The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Frostburg State University have formed a new academic partnership offering students an accelerated track to becoming pharmacists in six years.
The cooperative undergraduate/professional program agreement will allow students to complete their pharmacy degree seamlessly with the reduction of instruction time by as many as two years and consequently save students the comparable cost of extra tuition.
“This new partnership continues in Frostburg State University’s tradition of developing collaborations that provide excellent academic opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk, FSU president. “We are proud to provide this new option to help develop quality pharmacists for our communities.”
Chemistry majors at FSU who meet the requirements and have strong academic credentials may gain preferential admission to UMES’ professional degree program after just three years of undergraduate study.
“The faculty and staff in the FSU Chemistry Department are excited to be a part of this collaboration,” said Matthew Crawford, chairman of the department. “The new agreement will benefit our students by saving time and resources to earn not only their bachelor of science degree from FSU, but their advanced degree in pharmacy from UMES. In addition, the agreement will help foster a strong partnership between both programs and we look forward to working with UMES.”
FSU students who choose to pursue the UMES pharmacy track and successfully complete the “3+3” program will earn two degrees, one from each institution — a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from FSU and a doctor of pharmacy from UMES.
UMES’s pharmacy program, one of 15 in the nation that offers year-round instruction, enables students to earn a doctorate in three years instead of the traditional four. Upon completion, students are eligible to take the pharmacy licensing exam.
“This is an exciting collaboration for UMES, FSU and the University System of Maryland,” said Dr. Heidi Anderson, president of UMES. “Both of our universities are located in rural areas that have serious healthcare disparities. Additional community pharmacists can have a positive impact on the health of the population they serve.”
“This collaboration brings significant value to our students,” said Kim Hixson, dean of the FSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “We look forward to seeing them take advantage of the opportunities this partnership creates.”
“We’re delighted to launch this partnership for several crucial reasons, not the least of which is meeting the educational needs of the state of Maryland with high-quality and innovative academic programming,” said Nancy Niemi, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at UMES. “This is a great example of the collaboration that’s possible between two USM institutions.”
“This is a new day for this program, but also a new opportunity for other cross-institutional collaborations,” said Michael Mathias, FSU interim provost. “We’re very excited to work with UMES and look forward to watching the program grow over the next several years.”
In a much-welcomed revelation, more Black college graduates are getting hired than ever before by major companies. Learn how corporate America is appreciating the value of HBCU graduates in the story from Chauncey Alcorn of CNN Business on WRAL below.
A graduation at Bowie State University (Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Administrators and career service leaders at some of the nation’s top historically Black colleges and universities, also known as HBCUs, say recruitment of their students and graduates by major corporations has dramatically increased since the police murder of George Floyd more than a year ago.
Public outrage spread globally after the widely viewed video of Floyd’s death at the hands of former officers in Minneapolis circulated in May 2020. That motivated many Fortune 500 companies to do more to improve racial equity in the United States, including bolstering the ranks of Black Americans working in Corporate America.
Since then, HBCU leaders say they’ve been flooded with millions of dollars in donations from major companies as well as billionaire philanthropists like MacKenzie Scott, Michael Bloomberg and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The schools’ leaders caution that it’s too early to say with certainty how many more Black college graduates are actually getting hired by major companies, but so far they’ve seen a substantial rise in the number of internships and job interviews provided by major brands.
“In my 24-year career in higher education, all in career services, I cannot recall a time when recruitment efforts at HBCUs have been this high and have stayed this high,” said Seana Coulter, director of the center for career development at Morgan State University, an HBCU in Baltimore.
She says MSU’s online job portal for students saw a 263% increase in employer logins between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, with major companies like Apple, Bank of America and Estee Lauder reaching out for the first time ever.
“We had a 73% increase in the numbers of events hosted by employers over the same period of time,” Coulter said. “We saw a surge in organizations wishing to recruit from Morgan’s campus all stating they were diversifying their workforce. The surge has not stopped. It’s just been a constant flow ever since it’s started. I would say it’s been record numbers.”
Coulter also began serving as co-chair of the National Association of Colleges & Employers’ HBCU affinity group in January of 2020 before stepping down in July. She says most of the group’s estimated 130 members, who serve as administrators and career service staffers at a wide swath of the nation’s 107 HBCUs, have seen a sharp rise in corporate engagement and outreach over the last year.
“All of us were talking about how we could best handle the volume,” Coulter said. “One of the biggest conversations has been how can we connect them better with the academic departments.”
At Howard University, career outreach from major corporations has increased “100%” over the last year, according Debbi Jarvis, the school’s senior vice president of corporate relations.
“It’s doubled,” Jarvis told CNN Business earlier this month. “They actually want to engage with students, even virtually, to increase their pipeline and be deliberate about it.”
The median full-time starting salary for Howard grads is now about $72,680, according to the school’s latest exit survey for graduating students.
Credit: FAMU Forward
Howard says JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, Procter & Gamble, Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Co. rank among the top 25 companies that recruit at the university. That list also includes Accenture, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple and Google, which has a tech partnership with the school.
The added corporate engagement for Howard has helped it recruit more high school graduates and increase enrollment, according to Howard University provost Anthony Wutoh.
“In my 25-year experience with Howard University, this is the most significant interest that I’ve seen corporations demonstrate in Howard students,” Wutoh told CNN Business on Monday. “Our efforts to build partnerships and programs that benefit Howard students have led us to this unprecedented time in history where even more corporations are realizing the value of a Howard education.”
