Morgan State University is always looking for ways to recruit the best of the best academic talent, and now a new partnership with Modern States is helping the university do just that! Learn how forward-thinking students can prepare to attend colleges in Maryland in the article below by Tim Tooten at local station WBAL TV below.
Credit: Morgan State University
A new program could help Morgan State University attract college-bound students as they can earn up to a year of college credits for free.
The Fast Start program in collaboration between the university and a nonprofit alliance called Modern States allows Maryland high school students to get a head start as they make plans to attend schools like Morgan State.
Morgan State will reap the benefits of students who take and pass online courses offered by Modern State. For starters, it’ll help students save more than $10 million in tuition and other college-related expenses.
“Our goals are to make college more affordable and more accessible for all people,” said David Vise, executive director of Modern States. “For Morgan State, it’s a recruiting tool. It can help them not only get high school students moving and earning college credits early, it can also help Morgan State reach students they’ve had a hard time reaching in the past.”
It’s something the school administration is not taking for granted.
“We will also be working to let our guidance counselors and principals and superintendents across the state know about the program because it really is a wonderful opportunity for students,” said Kara Turner, vice president for enrollment management and student success at Morgan State University.
Morgan State University is getting help in recruiting high school students thanks to the “Fast Start” program which allows them to take free online classes for credit. It’s being made possible through a partnership with Modern States @MorganStateU@morganpres@modernstatesedpic.twitter.com/mWI5HRlr0Q
Jarrett Carter, the founding editor of The HBCU Digest and a 2003 Morgan State University graduate, said the new program is paving a pathway to success.
“It’s impressive that the institution is able to not only welcome the best and the brightest but those who are yet to realize their academic talent and to pair that mission with an organization that’s says, ‘Hey, we want to improve college access. Here are some of the ways we can do it,'” Carter said.
Modern States said, in addition to prospective Morgan State students, residents throughout Maryland can also sign up for its free online courses.
After 4 decades of working his way up at the agency, Alcorn State University alumnus Terry Cosby has been named the new chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Read about how his dedication and education at Alcorn State have brought him success in the university release below!
Credit: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Growing up on a farm in Enid, Mississippi, gave Terry Cosby ’82 an appreciation for the land.
“My love for the land began at a young age,” said Cosby, who earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. “I grew up on a cotton farm that has been in my family since my great grandfather purchased it in the late 1800s.”
After taking his passion to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 42 years ago, the Alcorn State University alumnus has worked his way to becoming the agency’s new chief.
The promotion is the culmination of Cosby’s years of dedication and hard work.
“I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished. My father and mother instilled a spirit of service in me at an early age. I appreciate working with our passionate employees and agency leadership on shared responsibilities that help agriculture families, customers, and communities across America realize their conservation and production dreams.”
Before his new role, Cosby served as the state conservationist for Ohio, where he implemented several programs to aid the less fortunate. He’s thankful for the lessons his past experiences have taught him.
Credit: Natural Resources Conservation Service
“Our office established the Ohio Interagency Forestry Team, implemented the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and partnered with urban agriculture programs to bring fresh produce to underserved communities. These accomplishments were part of the programmatic building blocks for what is now the national Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. Now, I have the chance to use the skills and knowledge I’ve gained from those projects to continue implementing successful programs on a national scale.”
Continuing to navigate through the pandemic, along with tackling issues such as climate change and ensuring more jobs for minorities, are tasks that Cosby looks forward to completing in his new role.
“We have so much work to do, but it’s an exciting time. Our priority is beating the pandemic. We are focusing on climate-smart agriculture to help mitigate the impacts of climate change as well as ensuring racial equity here at the USDA and in the producers that we serve.”
Cosby is happy to be a part of a leadership team that is committed to setting the stage for future agency employees to thrive.
“We have a great leadership team, and we are committed to working to address these priorities. As a grandfather, I am proud of our contributions to ensure future generations have access to thriving natural resources. The farmers and ranchers of tomorrow, no matter their background, will have equal access to USDA programs and services.”
The agency makes its mark by adapting to the needs of the people it serves. Cosby hopes to continue the agency’s mission of finding innovative ways of lending its services to others.
“The NRCS oversees a broad range of programs to make conservation work for Americans. Recently, we’ve reached five million acres in easements, invested in conservation innovation grants and other financial incentives, and cooperated with other USDA agencies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. I want us to continue to adapt to the needs of our producers and partners and to seek creative ways to expand our outreach.”
Cosby’s success is a result of his experience as a student at Alcorn. He praises the University for fostering his skills and equipping him to excel.
“My education at Alcorn was a great foundation for my career at NRCS. It gave me the chance to learn about agriculture and conservation and get the hands-on experience that I needed to start working in the field. Along with other 1890 Universities, Alcorn plays an important part in the education and preparation of our youth. Alcorn provided an opportunity where I had a great and affordable college experience. The University plays an important role in building expertise.”
Renowned multi-hyphenate Dr. Mae Jemison will be speaking at Huston-Tillotson University during their commencement this August! Read all about the value of the astronaut and engineering extraordinaire’s speech acceptance in the HTU release below!
Photo by Chris Hildreth
Engineer, physician, advocate and astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to go into space, will deliver the commencement address at Huston-Tillotson University’s 2021 Commencement Convocation on Saturday, August 7, 2021, at 9 a.m.
