Joyce Yerwood made history as Stamford, Connecticut’s first Black woman doctor in the 1940s. Her legacy continues to live on, with a street renamed in her honor.
According to the Stamford Advocate, “Dr. Joyce Yerwood Way” is anticipated to be the new name of the portion of Fairfield Avenue between West Main Street and Richmond Hill Avenue in Stamford. City representatives voted unanimously late last week for the commemorative tribute. Now, it is up to the full Board of Representatives to pass the resolution.
Yerwood was a trailblazer in the medical field. Born in 1909, the Texas native pursued medicine while enduring ongoing racism and sexism. However, her passion for serving others helped her push past obstacles.
According to News One, in 1928, Yerwood graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Samuel Huston College in Austin, Texas. She then attended Meharry Medical College, where she and her sister were the only two women in their first-year program. After medical school, she completed her internship in Kansas City, Kansas, and then a residency in Philadelphia. Throughout this time, Yerwood made a name for herself as a pioneer in public health. She later started her own practice in Port Chester, New York.
After 18 years in Port Chester, Yerwood moved her practice to Stamford. As the first Black woman physician in Fairfield County, she dedicated 50 years to “providing quality medical care for low-income women, children, and families,” according to the Board of Representatives’ resolution.
Additionally, Yerwood’s efforts extended beyond healthcare and leaned into community engagement and empowerment. In 1943, she breathed life into the Stamford Negro Community Center, renamed The Yerwood Center in her honor in 1975. The Center is now operated by The Boys & Girls Club, pursuing its beloved founder’s mission of offering a myriad of educational and cultural programs for Black youth.
Yerwood, who died in 1987, will have a commemorative naming celebration during a scheduled Juneteenth event in Jackie Robinson Park.
Yerwood’s granddaughter, Joyce Carwin, said their family is “extremely excited and happy that this is finally happening.”
“As I grew older, I became aware of how important my grandmother was to the Stamford community,” Carwin said, as per News One. “She was fierce and fearless. She did not let the color of her skin or her gender stop her.”
The recent racial profile experience of Delaware State University‘s lacrosse team has affected everyone involved differently. One student recently shared what that day was like for her, and how it has impacted her life since. Learn more in the story from Andre Richards at NJ.com.
Nahkaleigh Hayes-Jones of Manchester, Ocean County, and a midfielder on the Delaware State University lacrosse team, says a traffic stop in which the girls’ belongings were searched, including underwear, was mentally traumatic. The university has since filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Justice Department.
Nahkaleigh Hayes-Jones has had some time to think about what happened to her and her teammates on a bus ride home from a series of away games her Delaware State University lacrosse team played in Central Florida last month.
As their team’s bus drove along I-95 through Liberty County in Georgia on April 20, a white sheriff’s deputy stopped their Black driver for an alleged moving violation. A cadre of white deputies with a drug-sniffing dog quickly followed.
She recalled the emotionally traumatic event. The officers made threats, rummaged through their clothes and other belongings, and worst, there was the assumption that she and her teammates, competitive athletes who hail from a historically Black university, had drugs on them.
“I just never thought something like this would happen to me,” said the 19-year-old student who is now back home in Manchester for the summer break. “To have to go back to school after something like this and go through final exams was just traumatizing.”
Hayes-Jones, a midfielder and criminal justice major, said the team usually plays cards or video games as they travel between games.
“It’s pretty peaceful on the bus rides,” she said. “We have about three away games per season, so when the bus was pulled over, I was confused considering the driver only used the left lane to pass a vehicle. And it was just like, why are we getting pulled over?”
On the body camera footage of the stop, a deputy says he stopped the commercial bus because the driver passed a vehicle in the left-hand lane. Trucks aren’t allowed in that lane. Then, he clearly explains why the girls’ belongings were searched. “Bunch of dang schoolgirls on the bus … probably some weed.”
Hayes-Jones said cops told them they were searching the bus because a police dog picked up a scent. Deputies told the group they were looking for drugs, like meth and heroin and that if they had marijuana, they should know it’s not legal in Georgia.
Hayes-Jones said what bothered her was that the deputies said they should let him know if they had anything before the search. They should just let them know now and try not to give them any more trouble. “Give them any more trouble, what trouble?”
Only one of the 25 members of the Hornet lacrosse team questioned the deputies’ legal reasons for the search. She says everyone complied, including the driver, two adult coaches and the entire team. They intentionally did not push back so as not to exacerbate the situation.
“For about 45 minutes they took bags off the bus and went through our luggage,” Hayes-Jones remembered. “One officer pulled out my friend’s underwear out of her bag with his finger and threw it on the ground, which is really weird — the whole situation was very disturbing.”
The officers opened a wrapped gift a teammate got from her aunt in Florida. It turned out to be a journal.
During the stop, many of the players called home. Hayes-Jones called her mother, Alesia Hayes.
“I asked her is everything all right?” Hayes said from her home in Ocean County. “She sent me videos of the cop while he was on the bus. And I said, why are cops on the bus? And she said, ‘well, they are searching through our bags.’ And I was like, are you serious? For what? She said because the police dog got a ‘hit’ on the back of the bus. The bus is so high, I was confused because the engine is in the back.”
The discovery netted no drugs or drug paraphernalia.
