus,” Reid said.
He added that if students have a great experience in band while traveling to away games, across the country, or overseas to perform, these students will remember the undertaking for the rest of their lives. Giving back to the institution when they become professionals may be the result. Today’s band members are future lawyers, doctors, teachers, researchers or even the next producer, Reid reminded. While MSU’s band plays a role in entertaining the crowd in social environments, membership entails becoming a more well-rounded person. Achieving milestones as a group can be memorable and impactful.
“Band is big, but the outcome is bigger if the student experience is right, and the payback is immeasurable,” Reid also said.
Jackson State University has partnered with American Airlines to provide chartered flights for football gamedays. According to HBCU Gameday, The partnership includes “providing private chartered flights for select JSU Football away games, year-round activation on the JSU Sports Network, and in-game activations at Veterans Memorial Stadium beginning with the Saturday, September 17 home opener vs. Grambling. Additionally, American will sponsor exclusive in-season elements and branded content opportunities in multiple sports.”
American Airlines also has plans on creating community initiatives and internship opportunities for JSU students.
Vice President/Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson speaks highly of the new partnership saying, “American Airlines is the global leader in air travel, and we look forward to all supporters and friends of Tiger Nation benefitting from this unique agreement. This is a game changer for Jackson State University, and we are excited about partnering with American Airlines.”
“American is a proud supporter of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and our partnership as the official airline partner to Jackson State University is a reflection of our vision in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all,” said Kevin Williams, Managing Director of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at American
Benedict College is now the first HBCU to launch an Esports degree track and gaming room.
Last week, Benedict College cut the ribbon on their new Esports gaming room furthering their commitment to bring Esports to the University. This new addition comes after the University partnered with Blaze Fire Games in 2020 to start an Esports club and hosted its first Madden and NCAA College Football tournaments. They’ve continued this partnership to offer over 250 Esports Micro-Credentialing certifications that Benedict students can attain.
Benedict College Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Janeen Witty, said that their Esports program is intended to prepare students to participate in the industry. “In keeping with Benedict’s strategic plan to offer transformational learning experiences, our innovative Esports Administration curriculum is designed to prepare students to create new applications and to engage in all facets of the industry” said Witty.
Dr. Paula Shelby, Benedict’s head of Health and Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) says their Esports curriculum opens up more opportunities for African Americans in the Esports industry and that they plan on using the program as a recruitment tool for the University.
Kylah Montgomery, a student enrolled in the program told WACH Fox 57 that they are on a misssion to “make a change.” “We’re here to put black faces in all colors of the scale into esports,” said Montgomery.
Meharry Medical College has selected a new executive to develop several residency programs at the HBCU. Learn more in the release by MMC below.
Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s oldest and largest historically Black academic health science centers, announced today that Michelle Nichols, M.D., M.S., MBA, FAAFP, has been named as senior vice president of clinical affairs. Nichols will lead Meharry’s clinical enterprise, collaborating with the College’s clinicians and overseeing its Graduate Medical Education programs. She will spearhead efforts to advance health equity and reduce disparities among those in underserved communities.
“We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Nichols to the Meharry family,” said James E.K. Hildreth, Ph.D., M.D., president and CEO of Meharry Medical College. “In addition to her extensive clinical affairs experience and passion for mentoring young physicians, Dr. Nichols is a true champion for patients and dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to the care they need. We look forward to working with her to advance Meharry’s mission of achieving equitable health outcomes for all and creating new educational opportunities that will benefit all Meharrians and the people we serve.”
In her new role, Nichols will enhance and grow Meharry’s six residency programs within the School of Medicine. These include programs in internal medicine, psychiatry, family medicine, preventive medicine, obstetrics and gynecology and occupational medicine. She will serve as the College’s designated institutional official for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Nichols joins Meharry from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga., where she served as associate dean for clinical affairs and medical director for Morehouse Healthcare. A talented educator and advocate for health equity, Nichols worked on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, directing the Morehouse School of Medicine/Morehouse College Community COVID-19 Vaccination Program in Atlanta.
