With average student loan debt nationally greater than $37,000 in 2022, financial constraints can mean the difference between a student continuing their education and graduating — or not. On the heels of our nation celebrating Independence Day, however, leaders at Fayetteville State University are removing financial barriers to ensure students continue their progress towards a degree.
For the second straight year, FSU is applying pandemic relief funding to clear outstanding balances for students who attended the university from Summer 2021 through Spring 2022. Last summer, FSU applied $1,629,228 to clear the balances for 1178 students during this time, enabling them to return to school this fall without worrying about additional debt. Combining this summer (2021 and 2022), FSU has cleared more than $3,283,187 in total outstanding balances for 2367 students.
The University applied funding from The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), part of the American Rescue Plan signed into law on March 11, 2021.
“Financial barriers are the number one obstacle our students must overcome to achieve their dream of earning a college degree,” said FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison. “We will do all we can to help keep our costs down for our students making their path to a degree more accessible. Assisting in our students’ financial independence in such a tangible and meaningful way is not only rewarding, but also the right thing to do.”
FSU is also playing a significant role in curtailing higher education costs and making a college education even more attainable as an NC Promise school. Beginning fall 2022, not only will returning students have zero balances on their accounts, but tuition rates will also be reduced to $500 for North Carolina students and $2500 for out-of-state students. That translates to a savings of nearly $2,000 for in-state students and nearly $10,000 for out-of-state students in tuition alone for the academic year. Moreover, for qualified military connected students (veterans, active duty, spouse and dependent), tuition will be free.
“Access and affordability are crucial to student success and rank among FSU’s top priorities,” said Jennifer K. Addison, controller in the FSU Office of Business and Finance. “Our ability to resolve these past balances is a game-changer for our students — leveraging this funding to meet their needs is a major step towards ensuring our students continue their education and graduate.”
After Shorter College has a recent bomb scare, authorities will try to figure out if it’s related to more incidents. Learn more in the story by Remington Miller at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
North Little Rock police block Bishop Lindsey Avenue while investigating a bomb threat Thursday at Shorter College. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette /Staci Vandagriff)
A spokesperson for the North Little Rock Police Department said Thursday that it was unclear whether an incident at Shorter College was related to threats made earlier this year against historically Black colleges and universities.
Lt. Amy Cooper said Thursday afternoon that officers would investigate whether a report of a possible “incendiary device” at the North Little Rock campus had any connection to bomb threats made against colleges and universities across the country, including Shorter College.
North Little Rock officers announced Thursday that no “incendiary device” had been found on the campus.
2:37 p.m.: Shorter College in North Little Rock cleared after report of possible ‘incendiary device’
An extensive search of Shorter College in North Little Rock on Thursday afternoon found no “incendiary device,” according to a notice posted on Twitter.
The North Little Rock Police Department had earlier posted on Twitter that they were investigating a report of a possible device on the campus of the historically Black college.
The investigation is ongoing.
The area is now open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, according to the North Little Rock Police Department.
1:30 p.m.: Authorities investigate report of possible ‘incendiary device’ at Shorter College in North Little Rock
The North Little Rock Police Department said on Twitter on Thursday afternoon that they were investigating a report of a possible “incendiary device” at Shorter College.
Police, along with the North Little Rock and Little Rock fire departments and MEMS personnel, were investigating the report at the college located on 604 N. Locust St. ar around 11:36 a.m., according to a news release from the Police Department.
The release stated that students were safely evacuated and that roads were closed around the area.
Police asked that residents avoid the area due to road closures.
CORRECTION: Lt. Amy Cooper is a spokesperson for the North Little Rock Police Department. Her title was incorrectly listed in an earlier version of this story.
A University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff alumnus is reflecting on why his alma mater may be the perfect choice for students interested in a niche STEM field of study. Learn more in the story by Luke Matheson at Deltaplex News.
Photo Credit: Andrew Maina
Andrew Maina, originally from the east African country of Kenya, says his lifelong interest in science led him to enroll in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) graduate program in aquaculture/fisheries.
“My father was a pharmacist, and I also started to get interested in science in elementary school,” he said. “In high school, I became really interested in biology. My love for the outdoors and wildlife started in Kenya but continues to play a part in my life in my new home of North Carolina. I frequently go hiking and birdwatching.”
During his undergraduate studies at the University of Eastern Africa in Baraton, Kenya, Maina took a course on marine biology. This experience made him curious about studying a discipline of science largely new to him.
“I became interested in further studying fish because they have unique physiologies compared to other groups of animals,” he said. “I visited with Dr. Rebecca Lochmann, chair of the UAPB Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries. Our conversation about her research on catfish piqued my interest. I had previously taken a graduate course in chemical separations and biochemistry at the University of Florida, which gave me the theoretical background in the type of tools and techniques used in her lab for research.”
In 2012, he enrolled in the graduate program and started conducting research on channel catfish nutrition under the mentorship of Dr. Lochmann.
“In the lab, I was able to build an entirely new skill set as we used biochemistry techniques and separation chemistry to investigate the nutritional composition of fish muscle and whole fish,” Maina said. “Dr. Lochmann was influential in providing guidance throughout my graduate studies and also in giving me opportunities to attend large conferences and present my original research.”
After graduating from UAPB in 2016, Maina was employed by Smithers, a company that provides independent testing services for a range of industries and products.
“I was hired as a study director for channel catfish nutrient equivalency studies with various genetically modified organisms (GMO) grain varieties meant for export to the Asian market,” he said. “We were testing catfish feeds formulated to incorporate GMO grains. Our job was to ensure GMO grains used in these feeds were similar enough to non-GMO strains. We also made sure the feeds did not have any negative effects on catfish growth.”
Maina currently works for Catalent, Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, where he is responsible for performing drug substance and drug product stability analysis.
“Before they hit the market, medicines must be tested to make sure whatever components listed on the label are actually in the tablet in those precise measurements,” he said. “Our work helps ensure that any drug released to the market is in full compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards.”