The ceremony will be held on the Huston-Tillotson University Athletic Field, located at 900 Chicon Street. The occasion marks the return to an in-person graduation event for the first time since 2019, as the 2020 commencement exercises were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The convocation will recognize graduating classes of 2020 and 2021, including honors students from both classes, as well as the Golden Classes of 1970 and 1971.
Appropriate Covid-19 protocols and safety measures will be in place, with event parking on Chalmers Avenue. The ceremony will also be video streamed live. For more information, visit htu.edu.
“The classes of 2020 and 2021 displayed unconquerable resolve, enduring a global pandemic in the completion of their academic quests,” said Huston-Tillotson University President Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette. “Having Dr. Jemison to render our Commencement Convocation address at this milepost in history is a perfect embodiment of courage and perseverance, as she overcame insurmountable obstacles to attain a global first. I look forward to her message which I am certain will embolden our Genius Generation and all whom will witness it. We are elated to celebrate these graduates in person and bring our campus community, alumni, and friends back together.”
Born in Decatur, Ala., Jemison’s father was a roofer and carpenter, while her mother was an elementary school teacher. Her sister, Ada, is a psychiatrist, and her brother, Charles, works in real estate.
Jemison was raised in Chicago, where her love for science and the arts, came to the forefront. After high school, she matriculated to Stanford University on a National Achievement Scholarship, and alongside her studies was involved in dance and theater productions, was president of the Black Student Union and developed and taught classes on politics, race and education. Dr. Jemison graduated from Stanford with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, as well as fulfilling the requirements for an A.B. in African and Afro-American studies. She earned her doctorate in medicine from Cornell University Medical College.
Dr. Jemison lived in Freetown and served as Area Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia prior to her selection as a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut candidate in 1987. Jemison served six years as a NASA astronaut, and traveled to space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in, 1992 as Science Mission Specialist for the STS- 47 Spacelab Japan mission where she performed experiments in material science, life sciences, and human adaptation to weightlessness.
After leaving NASA, Jemison started her own technology firm, was a professor of Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College, created The Earth We Share international science camp, and founded the non-profit Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence named in honor of her mother. Jemison also leads the 100 Year Starship project that seeks to foster the radical innovations required for human interstellar space travel while applying the benefits right here on Earth every step of the way.
Jemison is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, an inductee of the National Women’s, Texas Science’s and the National Medical Association’s Halls of Fame. She has won numerous awards and honors and was keynote speaker at the Opening Session of the UN COP24 Framework Convention on Climate Change, and is an Honorary Member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Jemison is an author, including Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life, and the Scholastic “True Books” series on space exploration. Jemison, co-host of the NatGeo series “One Strange Rock” and logistics consultant for NatGeo’s docudrama series MARS, was the first real astronaut to appear on Star Trek TV series and is a mini-figurine in the LEGO Women of NASA kit. She currently resides in Houston, Texas.
Sadly, Grambling State University public address announcer Leon Thomas III has passed away. Thomas left his mark on the university with his passion for his work and personable spirit. Learn more about the local legend in the article below from Nancy Cook at Louisiana station WGNO below.
Leon “The Voice” Thomas III (left) interviews Grambling Head Football Coach Broderick Fobbs.
All of Grambling, as well as Grambling alumnae worldwide is grieving the death of Leon “The Voice” Thomas III, following the announcement that he had lost his courageous battle with cancer.
The announcement was made by Grambling President Rick Gallot in a tweet on Grambling University’s Twitter feed around 11 a.m. Wednesday:
“#Gramfam, we are saddened to hear of the passing of GSU legend Leon Thomas III. Our hearts and prayers are with the family, friends and everyone his life impacted.
Whether you knew him as Leon, LT, or The Voice, he always left a lasting impression, no matter the circumstance. Whether he was announcing a G-Men football game, halftime for the World Famed Tiger Marching Band, Calendar Girl Pageant, or other Grambling events too numerous to list, you felt his love for Grambling State University.
“On behalf of Christy and I, and the entire Grambling Family, we were saddened to learn of the passing of Leon Thomas, III. We will all miss his physical presence and voice, but we know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).” We will keep his parents, Leon and Irene Thomas, as well as his brother Leron in our prayers.”
GSU Prez Rick Gallot
Leon, rest peacefully. Your alma mater, your #Gramfam will miss you dearly. Until we meet again, arrivederci!”
Thomas began his career as Grambling’s public address announcer in 1988, he not only introduced world-famous Grambling celebrities such as Eddie G. Robinson Jr., Doug Williams, Broderick Fobbs, Joi’Lavi Porter, Joiya Smith, he introduced the World Famed Tiger Marching Band, Miss GSU pageants, Miss Cover Girl pageants, coronations, and other events for GSU Favrot Student Union.
A Grambling native, Thomas’ mother worked at Grambling for 30 years. According to a 2015 article by Brandon LaGarde in the university newspaper, The Gramblinite, Thomas’ mom taught him the proper way to talk, dress, social etiquette and to have a firm educational background with a great emphasis on the importance of being an influential African American.”
Thomas began doing radio professionally while he was still at Grambling State University Laboratory High School, where mentors Rick Godly, Earl Simpson and Lloyd Moss and Earl Simpson guided him into his career, Thomas told LaGarde.
Simpson was the Grambling Laboratory band director, who made Thomas sign up for radio and TV so he could announce the band at halftime during football games, while Moss was a teacher at Grambling Lab who put Thomas behind a microphone and in front of a camera every chance he could.