The driver apologized to the team. He told the student-athletes that the search was wrong and shouldn’t have happened.
Soon after the stop, Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a press conference. “I do not exercise racial profiling,” Bowman, a Black man, told the media. He also said no personal items on the bus were searched.
Delaware Gov. John Carney has called the stop “upsetting.” Members of Congress have said it was “deeply disturbing.” The university has filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. In it, they call the stop, “brazen, illegal, and discriminatory conduct.”
Jasmin Jones recently graduated from Rowan University with a degree in criminal justice. She is also a young Black woman and an athlete.
“I was honestly, really taken aback by the video, I could kind of feel how tense it was, I could really relate to what they were feeling in that moment. I know how scary it is to be in the presence of law enforcement, and especially when they’re accusatory, and you kind of have to be on the defense.”
Jones, chief of staff for The Total Justice Project, a nonprofit organization that investigates police misconduct said the power dynamic between a police officer versus regular citizens is intimidating. She said, “…nothing resulted from the search, but it could have had the potential to really go in a different direction, which is something many young Black people fear.”
Kelly Harris, the director of Africana Studies at Seton Hall University, said this case exemplifies an instance where the police could be telling the truth and are wrong at the same time.
“They could have pulled the bus over for a routine incident. However, because racism is so entrenched in our society, treating Black suspects differently has been normalized — to the point that many police do not recognize their shortcomings,” he said.
“Thinking the worst about Black people, from all walks of life, is the type of thinking that is very much a part of the collective American conscience.”
Nahkaleigh’s mother sees a change in her daughter since the incident.
“She’s very hesitant. She gets kind of paranoid. She’s skeptical of police officers when she sees them now. Afraid they’re going to stop and pull her over, and I have to calm her down. I’m like, ‘you’re not always going to get pulled over now for something stupid.’”
Hayes-Jones isn’t so sure. After what happened to her, she’s questioning if she wants to be a part of a system that treats Black people like this.
“This happened to me. I don’t know; it’s something I’ve never experienced before — I don’t want to experience it again.”
A Fisk University senior has created an organization to bring the fashion and modeling dreams of hers and others to life. Learn more in The Tennessee Tribune story below.
The Beginning Modeling Organization (or The Beginning), a student organization on campus, unites different types of fashion-oriented students. The first student engagement organization of its kind on Fisk grounds ever, The Beginning was founded in 2021 by senior Genesis Williams.
The Beginning Modeling Organization (or The Beginning), a student organization on campus, unites different types of fashion-oriented students. The first student engagement organization of its kind on Fisk grounds ever, The Beginning was founded in 2021 by senior Genesis Williams.
Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune)—The grounds of Fisk University host many opportunities to be involved, engaged, and active on campus. The institution currently operates with over 30 student-based clubs, organizations, and groups. One of Fisk’s latest initiatives in this area is the recent implementation of a fashion organization.
The Beginning Modeling Organization (or The Beginning), a student organization on campus, unites different types of fashion-oriented students. The first student engagement organization of its kind on Fisk grounds ever, The Beginning was founded in 2021 by senior Genesis Williams. She’s possessed a sense of fashion since her adolescent years. “I consider myself a whacky lady, so when I observe people on campus I am personally looking for like-minded creatives.” she said during the interview. The idea for this project came to Williams after realizing the university did not offer a fashion-related major. So far, The Beginning is focused on building portfolios for its members and “creating a fashion presence” in the local community.
Bobbi Crosby, who is currently serving as Miss Beginning, is Beginning’s coronation representative. She hopes the organization helps others gain confidence in themselves, just as it did for her. “More and more I’m gaining self-love from all the opportunities this organization has given me.”
Genesis Williams
As a result of the birth of this modeling troupe, more students are having a newfound respect for physical appearance beyond Dress for Success Wednesdays. Genesis, the founding president, agrees. “The Beginning enhances Fisk University’s campus by allowing the student body to feel alive. I genuinely feel as if since The Beginning has emerged, we have brought back people’s oomph since Covid snatched it away.”
After their debut in the fall of 2021, the Beginning Modeling Organization enjoyed great success. The organization earned a special showing on a popular Instagram page dedicated to highlighting Historically Black Colleges & University fashion culture- HBCU drip, hosted an educational 5-day week of knowledgeable sessions, executed the first-ever flash mob on campus in Fisk’s cafeteria, and implemented community service work such as a clothing drive, environmental cleanups and more.
“At first I was hesitant to join The Beginning because I didn’t think fashion was something I would be passionate about, but day by day my passion has grown stronger and stronger. I have become more photogenic and more confident in who I am and what I wear,” said Jordan Henry, a lead model in the upcoming fashion show.
“Fashion is art.” stated Vice President of The Beginning, Tamiya Bowden in discussing her hope for the future. “As a senior, I hope to see The Beginning go further out of the normal realm of creativity and to build strong relationships with its peers at other institutions. The Beginning is its own organization, and I want to see the seed we planted here at Fisk University grow and bloom beyond measure.”
Since Genesis manifested her craft in her final semesters of school, she wishes to remain involved with the organization. She has been exercising due diligence to establish a new chain of command in order to ensure a smooth transition to the upcoming academic year. “My vision is that after I graduate, The Beginning will continue for years to come…that the creativity being poured into it, the portfolios that are being generated, will be a catalyst for the creation of a department focusing on fashion and design to emerge at Fisk University.” Williams said.