Maina said he recommends an education at the UAPB Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries for students looking to gain quality research experience. In addition to the labs on campus, he said students can also pursue collaborative opportunities with organizations such as the Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas.
“The research skills I gained at UAPB continue to help me in my career,” he said. “During my studies, I enjoyed working with professors and students from different backgrounds on research that truly supported Arkansas and the region.”
Tuskegee University has created another connection for students interested in data science! Learn more in the release by UC Berkeley below.
Chancellor Christ (center left) and President Morris (center right) with the Tuskegee Scholars at the Berkeley-Tuskegee Data Science Initiative Reception at University House (Photo: KLCfotos)
Tuskegee University and UC Berkeley recently announced the Berkeley-Tuskegee Data Science Initiative, a multi-year partnership to develop curriculum and collaborative research opportunities for students and faculty at both institutions.
On June 21, Charlotte Morris, president of Tuskegee University, met with Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ to discuss the new initiative. In a reception at University House, Chancellor Christ greeted the Tuskegee delegation, including four faculty and staff representatives and the first cohort of Tuskegee Scholars, 13 students in residence at Berkeley for eight weeks to take Data 6 or Data 8 courses.
Jennifer Chayes, associate provost for Berkeley’s Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society, & Tuskegee Scholar Bianca Alcéna. (Photo: KLCfotos)
“We’re excited to create our partnership with Tuskegee around the theme of community – community in the classroom, how we teach our students community in our research, how we explore challenging issues and fields at the intersection of data science and society and community at the university level between UC Berkeley and Tuskegee University,” said Chancellor Christ.
President Morris noted Tuskegee’s pioneering legacy as a top historically Black college and university (HBCU), including a track record for excellence in STEM fields. “We want to go beyond that legacy and take Tuskegee to the next level in terms of technology, in terms of what’s going on in the world today, so that our students will be marketable when they go across that stage at graduation,” she said.
On June 28, faculty at both universities discussed the collaboration at the National Workshop on Data Science Education in both online and in-person sessions on the Berkeley campus.
The Berkeley-Tuskegee Data Science Initiative events this summer are the culmination of two years of conversation and planning. In 2021, Google contributed $5 million to Tuskegee University in support of STEM initiatives, including the development of a data science program. The initial phases of the initiative are funded by part of this contribution.
Deborah Nolan, emeritus professor of statistics and associate dean for faculty at the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), was involved in the project from the outset. She and collaborators at Tuskegee and Berkeley have been exploring what shape educational and research collaborations could take between the two universities. Nolan said the initiative’s events last week were both a launch and a celebration of this shared endeavor.
Strengthening social science contexts in Data 6
Nolan has met weekly for a year with faculty in electrical engineering, computer science, sociology and bioethics to collaborate on the course “Computational Thinking for Data and Society,” an updated version of Berkeley’s Data 6. Her collaborators include Berkeley’s Lisa Yan and Charis Thompson and Tuskegee’s Vivian Carter, Mandoye Ndoye, Yasmeen Rawajfih and Stephen Sodeke.
Vivian Carter, head of Tuskegee’s Dept. of Psychology and Sociology, speaks at the National Workshop on Data Science Education. (Photo: KLCfotos)
Data 6 was conceived of as another on-ramp to Data 8 – a foundational course for the data science major – that would engage students with real-world examples, give them practice with computing and also satisfy the social science breadth requirement. Many at Berkeley were involved in the course development, including Ani Adhikari, faculty director of pedagogy for Data Science Undergraduate Studies, Cathryn Carson, chair of the Department of History, Dave Harding, faculty director of D-Lab, and Eric Van Dusen, lecturer for Data Science Undergraduate Studies.
The course helps include a broader range of students in the data science ecosystem, said Suraj Rampure, lecturer in the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute at UC San Diego. Rampure helped to develop the earlier iteration of Data 6 as a master’s student in electrical engineering and computer sciences at Berkeley and is also contributing to the update.
Nolan said the partnership with Tuskegee creates an opportunity to further develop the course as a collaboration between social scientists, computer scientists and statisticians in order to teach thinking that is foundational to both social science and data science.
Vivian Carter, head of the Department of Psychology and Sociology at Tuskegee, said she is most excited by the interdisciplinary nature of this new curriculum. “As social scientists, we understand how technology changes our society, how it changes our interactions and the significance of our interactions,” she said. “From a more psychological standpoint, we can also talk about how technology changes individuals.”
Data 6 has been part of the Summer Rising curriculum for the SEED Scholars Honors Program for the past two years. Summer Rising provides support and opportunities for historically marginalized undergraduate populations studying STEM fields in the summer before their first semester at Berkeley. SEED scholars will be enrolled in Data 6 with the Tuskegee Scholars this summer, and Ira Young, program director for the SEED Scholars, was part of a Berkeley delegation that visited Tuskegee in March.
“I hope Data 6 will help students feel a sense of belonging in data science,” said Lisa Yan, an assistant teaching professor for electrical engineering and computer sciences and a collaborator on the Data 6 revision.
Envisioning a new data science program
As Tuskegee leadership begins to implement their own data science program, Tuskegee Scholars will play an active advising role. Additionally, teams of Tuskegee and Berkeley students will work on projects this summer that will feed into the development of Data 6.
UC Berkeley students greet Tuskegee Scholars Devin Booker (back left) and Julius Culpepper IV (back right) at the Berkeley-Tuskegee Data Science Initiative Reception. (Photo: KLCfotos)
“I’m so glad we’re starting with the students and getting their buy-in,” said Carter. “From their experience and their disciplines, what kind of datasets are they interested in and how do they want to utilize those datasets?”
Bianca Alcéna, a Tuskegee Scholar enrolled in Data 6, already has a sense of how she would like to apply data science to her field of psychology. “I see how social media affects people from my viewpoint, but I’d like to see it on a macro level. I think using quantitative data to study social media will give me a whole new insight into it,” she said.