Godley gave Thomas his first radio opportunity on the radio – While on the air, Godley said, “Leon Thomas III I know you’re listening next time you’re at the radio station come see me.” The rest was history.
HBCU students are so diverse in terms of their interests, and also the ways that they will change the world. With so many LGBTQ+ students spread across our HBCUs, an initiative with two leading rights groups is helping to bridge the gap between resources these students have and what they need to thrive. Get the full story from East L. Dockery at ESPN’s The Undefeated below.
Participants in the 15th National HBCU Leadership Summit in Washington. (HRC)
This partnership began in late spring 2019 when Marybeth Gasman, distinguished professor at Rutgers University and CMSI executive director, reached out to Leslie Hall, director of the HRC Foundation’s HBCU Program. HRC’s program has been around since 2004 after the HRC Foundation mobilized efforts to support HBCUs in enhancing policies and services that promote LGBTQ inclusion, equity and engagement.
“There were two violent anti-LGBTQ incidents at two prominent HBCUs in 2004. And after those incidents,” said HRC president Alphonso B. David, “we saw a need to really bring together HBCU LGBTQ student leaders, because we thought there was a need to advocate for inclusion and social justice on campuses and in their communities.
“These students are Black, these students are brown, these students are LGBTQ. But when we think of social justice, in some circles, LGBTQ was being excluded. And so, we wanted to make sure that HBCUs were really embracing LGBTQ students, making sure that these leaders have the support, the services and the resources to be successful leaders in the future.”
Hall said the HRC agreed to a memorandum of understanding in early spring 2019 that it would “lean in with LGBTQ-inclusive work with [Gasman] and she would then open up her Rolodex for us to be able to engage with the leaders that she had within her center.”
These schools are at the forefront of progressive efforts by creating LGBTQ resource centers, changing admission and housing policies, and, in the case of Spelman, establishing an endowed chair in queer studies.
“We were trying to really look at the people who stand out as role models so that if, let’s say, an HBCU didn’t have a center or an office supporting LGBTQ students, they could call up someone at Bowie State, which has really done a lot of work, and ask how did you do it,” said Gasman. “What do you do? What are best practices? Or call up someone like Spelman, who is a long, longtime supporter of LGBTQ issues, both in the staff and the faculty. And what are you doing? What are best practices?”
The HRC program uses recommendations from research included in Modeling Inclusion: HBCUs and LGBTQ+ Support published in December 2020 by CMSI. Those recommendations cover the central issues of housing, admissions, student life, engagement, health and wellness. The recommendations are:
Use resources on campus to undertake schoolwide policy changes
Allow students to change their gender identity in student records
Consider establishing an office or space specifically designated for LGBTQ+ students
Offer mental health resources that address the distinct challenges facing LGBTQ+ students
Demonstrate high visibility of and support from campus leadership, in particular the college president
Make LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum
“We have, since the program’s inception, established relationships with more than 30 HBCUs to provide support to LGBTQ students and faculty and staff who are looking to improve LGBTQ inclusion on their campuses,” David said. One reason that has been successful is the National HBCU Leadership Summit.
The summit is a leadership development and advocacy training program that empowers LGBTQ HBCU students. It is a five-day summit held in November in Washington, where students focus on activism, self-awareness, collaborations and team building. According to David, it has been a huge success.
“They leave that workshop with skills and competence to really lead effectively moving forward, and especially through the intersections of race and religion, gender identity and sexual orientation,” David said. “So, I would say that that is one of the hallmarks of this program, but we have a lot of work to do. We still have 250 bills that have been introduced in state legislatures around the country. We still have at least 44 transgender and gender-nonconforming people killed last year. This year, at least 28. So we have a lot of work to do, to really make sure we create communities that are accepting of LGBTQ people and those communities include HBCU college campuses and university campuses. So, we’re proud of the work that we’ve done, but we still have a lot more work to do.”
Keadrick Peters, the coordinator of multicultural programs and services at Bowie State, has been involved in numerous lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual inclusive projects at the university. Peters has been working there since 2009, and helped establish the Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity.
Each semester, Bowie State has students, faculty and staff take a diversity and inclusion pledge, and it offers safe-space training that wasn’t on campus before his arrival.
Peters said the HRC helps make connections and partnerships that provide opportunities either in Washington or directly on campus. “They email and mail [information on] the LGBTQIA resource center, hard-copy pamphlets and services, resources of the DMV [Washington, Maryland and Virginia], which they send directly to the university and the Wellness Center,” he said.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Gay-Straight Alliance and the LGBTQIA resource center started planning a prom at Bowie State. “This came about because some students in high school were marginalized and they couldn’t pick who they really wanted to come to prom. So, that’s something we’re planning for this coming school year,” he said.
The work done by the HRC, CMSI and schools is multifaceted, but they have one goal in mind.
“For me, it is one word: liberation,” David said.
“That’s all it is. Getting to the point where being LGBTQ and Black means that you’re liberated. You can walk down the street without fear of retribution. You can self-identify without being concerned about how you’re going to be treated by your peers or by faculty. It’s liberation, and we’re not there yet. I don’t think any marginalized group in this country has achieved liberation. And that’s what we’re fighting for. Not Black people, not brown people, not women, not LGBTQ people. And our ultimate goal is to get to that place that we can recognize freedom and actually live it.”
Virginia Union University has teamed up with Apple to make VUU students among the most technologically savvy in the world. For example, starting with the Class of 2025, each incoming student at VUU will receive a tech bundle that includes an iPad, Apple Watch and more! Learn about what creating a Smart Campus truly means in the article by Derek Major at Black Enterprise below!