Prairie View A&M University, an HBCU in the Houston metro area, saw a 56% rise in the number of companies participating in its spring virtual career fair. The number of companies participating in the school’s fall semester career fair jumped from 122 in 2019 to 233 in 2020, according to Munir Quddus, professor of economics and dean of the college of business at the school.
Quddus estimates that corporate outreach has increased 20% to 25% over the last year from companies like Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade and IBM .The school also has received a major rise in contributions from companies like Chevron and Halliburton.
“We’ve definitely seen an uptick,” Quddus told CNN Business. “Companies are not just interested in hiring more students, but also in building partnerships and providing internships.”
Graduates from less-prominent HBCUs are also being interviewed more, according to Nicole Tinson, CEO of HBCU 20×20, a nonprofit that connects black college grads with top companies.
Tinson says her organization has been more helpful for graduates from less-famous HBCUs, like her Dillard University alma mater in New Orleans. She launched HBCU 20×20 in 2017 to help grads who historically haven’t been recruited for jobs at the same level as graduates of traditional colleges and universities, find career opportunities with elite employers.
She says at least 250 new companies, including Yahoo, Mattel, TEG and the NBA, have been added to HBCU 20×20’s career services database this year.
“We’re just really excited about the direction of the work that we’re doing,” Tinson told CNN Business in July.
Tinson said HBCU 20×20 started its journey four years ago by reaching out to major companies to court them to participate in its career fairs, but that dynamic shifted dramatically last year.
“It’s very rare that we reach out to companies,” Tinson added. “We’re at the point now where companies are reaching out to us.”
Bowie State University just cut the ribbon on a multi-million dollar complex that is supporting student entrepreneurship in a very unique way! So many HBCU students are pursuing their own business endeavors, and BSU is providing a state-of-the-art place for them to catapult their careers. Learn more about the new Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community in the Patch article from Jacob Baumgart below.
Credit: Bowie State University
Bowie State University cut the ribbon for its new Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community on Wednesday. The $42 million building will house at least 450 students. The complex features modern amenities that intertwine residential luxury and academic resources.
“Today we celebrated the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community’s grand opening marking a historic day for the future of #BowieBOLD student innovation,” the university tweeted. “We’re spreading the entrepreneurial mindset across campus!”
Today we celebrated the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community's grand opening marking a historic day for the future of #BowieBOLD student innovation. We're spreading the entrepreneurial mindset across campus! Relive the moment 🔗 https://t.co/6Bzz7iCsRxpic.twitter.com/RBVhNc6wKi
The co-ed dorm touts one- and two-bedroom furnished suites with common living areas. Every floor has a kitchenette and laundry room. A game room, fitness center and conference area are also on site. Multiple TV lounges, a grab-and-go eatery and a makertspace round out the offerings.
The Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is just two days away! Join us virtually for the grand opening celebration on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. 🔗 https://t.co/6Bzz7iCsRxpic.twitter.com/ImIs2n0yVJ
The facility will help the growing college combat a shortage of on-campus housing. Enrollment jumped by 23 percent from 2017 to 2019. This location will expand available beds by at least 32 percent.
“We are seeing increases in demand not only for housing, but also for specialized living-learning environments to engage students inside and outside the classroom,” Vice President for Administration and Finance Anthony Savia stated in a 2019 press release. “We’re fortunate to partner with Balfour Beatty, a leader in creating unique housing experiences for campuses across the county.”
Click here to watch the opening ceremony. To see more photos and apply to live in the space, head to this link.
Multiple HBCUs around the country, including smaller ones like Morris Brown College and Allen University, will be receiving much-needed aid thanks to a new $5.6 million initiative! Get the full story on the Our Money Matters program and the full list of HBCUs that will benefit from Chanel Hill at The Philadelphia Tribune below.
Lincoln University (Source: The Philadelphia Tribune)
College students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) who are dealing with financial hardships on campus will be getting additional support.
Lincoln University is among seven colleges and universities joining Our Money Matters, a financial wellness program that will help students of color with problems like college debt and food or housing insecurities by finding solutions to take control of their future finances.
The Institute of Policy Studies reports that 37% of Black families carry debt equal to or greater than their assets. The average minority student has about $50,000 in student loan debt.
“We’re very excited about this partnership,” said Aldustus Jordan Sr., vice president of community relations for Wells Fargo. “Addressing student debt, providing financial support, and counseling is one step, but the long-term goal is to build generational wealth within the Black community.”
The program is a part of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Community Development Action Coalition, a national nonprofit that supports and advocates for HBCUs and the community development industry. The $5.6 million initiative is funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation.
Within three years, Our Money Matters will expand to 25 HBCU and MSI campuses across the U.S, supporting nearly 40,000 students and their surrounding communities.
Also participating in the program will be Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland; the University of Illinois at Chicago; Southern University at New Orleans; Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina; and Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama.
“We wanted to put a focus on the smaller HBCUs,” said Temple Jackson, program manager at HBCU Community Development Action Coalition. “Our plan with Lincoln is to make sure that we get students prepared in different phases of their college career.
“Within the next week, we will be introducing students and parents to courses on how to fill out the FAFSA [Free Application for Federal Student Aid] and we will also be offering courses throughout the first semester for the student body.”