Alcéna added that she was excited by the challenge of learning a new field and helping implement a data science program. “I feel like this experience, altogether, will be life-changing,” she said.
Another Tuskegee Scholar, Devin Booker, majors in communication but brings a background in computer science to Data 8. After graduating, he intends to play basketball professionally overseas but plans to return to school later to complete a degree in cybersecurity.
“Even though my major is communication, I feel like my background can help me explain how data science can help the Tuskegee curriculum and how it can help Tuskegee students,” said Booker.
“I’m very optimistic that we will have an innovative and transformative program. And it will be student-led and driven,” said Carter.
Creating collaborative research and teaching opportunities
This fall, Data 8 will be offered at Tuskegee in a course co-taught by faculty at both universities and synchronized with a Berkeley Data 8 offering so that Tuskegee students can attend lectures online. Undergraduate student instructors from Berkeley will visit Tuskegee at the start of the semester to meet students, and then work with them remotely. Nolan believes these experiences will help student instructors create more inclusive classrooms at Berkeley as well.
Nolan said she hopes to offer the updated Data 6 in spring 2023 as a hybrid course with Tuskegee and Berkeley students. And, in summer 2023, she expects the initiative will launch an undergraduate research program. There are also plans underway to facilitate collaborative research between faculty at the two universities.
At workshop panels on June 28, Berkeley and Tuskegee faculty discussed the many ways that both universities stand to gain from the partnership.
Speaking of the Tuskegee Scholars, Carter said, “I see the students gaining skills and opportunity and access that we might not have on a smaller campus. But at the same time, I see the institution benefiting from the perspectives of the students.”
Realizing equitable and inclusive data science education at scale
S. Keith Hargrove (center), provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Tuskegee University, at the National Workshop on Data Science Education. (Photo: KLCfotos)
“A school with only 3,000 students has disproportionately contributed to the number of African Americans with PhDs,” said S. Keith Hargrove, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Tuskegee, speaking in a workshop panel. He noted Tuskegee’s tremendous contributions across many fields and spoke of the university’s plans to develop a data science program.
Tuskegee University initiated a conversation two years ago with Jennifer Chayes, associate provost at CDSS, about creating pathways for Tuskegee students to study data science at Berkeley.
In another workshop discussion, Chayes urged the importance of bringing all voices to the table. “Our data science program is now 50% women, which is amazing and wonderful. But we are still not doing nearly as well with minoritized students,” said Chayes.
Without these voices at the table, “the technologies that we build are not going to be the right technologies,” she said, emphasizing the importance that diverse voices play in developing solutions that address rather than further bias and inequality.
Chayes added that while the strides made at Berkeley are important, real social impact is achieved through collective efforts made within the educational community. Addressing the educators at the workshop, she said, “This activity right here means we’re educating at scale. It’s not 700 to 800 graduates a year in data science, it is our shared platforms or shared curriculum with all of you.”
Chayes also expressed her excitement about the partnership with Tuskegee, praising the university for its effective practices that expand opportunities for minority students and its existing research and curriculum combining social science data and intersectional identity.
“We have so much to learn at Berkeley, and this partnership is really going to help us to learn, and it’s going to help us to create the kinds of leaders that we all need,” said Chayes.
Winston-Salem State University‘s ‘Powerhouse of Red and White Cheerleaders’ have been featured in Ciara’s latest music video! Learn more in the story from WSSU below.
Ciara broke the Twittersphere when she posted a video of her and her dancers on top of a Ford Bronco to preview her new song “JUMP.” She’s followed up with intensity, releasing a stunning new visual for the single, which dropped July 8, that features the WSSU Powerhouse of Red and White Cheerleaders.
On an early spring morning, nine cheerleaders and their coaches, NeSheila Washington and Tevin Allen, arrived at the set in Los Angeles, California. It didn’t look that way at first. “When the sun came up, it looked like we were in New York City,” Washington said. With some Hollywood magic, the set transformed, and the team was whisked away to hair and make-up to prepare for the day. “They had a different crew member assigned to each cheerleader. Seeing crew members swoop in throughout the day to touch up make-up or provide little water bottles with straws was so cool. It made me feel like a proud mom watching all of this happen,” Washington said.
WSSU Powerhouse of Red and White.
WSSU cheer on set with hair and makeup.
The trip to California was all business, but the team says Ciara’s dancers made them feel like family. For Dance Captain Destiny Martin and Team Captain William Johnson, the trip was more than they could ever dream. Martin said “my background is in dance, not cheer. Seeing all the dancers that I’ve been watching on Instagram since middle school was incredible. Being in the studio with these dancers was amazing. It was also great to see that these professional dancers started exactly where we are and now have successful careers.”
Red Team captain Johnson said “Being there was very inspiring. I’ve wanted to be a backup dancer since I was very young. I come from a small town, so the dance programs there were not great. Being so busy and focusing on my schoolwork at WSSU made me feel that I may never achieve my dream of being a professional backup dancer. This trip and the experience working with Ciara made me see that achieving my dream is really possible.”
Like most interactions in this day and age, this opportunity blossomed with the help of social media. One of Ciara’s dancers saw the team online and knew that they would be an excellent fit for the song. Washington said when the team arrived on the set, she could see that the dancers had done their homework.
“Ciara’s team was fantastic. The thing that impressed me most is that they had watched our videos on Instagram and TikTok and were very familiar with our moves. They even knew each of the cheerleaders’ names and the positions that they usually held during Powerhouse routines,” Washington said. Johnson said, “This made for a magical collaboration. Ciara and her team didn’t treat us like cheerleaders; they treated us as a full part of the project.” Martin says the team exchanged dance moves with Ciara’s dancers, creating a showstopping routine worthy of any viral TikTok Challenge. “Ciara and Jamaica kept pulling me over to watch the dancing and the playbacks. They were giving me too much power in Hollywood, and I loved it!” Washington said.