Fisk University looks forward to seeing what the future has in store for The Beginning Modeling Organization.
A 16-year-old star gymnast is being hailed for joining Fisk University‘s first-of-its-kind gymnastics program. Learn more in the Black Enterprise story by Jeroslyn Johnson below.
Photo Credit: Twitter
An elite Black gymnast in Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas turned down a commitment to the University of Arkansas to join the first-ever women’s gymnastics team at a historically Black college/university (HBCU).
Morgan Price, 16, had already committed to the University of Arkansas last November and was set to attend the school after graduating from Coppell High School, NBC DFW reports. But Pierce had a change of heart and decided to make history instead.
Price is now set to attend Fisk University in Nashville and will be a part of the first women’s gymnastics team at an HBCU. It was a trailblazing decision made to inspire future Black athletes.
“WHEN THAT OPPORTUNITY CAME UP FOR ME YOU KNOW THE ONLY THING ON MY MIND WAS TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE THEY DID IT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME,” PRICE SAID.
The skilled gymnast has excelled in the sport since she was a toddler. After getting started at the age of two, Price continued to perfect her craft until becoming one of the best in her area.
“Gymnastics is not an easy sport, so I love the feeling of success,” she said.
In February, Fisk announced their plans to launch the first-ever women’s gymnastics team at an HBCU.
“Woman’s gymnastics exemplifies the values of Fisk University: determination, excellence, and a commitment to a more just and equitable future,” the school said in an Instagram announcement.
“THESE VALUES HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS, AND FISK COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED TO WELCOME THESE REMARKABLE STUDENT-ATHLETES TO THE CAMPUS STARTING THIS COMING FALL.”
Once Price committed to Fisk, the school shared its excitement on Twitter.
“We have our 5th signing. Congratulations to morgan price @morgan_gym2022 for committing to the fisk university gymnastics program. We can’t wait to see u in 2023,” they tweeted.
We have our 5th signing. Congratulations to morgan price @morgan_gym2022 for committing to the fisk university gymnastics program. We can't wait to see u in 2023 pic.twitter.com/ss1UP1Fs0v
What should be a happy day for many graduating high school seniors has been ruined by a shooting on the campus of Xavier University of Louisiana. Learn more in the Daily Mail story by Ronny Reyes.
An elderly woman was killed and two men were injured when a gunfight broke out on Tuesday at the conclusion of a high school graduation ceremony taking place at Xavier University, in New Orleans, police said.
New Orleans police said they have detained at least three suspects who allegedly opened fire at the parking lot outside the Convocation Center venue once the graduation ceremony ended for Morris Jeff High School seniors.
Police said a fight broke out between two women when someone opened fire, killing the elderly woman and injuring two men, WDSU reported.
Officials said the men had suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being shot in the shoulder and leg as they were taken to a nearby hospital.
New Orleans Police Department officials added that they had recovered several guns at the scene and that no arrests have been made yet.
One of the many seniors who graduated at the ceremony and witnessed the event told WDSU that the victim was his friends grandmother.
‘My friend’s grandma got shot, man,’ the witness said. ‘She got shot right there in the street like she was a dog or some s***, man.’
Witnesses told Fox 8 that a fight had appeared to broken out following the graduation ceremony, with about five to 12 gunshots allegedly fired as a result.
The senior who spoke with WDSU said family members were taking pictures with the graduates at the parking lot when they started getting concerned about a group fighting near a gazebo in the parking lot.
‘Then my cousin comes over and yells, ‘Run, run run, run. They about to start shooting,” the teen told the news outlet, saying that he heard at least two dozen shots as he ran away from the scene.
NOPD Deputy Supt. Christopher Goodly described the shooting as a ‘senseless act of violence’ and said the incident was still under investigation.
New Orleans City Councilman J. P. Morrell slammed the shooting, which took place in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting and twelve days after three people were shot at another high school graduation ceremony at a Louisiana university.
‘This should’ve been one of the happiest days in these kids’ lives, Morrell tweeted about the latest shooting. ‘Now all their hard work is being overshadowed by another senseless act of gun violence.
Coppin State University has selected a head coach for its women’s basketball program, and it’s someone familiar. Learn more in the Baltimore Sun story by Edward Lee.
Photo Credit: Coppin State University
Coppin State announced Thursday that Jermaine Woods has been promoted to head coach of the women’s basketball program.
“I am beyond thrilled for the opportunity to be the head coach of the Coppin State University Women’s Basketball team,” Woods said in a statement distributed by the school’s athletic department. “I am grateful and would like to thank President Dr. Anthony Jenkins and [athletic director] Mr. Derek Carter for entrusting me with our amazing student athletes. My goal is to cultivate a culture that produces great people, exceptional students, and championship athletes. We will continue to build a program that represents the vision of our University and athletic department.”
As a member of Harper’s staff, Woods helped the Eagles enjoy a successful bounce-back season. After going 2-13 in 2020-21 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, they compiled a 15-13 record last winter that included a 9-5 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and a school-record six victories against NCAA Division I nonconference opponents for their first winning season since 2013-14. Harper was named the MEAC Coach of the Year.
