A talented student at North Carolina Central University is getting support from Amazon and the Recording Academy to the tune of $10,000! Get the full story from Kia C. Bell by the NCCU release below.
The scholarship for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) offers them an opportunity to learn all facets of the music industry. Davidson is among three students selected nationally. To be considered for the honor, students must submit their college transcripts, a personal statement, a video showcasing their creativity and a letter of recommendation.
“This is a huge honor to be selected; it’s truly a dream come true,” Davidson said. “This scholarship is a testament to how far I’ve come in my personal life and academic career.”
Recipients also will participate in a two-week immersive rotation program with Amazon Music, which will provide a detailed look at their chosen field of work.
Davidson, a senior voice student majoring in jazz studies, developed his love for music as a young child preforming in school plays and in an after-school choir. He is now a member of NCCU’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
“Jawan has the kind of passion you can’t manufacture; he has that fire-in-the-belly passion for the arts,” said associate professor of music Lenora Helm Hammonds. “It is a joy to teach Jawan. His hunger for producing quality work and love for music is apparent in his continued success.”
Davidson credits Helm Hammonds with being an inspirational figure during his academic career.
“Professor Helm Hammonds has been persistent and motivating in getting me to share my own interpretation of song and dance,” Davidson said. “I want to inspire the world by sharing personal experiences in art forms that transcend in different genres of music including jazz, hip-hop, funk, soul and pop.”
The Harlem native’s love for music goes beyond traditional music forms. In 2019, he participated in a new outreach program by Carolinas District of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Barbershop Revival that introduced traditional barbershop singing to students in NCCU’s Department of Music.
Wiley College President Felton Jr. will be sticking around for a little longer. Learn why trustees at the college want to keep the president close in the article by Bridget Ortigo at Marshall News Messenger below.
The Wiley College board of trustees recently voted unanimously to renew the contract of university President Herman Felton Jr. for another five years, according to university officials on Monday.
Wiley College board of trustees recently renewed university President Herman Felton Jr.’s contract for another five years. (Credit:News Messenger)
Felton was hired by the board in 2018 to replace the Marshall HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) former president and Chief Executive Officer Haywood Strickland who had served in the role since 2000.
Board Vice-Chairman Walter L. Sutton Jr. said in a statement Felton was the right leader for the university, especially during the most recent challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Students can relate to him, he’s straightforward with the board, and he knows his way around Washington, having recently secured $2.5 million in EDA (Economic Development Administration) funds for the college,” Sutton said.
Felton said he plans to keep the university on the course he’s led for the past three years.
“This affirmation illustrates the shared vision between the board and myself to continue this important work as thought partners,” Felton said in a statement. “My excitement approaching this next chapter is rooted in my fond appreciation of board governance that supports me continuously and offers help we asked.”
The five year contract’s salary was not disclosed by the university.
After an initial employee furlough on campus following his hiring, Felton then moved the university to seek additional funding and installed programs to help students with everything from tuition costs to living needs.
“For the last three years, President Felton and his team at Wiley College moved with an intentional focus on strengthening its impact on the local economy as one of the largest employers in the city, increasing the physical growth of the campus with the establishment of the Wiley College Welcome Center and remodeling of two historic buildings on campus – Cole Library and Pemberton Complex,” the university said in a statement. “His efforts have also positioned Wiley College to develop a Workforce and Economic Development Center in collaboration with local officials to increase student experience and community access, and to receive gifts from EDA, PayPal, SWEPCO, Capitol One, all while stewarding relations with the institution’s historic religious partner – The United Methodist Church.”
Felton earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Edward Waters College and earned his juris doctorate degree from the Levin College of Law. He is co-founder of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (H.E.L.F.), an organization that works to cultivate leaders to address the challenges and opportunities facing the nation’s HBCUs and he served eight years in the U. S. Marine Corps.
Before being named president at Wiley College, Felton served as president at Wilberforce University and as senior vice president, chief operating officer and vice president of institutional advancement for Livingstone College in North Carolina. He has also served as the director of development, as well as a lecturer at Murray State University in Kentucky.
“He has kept the relationship strong with the United Methodist Church which is very important to Wiley,” Wiley College Board Chairman Billy Casey said. “We made a great choice, and he is doing an awesome job. He’s an accessible president and has made good headway in building community relationships.”
Felton said he and his staff seek to continue to boost enrollment, the university’s retention rate, fundraising and to help students find jobs and careers post graduation.
“My goal is to strengthen our posture and enhance our exposure to shore up our value proposition – as a premier liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church with an intentional focus on social good,” Felton said.
Wiley College National Alumni Association Inc. President Nolan H. Anderson Jr. said he has been impressed with Felton’s leadership and looks forward to the next five years.
“President Felton has reset the legacy and purpose of Wiley College within the Marshall community,” Anderson said. “He has been a plus-plus and a win-win for Wiley College, and we are confident he will continue to expand his vision in the years to come.”
Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns addresses the media during practice and media availability as part of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 7 at Phoenix Suns Arena. (Credit: Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul is continuing to put the spotlight on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with the arrival of a new college basketball tournament, The Undefeated has learned.