Lincoln University President Brenda A. Allen said the initiative will teach students about financial literacy.
“Lincoln remains committed to supporting students to persist to and through graduation,” Allen said in a statement.
“This comprehensive education program teaches students financial literacy and connects them with resources to address their financial gaps.”
During the program, students will participate in financial health courses and interactive activities, which faculty and staff can integrate into general education and degree programs.
Through the Our Money Matters Service Suite, students can connect with on-campus and community-based support services for housing assistance, employment opportunities, and career closets that provide access to appropriate interview and work attire.
Students can also access iGrad, a digital platform that will help with day-to-day finances and build new skills and habits for life after college, including personalized tools for managing student loans, a car loan calculator, an investment analyzer, and access to certified financial planners.
“There will be a campus coordinator who will be a liaison between Lincoln and other resources to create a hub of support for students,” Jordan said. “We will provide financial education sessions in partnership with the program and the students.
“We will also connect our talent acquisition team so as students progress and have interest in careers in financial institutions we will be able to create a pathway between institutions and other agencies to Wells Fargo to help build and launch graduates’ careers,” he added.
Jackson said the program will also work with community-based organizations surrounding the historically Black university in Chester County.
“We want to build within the community,” Jackson said. “We just don’t want to create a future for students, but we also want to create opportunities for them within the community that supported them in college.”
Clinton College is welcoming full-time students in this fall with more than a campus celebration. In fact, students at the South Carolina HBCU won’t even have to pay for tuition, and laptops are being included as a gift! Get the story from Derek Major at Enterprise below.
Clinton College, a South Carolina HBCU will be giving its full-time students free tuition and laptops for the 2021-22 school year. (Image: Twitter/@Live5News)
Clinton College, a South Carolina HBCU, is giving all full-time students free tuition for the 2021-22 school year and a free Microsoft laptop.
Clinton College President Lester McCorn made the announcement in a YouTube video, adding that vaccinated students who live on campus will still have to pay room and board. Full-time students who live off-campus and are still taking classes virtually will also receive free tuition.
“As we have had to deal with the challenges of COVID-19, it has been taxing for each and every one of us, and at Clinton College, we have done our best to keep the school moving forward and providing a quality education even in a virtual environment,” McCorn said. “For all enrolled students for the 2021-22 academic year, Clinton College is going to offer you free tuition.”
Clinton College decided earlier this summer to cut tuition in half for the 2021-22 school year, but with this announcement, full-time students will have the opportunity to learn free of charge. McCorn also added every full-time student would also receive a Microsoft Surface laptop, free of charge. Tuition at Clinton College costs $4,960 a semester and $9,920 yearly.
According to its website, Clinton College has been educating its students for 120 years and was established during Reconstruction “to help eradicate illiteracy among freedmen.”
While Clinton College is one of a few HBCUs to offer free tuition, more than 20 HBCUs have canceled the debt of its students using $5 billion in Higher Education Emergency Relief federal pandemic funds. The schools include South Carolina State, Wilberforce University, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and many others.
Many HBCUs have made a move to cancel tuition and student loan debt to give Black American students a leg up after college. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Black American graduates have an average of $52,000 in student loan debt and on average owe $25,000 more than white graduates.
An increasing number of HBCUs are requiring that students get their COVID-19 vaccinations before stepping foot on campus. Among them are Delaware State University and the entire AUC (Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University) and Howard University. Howard’s Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery and Howard President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA recently wrote an eye-opening statement explaining why so many HBCUs are making the move, and we encourage you to read it below.
Howard President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA (Credit: Eman Mohammed)
In May, I announced that any student who would physically be on the Howard University campus for the Fall 2021 semester would be required to be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine. Following extensive deliberation and feedback from faculty, staff, students and parents, we are extending this requirement to include faculty and staff who will be on campus during the Fall. This is a necessary and reasonable step, focused on the safety and health of all members of our community.
Faculty and staff who will be on campus this Fall must receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine) by September 3, 2021. The second dose of a two-dose regimen must be completed by October 1, 2021. New hires are already required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to their start date. Masks are still required indoors and outdoors while on campus regardless of vaccination status.
We do not make this decision lightly, and we have considered all concerns, options and voices to best protect our community. The leadership of the Howard University Staff Organization and faculty representatives of the Fall 2020 Preparation Committee weighed in. Each group, including parents and student representatives, shared concerns and recommendations, focused on the overall health and safety of the community.
Staff at Howard University give a Covid-19 vaccination to a hospital staff member on Dec. 15, 2020, in Washington, D.C. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Several factors significantly influenced this decision. First, the vaccines have proven highly effective in significantly decreasing the transmission of COVID-19. Recent data indicate that 97 percent of people now entering hospitals for COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Additionally, nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the United States are now among unvaccinated individuals. The safety record for the vaccines has also been very encouraging, with limited widespread concerns.
Our concern regarding the spread of variants also frames our decision regarding a University-wide vaccine requirement. Data has proven that the best way to fully protect our community is through vaccination. To date, we have provided over 45,000 COVID-19 vaccines to district citizens and members of the Howard University community. We are further encouraged by recent surveys demonstrating that 90 percent of faculty and staff have already been vaccinated for COVID-19 and that over 87 percent of students have also been vaccinated for COVID-19.