“We are thrilled to transition Jermaine Woods to the role of Head Women’s Basketball Coach,” Carter said in a statement. “He brings a wealth of experience, being an assistant coach at some outstanding programs and he’s obviously familiar with our current program. He understands the expectations of our athletic department and we are excited for him to assume this leadership role at Coppin State University.”
Before arriving in Baltimore in 2020, Woods was an assistant coach and recruiter at Virginia Tech from 2013 to 2015, Old Dominion from 2015 to 2017, and Wake Forest from 2017 to 2020.
Woods spent most of his playing career at Christopher Newport, where he set program record for 3-pointers in a game, in a single season, and in a career and left the Division III school ranked 10th in all-time scoring. He was named the Newcomer of the Year, tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and first-team selection by the Dixie Conference, a D3hoops.comAll American, and a two-time All-South Region choice.
Claflin University in South Carolina has formed a groundbreaking partnership with a university in London, opening up opportunities for travel, scholarships and more. Learn more in the WLTX story by Nydja Hood.
The partnership will provide international study, teaching, and research opportunities for students, faculty, and staff at both institutions.
Claflin University in Orangeburg has signed a memorandum agreement with London Metropolitan University to provide international study, teaching, and research opportunities for students, faculty, and staff at both institutions.
According to Claflin’s acting interim provost Dr. Verile Tisdale, the London university seemed to be a good fit for this partnership due to both universities having a significant minority population.
“They were looking for an outlet to determine how to better serve minority students and their minorities are several different nationalities as well as students that have different types of handicapped, because the average age of their student upon entry is 22,” said Dr. Tisdale.
The partnership was made official with a signing ceremony on May 26. Claflin president Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack and Vice Chancellor Lynn Dobbs of London Metropolitan University participated in the signing.
Through this partnership, students at both institutions will have opportunities for customized study abroad programs, international summer school, internships, and scholarships.
“They do have scholarships available that students can apply for. Housing is within the area. It’s a metropolitan campus.”
London Metropolitan University is a public research university in London, England with more than 12,000 students.
Dr. Tisdale says this partnership will be a benefit to both universities that have worked to provide academic opportunities to students who come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
“They’re looking at how we did it, and that’s why this program is different in that they will have student exchange, faculty exchanges, and staff exchanges,” she said.
The goal is for the program to begin in time for the summer 2023 semester.
NorthCarolina A&T State University alumna Robyn Wallace has been serving up delicious healthy options with her husband Zak at Disney World in Orlando! Learn more in the Essence story by Arley Arion at Essence below.
ROBYN WALLACE, CO-FOUNDER OF LOCAL GREEN, SHARES HOW SHE PLANS TO COMBAT UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY BROUGHT ON BY FOOD DESERTS THROUGH HER BUSINESS.
Disney World’s first Black-owned food truck is bringing healthy food alternatives to the iconic amusement park, showing thrill-seekers that you don’t have to sacrifice great flavor for healthy fare.
In March of 2022, Local Green — a fast-casual restaurant based in Atlanta that provides gourmet, healthy, and affordable food options, made history as the park’s first Black-owned food truck. It’s part of the new Disney Springs dining, shopping and entertainment part of Disney World.
Co-founded by husband and wife duo Zak and Robyn Wallace of West Atlanta, Local Green offers vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian dishes that serve as an introduction to plant-based foods. The menu speaks to the Black culinary palate, while still being good for the body.
Prior to stepping into her path as a restauranteur, Robyn was a data scientist for the Centers for Disease Control studying chronic health issues and the impact that food habits had on small communities, particularly those affected by food deserts.
Inspired by the desire to combat such conditions, which disproportionately impact Black communities, she combined her 20 years of experience in population health to provide food alternatives that could make a difference.
“And that’s not only because of my research, but that’s also because of what we experienced ourselves with death in our own families,” she tells ESSENCE. “That was really the thinking behind building out the recipes and the menu to address those needs.”
“We started seeing how everyone around us was dying at an early age; we had friends dying in their 50s and aunts that were dying in their 60s,” she adds. “But when we moved to the suburbs, we saw the difference. We saw neighbors who were sprinting up the street who were in their 70s and we also saw that there was a difference in what they were eating and what types of food they had access to that surrounded those communities.”
The difference she spotted was that going just 10 minutes outside of their predominately Black neighborhood highlighted the disparity in having proper access to healthy food selections from grocery stores to restaurants. That was how Local Green was born. Now the brick and mortar business is getting the food truck treatment to take its mission outside of Atlanta all the way to Orlando.
(Photo Credit: Aley Arion/Essence)
The menu items pays homage to the couple’s shared love for music and Zak’s time working within the Atlanta music scene with names like, “Oh Boy,” a classic vegan cheeseburger, the “Monsta” shrimp burger, and the popular “Rappers Delight,” which is a pescatarian take on the classic Philly cheesesteak.
“The pinnacles of our business are to support the community, but it’s the culture too. And culture for us is music,” she says. “It’s reflected on the menu item names and we just want to be able to give the community that energy.”
For Robyn and Zak, the draw to serve their community and now, their new home at Disney Springs, is more than a vocation, it’s their purpose.