In 2021, Nichols testified before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) hearing on “Vaccines: America’s Shot at Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic.” She was profiled by Becker’s Hospital Review in its feature “Six Black women who have been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.”
“Meharry has a rich legacy of championing heath equity and an unmatched commitment to ensuring that our nation’s underserved communities have access to the health care service and support they need,” said Nichols. “I’m excited to join the faculty and students at Meharry who, for more than a century, have been improving the well-being of humankind through transformative research, education and leadership. We have great opportunities ahead of us to build on this exciting work and reach and impact more lives.”
Nichols earned her medical degree and completed residency training in family medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, Miss. She completed her faculty development fellowship at Duke University and received a physician executive MBA from the University of Tennessee. She is board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Physicians.
Ja Rule has already pledged a portion of his NFT sales to HBCUs, but a new partnership with his longtime friend is taking it further. Learn more in the story from Darlene Aderoju at Billboard.
Ja Rule and Herb Rice (Photo Credit: Holla)
“We want this brand new venture to educate people of color on NFTs, cryptocurrency, blockchain and the whole space,” Ja Rule tells Billboard.
Ja Rule and Herb Rice, longtime friends and business partners, have co-founded The Painted House and launched its inaugural NFT collection, Black Is Beautiful, with a charitable component directly benefiting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
“The Painted House is a passion of Ja and I,” Rice tells Billboard of the new venture in collaboration with NFT launchpad platform, House of First. “We entered the Web3 NFT space a year ago after attending the annual NFT NYC for the first time. It was warm and social, but there were no people of color. We wanted to bring more people of color into the space — so we created an investment group called the Brotherhood Dow, for people that wanted to start buying and selling NFTs, in a comfortable setting of family and friends investing and learning about Web3 and cryptocurrency… we wanted to dovetail that with getting more Black creatives into the Web3 space.”
Rice says after reconnecting with House of First founder Zeev Klein, he and Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper Ja Rule “agreed it was an amazing idea, and launched The Painted House.”
Among the emerging Black artists that make up The Painted House is Nick Davis, who created the debut collection, Black Is Beautiful — which contains 1,000 one-of-one collectible NFTs that showcase depth of emotion, faith, style and resilience while embracing pop culture in some works. Having already sold “80 percent of the collection,” per Ja Rule, The Painted House will donate 10 percent of primary sales of the inaugural collection to five HBCUs: Jackson State University, Morgan State University, Hampton University, Spelman College and Morehouse College.
“We want this brand new venture to educate people of color on NFTs, cryptocurrency, blockchain and the whole space,” Ja Rule tells Billboard. “The Painted House is like our baby, and our way of introducing artists of color into the NFT realm. It’s not easy to create generative art like NFTs because you have to explain why one might be more rare than the other by having a specific trait — like lasers, which is unique to NFTs — whereas creating [traditional] art is often a feeling or passion you have.”
And speaking specifically on Black Is Beautiful, he details, “What we did with Nick’s project is next level. It’s kind of rare for artists to do one-of-ones, so we took on that challenge. This is what our Painted House is about, and where we’re gonna hang our hat on engaging, representing and furthering our culture and community.”
“I see myself in this art,” Ja Rule explains, “Like the Black Stewie, because I’m always gonna be a child at heart with a fun-loving, free-flowing spirit with a brilliance.”
For Rice, there’s a deeply personal connection to the Black Is Beautiful collection, stemming back to his childhood. “One afternoon Ja sent me a text and said, ‘What do you think about this guy?’” he recalls. “It was Nick’s Instagram page. For the next hour and a half, I looked at every single picture that he posted. What captivated me about Nick, was that it was Black, unapologetic art.