This is not the first time social media has put the WSSU Powerhouse of Red and White in the national spotlight. Video of their natural curls, dynamic steps, and it-girl/it-guy confidence has landed the team on “The Real” and Martin with her own deal with Champion. In a world where many young people are focused on filters, influence, and lives where people live as caricatures of themselves, Washington says it’s incredible that the team is getting their due recognition for being authentic.
The best part is these young show-stoppers are learning tangible skills they can use once they graduate. Creating a strong presence on social media has given the team opportunities to learn about marketing, tech, and graphics. “They are bringing many skills to the table and learning so much,” Washington said.
While going to Los Angeles to showcase their talents was undoubtedly a whirlwind experience, the student-athletes remained focused on their primary goal, school. “We went to LA during finals week.” Cheerleader Tiffany Jacobs said, “I woke up at 5 a.m. to take a final exam. Waking up early, being on set all day, and still being able to do a great job with my coursework made me feel like anything is possible. We did one of our finals in an Uber on the way to the beach. We always have to make sure to plan and to have school be our number one priority.”
The team says the experience motivated them to trust the process and fine-tune their skills, both in and out of the classroom. Johnson said, “This whole experience taught me about being a better leader. I’m upping my game even more. This year I set impossible goals for myself and reached them. I just want to keep elevating and improving.”
Washington said, “I left coaching to raise my family and then returned to the field. I’ve learned that we all need to trust that we are capable and that we should embrace new opportunities,” Washington emphasized, “This is just the beginning of these relationships and opportunities.” The coach has big dreams for the team, “I want Powerhouse to appear on awards shows. Or maybe have their own reality show. This has shown me that there is no ceiling to what they can do.”
The high-energy track features hip-hop group Coast Contra and is sure to be the song of the summer. Still, the team says this experience will stay with them beyond the warm weather season. “Seeing the whole thing come to life. It was amazing to be there really doing this, creating, and seeing our work materialize. We really bonded on this trip,” Martin said. Johnson said, “This opportunity showed me that I could really be successful. It opened my eyes that a career in dance is something that I can truly pursue. It’s right there for us. We just need to keep going.” You can watch the music video and stream the single here.
Livingstone College is yet another HBCU that is seeking to transform from a college to a university through the leverage of offering master’s programs! Most recently, Edward Waters College was able to become Edward Waters University by following a similar path. Learn more in the breaking story from the Herbert L. White at The Charlotte Post below.
Photo Credit: The Charlotte Post
Livingstone College is on the road to becoming a university.
The Salisbury school announced Wednesday it will offer a graduate program in business administration, paving the way to a transition to university status. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which accredits postsecondary schools, approved Livingstone’s application to launch the MBA program starting Jan. 1, 2023.
“We are excited about the elevation of this institution to a Level III category,” Livingstone President Jimmy Jenkins said in a statement. “SACSCOC’s approval paves the way for Livingstone College to officially transition to Livingstone University. The new name would mark a significant milestone in the evolution of the 143-year-old institution’s history, reflecting the expansion of its purview of academic offerings.”
The graduate business degree is designed for students and working professionals who want to advance their careers as business executives or entrepreneurs. Jenkins, who is retiring as president, intends to notify SACSCOC of Livingstone’s name change and will work with campus stakeholders to make the shift to university status.
After implementation of the 36 credit-hour MBA program, Livingstone officials plan to submit a prospectus for a master’s degree in sport management and develops a School of Graduate Studies.
The new MBA program is enrolling students for in-person classes in evenings Monday through Thursday as well as Saturdays on the Salisbury campus. Interested students can apply and get more information by calling the Office of Admissions at (704) 216-6001.
To accommodate family responsibilities and employment, graduate students will have the flexibility to take classes during the evenings (Monday through Thursday) with some classes offered on Saturday. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to graduate.
“It’s very family oriented over there. So it’s like even though I’m away from home, I still feel like I’m at home,” said Smith.
Smith applied to ten schools and eventually narrowed the list down to three schools: Howard University, North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State.
For Smith, SC State’s location close to home and affordability were huge drawing points, but she said attending an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) was a top priority.
“I think going to an HBCU and seeing a lot more people, black people, and I get to learn more about my culture and my history, and also learn more about myself, said Smith.
Smith’s decision reflects a trend among South Carolina’s Historically black colleges and universities who are drawing a new wave of students.
This fall, South Carolina State university is welcoming one if its largest freshman classes. Vice-President of enrollment management Dr. Manicia Finch says nearly 800 students have completed the admission process- double the number from last year.
“This will be the most diverse class in the history of South Carolina State, coming from various states,” said Finch.
At Claflin University Interim Vice-President for enrollment management Reynolda Brown said applications and enrollment are soaring.
“We are trending 37% up from this time last year” said Brown. “I think that they’re seeing the value in attending HBCU, both from the academic side, and from the cultural aspect of it.”
Other HBCU’s in the midlands like Benedict College and Allen University have also seen similar trends. Dr. Finch attributes the rise in students to increased funding, notoriety, and new recruitment efforts.
“A lot more students are choosing HBCUs, but also because of the strong academic programs and the great support system that we put in place for students not just to come but also to be successful,” said Finch.
Smith said her generation is making history and she’s proud to be a part of it.
“We have like future football players, NFL players, basketball players, like so many things, doctors, lawyers,” said Smith. “So with my generation doing that, it can turn into something so beautiful.”
Morgan State University has announced a new assistant coach for its men’s basketball team. Learn more in the release from Morgan State.
Photo Credit: UMES
The Morgan State head men’s basketball coach Kevin Broadus has named Larry Stewart to the program as an assistant coach. Stewart joins Chretien Lukusa and Keith Goodie as Broadus’ assistant coaches for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
“I’m really excited to have Larry join our staff at Morgan,” said Broadus. “He’s arguably one of the best players to ever play in the MEAC and also has an array of basketball playing and relevant coaching experiences that will help push our program forward to new heights.”
Stewart’s most recent stop was as an assistant coach at fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) member Maryland Eastern Shore (2019-21).