“It really is a calling to be able to save lives in communities where they don’t have access to healthy food; so being here is a way for us to spread that mission,” she says. “The motive behind this was to make sure that people had access to something that they didn’t [before]. Being the first Black food truck and first Black woman restauranteur at Walt Disney is mind-blowing. And for me, it’s just the starting point. There’s so much more we can do.”
Starting in the fall, three North Carolina HBCUs will increase the amount of out-of-state students they are willing to accept, while two HBCUs in the area will keep their caps at the same level. Learn more in The Chronicle story by Jamael Smith below.
Beginning fall 2022, three of the five historically Black colleges and universities in North Carolina will be able to admit more out-of-state students.
Last year, the University of North Carolina System’s Board of Governors raised the out-of-state cap for all five HBCUs to 25%. On April 7, they voted to raise the out-of-state enrollment cap again for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University and Elizabeth City State University.
Now, the out-of-state cap for NC A&T and NCCU will be 35%, while the cap for ECSU will go up to 50%.
NC A&T saw a 31% increase in out-of-state applicants in the last year, according to Dawn Nail, interim associate vice provost for management and head of undergraduate admissions at NC A&T.
She attributes the rise to the growing reputation of NC A&T and HBCUs in the country. NC A&T is the largest HBCU in the nation and has been reported to be the most successful in North Carolina.
Nail also cited financial incentives, which come from out-of-state students paying more for tuition. Tuition for the 2020-2021 academic year cost about $13,500 more for NC A&T out-of-state students.
According to Chancellor Karrie Dixon, ECSU will be able to enroll about 100 more students, with nearly all of them coming from out-of-state.
“We have the capacity to accept more students, and I thank the Board of Governors for lifting the out-of-state enrollment cap, which is important for our continued growth,” Dixon wrote to WUNC Public Radio.
However, limits at non-HBCU UNC system schools remain unaffected. At universities including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, out-of-state enrollment is limited to 18% to prioritize educating in-state students.
Fayetteville State University and Winston-Salem State University, both public HBCUs, will maintain a 25% out-of-state cap.
The increase of out-of-state caps for the select HBCUs will not affect their emphasis on admitting in-state students. Nail affirmed that potential out-of-state students will not take the place of eligible North Carolina applicants to NC A&T.
According to Dixon, admitting all eligible in-state students “will continue to be the top priority for admittance to ECSU.”
NCCU officials declined to respond to a request for more information.
We have a power couple in the making! Two Meharry Medical College graduates are building their dream life together after two big accomplishments within a week. Learn more in the Black Enterprise story by Atiya Jordan below.
(Photo Credit: Twitter/ @DrDwight_MD)
This newly married couple are celebrating two special milestones—becoming doctors and the beginning of a long-lasting future together.
On May 15, Dwight Johnson II and Taylor Brooks graduated from Meharry Medical College, an HBCU in Nashville. Six days later, the pair expressed their love, promise, and commitment to one other at their wedding in Tomball, Texas. Now, they are reintroduced as Drs. Johnson and Johnson.
Dwight received his doctor of medicine degree in obstetrics and gynecology, while Taylor graduated a physician of psychiatry.
On May 22, Dwight posted two adorable side-by-side photos on Twitter of both his graduation and wedding day with his wife.
“So much to be thankful for in this past week,” Dwight wrote. “I was able to marry my best friend and then graduate as physicians together just 6 days later. God is so good. This is what #BlackLove mixed with #BlackExcellence looks like when you always keep God at the center of your life.”
— Dwight Johnson II, MD (@DrDwight_MD) May 22, 2022
(Photo Credit: Zola.com Wedding Registry)
The couple met at school through a mutual friend, according to the couple’s wedding registry. Dwight was instantly drawn to Taylor’s beauty and kindness. From conversations in the school library to an official date of dinner and bowling, Dwight mustered the courage to make her his girlfriend and ask her out to the med school prom. He won her over with the Love and Basketball approach with ping-pong to ask her to Cadaver Ball, and had the DJ play “Differences” by Ginuwine to set the mood while he asked her out.
The new graduates will continue their incredible medical journey with residencies. Taylor matched with the University of Maryland and Dwight matched with Howard University College of Medicine.
Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz is pleased to appoint Mummi Ibrahim as Arlington’s first Independent Policing Auditor. In this new role, Ms. Ibrahim will provide professional staff support to the newly appointed Community Oversight Board (COB). She will also be instrumental in conducting independent audits of police operations, receiving complaints from members of the public, and participating in investigations as appropriate.
About Mummi Ibrahim
Ms. Ibrahim has a long history in supporting grassroots organizing efforts focused on assessing legislation, legal remedies and policy recommendations related to police practices, as well as campaign strategies for prosecutorial accountability.
Most recently, Ms. Ibrahim served as a senior staff attorney at the Advancement Project, where her work focused on policing issues, including Section 1983 litigation trainings for lawyers seeking to represent individuals who have experienced harm due to police misconduct.
As an organizer and staff attorney at the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, she ran a campaign to end the practice of sentencing juveniles to life without parole. In this role, she organized a coalition comprised of hundreds of impacted community members and several social justice organizations to lobby for sentencing reform, drive a statewide legal strategy to end juvenile life without parole sentencing, and establish re-entry services.