“Growing up, I was always teased about my complexion, so I wasn’t secure and comfortable until one day in the fourth or fifth grade when I came home crying and my grandma saw me,” he continues. “She put her hands on my cheeks and said, ‘You are beautiful and handsome. That Black skin of yours is beautiful. You can be whatever you want.’ That touched me in a way you cannot imagine, and I became confident in my skin… When I saw Nick’s art, it immediately made me think of that time as a child and I was like, ‘I need the world to be able to see this.’ It became my passion to bring this to life.”
Ja Rule says the artwork shows “joy, struggle and passion. It’s our emotions. And for kids who haven’t found their strength yet, it lets people know your Black skin should be your superpower and you should lead with it.”
And the proud dad, whose daughter attended HBCU Hampton University, is happy The Painted House is donating funding to higher education for Black students. “Education is the No. 1 solution for some of the issues within our community,” Rule tells Billboard. “The other is funding, and with those two things we can help our community grow abundantly. We want to be a spark for our children to attend HBCUs. Let’s have our young Black men, who are 80 percent of the NFL and NBA, attend HBCUs — so these will be your alma maters that you send money back to, and kids and scouts will follow your footsteps.”
As part of The Painted House launch, Ja Rule and Rice orchestrated a group of Black NFT artists to recreate the iconic “A Great Day in Harlem” photo that jazz greats including Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie appeared in at the famous New York brownstone on E. 126th Street in Harlem in 1958.
“Physical art you can touch, music as an art form, touches you,” Ja Rule says before explaining the significance of recreating the photo, which he credits Manouschka Guerrier for organizing. “When you look at the original photo and what it meant, these were young pioneers rebelliously blazing a trail and showing the world, ‘We’re here and this is something to pay attention to.’ Fast forward to us re-creating the photo for the hip-hop community [in 1998], of a rebellious new art form of music that everybody counted out, and now we’re the No. 1 genre. It was the same energy then. And now fast forward to the great day in Web3. We’re saying, ‘You’re gonna see art through our eyes and vision and you won’t be able to control it.’ That’s a special moment in art, Web3, hip-hop and jazz.”
Up next, Ja Rule reveals, “Upon us selling out this NFT, which we’re cruising to, I’m releasing new songs and everyone that holds a Black Is Beautiful NFT will exclusively get the new music. It’s fun. The beauty of The Painted House is you also get perks.”
Jackson State University‘s projections for its annual Day of Giving fundraiser were met and exceeded. Learn more in the story by Caleb Salers at Super Talk.
Photo courtesy of Jackson State University
Jackson State University held its annual Day of Giving event on Friday, July 29 in which the university exceeded its fundraising goal by receiving over $600,000 in donations.
This year’s virtual program was themed “1877: For Thee Culture” and hosted by JSU alumna and on-air personality Chelle B as well as alumnus Mark Henderson who serves as a JSU’s theatre professor and coordinator of speech communication.
“Giving back to Jackson State University means creating impactful college experiences and a high-quality academic environment where our students can flourish. These generous gifts from alumni, friends, and supporters will ensure that more students with financial needs can be served,” JSU President Thomas K. Hudson said. “I applaud the collective efforts of everyone who made our Day of Giving a success.”
In addition, the event included a myriad of alumni, faculty, staff, and student participation, including a virtual day party. Later that night, JSU’s production of “1877: For Thee Culture,” aired on Facebook, YouTube, and JSUTV, paying homage to popular television shows from the 1990s such as A Different World and Martin.
“Every year, we are amazed at how the Jackson State University community rallies together for our annual Day of Giving,” Yolanda Owens, assistant vice president of the Division of Institutional Advancement, said. “The Division of Institutional Advancement began this initiative eight years ago, and each year brings a fresh opportunity to set and reach new goals in support of current and future JSU students.”
Owens added that University Communications worked with the Department of Art and Theatre to create a marketing campaign that emphasized the importance of giving in a meaningful and entertaining way.