Paul and the Basketball Hall of Fame have partnered in the development of the Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off on Nov. 22-23 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The two-day doubleheader will feature HBCUs Morehouse College, Virginia Union, West Virginia State and Winston-Salem State. The games are also expected to be televised nationally, a source said.
“I appreciate the collaboration of the Basketball Hall of Fame and Mohegan Sun in hosting this inaugural event,” Paul said in a statement. “With several family members and friends who have attended HBCUs, I know firsthand how important they are to our community and country’s future. I’m excited to offer an elevated experience to the players and fans this November.”
Paul has been a champion of HBCUs – he regularly wears Black college gear to NBA games and currently attends Winston-Salem State to study for a bachelor’s degree in communications.
The 11-time NBA All-Star partnered with Harvard Business School to bring its Entertainment, Media and Sports program to North Carolina A&T and other HBCUs, creating the Special Topics in Management course to develop a career pipeline for students. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina, native raised awareness through his HBCU Sneaker Tour and launched voting initiatives to encourage students to vote in the 2020 election. He executive produced ESPN’s Why Not Us, a documentary about North Carolina Central’s men’s basketball team. Paul partnered with Sour Patch Kids and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to create the Mischief for Change Scholarship, a college scholarship fund with a $1 million commitment over the next five years for HBCU students.
“Chris Paul has shown unwavering support for HBCUs and brought an awareness to creating opportunities for the student-athletes at these institutions,” John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame, said in a statement. “The Hall of Fame is proud to share in Chris’ vision and bring this event to life at beautiful Mohegan Sun Arena.”
The Basketball Hall of Fame includes the Early African American Pioneers Committee in its enshrinement election process to acknowledge and honor those who were “the greatest players of their time and created opportunities for future generations.” Hall of Fame inductees with HBCU ties include Nat Clifton (Xavier University of Louisiana), Sam Jones (North Carolina Central), Coach John McLendon (Hampton, Tennessee State, North Carolina Central), Earl Monroe (Winston-Salem State), Earl Lloyd (West Virginia State) and Willis Reed (Grambling University). Ex-Virginia Union University star center Ben Wallace is in the class of 2021.
“This is a great honor to be invited to the Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off with some of the best HBCUs in the country. It will also be a great opportunity for our young men to tour the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, right after my teammate and Virginia Union’s very own Ben Wallace goes into the Hall of Fame in September. I would like to thank Chris Paul for continuing to give HBCUs the opportunity to showcase our prestigious schools on the biggest stage,” Virginia Union coach Jay Butler said in a statement.
Said West Virginia State head coach Bryan Poore: “We owe this privilege to the great players from WVSU who came before us and in particular the trailblazing NBA pioneer Mr. Earl Lloyd. Participating in this event will be something our players will remember for the rest of their lives.”
A champion for social justice and active participant in the Civil Rights Movement joined the faculty at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) this month. Anthony J. Harris, Ed.D., was named chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education (WRGCOE).
“We find ourselves at a place of welcoming a proven leader,” WRGCOE Dean Michael L. McFrazier, Ed.D., said during a recent welcome reception for Harris, adding that the college is looking forward to “the innovation and change” Harris will help usher in.
“I won’t say they twisted my arm, but they made it so easy for me to say yes,” the Hattiesburg, Mississippi native said of members of the search committee.
Harris earned his doctorate in counseling from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce), where he worked as an administrator and faculty member. He served as a school board member in the Commerce Independent School District for 15 years, six as chair. He most recently served as chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at Sam Houston State University and was previously an administrator and faculty member at Mercer University and the University of Southern Mississippi.
“I have published a total of 13 books across different genres – children’s books and my memoir about growing up in the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. That’s one of the reasons I was so attracted to the opportunity to come to Prairie View A&M University – being a historically black college, being an 1876 university. I feel so at home here. I feel so welcome here. I feel like I am among family and kindred spirits.
In 2014, Harris was featured in a PBS documentary called Freedom Summer. The documentary, directed by Stanley Nelson Jr., chronicles the summer of 1964, during which white students and activists forced the country to notice the violence and injustice taking place in Mississippi. According to The Den, they held voter registration drives and set up schools to teach African American history and culture across the state.
“One of those was Freedom School,” Harris told the paper. “I was a student at Freedom School and participated in marches and demonstrations, although I was a kid.”
Some of Harris’ books detail these experiences, including “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round: A Coming of age story and a personal account of the Civil Rights Movement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi” and “Fruits of a Disgraced Legacy.” His latest books, “Leading While Black: Challenges of Being an African American Leader in a Predominantly White Organization” and “More Adventures of Little Mikey,” will soon be available in paperback and e-version.
“I published my first book in 2012, and my 13th was published in 2021,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoy writing, which enables me to tap into that artistic and creative side of my persona. A quote from Dr. Maya Angelou keeps me writing and publishing books. She once said: ‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.’ So, I write because I have stories to tell, as we all do.