Stewart grew up in Philadelphia and played two years scholastically at Dobbins Technical High School and was awarded a scholarship to attend Coppin State College (University) where he will be forever sealed at the forefront of Coppin State basketball history.
A standout player at Coppin State from 1988-1991, Stewart led the Eagles to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1990 and first ever National Invitational Tournament in 1991. He was a two-time MEAC Player of the Year and named Black College Player of the Year in 1991, also winning the John B. Wooden Award. Stewart ranks No. 3 all-time at Coppin State in scoring (1,824) and first in rebounds (1,052). Stewart’s Coppin State jersey (42) was retired at a ceremony in 1993. The MEAC inducted Stewart into their Hall of Fame in 2005.
Stewart signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Washington Bullets (now Washington Wizards) in 1991 and is the first non-drafted player to make the All-Rookie Team. He played with the NBA’s Bullets, Vancouver Grizzlies and Seattle Super Sonics until 1997.
From 1997-2008, Stewart played overseas in Spain, Turkey, Greece and France earning honors and awards leading teams in points and rebounding.
In 2006, Stewart returned to Coppin to complete his degree in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Management Science and Sociology.
Stewart spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Bears from 2015-19 under head coach Todd Bozeman.
Prior to MSU, he spent six seasons at Bowie State University from 2009-15. The Bulldogs went 91-50 during his time there. BSU would win the 2013 CIAA Tournament with Stewart on the sideline and he would also be instrumental in the recruitment of 2015 CIAA player of the year Cameron Knox.
Stewart is the son of Lois and Larry Stewart Sr. and has three siblings, sister Latanya, brother Stephen a graduate of Coppin and brother Lynard a graduate of Temple University. Both brothers played professional basketball in Europe.
Stewart resides in Baltimore County with his wife Toi, daughters Lexis, Laryn, and son Tai.
The Wiley College Department of Athletics began a new era on Friday when its membership in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference became official.
Wiley College’s membership was approved in January after a unanimous vote by the GCAC Council of Presidents. It will be the only Texas school in the conference with other members from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.
The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference – which was founded in 1981 – will have eight full-time members for the 2022-23 academic year. Joining with Wiley College is Oakwood University (Ala.) and Southern University at New Orleans – which is restarting its athletic program. Returning members of the conference are Dillard University (La.), Fisk University (Tenn.), Philander Smith College (Ark.), Rust College (Miss.) and Tougaloo College (Miss.).
Departing member Edward Waters University reached the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Women’s Volleyball National Championship Opening Round. Tougaloo College men’s basketball qualified for the NAIA Opening Round. The Rust College women’s basketball team reached the final of the NAIA Opening Round and received votes in the final Top 25 poll. The Dillard men’s track and field team had three All-Americans and the women had one.
Thursday was Wiley College’s final day as a member of the Red River Athletic Conference – which it helped start in 1998. During its run, the Wildcats won 18 conference titles with 12 in the regular season and six in tournaments. They were runner-ups for the All-Sports Trophy in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Wiley College won the conference GPA title in 2012, 2013 and 2019. The 2022 GPA title is to be determined.
In its inaugural season in the GCAC, Wiley College will compete for championships in volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and men’s and women’s track and field. The Wildcats will compete in men’s and women’s soccer and golf but as club teams.
The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference will be the fifth conference that Wiley College has been a part of. Before the Red River Athletic Conference, it was members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Interregional Athletic Conference and the Big State Athletic Conference.
Alabama State University is mourning one of its own after the unexpected passing of a football player on campus. Learn more in the story from Cedric “BIG CED” Thornton at Black Enterprise below.
An Alabama college is mourning the death of one of its athletes.
Alabama State University Athletics announced that a sophomore linebacker, Awysum Harris, has passed away. The school took to Twitter to inform people of the athlete who hailed from Decatur, Alabama.
— Bama State Athletics (@BamaStateSports) July 4, 2022
The athletic director of Alabama State University released a statement: “The Athletic Department mourns the loss of one of its talented student- athletes, and our deepest sympathy is extended to his family,” said Dr. Jason Cable.
The AD, head coach Eddie Robinson and the school’s president Quinton T. Ross, Jr. discussed the death of Harris with the Hornets football team Sunday evening. Ross left a message on his Facebook page revealing that Harris apparently died of natural causes.
“Greetings Hornet Nation:
“I am deeply saddened to announce to the Hornet Nation Family that one of our student athletes has died from what appears to be natural causes. The young man, who was a member of the Hornets football team, has been identified as Awysum Harris, a sophomore from Decatur, Alabama.
“This is tragic news for Hornet Nation as we mourn the loss of one of our own. The University will provide support for Awysum’s family, friends and teammates during this very difficult time. I ask that we keep all of them in our thoughts and prayers.”
The Decatur Daily reported that the 2019 All-State player was found dead on Sunday in his dorm room at Alabama State in Montgomery.
Harris, who played at Austin High School as a high school athlete was a second-team Class 7A All-State selection at linebacker and a Decatur Daily All-Area selection after playing his senior season in 2019. The defensive player led the Black Bears with 105 tackles, including 14 tackles for losses. Harris also had three sacks and three interceptions.
Mosley was formerly an assistant basketball coach at Lincoln University. (Photo Credit: Alishia Mosley/Twitter)
Alishia Mosley, the new women’s basketball coach at Cheyney University, knew the job would take some heavy lifting, getting the program up and running after a hiatus since before the pandemic.
“The heavy lifting has started,” Mosley said over the phone Tuesday morning.
She has a gym, new basketballs, new uniforms, so she’s ready to go, moving over from Lincoln University, where Mosley had been on both the women’s and men’s basketball staffs in recent seasons. Just one little detail. How many players are there right now on her Cheyney roster?
“Zero,” Mosley said. “Building from scratch, that’s my motto. Fresh ingredients, and I’ve got to go out and handpick every ingredient. I can’t just go to the grocery store.”