The list of top fundraisers for the university includes:
Top Fundraising Team: Jackson State University National Alumni Association
Top Fundraising Greek Organization: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Top Fundraising Fraternity: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Top Fundraising Sorority: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Top Fundraising State: Mississippi
Top Fundraising Alumni Chapter: Huntsville Alabama Alumni Chapter
Top Fundraising Class: Jackson State University class of 1987
Johnson C. Smith University is collaborating with Howard University in Washington, D.C. on a seven-year program where JCSU students can earn a doctorate degree in pharmacy. (Photo Credit: Troy Hull)
Johnson C. Smith and Howard universities are collaborating on a dual degree initiative.
Under terms of the agreement, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in science at JCSU, then advance to Howard’s pharmacy program for doctorate studies. The deal, which was signed in May, allows qualified students to matriculate at Howard in their fourth year at JCSU, with three more years of graduate school. Students must satisfy Howard’s admission requirements, including a minimum 2.5 grade-point average.
“Johnson C. Smith University actively searches for new pathways that will enhance the student experience to provide desirable outcomes for our graduates,” JCSU President Clarence Armbrister said in a statement. “The dual degree program with Howard University’s College of Pharmacy is just another way we are setting our students up for success.”
After three years at JCSU, students in the program will transfer to Howard for in-person doctorate program in Washington, D.C. Howard’s pharmacy program is ranked No. 1 among the seven HBCUs offering degrees. Pharmacist salaries average $144,327 annually, according to Salary.com, with Charlotte salaries ranging from $130,000-$160,000.
The profession is also transitioning in terms of ethnicity and age. The percentage of licensed pharmacists of color has increased from 14.9% in 2014 to 21.8% in 2019, according to the National Pharmacy Workforce Study. In 2019, 47.7% of practicing pharmacists were 40 years old or younger, compared to 24.4% a decade earlier.
“While Blacks make up 13% of the U.S. population, only 7.6% of pharmacists are Black,” said Karen Morgan, JCSU’s senior vice president of academic affairs. “With that disparity, there is a need to help bridge that gap and increase diversity in the pharmacy profession.”
The memorandum of understanding with Howard is JCSU’s latest partnership. In the last two years, the school has struck agreements with Central Piedmont Community College and Gaston College extending bachelor’s degree studies to their graduates. JCSU’s goal is to boost strategic plan initiatives to enhance academic offerings and expand partnerships.
“I’m very excited about this partnership,” said Vijaya Gompa, dean of JCSU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. “Our team worked hard to make sure our students will get the most benefit from this partnership. It is great to partner with a fellow HBCU to increase the numbers of Blacks in the pharmacy profession.”
Clark Atlanta University (CAU) makes history as the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to receive a $10 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) INCLUDES program to establish the National Data Science Alliance (NDSA).
The NDSA will increase the number of Black people earning data science credentials by at least 20,000 by 2027 and expand data science research that advocates for social justice and strive to eliminate bias. To accomplish this visionary goal, the NDSA will facilitate engagement across all HBCUs with industry and academic collaboration to broaden participation and advance social justice in data science.
“This is a monumental accomplishment for the HBCU community as a whole, and we at Clark Atlanta University are deeply honored to perpetuate institutional mission through data science,” said President George T. French Jr., Ph.D. “Clark Atlanta University has deep roots in conducting data science research that promotes equity, including the seminal works of scholar and former faculty member W.E.B. Du Bois on these hallowed grounds. This historic award exemplifies our commitment to ensuring competitive advantage for students to succeed and excel in our data-driven society.”
Talitha Washington, the lead and principal investigator of the grant, is the mastermind behind the NDSA. As the Director of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative and professor of mathematics at Clark Atlanta University, she is passionate about engaging more HBCUs and building a community to accelerate the preparation of students in data science and discover solutions for data-oriented problems that impact the lives of Blacks.