My books, whether fiction or non-fiction, focus on justice, education and equality. My hope is that readers will be moved by the lessons, characters and themes embedded in each book.”
Even with more than a dozen novels under his belt, Harris says these days, he’s most excited about beginning his journey on “The Hill” and getting to know his new students.
“Our students are the most important people. We are all important, but they are the reason we’re here,” he said. “As a faculty, we have to support one another. We have to support the mission of the department, college and university because Prairie View has a legacy that is the envy of so many colleges. The president here, Dr. Ruth Simmons, is so prominent and so well known throughout this country. I just feel honored to be on a campus working under her leadership.”
Harris said he gets a little spiritual about his new role, which began on July 1. “I just say God puts us where we are supposed to be. At this season in my life, I feel this is where I’m supposed to be.”
An Alcorn State University alumna has been elected as an Alderwoman in Fayette, Mississippi! The appointment means she was elected by the residents in that city to work with the mayor and uplift the needs of her constituents. Learn more about her and the work she plans to do in the ASU release below!
Ella Hudson elected as an alderwoman for the city of Fayette.
The citizens of Fayette, Mississippi, have chosen one of Alcorn State University’s own to be a leader in its community.
Ella Hudson, director of Judicial Affairs and Student Conduct, was voted as an alderwoman in the city of Fayette. Her duties include implementing city ordinances and overseeing Fayette’s fire, maintenance, police, parks and recreation, and public works departments.
Before being elected a city official, Hudson served multiple organizations that include the Fayette Day and AJFC Parent committees. She currently serves as a board member of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Health Center and is a member of the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition, among other things.
Community involvement is vital for Hudson. Her idea of a thriving community is one filled with people enthused about making their community better.
“I have always been active in my community,” said Hudson. “So, when God placed it on my heart to pursue this position, I was obedient. I feel everyone has a part to play. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes everyone to help make their community a better place.”
Attending meetings, workshops, conferences, and networking with seasoned officials is helping Hudson acquire knowledge to execute her plans to enhance the city.
“Getting informed will help me to put my platform into action. My plans include working with the community to beautify our city, obtain better pay and benefits for city employees, and improve city infractions. Also, I want the city of Fayette to partner with Alcorn because I’ve always longed for Fayette to become a college town.”
Hudson holds being an elected official in high regard. She’s proud to lead by helping others.
“I am honored and thankful to hold such a prestigious position. Serving my community brings me joy, for I am my brother’s keeper.”
A young Howard University student saw a lack of gourmet vegan options in Washington, D.C. and got to work! Get the delicious full story Kayla Pasko from VegOut Magazine.
Credit: Kayla Pasko
Last March, Chanice McClover-Lee, a 19-year old Howard University student, launched Baked by Chanice, a gourmet vegan treat company that specializes in cookies and custom cakes. The young entrepreneur began selling baked goods at farmers markets in her hometown of South Florida, and after a successful launch, McClover-Lee is now relocating the business to a food hall and commercial kitchen in DC’s Brookland neighborhood. The new shop is set to open on May 22-23 at 1pm, and will operate on weekends for takeout only.
“In March 2020, hundreds of millions of people were stuck in the house [in] a global quarantine. So, what did then 17-year-old me decide to do with my spare time? I got in the kitchen and [started] baking. After one bake sale, the overwhelmingly positive community response led to the creation of Baked by Chanice. It is Baked by Chanice’s goal to transform the meaning and perception of what vegan can taste like for all customers, one soft and crispy cookie—or moist and fluffy cake—at a time!” McClover-Lee told VegOut.
The menu features unique cookie flavors such as s’mores, red velvet cheesecake, birthday cake, and chocolate chip coconut walnut. Guests can also order custom cakes and cupcakes, which are available in vanilla, chocolate, funfetti, red velvet, lemon, cookies & cream, carrot, and coconut varieties.
In addition to the flagship shop, Baked by Chanice will be selling both cookies and cakes at the SW DC Farmers Market on Saturdays beginning May 29. Guests can also order through the bakery’s website, which offers nationwide shipping.
Baked by Chanice is located inside Tastemakers at 2800 10th St NE, Washington, DC 20017. To place online orders visit BakedByChanice.com, or follow @bakedbychanice on Instagram for all of the latest updates!
Alabama State University, Florida A&MUniversity, and J.F. Drake State Technical College made the recipient list among several institutions each receiving $1.2 million grant to increase diversity in engineering. Get the full story from the NASA release below.
Graduation ceremony of the 2017 class of Astronaut Candidates. Photographer: James Blair
Creating a future for humanity in the stars and continuing to improve life on Earth are tasks NASA can only achieve by involving all of humanity. To challenge the barriers to entry for students from diverse backgrounds in engineering, NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project, or MUREP, called upon Minority Serving Institutions to develop proposals for how they could use NASA funding to strengthen their support for underrepresented communities.kn;
Today, NASA has chosen six universities to win the MUREP Inclusion Across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science, or INCLUDES, award. Each award provides up to $1.2 million for a three-year period to implement the institution’s proposal.