The vaccination clinic is located in the lobby of the Howard University Hospital building between the hours of 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. There are no appointments necessary. We will also continue to provide free COVID-19 testing to students, faculty and staff at the on-campus testing center located in suite 3600 of the Howard University Hospital (HUH) Towers building.
Medical and religious exemptions will be granted in accordance with federal and local law; details regarding the exemptions can be downloaded or requested via the Office of Human Resources. For additional details regarding the implementation of the requirement and how to provide vaccination documentation, please visit the University’s COVID-19 response site: Bisonsafe.howard.edu.
Students should continue to submit vaccination documentation through the MedProctor portal. Please remember that falsifying human resources document submission is a violation of the University’s policies and will trigger disciplinary actions.
Fort Valley State University (FVSU) is opening the door for students aspiring to be nurses thanks to a new investment of $240,000! Learn more about Phoebe, the company entering into an educational partnership with FVSU, and the program itself from FVSU’s official release below.
Fort Valley State University (FVSU) and Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc. today announced an educational partnership to launch a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program that aims to address the critical need for nurses in rural Georgia. The $240,000 investment from Phoebe will support the development of the BSN degree at FVSU providing students the education, training and career path opportunity to become licensed registered nurses to work in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Phoebe Chief Executive Officer Scott Steiner and FVSU President Dr. Paul Jones formalized the agreement during a signing ceremony held at the university’s campus. Under the new agreement, FVSU nursing students will have access to clinical rotations at Phoebe facilities. Additionally, both nursing students and instructors will gain training opportunities at the Phoebe Simulation and Innovation Center located at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Ga. The agreement also includes the development of a Phoebe Scholar initiative that will provide students comprehensive support from the start of the program through graduation. This will include obtaining nursing license and employment through Phoebe for eligible students who live within proximity to a Phoebe hospital.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the critical nurse staffing challenges faced by hospitals across the country, particularly in rural areas. We applaud Fort Valley State University for developing this 4-year nursing program to help address the problem in Georgia, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work with the university and support their team in this important endeavor,” Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney Health System President and CEO.
The partnership will include initiatives designed to attract and recruit both rural and male students into the nursing program. Phoebe will provide subject matter experts to assist with the emersion of professional workforce development into the FVSU program curriculum including regulatory compliance, professionalism, quality, safety, patient experience and other practical skills that are essential for successful nursing.
“The shared mission of FVSU and Phoebe to create healthier communities makes this collaboration an important effort,” said FVSU President Paul Jones. “This partnership will create transformative and life-changing experiences by supporting the workforce development needs of healthcare providers in regions throughout our state that need it most. We are grateful to Phoebe for their investment in our students, and we are especially excited to create a pipeline of BSN-prepared nurses for the Georgia workforce.”
Photographed from L to R: FVSU Interim Provost Dr. Olufunke Fontenot; FVSU President Dr. Paul Jones; GA State Rep. Patty Bentley; GA State Sen. Freddie Sims; Phoebe VP of Education Dr. Tracy Suber; Phoebe Sumter Medical Center CEO Brandi Lunneborg; Phoebe President and CEO Scott Steiner; GA State Rep. Calvin Smyre.
“At Phoebe, we are committed to helping our many education partners increase the number of health professionals they graduate, but our affiliation with Fort Valley State is unique,” said Tracy Suber, EdD, RN, Phoebe Putney Health System Vice President of Education. “We’re excited to partner to build a program from the ground up, and we look forward to developing the Phoebe Scholar Program through which we will support FVSU students who plan to work for Phoebe after earning their BSN.”
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the program request to offer the four-year BSN degree at FVSU on Tuesday, August 10 during a board meeting.
Megan Thee Stallion is a busy woman. She’s at the top of her rap career, has a boyfriend, studies at Texas Southern University, and is venturing into new endeavors. Recently, she shared with Essence Magazine how she manages it all and keeps her peace. Learn more about the hot girl’s new feature on the cover of Essence in a piece by Brooklyn White below.
Who is this outspoken diva who has politicians seething and fans fawning over every line? We know you’ve seen her too—5 feet 10 inches tall, curvy and proud, acrylic nails clipped and filed into a would-be-square shape, but slanted. Does her sexiness offend you? Her weaves are bone-straight, waved, blunt cut, or curly, depending on her mood. She covers her fingers, wrists, and neck with VVS diamonds, ’cause hell, she’s earned ’em. Her outfits, thee outfits, are luxe and form-fitting, often with cutouts that show off her bronze legs and toned belly. “Megan from Houston, I’m naturally sexy,” she rapped in a 2019 freestyle. I’m talking top-of-the-dome, no-slip-ups, every-bar-is-a-bar freestyles, too.
“Being in Houston, in Texas in general, I feel like getting in a circle and freestyling is just what we do,” Megan says of the art form. “It doesn’t matter where you at, who you with, somebody is going to do a rap battle. I would see boys together and they would be rapping, so in my head, this is what you do. I wanted to make sure I was always sharp and I could do it.”
What brought attention to Megan was the fact that she could do it and hold her own. In fact, when many first spotted her rapping alongside 10 other artists as part of a cypher, Megan’s conviction and sex-positive lines stood out. (People still routinely search the Web for her first shining moments on the mic.) “I would be in my dorm room finding beats to rap over on YouTube,” the now 26-year-old says of the days of her first mixtape, 2016’s Rich Ratchet.