She has also worked with the City of New Orleans Independent Police Monitor, overseeing disciplinary hearings, data collection, and policy reform within the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). Earlier in her career, she served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Audrey L. Thomas of the Superior Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Ms. Ibrahim is a native of Khartoum, Sudan. She received her bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and her juris doctorate from Howard University School of Law.
Background
In 2021, the Arlington County Board established the Community Oversight Board (COB) to improve transparency, accountability, and community trust in the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD). The COB will have the ability to independently receive, investigate, and make recommendations in response to complaints from the community. The ordinance also calls for an accompanying Independent Policing Auditor to support the work of the COB.
The Community Oversight Board, which was appointed in spring 2022, consists of seven voting members and two non-voting members with prior experience in law enforcement. All COB members are residents of Arlington, are appointed by the County Board, and reflect the demographic diversity of the County.
Harris-Stowe State University has selected seasoned coach Michael Cook as its next head men’s basketball coach! Learn more in the HSSU release below.
Harris-Stowe State University’s Interim Director of Athletics, William Carey, is thrilled to announce Michael Cook as the next head men’s basketball coach.
“After a national search that comprised of interviewing a very impressive group of coaches, it was evident that Coach Cook was the individual to lead the Harris-Stowe State University Men’s Basketball program,” Carey said. “He is a competitor and he is a teacher. From the first time we spoke, his passion and determination to develop young people both on and off the court has been clear and I look forward to seeing his vision for Harris-Stowe men’s basketball come to life. It is our privilege to welcome Coach Cook, his wife, Latisha, and their family to Hornet Nation.”
Cook comes to Harris-Stowe from Fort Scott Community College, where he coached 13-seasons. Under his leadership, over 45 of his players have went on to play at four year schools, nineteen players are ranked on the all-time scoring list, nineteen on the all-time rebounding list and ten players on the all-time assist leaders. Currently, six of his players are overseas and five are playing semi-professional basketball. Also, the program posted the most single-season wins in the 2017-2018 season, which is only the 5th time the program posted a 20-win season.
“I am humbled and honored to be named Harris-Stowe State University’s next head men’s basketball coach,” said Cook. “I would like to thank President Dr. Collins Smith and Interim Director of Athletics, William Carey, for entrusting me with the future of Harris-Stowe State University basketball. I look forward to getting on campus and working with the student athletes to help them achieve their goals.
The 2020-21 season was a historical season for the Fort Scott Greyhounds as they were Conference Co-Champions, nationally ranked as high as number 11 and finishing seventeenth. Coach Cook was also named Conference Coach of the Year for the third time, the most of any DII coach in the conference. The Greyhounds had five members named All-Conference and one member named All-Region while the team led the nation in steals, and scored over 100 points in five games.
During the 2019-20 season, Cook’s 142nd career win lifted him to the top of the leader board for wins at Fort Scott. Cook’s focus on academics is uncontested as his teams have consistently been ranked in the top five in GPA for the conference, including in 2009-2010, when they were ranked fifth in the nation.
Senior Woman Administrator, Brittany Stewart stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Cook to the Athletics Department here at Harris-Stowe State University. We are doing some exciting works here and we are hopeful that his talent, enthusiasm and fresh ideas will be invaluable for us! We also extend our heartiest welcome to his family. Coach, congratulations on being part of our growing and dynamic team here. We’re honored to have you with us!”
Cook was a two-year starter for Eastern Oklahoma State College from 1988-1990 prior to transferring to Pittsburg State University, where he started from 1990-1992. During his senior year, the team compiled a record of 21-8 and was ranked fourth in the nation.
Cook earned his bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University and his master’s from Northcentral University. He is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
Cook is married to the former Latisha Kelley. He has four children – two daughters, Rayven and Mataya, and two sons – Lakelon and Andrew. He also has three grandchildren – two grandsons, Adrian and Avery and one granddaughter – Andi.
Najuma Atkinson, an alumna of Fisk University, was just selected for a top position at entertainment company Hasbro! Learn more in the Business Wire release.
Dolph Johnson retires after more than two decades with company
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS), a global play and entertainment company, today announced that Najuma (Naj) Atkinson has been appointed Chief People Officer. She assumes this position following the previously disclosed retirement of Dolph Johnson, Global Chief Human Resources Officer, after more than two decades of service at Hasbro.
In her new position, Ms. Atkinson will lead Hasbro’s global Human Resources organization, building a people and culture strategy that attracts and retains top talent, supporting the acceleration of Hasbro’s brand blueprint. Ms. Atkinson will also champion the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, an area where she’s had long-standing commitment. Fostering an environment where leaders and team members exemplify Hasbro’s values of treating people with fairness, dignity, and respect, and always operating ethically.
“Naj has already been a terrific addition to our team with her global HR experience, digital-first mindset, and deep expertise developing talent, and I’m thrilled to continue working with her as Chief People Officer,” said Chris Cocks, Chief Executive Officer, Hasbro. “She understands the capabilities and new technologies needed to recruit top talent to execute the Hasbro gameplan and position us for future success.”