The selected institutions and their proposed projects are:
Alabama State University
Developing NASA Pathways to Engineering and Experiential Research for Student Success: NASA PEERSS
In order to help close the gap of racial inequality in engineering, Alabama State University, or ASU, in Montgomery, Alabama, is implementing the Developing Emergent Engineers and Physicists, or DEEP, Program with the goal of engaging STEM subject matter experts, professional organizations, social science researchers, and industry partners to create a supportive community of engineering learners. ASU was awarded $1,198,937.75 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
Florida A&M University
Broadening Participation of Next Generation Aerospace Engineers Through Traineeship and Workforce Development Program
Focusing on increasing representation in research related to aerospace systems and technologies, the proposal led by Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, will establish a multi-institution coalition to recruit underrepresented groups for a program that will give hands-on experience to students in NASA-relevant fields. In addition to Florida A&M University, this coalition includes the University of Central Florida, Florida State University, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and four NASA centers. Florida A&M University was awarded $1,199,977.00 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
J.F. Drake State Technical College
Drake State Engineering Frontiers Coalition
The Drake State Engineering Frontiers Coalition, proposed by J.F. Drake State Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama, tackles the issue of representation by starting with students in secondary and postsecondary education. By coordinating with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, aerospace industry partners, other government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and more, the coalition will engage students starting as early as 8th grade and continue supporting them through graduate programs through activities such as summer bridge programs, professional development and research opportunities, mentoring, and more. J.F. Drake State Technical College was awarded $1,189,200.00 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
Navajo Technical College
Broadening Participation in Engineering, Robotics and Computer Science using Zero Robotics on Astrobee
To broaden participation from Indigenous and Hispanic students in computer science and space robotics activities, the Navajo Technical College has proposed the Consortium for Hispanic and Indigenous Education on Robotics in Space, or CHIERS. In partnership with a variety of other institutions, including the Zero Robotics STEM program, it will provide a platform to share strategies and best practices in diversifying the field. The proposal also suggests a programming competition modelled after previous competitions by Zero Robotics, building on a decade of experience. Such a competition would allow participation from middle and high school to university students and give participants the chance to have a hands-on experience with space robotics in a microgravity environment. The Navajo Technical College was awarded $1,179,882.24 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
Texas A&M Kingsville
Proactive Pathways of Excellence to Engage Minority Students in Aerospace Engineering
In an effort to broaden participation among underrepresented minorities, especially Hispanic and female students in South Texas, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, or TAMU-K, in Kingsville has proposed the Proactive Pathways of Excellence to Engage Minority Students in Aerospace Engineering program. In the long-term, the program aims to develop the first Aerospace Engineering Bachelor of Science program in South Texas and use partnerships with a variety of institutions to broaden participation of historically underserved groups – a necessity to accomplish the goal of returning to the Moon and traveling on to Mars. TAMU-K was awarded $1,200,000.00 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Partners Aligned To Heighten Broad Participation in STEM
As the only funded research-intensive minority serving institution in New England, the University of Massachusetts, Boston, has sought to reflect on how systemic racism impacts STEM fields in reaction to recent conversations around the movement for racial justice. The Partners Aligned to Heighten Broad Participation in STEM, or PATHS, program proposed by UMass Boston aims to provide a variety of paths into engineering. By working with a coalition of partner institutions, using metrics to identify gaps in representation, telling the stories of diverse student perspectives, enhancing existing opportunities, and fostering a sense of belonging among Black, Indigenous, and people of color within the engineering community, PATHS seeks to knock down the barriers that have blocked participation. UMass Boston was awarded $1,200,000.00 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
The Minority University Research and Education Project is administered through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Office of STEM Engagement. MUREP’s Inclusion Across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science program amplifies the National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES efforts.
Making healthy food choices is just a little easier for Central State University students and community members thanks to a mobile food bank! Learn more about the power of healthy food access in the Dalton Daily News article below.
For students who are in college, eating junk food is tempting and easy.
That is just one reason why, on the second Tuesday of each month, Central State University offers a mobile food bank called The Community Marketplace. It offers better food for students who might otherwise make less healthy choices or even run out of food by the end of the month, plus it helps local community members in need.
Central State University Counseling Services student volunteer Henry Gray said it is easiest to eat what is cheapest or to “make really poor choices of food items that your body does not need.”
“Nowadays, ‘going healthy’ with food choices can be expensive,” Gray said. “The Community Marketplace tries to provide fresh vegetables, fruits, bread and other healthy items for students to pick from as opposed to the junk we might normally pick.”
CSU partners with local food banks, Kroger, the Montgomery County Human Services Department, the USDA, the United Way and other contributors, to offer the mobile pantry.
Gray said the healthier food isn’t always what a student likes the most, “but I know it’s what we need, so I take it with a smile, and eventually end up trying something new, that is probably better for my eating habits anyway.”
Students said the pantry is a helpful resource the campus provides.
Joseph Smith is not only a student at CSU but also is a year-long volunteer for The Community Marketplace.