“We are excited that many HBCUs will collaborate with us to develop new equity-based discoveries in data science and expand student pathways that will change the face of data science,” said Washington.
The NDSA is supported by the AUC Consortium, led by Michael Hodge, with industry-university collaboration led by Moses Garuba (Howard University) and collective impact efforts led by H. Justin Ballenger (Morehouse College). The NDSA’s three regional hubs are led by LaTanya Brown-Robertson (Howard University), Sajid Hussain (Fisk University), and Eric Mintz (Clark Atlanta University). The evaluation will be conducted by Kavita Mittapalli (MN Associates).
The NDSA will catalyze systemic change at scale by engaging over 1,000 HBCU faculty and will create equity-based data science ecosystems where all students can learn and thrive.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP (PwC) awarded Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) a $15,000 Digital Enablement Award recently.
HSSU’s Anheuser-Busch School of Business (ABSB) applied for the funds in May 2022 and will use the funds for faculty professional development. Learning opportunities will include hands-on bi-monthly training sessions focused on trending teaching and learning technology.
HSSU’s ABSB Dean, Dr. Stacy Gee Hollins, and Assistant Dean, Dr. Shelitha Peppers, believe this funded opportunity will help increase technology use in the classrooms and enhance learner engagement.
“Digital enablement funding from PwC is providing our faculty with technological skills and tools necessary to teach our scholars in this digital world,” Hollins said.
They are looking forward to measuring the impact and success of the program through the level of incorporation of the new tools moving forward.
“This is great because there are not a lot of grants or funding opportunities developed solely for faculty,” Peppers said.
Faculty members will receive meals and necessary materials while participating in the program and have the opportunity to earn badges. Potential training could include LinkedIn Learn, Canvas, and course-specific sessions.
Training sessions will begin in September 2022 and end in April 2023.
Growing up in the small city of West Helena, Arkansas, Ruth Jones never dreamed of even knowing – let alone having a career as – a physicist or NASA employee. She went on to become both and has spent her career giving back to her hometown.
“I want to inspire the next generation to discover their passion and pursue their dreams,” Jones, associate manager for the Human Exploration Development & Operations Office at Marshall Space Flight Center, said. “I want to be that person who students can relate to and see themselves in me. That’s why it’s very important to me to go back to my former schools and do a science day to let students know the importance of education and career fields in science, technology, engineering, and math. Hearing about my success can give students from my hometown hope, confidence, and determination to do anything they put their minds to by working for it.”
Jones was the first female to receive a bachelor’s in physics from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She then attended Alabama A&M University and earned both a master of science and doctorate in physics/materials science, becoming Alabama’s second African American woman to receive a doctorate in physics.
“Since my career has afforded me to be instrumental to so many people, leaving a legacy is very important to me,” said Jones, who awards two scholarships annually to students attending her home church, First Baptist Church in West Helena. “To me, LEGACY means ‘Letting Experience Guide and Change You,’ and I want my experiences to guide and change everyone I meet. That’s why mentoring is dear to my heart … which is another way I give back, not only to my hometown but to anyone I meet.”
Question: What are your primary responsibilities as associate manager for the Human Exploration Development & Operations Office?
Jones: I provide direct support to the manager and deputy manager in the execution of the office, center, and mission directorate goals and objectives. This includes supporting activities related to organizational workforce planning and budget management by providing status and elevating issues to the office’s leadership team. I also perform assessments and provide initiatives to address the concerned areas.
Naturally, I have taken on the role of motivating and encouraging our team as they work hard on our missions and projects to meet deadlines. Something as simple as a “wellness check” email message or phone call goes a long way, and I hope it shows our team members I genuinely care about them and their well-being. Taking care of our team is very important to me because if the team is healthy – mentally and physically – we will be successful.
Question: Who or what led you to pursue an education/career in physics?