Mr. Cocks continued: “On behalf of our Board, senior management team and all of Hasbro, I also want to express my deep appreciation to Dolph for his countless contributions to Hasbro over the last 20-plus years and his transformative work leading our global Human Resources organization and strategy. He has been a loyal teammate, friend, and mentor, and we wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”
Ms. Atkinson joined Hasbro in October from Dell Technologies, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President of Global HR services. Prior to that role, she spent two decades at the company serving in positions of increasing responsibility across Human Resources, Customer Experience, and Strategy functions. Ms. Atkinson holds a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University in Political Science and a master’s degree in Organizational Management from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN. She is extremely passionate about community service—especially efforts supporting underserved youth in the community.
Fayetteville State University has selected Roberto E. Bryan Jr., who is earning a Master of Science in Criminal Justice at FSU, to serve as its new police chief and head of campus security! Learn more in the FSU release below.
Fayetteville State University (FSU) has tapped Roberto E. Bryan Jr. as its new associate vice chancellor for police and public safety/chief of police, effective June 7, 2022. Bryan comes to Fayetteville State after nearly three decades in law enforcement, including in the U.S. Army where he was commissioned as a Military Police Officer.
He succeeds former Chief Renarde Earl who retired in December 2021.
“Roberto Bryan brings a rare combination of local, national, global and military law enforcement service and experience to our university police department that make him an exceptional leader who can step into this role immediately,” said Fayetteville State University Chancellor Darrell T. Allison. “His robust relationships in our communities will help us strengthen and elevate the work we are able to accomplish on and off campus. When I look into the faces of parents and guardians of many of the students at FSU, my first commitment that I express to them is that we will do all we can to keep our students safe and protected. With today’s announcement in naming Mr. Roberto Bryan as our next Chief of Police, I am even the more confident in making that promise to our families.”
Bryan is a career law enforcement professional, having served his first patrol starting in 1994 as an officer for the City of Durham, North Carolina. He went on to a decorated career with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), serving in assignments as near as Washington, D.C., and Florida and as far away as the Caribbean, and Central and South America. He retired from the DEA in 2019 as a Special Agent with 22 years of service. He then joined the Fayetteville Police Department where he served as a police major for two years. Bryan’s extensive knowledge of policing and law enforcement is due to a broad range of experience, particularly in supervisory, sensitive, analytical, and technical components which significantly strengthen organizational impacts.
Bryan is a U.S. Army veteran and graduate of North Carolina Military Academy (OC-38) at Fort Bragg, where he was commissioned as a Military Police Officer. He earned a B.S. in criminal justice from East Carolina University in 1993 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice at Fayetteville State University.
“I am honored to become the new associate vice chancellor for police and public safety /chief of police for Fayetteville State University,” Bryan said. “I am looking forward to the collaboration with the students, faculty and staff in maintaining a safe and secure environment for this institution of higher education both now and in the future.”
Bryan has received numerous awards and recognitions for his exemplary service, some of which include the United States Attorney’s Office Officer of the Year, the West Palm Beach Police Department Distinguished Service Award, Commendations from the Ecuador Minister of Interior and Commanding General of the Ecuadorian National Police as well as numerous DEA accolades. He has also earned numerous police senior management and advanced law enforcement certificates and is a member of several local and national law enforcement organizations.
Bryan and his wife of 26 years, Paulette, have two children.
Damon Wilson, a former head coach at Bowie State University and member of Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity Inc., is the new coach at Morgan State University! Learn more in the MSU release below.
Morgan State University today announced the hiring of Damon Wilson as the Athletics Department’s 23rd head football coach, effective June 1, 2022. Wilson, who brings a championship-level coaching pedigree and an extensive resume in collegiate football, replaces former Bears Head Football Coach Tyrone Wheatley, who left the program for a role as a position coach with the National Football League’s Denver Broncos.
Wilson comes to Morgan after serving for 13 seasons as the head football coach at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. There, he achieved three straight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference championships, in 2021, 2019 and 2018; five NCAA playoff berths; and three CIAA Coach of the Year honors.
“In Coach Damon Wilson, we have secured a high-caliber, proven leader, with an impressive record of winning, to oversee our football program and elevate it back to national prominence,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “Among the top-level coaching candidates that the incoming athletic director and I had the pleasure of evaluating, Coach Wilson was the standout, possessing an uncanny ability to recruit and mold talent. We welcome him to the Morgan team and look forward to his collaboration with Athletic Director Dena Freeman-Patton to earn Morgan a football championship.”
Because of the unexpected departures of both the former head football coach and athletic director, Morgan was compelled to initiate simultaneous national searches, with a higher priority on filling the latter. Upon her hiring, the incoming athletic director, Dena Freeman-Patton, began consulting with the firm conducting the search for the next head football coach, to review potential candidates and provide feedback/recommendations to President Wilson.
“Working closely with higher education placement firm Renaissance Search and Consulting, in conjunction with the University’s internal advisory committee, we were able to conduct a thorough and inclusive national search for the Bear’s next head coach,” said Freeman-Patton. “I thank everyone involved in this comprehensive effort, including the stellar candidates who were evaluated. Coach Wilson was our top choice, and I look forward to working with him to build a successful program and continue ‘The Morgan Way.’”
The University will host a press conference on June 10, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the University Student Center to officially introduce Wilson as Morgan’s new head football coach. The press conference will also be live streamed via the University’s and athletics department websites.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr./The Washington Informer)
Before assuming his most recent head coaching role, Wilson served as assistant head coach/running backs coach at Prairie View A&M University and as running backs coach/special teams coordinator for Texas Southern University. His coaching background also includes two previous stops at Bowie State University: as strength and conditioning/running backs coach and special teams coordinator (2007–2008) and as associate head/running backs coach and special teams coordinator (1999–2004).