She’s making phone calls, visiting gyms, doing all the things you’d expect. She also took to Twitter. At 6:25 p.m. on Sunday, Mosley tweeted, “Dear Student athletes, I’ve just started as the new head coach of the women’s basketball team at Cheyney University, and I’m seeking players in the Philadelphia region! #building from scratch.”,
The hits kept coming.
“Don’t forget the girls from Delaware … 2 sisters, great kids … skilled handles and shooters. A 16-and-under class of 2023, come check her out.” … “I know you said players in the Philly region but if you have time check out the ladies at Louisville Central High School” … Two transfers at a showcase in Atlanta … A guard from Montgomery County Community College … A 6-3 juco forward available … “How’s your coaching staff looking?” … A direct plea from a player: “I’m still looking for a home.”
This went on and on and on.
“I’ve probably gotten probably 50 inboxes,” Mosley said, referring to direct messages on Twitter. “It’s just a lot of people need an opportunity.”
Has she noticed some legit talent?
“Yes,” Mosley said, emphatically. “I have run across some good people, some good talent.”
It’s not all a fit, of course. Recruiting doesn’t work that way.
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“Sometimes people get ahead of themselves, and I love it,” Mosley said. “I’m looking for people who can come into Cheyney University right now.”
Meaning: Show up for the fall semester.
“To apply to Cheyney is free,” Mosley said. “There’s no reason you can’t go to Cheyney.edu and apply to the university. It’s free.”
That’s what she’s telling anyone who contacts her.
“Once I know they apply to the school, then OK, they’re serious,” Mosley said.
She mentioned the Philly region in her tweet, Mosley said, because the school straddling the Delaware and Chester County borders has scholarships available for local students. Even if they’re not quite right for her team, there could be a place for them at school.
Cheyney, which has struggled to keep its doors open in recent years, is still Division II but is no longer is in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, with only men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball on the current sports roster. Mosley said athletic director Tammy Bagby, the school’s former women’s basketball coach, has everything in place for her, with a pretty full 2022-23 schedule, helped by Cheyney men’s coach Terrell Stokes, who worked with his opponents to add women’s games as well. Mosley said she just needs to add some December games.
“If anyone wants to play, they can reach out,” Mosley said.
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She has all the evidence she needs: If you suggest that people reach out, they will reach out.
“Yesterday, I had a young guy reach out,” Cheyney’s new women’s coach said. “I’m like, what is this guy doing? He said, ‘Coach, I just need some workouts.'”
Sure, she’s got all the time in the world, trying to build her roster from scratch.
“You know what I did?” Mosley said. “I sent him some workouts.”
Students at colleges in the Atlanta University Center consortium will be able to take advantage of the booming gaming industry thanks to a new grant. Learn more in the Spelman release below.
Photo Credit: Wilson Center
Spelman College plans to send more women of color into the gaming industry. The nation’s premier liberal arts college for African American women just got a helping hand with a $300,000 three year grant from the Unity Charitable Fund, administered by Tides Foundation, to develop a gaming curriculum supported by Unity Technologies.
Unity was an early funder for Spelman’s Innovation Lab, a campus-wide source for creative inquiry, unconventional research, experimental pedagogy and exploratory play. The new grant will allow the lab to extend gaming efforts to students at other Atlanta University Center institutions, including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and, possibly, Morris Brown College, said Jerry Volcy, co-director of the Innovation Lab.
“The grant from Unity really allows us to expand the gaming space to include more women of color,” Volcy said. “It gives women of color a voice in the industry and has created a lot of interest in purposeful games.”
The Innovation Lab at Spelman College is home to a budding program, Gaming+, which encompasses game design, gaming theory, game development, elements of interactive media, virtual and extended reality and other technologies linked to gaming.
“The grant will be used to develop Gaming+ into a formal curricular area of concentration or minor, support faculty research in gaming, and create and maintain gaming workshops,” Volcy explained. “This will bring experts to campus and provide a learning and networking opportunity for the campus community,” he said.
Madeleine Brown, 20 and a junior computer science major at Spelman College, had set her heart on a career in network security. But the Dallas, Texas native’s life was changed last summer after receiving a flier via email about the Innovation Lab.
Brown is busy on her first video game — a 3D racing game featuring a woman of color. She has sketched a track configuration, created the first race cart and is building out a virtual world.
“I’ve started to code; I know Python, but I’m learning C-Sharp for Unity,” she said. “I’m hoping to have a fully working character model in the cart by end of year.”
The new program will allow students to combine several skills, Volcy explained. “Gaming+ offers an immediate opportunity to pull together coding, art and storytelling for the purpose of creating a product that none of the constituent disciplines could individually achieve,” he said. “In so doing, marketable products may emerge, or, at a minimum, students will obtain portable technical skills important for entrepreneurship.”
According to Brown, the future looks brighter. “Before, I didn’t know that a game could help my future career. But now that I’ve learned about the different careers, it has opened my eyes to infinitely more possibilities,” she said. “I’m excited to see what comes up out of my game by the time research day comes along in spring, and how my career develops.” This summer she secured an internship at a AAA gaming company.
Several HBCU presidents recently traveled to Israel for an important collaborative project. Learn more about the story, including how FAMU’s president found value in the trip for his HBCU, in the story from Tarah Jean at the Tallahassee Democrat below.
FAMU President Larry Robinson (third from left), and the rest of the delegation visit a church in Tabgha, Israel on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (Photo Credit: American Jewish Committee)
Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson is one of six Historically Black College and University presidents who arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, on July 3 for a groundbreaking program.
The six-day trip, which is being hosted by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange, is the first one that Project Interchange has ever devoted to HBCU leaders exclusively.
The program’s goal is to enhance new research and academic partnerships between HBCUs and Israeli universities, according to AJC spokesperson Steve Gosset.
Many HBCUs, including FAMU, are land-grant universities that have agricultural programs. With Israel’s leadership in agricultural innovations, the program hopes to expand the research capacity of the universities participating, according to a release from the AJC.