Virginia Union University (VUU), a private HBCU, will team up with Apple to create a culture of innovation by providing first-year students with a technology bundle.
The Virginia Union University campus. (Image: Virginia Union University)
The initiative, called Mobile Learning, Mobile Life will provide incoming freshmen with an iPad Air, Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard Folio, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro to support students’ education and campus life needs at VUU.
The initiative demonstrates the importance the university places on providing students with the best tools for the student to be successful in their college careers and prepare them for the digital age and workplace requirements of the future.
“Creating a Smart Campus at VUU is critical to the academic learning environment of a 21st-century student. Apple has the products, apps, and professional learning support that will allow our students to access books, classes, and research materials at their fingertips,” Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, president and CEO of Virginia Union University said in a statement. “Our collaboration goes much further than technology; Smart Campus will help as we prepare students to enter the workforce, putting them on the path to generational wealth.”
Each incoming freshman class will receive the bundle beginning with the freshman class of 2025. Additionally, VUU will offer Apple’s coding and app development curriculum to all students in an effort to prepare them for technology careers post-graduation. This initiative will also help grow the number of students of color in STEM professions.
The Mobile Learning Mobile Life Initiative will turn Virginia Union into a smart campus giving students and faculty the opportunity to better connect and engage during their higher learning experience.
“At Apple, we believe education is a powerful force for equity and opportunity, and we’re excited to work with Virginia Union University to support their new Mobile Learning, Mobile Life initiative,” Susan Prescott, vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing said in a statement. “We’re proud that Apple products will be an integral part of student life for VUU Panthers, and can’t wait to see where the future takes them.”
Earlier this month, Apple launched a $100 million racial justice initiative to increase spending with Black businesses and recruit HBCU students for technology classes and degrees.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce Frederick S. Humphries, the eighth president of Florida A&M University, has passed away. Humphries became a popular president during his tenure at the university from 1985-2001. Learn more about the beloved president in a Tallahassee Democrat article by Byron Dobson and contributor Bill Cotterell.
Credit: Mark Wallheiser
Frederick S. Humphries, one of the most celebrated and revered presidents in Florida A&M University history, died Thursday in Orlando. He was 85.
Humphries had been in declining health in recent years, but continued to bounce back. He served as Florida A&M University’s eighth president 1985-2001.
“It is with great difficulty and emotion that I share with you that my father, Dr. Frederick S. Humphries, former President of FAMU & TSU (Tennessee State University) passed away,” one of his sons, Laurence Humphries, posted on Facebook.
“Please know that he transitioned peacefully surrounded by family. More details for services will be provided once they are finalized. Thanks so much to everyone for the love and support to us in this difficult time.”
Former FAMU president Frederick S. Humphries (left) and FAMU interim president Larry Robinson laugh during a speech at FAMU’s Leon County Alumni Chapter 9th Annual Roast and Toast Scholarship Gala honoring Humphries. Democrat Files
Before returning as president to FAMU, where the Apalachicola native earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1957, Humphries served as president of Tennessee State University in Nashville, from 1974-85.
“The dark clouds have indeed gathered on the horizon,” current FAMU President Larry Robinson said in a statement late Thursday.
Humphries “is one of FAMU’s favorite sons,” he added. “He committed his life to the advancement of higher education, in particular within the HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities) community, and changed the trajectory of FAMU.
“We join the Humphries family, friends and Rattlers around the world in celebrating a life dedicated to service and one well lived.”
Congressman Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, called the 6-foot-7 Humphries “bigger than life. There will never be another like him.”
FAMU President Frederick Humphries applauds the accolades given by Miami representative Frederica Wilson during FAMU Day at the Capitol. Mike Ewen
He said Humphries “brought FAMU to tremendous heights and really cared a lot for the students. People have celebrated him ever since he left the university and he was respected by the students, faculty and alumni for all he did for FAMU and HBCUs.
“He was not only a great educator; he never stopped being sort of a home boy from Apalachicola. He was also very well respected in the Legislature,” added Lawson, who also served in the state House and Senate 1982-2010. “He had an aura of respect around him at all times.”
The university said Humphries is survived by his son Frederick S. Humphries Jr., daughter Robyn Tanya Humphries as well as son Laurence Humphries, among other family members. His wife, Antoinette McTurner Humphries, died in 2006.
Texas Southern University has a new band director for its legendary Ocean of Soul band! Get the full story from the recent Texas Southern release below.
Texas Southern University has named Mr. Brian Simmons as the new Director of The Ocean of Soul Marching Band and an instructor in the Music Department. He will step into this new role on Monday, July 5th, 2021.
“It is an honor to join the TSU Family. Texas Southern has always been a respected rival of mine. I am excited to work with a program with so much history both in the band and HBCU world,'” said Brian Simmons. “I look to honor the rich history and traditions of the “Ocean of Soul” while incorporating new and innovative ideas. Fans and alumni can expect to see what the band is known for as we rise to the next level. Ultimately, it will be the same Ocean, just a new wave!”
The TSU band was founded in 1945 by Mr. Allen E. Norton. The Ocean of Soul, affectionately known as the 9th Wonder of the World, was founded by Mr. Benjamin J. Butler II in 1969. The Ocean of Soul has performed at numerous high-profile events, including Super Bowl XXXVIII, the 2013 NBA All-Star Game Pregame Concert and the 2018 NCAA Final Four. Most recently, the Ocean was featured in the 2021 Netflix series High on the Hog.