She’s come a mighty long way. Megan no longer scours the Internet for instrumentals, since the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo and music producer Tay Keith are among those presenting her with hot beats on bended knee. The now three-time Grammy winner even gets private pep talks from Beyoncé.
Long before the world knew Hot Girl Meg, Megan Pete was a full-time student at Texas Southern University—the HBCU she’s scheduled to graduate from this fall—balancing her books with her beats. “I would go outside on my break to just get them out,” she recalls. “When I got to go into the studio, I’d lay down eight songs at a time.” She used to work a desk job alongside her mother, Holly Thomas, who was her manager until her death from a brain tumor in 2019. Megan’s work ethic immediately impressed Oscar-winning rapper Juicy J, a frontman of Three 6 Mafia. The two connected at the request of Megan’s recording label at the time, 1501 Entertainment.
“She came in and I had some songs I wanted her to jump on, and she started knocking them songs out, boom, boom, boom, left and right,” he says, snapping his fingers. “I called her ‘The Verse Killer.’” He immediately told her manager, T. Farris, that she was a superstar. Megan raps from her heart, processing the deaths of loved ones— her grandmother passed away within a month of her mother—as she cranks out liberating Billboard-charting anthems. Her most viral track thus far is “Savage,” a dance-ready hit that blew up on TikTok and got nods from Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, and Janet Jackson.
As the world embraced Hot Girl Meg, she herself became justifiably guarded, having rapped about people who want to get close to those with material goods. “There are probably approximately four people around me on a daily basis,” she says. “I don’t see a lot of people, I don’t talk to a lot of people, because I feel like it’s not good for me. I figured out that my personal space is what keeps me balanced and it’s what keeps me centered.”
Most magic is built out of isolation anyway, right? The southern sound, and more specifically the Texas sound, is one that Megan is in touch with— think barking, speaker-rattling bass and rolling hi-hats. She’s sure to enunciate, something she reveals she didn’t do as much at the start of her career; but her pronunciation is still touched by her home state. “Thing” becomes “thang,” “never” is “neva,” “hungry” becomes something like “hone-gry.” Her go-to producer, Lil Ju Made Da Beat, balances Houston’s “heartfelt” qualities with his readiness to “turn up.” “I’m from Dallas, so the ‘Dougie’ and just all the dancing songs from when I was a youth, that is all still embedded in me,” he says.
UGK’s Bun B provides more context as to why the thumping rap music below the Mason-Dixon line sounds the way it does. “I think it’s heavily built around soul music and gospel music, right? Because that is pretty much the soundtrack to the south,” he says in his crisp, deep baritone. A well of knowledge when it comes to Black music, in 2011 he was tapped to be a guest lecturer at Rice University, teaching about the parallels between hip-hop and religion.
“This is the music that we grew up listening to,” he continues, “whether it’s blues, whether it’s more like the Isley Brothers or a Maze kind of thing. Even doing deeper dives, you become more like Creole or Cajun, Zydeco, but also, it’s the way we receive music.” He bridges the gap even more by explaining that New Yorkers have a different reliance on transportation, making the hip-hop based there perfect for noisier, more public transitory experiences. Meanwhile, southern cuts are best for solo trips to the ’hood car wash or any other local errand. The music is indicative of identity.
Megan’s reluctance to share who will appear on her next album is understandable, given the frequency of leaked tracks, last-minute sample snags, and premature news stories. She can provide insight into the overall feel of the project, though. “I feel like [my new album] will be aggressive,” she says. “I feel like this project is definitely something very well thought out. This project is me talking my sh–, getting back comfortable with myself, getting back to the Megan that was on the come-up.” She speaks almost wistfully of that blonde-haired, pinup-style Meg, who made macking feel empowering with Instagram caption–ready lyrics.
Her younger self must be grinning. The sub-genre of women in rap is infamous for petty beefs over clothes and competition. Progressively subverting that played-out trope, Megan focuses on the overall prize, in rap, and in life: self-improvement. “Every time I make a move, I’m like, ‘Okay, how can we be better than Megan last month?’” she says. “‘How can we be better than Megan last year?’” The strive never ends, and the grind follows suit. And we watch every move as this southern princess becomes the coldest to ever do it.
Megan Thee Stallion appears on the September/October 2021 cover of ESSENCE, available on newsstands August 23.
Texas Southern University pitcher Kamron Fields is bringing a different perspective to the MLB after sadly becoming the only athlete hailing from an HBCU. Learn more about his perspective in ABC Eyewitness article below.
Before hearing his name called in the 2021 MLB Draft, Texas Southern University pitcher Kamron Fields spent a season wondering if he’d ever return to the baseball field at all.
Texas Southern pitcher Kamron Fields (8) pitches against Ark.-Pine Bluff in Houston’s MacGregor Park on Friday, March 12, 2021 (Credit: Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle)
Now, with his eyes set on Tampa Bay, the Garland, Texas-native is calling on other athletes to follow their diamond dreams at historically Black colleges and universities.
In July, Fields stood alone as the only player drafted from an HBCU, with the 611th pick by the Rays in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
But as COVID-19 infections swelled, shortening the 2020 season, Fields couldn’t help shake the feeling that 2019 might have been his last chance to play.
In the wake of international demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd last summer, a number of athletes playing for Power Five universities like UT and Texas A&M decided to take their talents to HBCUs across the country.