“We have been in discussion with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund about this delegation for over a year,” AJC Project Interchange Director Nisha Abkarian said in an email response Tuesday to the Democrat. “We focused on presidents in accordance with TMCF’s interest in creating new partnerships with Israeli universities as part of AJC’s growing outreach to senior academic leaders.”
Final plans for the trip began in April with the signing of a formal agreement between TMCF and AJC Project Interchange, which states that the program will be held annually following this first year.
AJC announced the trip, stating that the delegation arrived in Israel on Sunday. Robinson was not immediately available for comment.
Other HBCU presidents attending are:
Makola Mjasiri Abdullah, Virginia State University
Paul Anthony Jones, Fort Valley State University
Charlotte Patterson Morris, Tuskegee University
Kent Joseph Smith, Jr., Langston University
Daniel Kent Wims, Alabama A&M University
As an educational institute of AJC, Project Interchange has hosted travel study programs in Israel for policymakers and opinion leaders from over 120 countries.
TMCF is the nation’s largest organization that focuses on representing the Black college community, according to its website. Since its founding in 1987, it has supported nearly 300,000 students by assisting them financially, connecting them with employers and hosting conferences.
TMCF founder N. Joyce Payne and TMCF President and CEO Harry Williams are accompanying the presidents on the trip.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund President and CEO Harry Williams addresses board members at a three-day retreat hosted by Florida A&M University in March 2022. (Photo Credit: Florida A&M University)
FAMU in particular has worked closely with TMCF recently. In March, the university hosted a three-day Thurgood Marshall College Fund Board Retreat on its campus. It became the first HBCU to host a TMCF board retreat.
So far, the HBCU delegation has visited the Google headquarters in Israel and the Israel Space Agency. They also went to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, which promotes collaborations throughout the world.
On Tuesday, the participants went to the northern Israeli city of Haifa to visit Technion, the Israeli Institute of Technology, which is one of the country’s leading Israeli universities.
Other universities that the delegation will visit are Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University, which are leading centers in medical and technology research.
“We are always looking to explore new opportunities while raising awareness of the importance of the work we are doing as an organization,” Williams said in a release. “To learn about the wonderful work in the science and medical fields that is currently happening in Israel is great.”
Stops on Wednesday were to include Jerusalem and other cities to hear more about agricultural innovation, food safety and technology. The delegation’s schedule for Thursday includes visiting the Old City of Jerusalem and hearing presentations on how Arab youth are being integrated into the Israeli technology sector.
Before leaving on Friday, the participants will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and learn about how Israel is developing solar power capability for underserved communities.
Morgan State University just brought on a historic black firm to help complete its budding plan for a new science complex. Learn more in the MSU release below.
Maryland Board of Public Works Approves Agreement with Moody Nolan to Begin Design Services
Following contract approval by the Maryland Board of Public Works during the board’s first meeting of the new fiscal year, Morgan State University (MSU) today announced its official selection of the nation’s largest African-American-owned architecture firm — Moody Nolan, Inc. — to lead the creative vision for a new, innovative, state-of-the-art science complex. The agreement, valued at approximately $20.1 million, allows the firm to provide complete professional design services for all design phases of the project. The design of the new facility is expected to be completed in spring 2024.
“Make no mistake about it, there is a monumental transformation taking place on and near the campus of Morgan State University. The growth that we’re experiencing has come to be known as Morgan Momentum, and to sustain that growth we’ll need modern facilities that are equipped to address the work of the future and the future of work,” said University President David K. Wilson. “To bring to life the vision for a high-tech science facility capable of housing some of our top research projects and STEM instruction, we sought to partner with an equally innovative design firm with experience in the HBCU space and a national reputation for creative architecture. And we believe we have that in the selection of Moody Nolan.”
Over the past 40 years, Moody Nolan has been a leader in facility design and the development of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campuses across the country, working on projects at 30 HBCUs. Among the firm’s most recent work is service as the interior architect for Morgan’s new Thurgood Marshall Hall, which is slated to open this August. As a part of its process, the firm’s design professionals take time to get to know and understand each HBCU’s mission and rich history, incorporating those key learnings into the design of a leading-edge facility for the future.
“For our firm, this represents a unique design opportunity. The designated location of the new science complex will serve as a gateway to the campus and a beacon to the surrounding Baltimore community,” said Curt Moody, chairman of the board and design partner for Moody Nolan. “We will make the new science complex a place that will endure as a threshold and a catalyst for ushering in a new era of research and innovation for Morgan State students and faculty.”
The proposed science complex at Morgan represents yet another example of the University’s commitment to joining the higher echelon of Carnegie-classified universities by attaining an R1 (“very high research”) classification. Constructing a new science research facility replete with modern classrooms and laboratories is a significant step toward achieving this goal. The completion of a new science facility aligns with the University’s longstanding expansion of its research and will ensure Morgan students are adequately prepared, having access to top-level expertise, amenities, technology and programs.
“It is vital that the new science complex not only serve as a place for rigorous exploration and innovation but given MSU’s standing as one of our nation’s signature HBCUs, we will do our part from a design standpoint to ensure that it reflects the diverse culture of its student and faculty community,” said Renauld Deandre Mitchell, partner and managing design executive for Moody Nolan.
In addition to being an African-American-owned firm, Moody Nolan has committed to achieving minority business enterprise (MBE) goals of 63.47% for demolition design and 47.75% for the new building design. Combined, this will represent approximately $10.6 million in MBE dollars.
Previously, the University had announced its plans to construct a new science complex to house Morgan’s Biology and Chemistry Departments as well as the dean’s office of the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences. Morgan’s existing science complex, which comprises four buildings — Carnegie, Calloway, Spencer and Key Halls — has aged and is in need of repairs. In addition, because of growth in the science disciplines, there is insufficient space in the current science complex to appropriately serve the Biology and Chemistry Departments.
The new facility will be erected on campus at the site of the current Washington Service Center, which is scheduled to be demolished. Construction cost for the new, 246,435-gross-square-foot science center is approximately $150 million, with work set to begin in summer 2024 and projected completion in summer 2027. MSU’s Office of Design & Construction Management will manage the project.