“I like the cause, it is free, plus I am all for community service,” Smith said.
Volunteer workers for the mobile pantry said they love to give back and serve, and they would like to see the program become a more well-known resource for more students and for local community members.
Mobile Pantry Manager Andy Macy said, “The program itself has been around for 8-9 years, and around 3 years specifically at CSU. All of the food is fresh from local farm markets, the state of Ohio, federal government, and by donation. We try to ensure that each person walks away with one meat, bakery and shelf items.”
The Community Marketplace is run from Central State University’s Ward Center, 14000 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce. All food distributed is free of cost, and all people are welcome from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
Cheyney University in Philadelphia continues to forge partnerships for the benefit of its student body and the world at large. Now get the full story on how Cheyney is going to build up the food systems and economy in Ghana in the story from Susan Snyder from The Philadelphia Inquirer below.
Students walk around campus at Cheyney University. (Credit: Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Cheyney University, a historically black college in Pennsylvania’s state system, will partner with a new university in Ghana on a student, faculty, and cultural exchange program, but first it will help the university attain its accreditation by offering expertise on a program it wants to start.
The partnership with the soon-to-be-built Oboseke University of Excellence in the Asebu Kingdom of Ghana’s Central Region is Cheyney’s first international collaboration with another school, said Cheyney president Aaron A. Walton.
Cheyney will share its expertise in aquaculture and aquaponics — a food production system that combines raising aquatic animals with cultivating plants in water — with Oboseke, which wants to start tilapia fish farming and other aquaculture programs. Ghana’s accreditation board requires a mentor relationship with a university that has an established program in an area of interest, Kwa David Whitaker, Oboseke’s rector, said in a news release. Cheyney, which just a few years ago was struggling with financial and enrollment woes and fighting to keep its own accreditation, will provide that mentoring.
“To be able to share our experience and knowledge with this emerging African university, and potentially help the people of Ghana develop a more accessible food supply, is an extremely significant opportunity for us, a tribute to our academic excellence, and an honor,” Walton said.
Oboseke in return will provide resources to Cheyney including land on the Ghana campus for projects of interest to both schools. An official from Oboseke will visit Cheyney in a couple of weeks, Walton said. He expects exchanges to begin in about a year.
“Students who may be interested in studying abroad can spend a semester at this university and learn what’s going on there and vice versa,” said Walton, who has led the 650-student university that straddles Delaware and Chester Counties for four years.
The relationship came about after officials from Oboseke contacted Steven G. Hughes, a Cheyney biology professor and director of the Aquaculture Research and Education Laboratory, who is helping Oboseke plan its program, Walton said. Cheyney grows tilapia on campus and the waste generated fertilizes basil, which is sold to local grocery store chains, he said.
Tilapia is a major food source in Ghana, and the country currently gets much of its supply from China, according to Whitaker. The university wants to help the country develop its own source.
Cheyney also has been cultivating partnerships closer to home. Last year, it welcomed to campus the Camden-based Sure-BioChem Laboratories LLC, which provides microbial and chemistry testing services. The university signed an agreement with the company to operate a lab on campus. In January 2020, the university announced that ASI Chemicals, a start-up company that manufactures chemicals used in pharmaceuticals, would operate on campus.
Epcot Crenshaw Corp., an environmental technology solutions company; Navrogen, a bio-pharma research and development firm that works on cancer research; and Advanced Alchemy Labs, a company that grows and processes hemp for medical purposes, are among others.
West Virginia State University has a new leader on campus! Learn about the dynamic woman who will lead WVSU’s academic affairs in the release below.
Dr. J. Paige Carney has been named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs for West Virginia State University (WVSU) effective immediately.’
Carney has served as dean of the College of Professional Studies since 2015, in addition to serving as interim associate provost for WVSU since fall 2020.
Under her leadership as dean of the College of Professional Studies, several of the college’s programs, including criminal justice, education, health and human performance, and social work have achieved national recognition. The college also oversees the university’s storied Military Science (ROTC) program. In fall 2020 the college also launched a new bachelor of science in nursing degree program.
“I have worked with President Nicole Pride since her arrival at the university last fall and see her as a strong leader who cares deeply about the university,” said Carney. “I look forward to working with her and her leadership team to achieve the university’s mission of advancing knowledge through access and opportunity, innovative teaching and learning, interdisciplinary research, and impactful service.”
Since 2011, Carney has been a professor of education at WVSU and also previously served as the director of clinical experiences. She has also served as counselor to Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education. Carney previously taught at WVSU from 1996 through 2004 as an associate professor of education.
In addition to her work at WVSU, Carney was chair of the education program and an associate professor of education at the University of Charleston from 2007 through May 2011, as well as an associate professor of education at Eastern Kentucky University from 2004 through 2005. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor with the Marshall University Graduate College.
Carney has also served as the external facilitator for reading for Kanawha County Schools from 2000 through 2004. From 2005 through 2010 she worked as a lecturer and researcher for the University of Kentucky serving as Kentucky’s principal investigator for Reading First, analyzing effective reading achievement and research-based instruction. She also worked as a kindergarten teacher from 1984 through 1992 in the Fayette County, Kentucky, Public School System.