Notable parade performances include the 2014 NFL Hall of Fame Induction Parade, the 2017 Houston Astros World Series Victory Parade, the HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Krewe of Endymion Mardi Gras Parade. In addition, the Ocean has performed with celebrities, award shows, movie premieres and several musical performances for various NBA, MLB and NFL teams. You can always catch the Ocean on select TSU televised home football and basketball games during the school year. The band consists of more than 200 students majoring in different disciplines, all of whom rehearse and perform as part of a year-round program. Mr. Simmons will be the 5th Director of The Ocean of Soul and succeeds Dr. Darryl Singleton.
Credit: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle / DMN Archives
“The College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences welcomes Mr. Simmons to TSU, to the Ocean of Soul and to the Music Department. I would like to thank all members of the search committee for moving us to this point,” Needha Boutte-Queen, Dean College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences. “We are thrilled that Mr. Simmons accepted this opportunity to lead the historic Ocean into the future. His talents are widely known and will help propel the Ocean of Soul to new heights.”
A native of New Orleans, LA, Mr. Simmons earned a Bachelor of Music and Master of Educational Leadership from Southern University. He also serves as an adjudicator and clinician to middle and high school bands nationwide. In addition, Mr. Simmons is an exceptional euphonium and trombone player. He is also a prolific arranger and educator respected throughout the country. He has received many awards and critical acclaim for his performances and arrangements.
Mr. Simmons was appointed Director of Bands and Director of Fine Arts at the Louisiana Leadership Institute (LLI) by Louisiana Senator Cleo Fields. In January 2021, Simmons led LLI as they were selected to participate in the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mr. Simmons was inducted into the Southern University Alumni Federation: 40 Under 40. He has also participated in the HBCU National Band Directors Consortium, Music Educators National Conference, and Louisiana Music Educators Association. He is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.
With many effective HBCUs churning out top Black talent, yet suffering from staggeringly poor funding, a new app has been created solve the problem. The innovative “HBCU Change” app is a fresh and unique way for HBCU alumni, students, and allies to donate passively. The app is not only solving the financial problems that many HBCUs are experiencing, but finding extra ways for them to thrive as well.
It has long been known that HBCUs are underfunded, drastically more than PWI counterparts. HBCUs are often either skipped or shorted when it comes to federal funding. Celebrities and philanthropists like Travis Scott and MacKenzie Scott have stepped up to fill in the gaps, giving millions for scholarships and programs. Yet when it comes to those closer to these colleges and universities, there is a disconnect.
The app conveniently works by allowing you to passively donate your spare change to HBCUs! So for example, if you swiped your credit card for a purchase totaling $85.12, HBCU Change would round that purchase to $86.00. That $0.88 cent difference would then go to the HBCU of your choice. In fact, HBCU Change has made its mission to raise $1 billion for HBCUs over the next 5 years! And with industry-standard encryption and the app never storing your banking credentials, it’s definitely a secure way to serve our HBCUs.
In addition to general fundraising, this app offers additional valuable benefits. For donors, it easily provides a way to track donations, which is helpful for tax purposes. It will also help with research purposes. On a larger scale schools can see which classes are donating more. Many HBCUs don’t have good data on the whereabouts for their alumni, which will help with targeting for future fundraising.
To learn more about HBCU Change, click here today!
More HBCUs are recognizing the value of forgiving debt. Especially with the pandemic, liberating students financially will free them of generational debt, and more. Learn all about the HBCUs making unprecedented moves in the article from Inside Higher Ed by Sara Weissman below.
Wilberforce University graduate Rodman Allen and his mother at graduation. (Credit Marsha Bonhart)
Historically Black colleges and universities are forgiving students’ debts with the hopes of alleviating some of the financial strains of the pandemic and possibly providing them more financial freedom in the future.
Historically Black colleges and universities across the country are making efforts to lighten the debt loads of their recent graduates after a tumultuous and financially difficult academic year. To the surprise of many graduating seniors, some HBCUs announced that they would clear part or all of the balances owed in tuition, fees and fines.
These moves came as a relief to the mostly Black students who attend HBCUs, who on average bear significantly heavier student loan debt burdens than their white classmates and whose communities suffered from high rates of infection and financial loss during the pandemic.
HBCU leaders are hoping the debt forgiveness will reduce financial strain on their students, many of whom are very likely to still have federal and personal student loans to pay back after graduation.
“These are students who have had some very difficult decisions to make, and this is a population that over all has been disproportionately impacted,” said Lodriguez Murray, senior vice president of public policy and government affairs at the United Negro College Fund, a membership organization that represents private HBCUs. “These institutions are showing a great deal of compassion and a great deal of leadership during a time of tremendous uncertainty for their student populations.”
At least 11 HBCUs are putting money toward reducing student debt.
For example, Wilberforce University, a private HBCU in Ohio, announced at a joint commencement ceremony in May for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 that it was clearing the debts of all those graduates who owed money to the institution. The $375,000 in debt relief was funded by scholarships from organizations including Jack and Jill Inc., which focuses on initiatives that benefit young people, and the UNCF.
Elfred Anthony Pinkard, president of Wilberforce, saw the debt relief as a reward to graduates for their resilience through an abrupt shift to online learning and an economic downturn, but also as a pragmatic gift. He said more than 90 percent of Wilberforce students are eligible for the Pell Grant, the federal financial aid program for low-income students.