During the 2022 BET Awards, the HBCU Buzz founder and entrepreneur was honored with the “Shine A Light Award,” which was presented by Walmart. The coveted award was established by BET in 2001 to celebrate Black and minority trailblazers in entertainment, sports, culture and more. He has since opened up about receiving the honor.
“Everyday I’m living proof of our ancestors wildest dreams,” said Lawal Jr. on LinkedIn. “1% of it was my plan and 99% was grace. Who knew; #GodDid. Thank you BET for a dream come true and awarding me the 2022 Shine A Light award.”
As a graduate of Bowie State University, Luke Lawal Jr. has made it his life’s mission to advocate for HBCUs and their communities. It was a rewarding, full-circle moment to have entertainer Terrence J. introduce Lawal on the BET Awards stage. As a graduate of renowned HBCU North Carolina A&T State University, Terrence J. has worked with HBCU Buzz on several projects. Most recently, he served as a moderator in a conversation about COVID-19 vaccinations featuring Kelly Rowland and multiple HBCU leaders. Racking up over 3 million views, the unscripted conversation became the most-viewed video on the HBCU Buzz Youtube page.
“Give it up for him,” Terrence J. told the clapping crowd at the awards show. “Luke is a passionate entrepreneur specifically amongst young professionals, and founded HBCU Buzz while he was still an undergrad!”
Lawal first recognized the need for a company like HBCU Buzz while sitting in his college dorm room. Each HBCU can feel like a world within its own, and he wanted to change that. Through the creation of HBCU Buzz, Lawal has worked tirelessly to keep members of the HBCU community connected to opportunities, current events, and each other. Among other things, HBCU Buzz helps students and alumni to stay updated on what’s happening with other campuses. They have also been able to unite and make their own connections. For example, HBCU Buzz will often have roundtable discussions with a special guest and hand-selected HBCU students of similar majors. Previous roundtables have featured notable talent like Jamie Foxx, Michael B. Jordan, Keke Palmer, Black Panther and Coming II America costume designer Ruth E. Carter, and more.
Lawal has also made efforts to uplift HBCU leaders. For one, he created an annual list called the HBCU Buzz Top 30 Under 30 to highlight HBCU game changers. Featuring a mix of both familiar and unfamiliar faces, the honorees span industries like entertainment, education, medicine, sports, and more. He also created a unique series where he interviews HBCU presidents to share their one-of-a-kind experiences and insights. Through the “President’s Corner,” he has interviewed HBCU presidents such as Florida A&M University president Dr. Larry Robinson, and even the president of his alma mater, Bowie State University’s Dr. Aminta Breaux.
Lawal perhaps would have never been as successful as he is today without his decision to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). As the child of two HBCU graduates, he grew up with a fascination for the institutions that were such important parts of his parents’ identities. Growing up in Washington, D.C., his mother attended Howard University and graduated Summa Cum Laude, while his father attended Bowie State University. Lawal has often shared that choosing to attend his father’s alma mater changed his life. Like his father, he became a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as well. “Luke we’re so proud of you, plus he’s the Bruhz so throw the hooks up,” said Terrence J. as his frat brother proudly held his award.
As a man who is never where you left him last, Luke continues to find new ways to advocate for HBCUs. Most recently, Lawal decided to take a leap into the metaverse. “He is also the creator of a new cryptocurrency that services HBCUs called HBCU Coin,” shared Terrence J. “The primary focus [of the coin] is to allow students to gain knowledge about the crypto industry, and have the opportunity to create relationships with stakeholders beyond graduation. Thank you for using your knowledge, influence, and your skills to teach us about the future of financial literacy, said the actor. “We at BET and Walmart will continue to sign a light on you for doing big things.”
When now former Grambling State University volleyball coach Chelsey Lucas decided to cut her entire team of volleyball student-athletes, it caused an uproar. Today the university has released a decision on how to move forward amid the pain and confusion that caused. Learn more in the story from Mia Berry at ESPN below.
Former Grambling State University Head Volleyball Coach Chelsey Lucas (Credit: ARKLATEX)
Grambling State on Tuesday fired volleyball coach Chelsey Lucas, a decision that came three months after her controversial move to cut the team’s scholarship players.
“The decision was made due to the determination of an internal investigation within the volleyball program,” the school said in a statement. “Any additional comments will be held until the conclusion of the investigation.”
Dr. Trayvean Scott, Grambling State’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics, said in the statement that student-athletes who received scholarships for the upcoming season will keep them and remain on the team. Walk-ons in previous seasons also will keep their roster spots.
The success of student-athletes and their ability to matriculate at Grambling State University is the top priority,” Scott said.
Added Grambling State president Rick Gallot: “It is the responsibility of this institution to make sure that student-athletes are afforded opportunities in a manner compliant with all regulatory organizations. That applies to athletics as much as it does to academics.”
A national search for a new coach will begin this week.
Lucas, a former libero on Grambling’s volleyball team and the 2006 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, was hired by the school on Feb. 14, after a three-year stint as head coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. She replaced Demetria Keys-Johnson, who stepped down in December.
Less than two months into her new role, Lucas informed all 12 returning scholarship players she would not be renewing their scholarships for the fall 2022 season, leaving many players stunned. In a statement released April 7 through Grambling’s athletic department, Lucas said, “I met with my team, each student-athlete, individually to discuss my plans moving forward with the Grambling State University volleyball program. My decision was to not bring back some of the current student-athletes on the team. While student-athletes are granted athletic scholarships, a scholarship is not guaranteed and not binding, per NCAA rules and regulations.”
Scott initially offered his support of Lucas’ decision, saying at the time: “Just as the transfer portal empowers student-athletes, our coaches are also empowered to make the decisions they deem necessary to advance their programs.”
A month later, the university announced an independent review of allegations involving the program, which according to Tuesday’s statement is ongoing.