Carney has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including twice being named Kanawha County’s Reading Association Teacher of the Year for College Educators Award.
Carney received her doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky, and her master’s degree from Georgetown College. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina.
Delaware State University‘s renowned Approaching Storm band has two need leads that will take it to new heights! Get the full story on the two alumni that are exciting to bring the music in the statement from DSU below.
Delaware State University has appointed two alumni to lead its renowned Approaching Storm Band and other instrumental groups – Sidney Sessoms, Jr., as its new Director of Band, and Vincent Adkins as the Assistant Director of Bands.
Mr. Sessoms attended Del State from 1980 -1985, and then completed his Bachelor of Science in General Studies/Music at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a Master’s of Music Education from Salisbury State University. After serving as the interim Band Director at Del State in 1988, Mr. Sessoms served as the Director of Bands at Lincoln University (MO), Clark Atlanta University and Livingstone College, the latter of which he also served as interim Chair of the Music Department and Music Faculty.
Sidney Sessoms Jr.
Mr. Sessoms’ resume includes leading the Clark Atlanta University percussion ensemble’s performance during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, performances for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Team, and a number of national and international commissioned works, including works performed by Berkeley Institute-Hamilton Bermuda Band and Orchestra and the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Sessoms is a member of several professional organizations including, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, Music Educators National Conference, Percussive Arts Society and College Band Directors National Association.
“I am excited about coming home to Del State,” Mr. Sessoms said.
Mr. Adkins earned a Bachelor of Science in Music from Delaware State University in 1988 and a Master’s Degree in Education Media Technology from Full Sail University in 2009. Mr. Adkins has taught music and band to public school students for 32 years, and brings to Del State expertise in drill design, marching fundamentals and jazz.
Vincent Adkins
He is also an instrumentalist for the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, where he is also a Board member. Additionally, as a member of Motown’s Final Mixx, Mr. Adkins has opened for The Manhattans, Miki Howard and many more.
“I am excited to give back to an institution that gave me so much,” Mr. Adkins said.
The Approaching Storm Band – which dates its origins back to the first organized music at the then-State College for Colored Students in 1902 – is a high-energy, entertaining collection of talented musicians and dancers. Delaware State band members have performed in London, for the National Football League, have performed with legendary Motown groups The Temptations, The Spinners and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and is a coveted attraction at parades and celebrations throughout the state.
Elizabeth City State University is one of less than 20 universities across the entire nation that was able to hold a flight training summer academy this summer! Now, 14 students have 8 weeks of training in their journey through the ROTC. Learn more about it in the release by the ECSU below.
Veronica Bearup, 18, sat at a table in the K.E. White Center, dressed in her green Air Force flight suit, celebrating 8-weeks of training to become a pilot. Bearup, along with 13 other Air Force Jr. ROTC cadets, came to Elizabeth City State University this summer to train as pilots with dreams of becoming aviators.
“It was super fun and really challenging,” said the high school senior from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This summer marked the inaugural year for 17 university campuses across the country to host aviation academies for cadets from across all 50 states. It is a call to arms of sorts for more pilots, especially minorities and women.
The 14 cadets celebrated the completion of their summer training with a banquet luncheon Monday, July 26. The future aviators celebrated their time in an intensive version of ECSU’s signature aviation flight program and with the guidance of faculty and certified flight instructors, work towards their private pilot’s license.
Their experience in Elizabeth City, said ECSU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon, is a testament to the university’s world-class aviation program and the story of its growth to national prominence.
“We are proud of our aviation program and now have a new group of ambassadors to tell our story,” she said of the cadets during opening remarks.
ECSU was awarded a $286,000 contract to train the Jr. ROTC cadets. The program brought the 14 cadets to Elizabeth City to train and prepare for a future in military aviation.
The scholarship program is a collaborative effort between the 17 universities and the Air Force to address a national pilot shortage. Currently, Boeing predicts an annual need to hire 6,000 civilian pilots a year for the next 20 years and military needs push that number over 8,000.
Talking to the cadets about their futures in aviation, it’s clear there are a variety of goals amongst them. Some, like 18-year-old Nicholas Boykins, plan to join the U.S. Marines. He is currently focused on aviation mechanics, but after 8-weeks with ECSU’s intensive flight program, he now has his eye on becoming a pilot.
“The program was pretty challenging,” he said. “I don’t have my license yet, but I did solo. It was not as nerve-wracking as I thought. It’s been a great opportunity.”
According to Department of Aviation and Emergency Management chair, Orestes Gooden, all of the cadets completed their solo flights and half of the group earned their private licenses, while the rest are near completing their qualifications.
Air Force Lt. Col. Timothy Strauss was the event’s keynote speaker. Strauss, a fighter pilot, military flight instructor, and former United Airlines first officer, addressed the cadets about the importance of their training over the summer, and its impact on the future of aviation.
“I challenge each one of you to take the lessons you have learned here and build upon them,” he said.