“The pandemic has upended all of our lives,” Pinkard said. “We’ve all lamented the impact that it’s had on our psycho-social and emotional well-being. Just imagine that for a young person while they’re in pursuit of a very important life goal … and yet these students persisted. They did not allow the uncertainty of the pandemic to derail them in pursuit of an undergraduate degree.”
He hopes the debt forgiveness will act as a “financial runway” and a “leg up” for students as they start their career paths.
Black graduates have an average of $52,000 in student loan debt, about $25,000 more on average than the debt of their white counterparts, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. That larger debt burden has long-term effects on the financial well-being of Black students and graduates and their ability to accumulate wealth relative to their white peers, which contributes to a stubborn racial wealth gap. More than half of Black student borrowers report the amount they owe in student loan debt exceeds their net worth. Four years after completing their degrees, 48 percent of Black borrowers owe an average of 12.5 percent more than they borrowed. A 2018 analysis by the Brookings Institute found that Black graduates default at five times the rate of white graduates and are more likely to default than white students who stop out.
“There’s not really much reason to think things would have radically improved since then,” said Judith Scott-Clayton, author of the Brookings Institute study and associate professor of economics and education at Teachers College at Columbia University.
Students at Shaw University were similarly hard hit by the pandemic and its aftereffects, prompting the private HBCU in Raleigh, N.C., to relieve a total of $116,000 in debt for its graduates, said David H. Byrd, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Shaw. The money for the endeavor came from the second COVID-19 stimulus package, passed last December.
Byrd said he has grown accustomed to seniors coming to his office around commencement time, worried that their unpaid balances to the university will prevent them from graduating. The amount owed by graduating students this year was unprecedented. He noted that many students lost work-study or service industry jobs as restaurants and stores closed in response to COVID-19.
“The rent is still due,” he said. “Car payments are still due.”
Delaware State University also drew on federal relief funds to take some of the financial pressure off students. Administrators announced last month that the university will cancel up to $730,655 in student debt using money from the American Rescue Plan, the COVID-19 stimulus package passed in March. The average eligible student will qualify for about $3,276 in debt relief, estimated Antonio Boyle, vice president for strategic enrollment management.
“Too many graduates across the country will leave their schools burdened by debt, making it difficult for them to rent an apartment, cover moving costs, or otherwise prepare for their new careers or graduate school,” Boyle said in a press release. “While we know our efforts won’t help with all of their obligations, we all felt it was essential to do our part.”
This flurry of debt cancellation initiatives at HBCUs is possible in large part because of the “once-in-a-century” influx of federal relief funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Murray. Through the three stimulus packages, Congress directed at least $5 billion to the institutions, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Murray also credits the example set by billionaire Robert Smith, who cleared $34 million in student loan debt for Morehouse College graduates in 2019 as the institution’s commencement speaker. That was a grander gesture than what most HBCUs can do with their philanthropic gifts and federal stimulus money, but he motivated alumni and university leaders to think about ways to lighten students’ debt loads.
“He has showcased a model for how to do this,” Murray said. “You add inspiration like Mr. Smith and others and then you add in opportunity, like Congress has made available, and now you have a perfect storm during what has been one of the most turbulent times for African American students and specifically students at historically Black colleges and universities.”
HBCUs also saw an upsurge in philanthropy after the killing of George Floyd last summer sparked protests against racism across the country. Notable philanthropists such as MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix, gave multimillion-dollar gifts to HBCUs.
Byrd noted that there hasn’t been another gift comparable to Smith’s to combat student debt for HBCU students, and often it’s more financially stable and more well-known HBCUs such as Howard University, Morehouse College and Spelman College that are the beneficiaries of philanthropic largess.
“Those stories are far and few between in the HBCU world,” he said. “It’s just a different apple. You can’t stick all HBCUs in one basket. That’s what the outside community tries to do, and that’s just not the case.”
Pinkard, of Wilberforce, said while his university’s debt relief efforts don’t directly address federal student loans, he believes reducing what students owe will help them at least put more money toward paying off that larger debt sooner.
Roderick L. Smothers Sr., president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., echoed that sentiment. The institution wiped out $80,000 in debt owed by graduates of the Classes of 2020 and 2021, which he announced during commencement last month. The funds came from alumni and private gifts, plus a grant from Jack and Jill Inc.
“Although this gesture may not entirely eliminate their student debt load, it will certainly allow them to receive their diplomas immediately,” Smothers said in a release. “Armed with their credentials, they will be free to pursue a graduate education or take those first steps towards their chosen careers with one less burden to bear.”
The stark disparities in student loan debt can be attributed in part to racial discrimination in the labor market and the racial wealth gap, which means Black students get less financial help from their families, said Scott-Clayton. She also noted that students who don’t graduate can be saddled with small but stubborn amounts of student debt because it’s harder to earn high enough wages to pay it back. Black students also disproportionately attend for-profit colleges, which tend to have high student loan default rates.
These differences in Black students’ lived experiences can account for some of the student loan debt disparity, but it isn’t a complete explanation for why the inequities are so large, she said. “There’s still a big gap that’s hard to explain.”
Federal student loan payments are currently frozen through at least September in response to the pandemic, so no one is going into default. However, it’s a “temporary Band-Aid” to the student loan debt crisis and does nothing long term to reduce the racial gap in student loan debt, she said.
That’s partly why President Biden drew the ire of some activists for not including student loan debt cancellation when he announced his plan to narrow the racial wealth gap at an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre last week.