Fields was one of those players, making what he said was a principled move from UT after three years to spend his final season at TSU.
“I felt the best thing I could do at the time was use what I do best – and that’s play baseball – to help with what I want to see, and that’s progression in our communities,” Fields said. “I felt like by using and displaying my talents at an HBCU, I could represent them, and that was something that I knew could be immediate and effective.”
Tiger Nation took quickly to Fields, who in 13 appearances struck out 79 batters, and had a 5.03 earned run average in 68.0 innings pitched.
Fields’ selection by the Rays in July marked the first time since 2007 that TSU had a player selected in the MLB draft, becoming the highest selected right-handed pitcher in program history.
With high hopes for Tampa Bay, Fields is now encouraging athletes to use the game to contribute to change they believe in.
“Don’t be afraid,” Fields said. “If it was easy, everyone would do it. If it’s something that you truly care about, pushing the culture forward, continue to progress and push representation for HBCUs.”
Now retired from his basketball career, former Laker J.R. Smith is looking to his leftover NCAA eligibly to play golf at North Carolina A&T State University! Learn about this avid golfer’s plans in the article below by Blake Schuster at Bleacher Report.
Credit: Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR
JR Smith played 1,117 NBA games over his 16-year career. He earned an estimated $90.3 million for his work and has two championship rings to show for it. He’s also hoping he still has a bit of NCAA eligibility left.
Now 35 years old and retired from pro basketball, Smith is going back to school, enrolling at N.C. A&T and just maybe joining the HBCU’s golf team. Speaking to reporters at the Wyndham Championship Pro-Am in North Carolina on Wednesday, Smith confirmed he’ll begin taking classes on August 18 and is waiting for the NCAA clearinghouse to rule on whether or not he’ll be allowed to play golf at the collegiate level.
In the meantime, the No. 18 overall pick of the Charlotte Hornets in 2004 has been playing practice rounds with several members of the N.C. A&T team since late July.
.@TheRealJRSmith talks about his journey enrolling at North Carolina A&T and hopefully playing on the golf team 💯
“It’s not very often that somebody in his position really has an opportunity to do this and to be able to go ahead and move in that direction,” Aggies coach Richard Watkins told John Dell of the Winston-Salem Journal. “You know, he’s a former professional athlete, but it’s a set of circumstances where he didn’t go to college out of high school. His [eligibility] clock never started.”
Smith, who reportedly plays a 5 handicap, said former NBA star Moses Malone taught him how to play golf more than a decade ago and he’s been working on his game ever since. As he prepares to major in liberal studies at N.C. A&T, the 2013 NBA Sixth Man of the Year said he’s ready to embrace the challenge of becoming a student-athlete 17 years after bypassing college for the NBA.
“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been in school,” Smith said “I’m excited about these new challenges, and I’ll have to really buckle down. I’ve got no free time now with raising kids and going to school so I’ll be busy.”
Golfer Willie Mack III has officially won the APGA Tour Championship Presented by Lexus! By Monday he was already in the lead when he exceptionally holed nine birdies over the second round. Prior to today’s win at the TPC Sugarloaf, the Bethune-Cookman University alum’s strong performance in the tour was chronicled in a PGA Tour article over the weekend, which you can read in full below.
Getty Images
APGA Tour star Willie Mack III continued his streak of impressive performances with a seven under par 65 Monday to take a one stroke lead after the first round of the Mastercard APGA Tour Championship presented by Lexus at TPC Sugarloaf.
The Flint, Michigan, native shot a five-under par 31 on the front nine before carding three straight birdies on the back in pursuit of his second straight victory following last month’s win in the Billy Horschel APGA Tour Invitational at TPC Sawgrass. Earlier in July, Mack took advantage of PGA TOUR sponsor exemptions to make the cut in both The Rocket Mortgage Classic (T-64) and The John Deere Classic (T-71). Owner of over 65 mini-tour wins and a two-time APGA Tour Player of the Year, Mack is headed to Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School in September.
Just one stroke back are Patrick Newcomb of Jacksonville, FL, and Aaron Beverly of Fairfield, California, who fired 66s on the 6,861-yard, par 72 layout in suburban Atlanta. Defending APGA Tour Lexus Cup Point Standings champion and 2020 Player of the Year Tim O’Neal is another stroke back at five-under par with Michael Herrera of Moreno Valley, California, in fifth place with a four-under 68. Landon Lyons of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Daniel Augustus of Bermuda; Mahindra Lutchman of Orlando; and Joseph Dent of Tampa follow at three-under with the final round set for Tuesday.
“I’ve been playing well. Been in a little groove,“ stated Mack, who had an eagle 3 on the 542-yard sixth hole. “I got a putting tip back home and the putter was hot today.” Mack hit a hybrid 247 yards away to within four feet and converted the putt to get to five under par after six holes en route to the round of the day. “There are a lot of people at the top,” he continued. “I know I’m going to have to go low again tomorrow.”
The players are competing for a $7,500 first prize from the tournament purse of $25,000 and a $30,000 bonus pool will be distributed in accordance with the season-long Lexus Cup Point Standings. Several players are in contention for the $17,500 first prize with Marcus Byrd of Knoxville, Tennessee, the point standings leader going into this week. Byrd stands in 11th place, six strokes back.