Jones: I’ve always had a passion for numbers and solving problems. I took accounting and physics my senior year in high school and loved them both. My initial major in college was accounting, where college algebra was the highest level of math that I needed for that curriculum. My college algebra professor, Dr. Miah Adel, saw my passion for solving problems and understanding of math, and he persuaded me to change my major to physics. However, he failed to tell me that there were no physics majors on campus. I owe my success in my career and in a male-dominated field – physics – to Dr. Miah because he observed my mathematical skills and potential. Even though I was the only physics major on campus, he taught class as if it was a room full of students … never cutting class short and providing plenty homework assignments, tests, and labs.
Question: How big of a role did your NASA co-op play in you having a successful career with the agency?
Jones: Being a NASA co-op was very instrumental to my success. The NASA co-op program provided me an opportunity to work within different organizations, which helped me find my niche and purpose, in addition to working with some of the best scientists/engineers at Marshall, such as Dr. Donald Frazier, Dr. Sandor Lehoczky, Dr. Ching Hua Su, Jim Bilbro, and Dr. Philip Stahl. I was fortunate to gain some awesome mentors, including the late E.C. Smith, along with Jim Kennedy, Tia Ferguson, Dr. Amanda Goodson, and Angelia Walker.
During my co-op tenure, I gained experience in crystal growth; optical coatings and optical components; replicated optics; electrical, electronic, and electromechanical parts; and physics/metallurgy, which laid the foundation for my NASA career.
Question: Who or what drives/motivates you?
Jones: My family is my greatest motivation, especially my younger nieces, nephews, and cousins. I am motivated by the fact that I’ve helped make a difference in the lives of my family. Seeing the smiles on their faces and watching them grow and improve their lives makes me exuberant. I want them to know that with a good education, a solid goal, and an unfaltering determination, the sky is the limit.
I was a supervisor for four years, and the one thing that makes all of the challenges worthwhile is seeing my team grow and advance. I genuinely enjoy coaching and harnessing the potential of constructive feedback. When I am able to help a struggling employee start exceeding expectations, or a thriving team member take the next step in their career, I am always elated. That’s what sustains me at work, and it will likely do so for the rest of my career.
The gratification of overcoming obstacles is another motivator. I use the obstacles I’ve encountered as fuel to launch me into success. The feeling of accomplishment that comes with exceeding challenging goals is what drew to me a STEM career and how I have continued to succeed in a male-dominated field.
Question: Do you have any advice for those who are early in their careers with NASA?
Jones: Become the CEO of your life by having a personal board of directors – three to five people, such as a true friend, a mentor, a connector, a sponsor, and a point expert. Most people have a mentor and true friend, but rarely do people have a connector, a sponsor, and a point expert. The latter three are very important in having a successful career. Connectors know everybody and can pick up the phone on your behalf. Sponsors are your advocates and have a seat at the table; they will speak to your skills and abilities in your absence. Point experts are your go-to people, and they have all the answers and are willing to share the information with you to elevate you professionally and personally.
Also, diversify your skills by doing details and special assignments throughout the agency.
Finally, gain experience outside of your expertise by taking advantage of opportunities for improvement.
Bowie State University has entered into a partnership with a Michigan university that will put HBCUs in the spotlight. Learn more in the story by Ann Williams at WSGW below.
Photo Credit:WSGW file photo
Saginaw Valley State University and Bowie State University are partnering for a program that will highlight the history and experience of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The two universities will compete in a football game a 6 :00 p.m. on Saturday, September 10 at SVSU’s Wickes Stadium.
“While our athletic teams and those of other HBCUs often compete against non-HBCUs in various sports, the experience is often limited to the athletic contest,” said Clyde Doughty, director of intercollegiate athletics at Bowie State. “This partnership between Bowie State and SVSU provides extraordinary learning opportunities for representatives of both schools and their communities. I am not aware of any similar ventures that have ever been undertaken.”