“You cannot begin to address the racial wealth gap without addressing the student loan debt crisis,” Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, told The Washington Post.
Scott-Clayton admires the attempts by HBCUs to rid students of their debts, but she ultimately believes policy makers have the power and resources to make the most impactful difference. For example, lawmakers could enact widespread student loan debt cancellation targeting borrowers at high risk of defaulting.
“I think those are great efforts,” she said of the HBCUs. “Certainly those are things that will make a real difference for students at those institutions. But I don’t necessarily see there being a one-off, institution-by-institution solution to this problem.”
Tennessee State University is exploring a groundbreaking partnership that will bring hockey to an HBCU for the first time ever. Learn more about how pucks may finally come into play with the article by Derek Major at Black Enterprise below.
Credit: The Nashville Predators
Tennessee State University (TSU), is exploring the idea of being the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to add ice hockey programs for men and women.
In a partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL), the Nashville Predators franchise and College Hockey Inc. TSU is currently conducting a feasibility study to determine how viable it would be to have ice hockey programs. Results are expected sometime in the fall.
If the HBCU chooses to add the programs, it would not only be the first HBCU ice hockey programs, but it would also be the first varsity hockey programs in the state.
“The idea of establishing a collegiate hockey program at TSU is a tremendous opportunity as the nation’s first HBCU to take on this endeavor,” President Glenda Glover said according to CNN. “This allows us to expand the sport, increase diversity, and introduce a new fan base.”
Tennessee State University is exploring the idea of adding hockey programs. (LinkedIn/Tennessee State University)
Hockey is growing among both Black and Hispanic Americans. According to the NHL, there are at least 13 Black players on NCAA Division I and III women’s hockey rosters this season. In 2019, there were just four.
However, the NHL has come under increased scrutiny by its Black players for not doing more to protect its Black players and reach out to Black fans. Last summer amid the Black Lives Mattermovement a group of former and current Black NHL players created the Hockey Diversity Alliance in an effort to “eradicate systemic racism and intolerance in hockey.”
The group broke from the NHL in October saying the league wasn’t supportive of their cause.
TSU and the Nashville Predators have partnered in the past, collaborating on the GUIDER (Growth, Understanding, Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Representation) initiative, founded with the objective of diminishing the prevalence of social injustice.
Kevin Westgarth, NHL Vice President of Hockey Development and Strategic Collaboration told CNN an HBCU hockey program could help grow the game in an new and exciting way.
“Taking this initial step with Tennessee State University, led by their ambitious and visionary leadership, awakens thought on potential playing opportunities, new facilities, and new avenues to watch live hockey, all driven by an HBCU and NHL club in the heart of Nashville,” Westgarth told CNN. “This could be a game-changer.”
The recipients of the Bridging The Gap scholarship have received funds to create an unprecedented opportunity for HBCU students to thrive in the fashion industry. Learn about how Gap Inc. and Harlem’s Fashion Row plan to create a new lane for HBCUs in the WWD article by Rosemary Feitelberg below.
Brandice Daniel Photo courtesy of HFR
Gap Inc. and Harlem’s Fashion Row have revealed the winners for scholarships that are being awarded to historically Black colleges and universities as part of the “Closing the Gap” initiative.
As reported in late April, the program will provide $510,000 in funding to 10 fashion departments at HBCUs. The inaugural effort is designed to bridge the gap between education and fashion’s new generation of leaders who are Black, Indigenous and other people of color. That realization is being made possible through the work of Gap Inc., Harlem’s Fashion Row and Icon360, a nonprofit that is a subsidiary of Harlem’s Fashion Row.
Emphasizing the importance of educating and mentoring the next generation of talent entering the field, Harlem’s Fashion Row founder Brandice Daniel said in a statement, “We look forward to extending this initiative and opportunity by welcoming all incoming professionals.”
Other companies have also recently stepped up to create more of an educational pipeline for Black creatives in order that they may have more job opportunities in fashion and various design disciplines. Last week, a consortium of design-minded companies including the Herman Miller Group, Levi Strauss, Gap Inc. and others launched the Diversity in Design collaborative to tackle systemic issues around diversity in the design industry. Separately, musician Travis Scott is supporting young Black creatives by developing a fashion design program with Parsons through his Cactus Jack Foundation that will be unrolled in his hometown of Houston.
The Bridging the Gap award recipients include two scholarships of $100,000 to North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T. Five scholarships of $50,000 will be given to Delaware State University, Howard University, Bowie State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Tennessee State. In addition, three scholarships of $20,000 will be given to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Clark Atlanta University and Norfolk State University.
Last week, Harlem’s Fashion Row debuted its first “Fashion Playbook” that was sponsored by Gap Inc. and is an online content library that had youth, middle school, high school and collegiate levels. Users will find stories, tips and insights from fashion professionals to give them a better understanding of the opportunities that exist in the industry. Among the 22 new videos that will be released in the next year, seven Gap Inc. employees will be featured.
6 men consisting of 5 former HBCU players and a coach were the chosen ones out of a group of 25 finalists for the Black College Football Hall of Fame! Get the full details from Kyle T. Mosley at Sports Illustrated below.
The Black College Hall of Fame enshrined its 2021 Class of inductees in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 19, 2021. The BCFOH Board of Trustees selected one HBCU football coach and five former players for this year’s honors.
The six men selected come from 25 finalists to become members of the 2021 BCFOH class.