The Mastercard APGA Tour Championship is the tenth tournament of the landmark 2021 season, featuring a record 13-plus events and eight exemptions for APGA Tour players into PGA TOUR tournaments. TPC Sugarloaf is the sixth TPC property that has hosted the APGA Tour this year as part of its partnership with the PGA TOUR.
All activities are being conducted under social-distancing and health/safety guidelines in conjunction with regional authorities.
The tour continues September 20-22, when the players will be heading to the Bluestone Country Club in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, for APGA Tour Valley Forge. The tournament marks the first time the APGA Tour will play in the Northeastern United States.
Jackson State University recently introduced a new program, aptly named V.I.B.E., that is considerably reducing costs for digital textbooks. Get the full story from Alonda Thomas at JSU in the official release below.
(William Kelly/University Communications)
Jackson State University President Thomas Hudson today announced the university would cover the textbook fees for undergraduate students this fall through the JSU V.I.B.E program. This support will total $2.3 million in savings for undergraduate students. The announcement comes on the heels of the institution’s previous $3.2 million sponsorship to cover students’ tuition balances during the coronavirus pandemic.
“This global pandemic has been extremely challenging on our student scholars who have persevered despite the stress of the past year,” said Hudson. “The administration was able to use the government funding to clear approximately $3.2 million dollars in balances for our students from spring 2020 to summer 2021. This relief allowed nearly 3,000 students to have the means to clear their balances and continue their matriculation at Jackson State. This fall, we will provide relief in the form of a textbook waiver as another way to help our students afford the increasing costs of higher education.”
In partnership with the JSU Campus Store, the JSU V.I.B.E. (Virtual, Interactive Technology, Books, and Educational Supplies) program is an inclusive access textbook program that allows students to rent or purchase digital textbooks at a reduced cost. With today’s announcement, the university will cover these textbook fees for the semester.
Vaccination Incentive Program for On-Campus Students
Additionally, Jackson State will offer a residential student vaccination incentive program effective immediately. Residential students who apply for the incentive program and show proof of vaccination will receive a $1,000 housing credit, which will be dispersed in two (2) $500 payments for the fall and spring semesters, respectively.
“The African American community has been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and we want to do everything we can to encourage our students to get vaccinated,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Alisa L. Mosley, Ph.D. “Having students to get vaccinated prior to arrival will help protect our students while they are en route to return to campus. Additionally, we will continue to host our on-campus vaccination clinic to help make access to the vaccine as convenient as possible.”
The Jackson State initiatives are made possible through the federal government’s grant program, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
Beloved Dillard University President Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough has brought a spotlight to the university through being a gem in his own right, but his time there is coming to an end. Get the full story on his planned departure and why he will be missed so much from Jessica Williams at local New Orleans page Nola.com below.
Source: NOLA
Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough, who is credited with growing the university’s endowment and expanding its programming, will step down in May 2022 after a decade on the job.
Kimbrough, an Atlanta native, said Monday he is leaving Dillard’s Gentilly campus to pursue new opportunities. He said the average tenure of a university leader is almost seven years, a timeline he has exceeded.
The search for Kimbrough’s successor — the eighth leader of the historically black university — will begin immediately, university officials said.
“Dillard University and New Orleans have been awesome for our family, and we are thankful for the love and support,” Kimbrough wrote in a message to the university community. “But it is time for a new challenge where my gifts and graces match the needs of an institution at this point in their history, and Dillard is ready for someone new to do likewise.”
The self-proclaimed “Hip Hop Prez” has done much to strengthen Dillard during his tenure.
His accomplishments include convincing the federal government to forgive a $160 million loan made out to Dillard in 2007 to help repair millions of dollars in water and wind damage to the campus from Hurricane Katrina.
That forgiveness paved the way for Dillard to grow its endowment to more than $100 million, a 115% increase that is among the nation’s highest for historically Black colleges and universities, officials said.
Alumni contributions have also risen under Kimbrough’s leadership, going from 4% of Dillard’s annual revenue to 23% this year. That again places the university in the top tier for alumni gifts of all campuses nationwide.
Since Kimbrough came aboard, Dillard has introduced physics and film studies programs, and has restructured its nursing school as the College of Nursing. The university has also seen its graduation and retention rates rise since 2012.
Credit: Dillard University
“Walter is an innovative leader who has made an indelible impact on Dillard University,” board chairman and alumnus Michael Jones said. “His commitment to our mission has resulted in significant growth financially, academically, and in the community.”
Kimbrough’s use of social media to teach and interact with students sets him apart from other college presidents, observers have noted. So does his age — at 54, he is one of the youngest college presidents in the country.
Kimbrough earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree from Miami University in Ohio and his doctorate from Georgia State University.
Before arriving at Dillard in 2012, he served a nearly eight-year tenure as president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has also worked in student affairs departments at various colleges over his academic career.
That career is not over yet, he hinted in a letter about his departure.
“In this season of increased presidential departures, particularly due to retirements, there are a number of exciting possibilities at a diversity of institutions for which my talents may match,” he said.
Rayquan Smith, an athlete at Norfolk State University, is the first HBCU male athlete to partner with Eastbay on NIL. Now, the player is looking to help other student athletes are advantage of the NCAA’s newest rules on getting paid from your likeness. Get the full story from Eugene Daniel at 13 News Now below.