His accolades include American Football Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year (2021), Bowie State University Coach of the Year (2019, 2018, 2015, 2009) and CIAA Northern Division Champion (2021, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2009). He also assisted in fundraising for the building of a new, $1.1-million synthetic football field in 2010.
“Thank you to President Wilson and Ms. Freeman-Patton for presenting me with this opportunity to lead such a storied football program as its next head coach,” said Coach Wilson. “Morgan is a great university in a great position to grow. I look forward to working with the student-athletes to build on the University’s legacy as well as engaging with the alumni and other supporters of the program to ensure that our student-athletes have the support needed for them to be successful on and off the playing field.”
Coach Wilson was a standout student-athlete before joining the coaching ranks, playing for the team he currently coaches. He holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication from Bowie State University.
He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, CIAA Coaches Association, National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Dillard University has tapped Elon University dean Dr. Rochelle Ford to succeed current President Dr. Walter Kimbrough! Learn more in the Dillard release below.
(Photo Credit: Dillard University)
The Dillard University board of trustees announced, today, that Dr. Rochelle LP. Ford, APR will serve as the University’s eighth president. Ford is currently the dean of Elon University’s School of Communications where she leads more than 80 faculty and 1,500 students with six undergraduate major programs of study and one graduate program. Ford is a 2021 fellow in Clark Atlanta University’s HBCU Executive Leadership Institute. Succeeding Dr. Walter Kimbrough, Ford will assume her role as president July 1, 2022.
“Dr. Ford is a dynamic, charismatic and visionary leader,” said Michael D. Jones, Esq., chair of Dillard’s board of trustees. “Students, faculty, and trustees were blown away by her insight, passion and drive. As impressive as Dillard has been over the past 150 years in producing history makers and change agents, there is no question that, under Dr. Ford’s leadership, the best is yet to come.”
Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, executive director of the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute, recalls Ford as an “outstanding fellow” from the institute. “The way she grasped what we were doing in terms of competencies, let us know that Dr. Ford would become a president. Her colleagues also saw that she had the disposition and knowledge to succeed in a presidential search.”
“I feel very blessed and honored to be selected to service Dillard University, which is a national treasure committed to producing leaders who live ethically,” said Ford. “Dillard’s alumni think precisely and act courageously to make the world a better place. I aim to continue that legacy and ensure the sustainability of Dillard for generations to come.”
Having built a robust resume in higher education administration and instruction, Ford has earned a reputation as a hard-working transformative leader. Her scholarship and experience include diversity, equity and inclusion, public relations, advertising, journalism, and media.
The following are some of Ford’s many accomplishments:• The second dean in the history of Elon’s School of Communications, Ford increased student enrollment approximately 15% between 2018 and 2021. Among many factors, Ford credits relationship-rich, engaged learning for the school’s enrollment success.
• Ford completed the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute microcredential on navigating board governance.
• At Syracuse, Ford co-chaired the university’s successful Middle States Commission on Higher Education re-accreditation and initiated a university-wide required common first year experience.
• With the recommendations of the School of Communication’s Faculty Technology Committee, Ford made strategic investments in her unit’s technological infrastructure including creative software, establishing video distribution through OTT, providing media analytics and social listening tools, enhancing video over fiber optics and audio over IP, updating and increasing camera coverage for Elon Athletics and Elon Sports Vision, and branding through digital signage in addition to other resources.
• At Elon, she led a reorganization of the academic departments to provide students with more access to administrators, improved faculty and student mentoring and strengthened academic curriculum and industry partnerships. Ford also hired more than 10 full-time faculty and more than 10 part-time instructors.
Before entering her role at Elon, Ford served as Syracuse University’s provost faculty fellow, implementing its strategic plan. She also served as the chair of the public relations department in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Prior to Syracuse, she helped establish the Academic Center for Excellence at Howard University and served as the associate dean of research and academic affairs in Howard’s School of Communications.
Among Ford’s numerous publications are “Administrative Challenges and Organizational Leadership in Historically Black College and Universities” and “Setting a New Agenda for Student Engagement and Retention in Historically Black Colleges and Universities”, both co-authored with Charles B.W. Prince.
In 2018, Ford was inducted into the PRWeekHall of Fame. ColorCOMM listed her as one of 28 Most Influential Black Females in Communications in 2021.
A native of Gahanna, Ohio, Ford earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a specialization in public relations from Howard, her master’s degree in journalism with a specialization in public relations from University of Maryland, College Park, and her Ph.D. in journalism from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She also earned a graduate certificate in higher education administration from Harvard University.
Active in both her discipline and her community, Ford is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, where she holds an Accreditation in Public Relations. She is also a member of the National Black Public Relations Society, the Arthur W. Page Society, the American Advertising Federation, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the United Church of Christ. Dillard is affiliated with the United Church of Christ as well as the United Methodist Church.
Ford will be the second woman named Dillard’s president in a permanent capacity. Dr. Bettye Parker Smith served as interim president 2004-2005, and Dr. Marvalene Hughes served as president 2005-2011.