On Thursday, Sept. 8, there will be a showing of the film, “Tell Them We Arise,” followed by a panel discussion. Some traditional HBCU social activities, including a “step show,” will be among the pre-game events at SVSU on Friday, Sept. 9.
Photo Credit: Bowie State University
“The SVSU community and the surrounding community have a proud tradition of supporting diverse cultures, including on-campus events such as our Intercultural Night, participation in the MLK Unity March, Great Lakes Bay Regional MLK Celebration and more,” said John Decker, director of athletics at SVSU. “Michigan is home to just one small HBCU (Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design) that recently resumed operation, so for many of our students, faculty and staff, this will be a unique opportunity to learn more about these extraordinary institutions and their important role in American higher education.”
Bowie State was founded in 1865 in Maryland, and is one of the original HBCUs in the United States. It will join with SVSU to offer several educational and cultural events in the days leading up to the Saturday football game, including appearances at SVSU by Bowie State’s renowned Symphony of Soul marching band, and joint programs hosted by faculty of both institutions. SVSU is the youngest public university in Michigan, founded in 1963.
A homeless teen has earned a well-deserved spot on the Fisk University basketball team! Learn more in the story by Christine Devine at Fox LA.
Homeless teen accepted to HBCU with help of local non-profits | Jeremiah Armstead, a homeless teen basketball player, is on his way to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, thanks to the efforts of several local non-profit groups
When you think of the homeless, a six-foot-five-inch teenage basketball player doesn’t necessarily come to mind. But Jeremiah Armstead is just that, and he’s trying to get into college.
Jeremiah is at ease on the basketball court in Watts. What’s more challenging is that the 18-year-old, his younger brother, sister and mom are now at a domestic violence shelter, rescued from living in their car — again.
“Coming out to California my sophomore year we were living in a hotel or we were in our car for a few days,” Jeremiah said. “Sleeping at beaches in our car.”
Jeremiah spent his senior year at Long Beach Polytechnic High School where he just graduated. Then came the community leaders the Sisters of Watts, who saw a bigger vision.
Sisters of Watts’ Keisha Daniels made the call to the non-profit Educated Brilliant Minds, which helps kids get into HBCUs — historically Black colleges and universities. Thanks to their organization’s Stephen Bernstein, Jeremiah was accepted to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jeremiah’s mom Mindy Brooks calls it “a divine intervention.”
This list of those who chipped in to help the teen is long. His coach gave him his basketball shoes. The Do Good Daniels Family Foundation opened its shelter doors to the family two weeks ago. On Saturday the non-profit A Time To Mentor jumped in with a $1,000 scholarship. Grant money for Fisk University came in, but the Sisters of Watts are still trying to raise more than $15,000 for his schooling. They put out an all-call for donations, saying every dollar counts.
“I’m gonna miss him,” Brooks said. “I’m a phone call away.”
Jeremiah’s coach at Fisk will be former NBA player Kenny Anderson, a one-time Los Angeles Clipper.
If you would like to donate to help Send Jeremiah to Fisk University, you can donate to the Sisters of Watts or via Flipcause.
Morgan State University is the first 4-year HBCU to partner with Amazon’s Career Choice program, which will allow hourly Amazon employees throughout Maryland to pursue a degree at the University with Amazon covering the tuition. The partnership has been in the works for weeks with the goal being to “expand opportunities for even more adult learners to pursue degree attainment and have access to in-demand programs that can lead to higher paying careers and advancement,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. The program is offered in collaboration with the University’s College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies, which provides a wide range of degree programs for non-traditional and traditional students alike.
Through the College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies program, Morgan State will offer Amazon employees with 60 or more transfer credits up to eight interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree program options. Employees who do not have college credits can still enroll in any of the school’s undergraduate degree programs. “We have created a one-stop shop so that students who want to come to Morgan have a hands-on experience, excellent advising to help them navigate and make the best choice for their career future,” said Nicole Westrick,Morgan’s dean of the College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies.