Rayquan Smith (Credit: Norfolk State University)
For the first time ever, players can profit off their brand, and Norfolk State University football player Rayquan Smith is making the most of it.
Smith, who plays running back, has waited for this moment for years.
“It is long overdue,” he said.
In July, the NCAA. agreed to allow student athletes to be paid for their name, image or likeness, also known as NIL agreements.
According to the NCAA, players can engage in NIL agreements consistent with state laws, and where there are no state laws, athletes can still profit without violating committee rules.
“We put in the same amount of work, so I feel like we should get the same amount of money that we put in for,” said Smith, who has already established himself with various brands.
Because the rules are temporary, schools, like Norfolk State, are waiting for new guidance. Until then, the university’s compliance office works with players to make sure the deals are legal and align under the NCAA parameters.
Smith wasted no time signing deals and turning to social media to market his brands.
But he also has a message for other student athletes, especially those in HBCU’s.
“Now I feel like more college athletes will come to HBCU’s because they can get paid,” he said.
While he admits players at larger schools may be able to collect bigger checks, Smith says this is an opportunity to level the playing field for athletes at smaller universities.
“Don’t be scared to put your name out, email companies. Go email them or [send a direct message on social media]. No matter how many followers you got,” said Smith. “If they see you pushing out, your name is going to cross them sooner or later. Keep pushing. Keep pushing.”
The NCAA policies remain temporary until the committee agrees on more permanent rules or federal laws are passed. Many states, like Virginia, are also working on guidance.
This week, the Virginia Senate removed language from a spending bill to solidify NIL rules in the Commonwealth.
Girls Who Investis here to shake things up! Investing can seem overwhelming and intimidating, especially for women, as finance has historically been seen as a “boys’ club.” Girls Who Invest (GWI) is breaking down the intimidation factor, as well as barriers to entry, and is encouraging women to enter the industry and consider a path to leadership. GWI is committed to changing the face of investing, and they envision a world where 30% of investable capital is managed by women by 2030. With nine years to reach their goal, they’ve already made major headway.
Currently, less than 7% of institutional money managers are women, which means that women are missing from the rooms where important decisions are being made. Girls Who Invest is opening the doors to those rooms. They provide young women the tools and access they need to become inspiring and ambitious change-makers in the industry. By guaranteeing their Summer Intensive Program scholars a paid internship at an industry firm, they are making sure women have an entry point to the industry and that firms have a clear opportunity to hire more women.
If Girls Who Invest sounds like something you would be interested in, now is the right time to speak up. GWI is looking for motivated, curious and diverse women from our amazing HBCUs to join their educational and career development programs. You may find a fitting opportunity in one of their two incredible programs: GWI Summer Intensive Program and the GWI Online Intensive Program. No prior knowledge of investing is needed, as GWI is willing to teach you everything you need to know. Apply before the next deadline, which is September 15, 2021. For more information about their programs, please visit Girls Who Invest online.
Wakati, meaning time in Swahili, represents a respect for where your hair has been and an optimism for all the places you want it to go. For the Wakati Hair brand, that message is embedded in our HBCU culture. And now, Wakati is looking for campus brand ambassadors at Spelman College, Florida A&M University, and Howard University to help get the message out through its first WakatiU Ambassador Program!
If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to impact your campus, this opportunity may be perfect for you! This opportunity is especially great timing because Wakati will be doing campus tours at all 3 HBCUs with the HBCU Blow Out Tour! Wakati has had close connections with HBCUs like FAMU, where the Wakati team worked with the school’s business students to tackle consumer challenges and develop brand elements that would ultimately help birth the Wakati Hair brand. They continue to collaborate with FAMU and other HBCUs to redefine and refine what beauty truly is. As a part of this commitment, we have created the WakatiU Ambassador Program.
Apply to be e a campus brand ambassador, you can become a campus curlfriend! The position will bring you a variety of perks and personal growth that will be of value for the rest of your college career and beyond. For example, you’ll have impactful influence as an ambassador on your campus for a global brand. You’ll be able to not only meet new people and inform them about how the Wakati brand can help their hair needs, but you’ll also be giving them new tools for empowerment! No matter your career path, you’ll be adding on immersive experience in marketing, branding, and event activations with this program, such as helping with the Wakati HBCU Blowout Homecoming Tour. And if all that isn’t enough, Wakati campus brand ambassadors can potentially earn $1,000 through a stipend paid for all that rewarding work!
A Wakati campus brand ambassador not only knows how to juggle work and school, but can look good doing it! Wakati is looking for sophomore and junior students who wear their natural hair, at least most of the time. It’s important to already be active on social media and in various spaces on campus so that you can hit the ground running. As far as time requirements, please be able to dedicate at least 5-8 hours a week for the program, and be able to host or be involved in at least two activations during the semester. Of course, one of those events would have to be homecoming, because who would want to miss that!
To apply, all you need to do is answer a few simple questions. Yes, you’ll have to fill out basic information about yourself and your HBCU life. However, a great way to prepare for this opportunity is to really think about what Wakati means, and how you can use the brand to fulfil your own career or campus improvement goals. Be prepared to share what you love about your hair, and what makes you the perfect face of the Wakati global brand.
Become a curlfriend and help redefine and refine what beauty truly is! Learn more about the exciting WakatiU Ambassador Program here. Applications are due by August 31st at 11:59am EST.