He emphasized that currently, the aviation industry needs them. Their futures, whether in the military or commercial sectors, are secure.
“Every one of you will get a job. The demand is so high,” said Strauss.
This was the first year for the cadet academy. Originally scheduled for the summer of 2020, it was postponed due to COVID-19 safety precautions.
Dr. Kuldeep Rawat, dean of the ECSU School of Science, Aviation, Health and Technology, said he anticipates the academy to continue next summer.
Grambling State University made its faculty and staff a priority this month and approved a salary increase that’s helpful during the pandemic. Learn more about this story in the release by the News-Star below.
Grambling State University President Rick Gallot
Grambling State University has announced a 3.477% salary increase for faculty and staff effective July 1, 2021. The increase is effective for fiscal year 2021-22 for eligible professional, operations and academic employees. Classified employees have been given a market pay adjustment effective July 15, in accordance with the Department of State Civil Service guidelines.
“Faculty raises were a number one priority during the legislative session and thanks to the support of Governor John Bel Edwards, the Legislature, the University of Louisiana System, and numerous others, it is now a reality,” said GSU President Rick Gallot in a news release. “Continued fiscal management and leadership at GSU have afforded us the opportunity to support increases for staff in addition to the faculty appropriation approved by the legislature.”
Gallot said he is hopeful that increases for Grambling State faculty and staff will continue in the future.
“We remain optimistic that just as we were able to award a 2% raise three years ago, that pay raises will become a continued practice because (they) are so deserving of them,” he said. “There are so many stories shared by our students about the faculty and staff that embraced them and brought clarity to their academic journeys.”
Whether it’s instruction, research, creative work, or customer service, the service and dedication of GSU faculty and staff define the university’s reputation and produce tangible examples of what it means to be a part of the place Where Everybody is Somebody, Gallot said.
“I speak for the University of Louisiana System and the executive cabinet when I say thank you for your continued devotion to Grambling State University,” he said. “We appreciate you and we wish you well as we progress through the new fiscal year and continue to plan for our fall semester.”
The president of Morehouse College has just extended his leadership outreach further after taking a position on the board of Vanguard. Learn more about the new position in the article below.
Morehouse College President David A. Thomas, Ph.D. has been appointed to the board of directors for Vanguard, according to an announcement from the company today. The Pennsylvania-based firm is one of the world’s largest investment management companies with $8 trillion in global assets under management. The company offers 418 funds to its more than 30 million investors worldwide.
“Serving on the Vanguard board of directors is an opportunity to support an investment philosophy focused on optimizing long-term asset value for a diverse group of investors,” said President Thomas.
President Thomas is well positioned to help lead governance of a global organization like Vanguard. A recognized author and thought leader in organizational behavior, Thomas earned a doctorate and master’s degree in the field from Yale University, along with a master’s degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University. Before becoming the president of Morehouse, he served as the H. Naylor Fitzhugh professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, as dean of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and as an assistant professor at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He has consulted on issues relating to organizational change, diversity, and inclusion for 100 of the Fortune 500 companies.
Since joining Morehouse in 2018 as the 12th president, Thomas has led dynamic, purpose-driven elevations in Morehouse’s strategic and operational effectiveness, programmatic reach, and pedagogical innovation. Among other transformational successes, Thomas has overseen the launch of the College’s first online degree program and a fundraising acceleration which has yielded $190 million since he arrived—a giving total that is higher than any other president in the history of the college.
“We are thrilled to welcome David to Vanguard’s Board of Directors,” said Vanguard chairman and CEO Tim Buckley. “He is a purpose-driven leader who has extensive experience in setting a vision, inspiring an organization, managing operations, and developing talent equally. Our client-owners will benefit tremendously from his governance.”
Vanguard’s board of directors oversees how the company is organized and operated on behalf of its shareholders, the Vanguard funds.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff got creative amid the pandemic by offering study abroad virtually. Often involving flights and foreign cuisine, this time study abroad was an immersive experience from home. Learn more about it from the recent release from Deseray Mckinzy at Deltaplex.
Tingshu Wang/Reuters
Three students from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff participated in a virtual study abroad course that focused on learning the Mandarin language. The 14-week course was organized by the China U.S. Exchange Foundation in collaboration with the China-HBCU Network.
The UAPB students were nominated by Dr. Pamela D. Moore, associate dean for global engagement, Office of International Programs and Studies (OIPS), to participate in this first study abroad/language learning course offered virtually at UAPB.
“We received notification about this unique opportunity early last semester when we were typically engaged with the international student clearance processes. However, I made it a priority to get the word out to as many students as possible,” Dr. Moore said. “Even during the pre-Covid-19 context, we worked with the Department of English, Humanities and Foreign Language to provide an introductory course for students planning to travel to China.”
Sadagicous Owens, a spring 2021 graduate of industrial technology management and applied engineering, said she took the course because of her fascination with learning another language, particularly an Asian language.
“This course was a way for me to meet my medical school language requirement,” she said. “Now, I can speak the common greetings, use main focused gestures, correctly pronounce words, and I can understand a new culture.”
Me’Auna Bailey, a junior business administration and management major, said she registered for the class to gain a glimpse into the Asian culture.
“I am a sucker for my culture and the culture of others,” she said. “I love that I was taught the language but that I also got glimpses into the culture as well.”
Dr. Pamela D. Moore and Digvijay Mohite (Credit: UAPB)
Digvijay Mohite is pursuing his master’s degree in agricultural regulations. He said he wanted to better understand global trade relations with China, trade wars, stock markets and cultural differences between the two civilizations.
“Being an international student from India, I was able to view as a third person without any bias the true situation and to understand each side much better,” he said. “(The course) helped me to understand Chinese culture and basic Chinese lifestyle while making new friends. I also got an idea about how the Chinese government functions and the economic differences between the two nations.”
The Virtual Mandarin Course was attended by 26 HBCU students from seven universities, Julia Wilson, CEO and founder, Wilson Global Communications USA, said. All students had to be enrolled in an HBCU and be beginners in Mandarin. They submitted applications that included a brief paragraph on their interest in learning Mandarin and Chinese culture. The students had to commit to attending every class virtually for the 14 weeks and meeting with tutors and group members to practice Mandarin speaking skills.
“Students were engaged in Mandarin language classes taught by a Chinese language professor from Beijing Foreign Studies University,” Wilson said. “The HBCU students were also assigned Chinese student tutors to practice the language one-on-one. By the end of the course, they were able to conduct a conversation in Mandarin.”
With the travel restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Virtual Mandarin Course was a way to continue offering study abroad programs through the HBCU-China Network that introduce HBCU students to Chinese language and culture, she said.
“With China being the second largest economy in the world, next to the United States, we believe it is imperative for HBCU students to have opportunities to understand Chinese language and meet their counterparts to form positive international relationships; become more internationally competitive; and assist them in future world leadership,” Wilson said.
By engaging remotely, the students were able to meet their foreign counterparts and enjoy a study abroad experience this academic year without traveling, she said.
Dr. Moore hopes the course will continue to be offered in the future.
“I certainly hope that this virtual course continues because the pilot course we introduced several years ago is no longer being offered due to financial constraints, Dr. Moore said. “Because of the complexity of the Chinese language and differences between our society and that of China, students are better able to adapt once they are on the ground in that country.
“Now that we are hopefully seeing the light at the end of the tunnel regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, I hope that we will once again send students to China for language and cultural learning experiences, she said.”
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Perseverance is not just about displaying success that others can see on the outside, but rather, finding success internally no matter what you’ve gone through. While it is not always easy, Clark Atlanta University sophomore Kaylin Strahan has found her own unique ways to persevere through personal challenges and remain a standout student. Remarkably, she has created a brand to ensure that this is something she is striving to not only see in herself, but in others as well.
Kaylin Strahan may look like she has it all together. In high school she was awarded the title of Miss Black Illinois Talented Teen 2017 by the Miss Black USA Pageant. She was also a track and field athlete who has competed on the state level, and even broke a personal record at the USATF Junior Olympics in 2018. By 2019 she and her team won the All American Athletes titles.
Personally however, Strahan continues to overcome different life challenges. “It has definitely not been a smooth road but I continue to thank God for blessing me,” she said. “I’ve had many challenges that have impacted me personally at a young age, including losing my father unexpectedly and being raised by a single mother who has given her all to be there for me through every area of my life despite being diagnosed with a debilitating autoimmune disease. I’ve also struggled with balance at times, attempting to maintain my grades while being a student athlete who is also heavily engaged as a leader in every institution I’ve attended. Life hasn’t been a crystal stair but I continue to trust and believe in the path God has created for me.”
Always one to keep her head up, Kaylin Strahan arrived at Clark Atlanta University as a freshman on a mission. She was chosen to serve as president of the freshman class and even continued to run track. Trying her hand at entrepreneurship, the business administration major created the “Embrace Y.O.U.” brand. Standing for “Embrace Yourself, Embrace your Origin and Embrace your Uniqueness,” she first came out with a book, “Embrace Y.O.U.” that addresses challenges like self esteem, bullying, and suicide. It focuses on paving a journey toward self love.
“I chose this particular platform because I saw a need to reinforce the importance of loving ourselves despite the challenges we are put up against,” said Strahan. “Because I loved my platform so much, I decided to write a book about it. I didn’t want it to be a memory that I associated with my time as a pageant girl, but I wanted to continue to spread my message and encourage others to embrace themselves.”
Embrace Y.O.U. the book is so impactful that Strahan has expanded it to a brand! First, she came out with an accompanying diary for readers to really get their thoughts out about topics mentioned in the book. Yet even still she’s not done. “I’m proud to expand my business to not only books but also things on a higher platform such as plays and movies,” Strahan gushed. “A goal that I am on track to accomplish would also be a bigger social media platform so I can reach more individuals with my message.”
To learn more information about Strahan and Embrace Y.O.U., head to her website here!