Coach Willard Bailey (Virginia Union, Norfolk State University, St. Paul’s College, Virginia-Lynchburg College).
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, congratulations to the Class of 2021,” said BCFHOF Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee Doug Williams. “It is a significant achievement to be considered one of the best to ever play or coach football at a Historically Black College & University.”
NFL Network’s Steve Wyche and Fox Sports broadcaster Charles Davis.
Blount emceed the 2021 Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Juneteenth Celebration. The NFL’s Atlanta Falcons organization sponsored the event held on June 19, 2021.
BCFHOF LOUISIANA ROOTS AND FLAVOR
The organization has enshrined several players with Louisiana roots.
James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams, the co-founders, were tremendous quarterbacks who studied the game of football under the legendary Eddie Robinson at Grambling State University.
Mel Blount was the SWAC MVP at Southern University and became a Pro Football Hall of Famer after winning four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Eddie Robinson mentored Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Brown at Grambling University. Brown earned two Super Bowl championship rings with the Oakland Raiders and played 12 years in the NFL with 54 inceptions in his career.
The Black College Football Hall of Fame inducted former HBCU football players who starred in the NFL: Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Deacon Jones, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Willie Lanier, Larry Little, Greg Lloyd, Steve McNair, Shannon Sharpe, Jackie Slater, John Stallworth, Everson Walls, Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd, Ken Houston, Richard Dent, Hugh Douglas, and “Bullet Bob Hayes.
These are not the entire members enshrined but are notable players who impacted college and professional football.
Joe Gilliam
Joe Gilliam
SAINTS FROM HBCU PROGRAMS
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead is a former HBCU player out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s football program. Armstead was drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by New Orleans. Armstead has been considered one of the best left tackles in the National Football League. Last week, he opened a ‘Scholars Education Center’ in the New Orleans area for youth.
BCF Hall of Famer quarterback Joe Gilliam had a short career with the New Orleans Saints. He was an outstanding quarterback at Tennessee State before Pittsburgh drafted Gilliam in the 11th round in the 1972 NFL Draft.
Little Rock, Arkansas native Solomon Bozeman is intending to have an eventful tenure at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Learn about his ambitious plans for UAPB’s basketball team int he article from I.C. Murrell at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette below.
New UAPB men’s basketball head coach Solomon Bozeman, center, was introduced at a press conference, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)
Solomon Bozeman vowed the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff would win multiple championships with a pace-and-space offense and tough-and-gritty defense during his introductory news conference Tuesday.
“We’re going to win here,” the 33-year-old former Magnolia High School and University of Arkansas at Little Rock standout said. “We’re going to win multiple championships. We’re going to get to the NCAA tournament multiple times. And when we get to the NCAA tournament, we will shock some people.”
Bozeman, who was born in Little Rock, got a big taste of March Madness during a Sweet 16 run as an assistant coach with Oral Roberts University. Bozeman completed his third season on Paul Mills’ staff in Tulsa.
UAPB announced Bozeman as the successor to George Ivory, who spent 13 years at the helm and led the Golden Lions to their only Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament championship as a Division I program in the 2009-10 season. That team won the NCAA opening-round game against Winthrop University.
Ivory resigned April 7 following a 4-21 season.
Bozeman credited Mills with teaching him the nuances of the pace-and-space offense, which scored 81.1 points per game and produced the nation’s leading scorer in Max Abmas.
Bozeman plans to build a team that can score 80-85 points per game.
“We’re going to put in some work,” he said. “Trust me, we will work at it. How we’re going to do that is by creating a winning culture. How we’re going to create a winning culture is by having enthusiasm, integrity and commitment.
“I want you guys to know that I’m going to recruit high-character guys. I’m going to recruit guys who love being in the gym. I’m going to recruit guys who love being coached, and I’m going to recruit guys that want to get a college degree, because at the end of the day, the ball will stop bouncing. And when it stops bouncing, I will be that guy that helps these guys get degrees. I will be that guy that helps these guys be successful in the real world.”
Chris Robinson, who was announced as UAPB’s athletic director a week before Bozeman was hired, revealed that Bozeman won the job over finalists Mike Bibby, a former NBA star and national championship player at the University of Arizona, and Shawn Forrest, the Golden Lions’ all-time leading scorer in the school’s Division I era (since 1997) who is now a Georgia Southern University assistant.
Credit: UAPB Athletics
“One thing about [Bozeman] as a whole is the developmental aspect, developing students – definitely student-athletes, and you can see that time and time again,” Robinson said. “And his connection with the state as well, we want to help him do some things within the state, within our borders, and try to be as a great representative of the state of Arkansas and of course right here in Pine Bluff. A big tradition of athletes [rests here], and we want to get those things going again.”
Bozeman, whose father Eric has been a head coach at Henderson State and Southern Arkansas universities, admittedly went against his wife Myla’s wishes and told those in a packed STEM Conference Center meeting room there’s a reason why the word Arkansas is tattooed on his back.
“I’ve done a good job recruiting Arkansas guys, and they helped me get to where I am today,” he said, adding he landed 2016 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Jaylen Franklin while at Abilene Christian University and recent ORU senior R.J. Glasper from the Natural State.
An official list of new signees would be released next week, Bozeman said, but one of them was apparently revealed on social media Tuesday morning.
Three Rivers College in Missouri announced Brahm Harris, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound wing from Maumelle, committed to UAPB. Harris averaged 13.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and shot 41.7% from the floor (36.5% from 3-point range) for the two-year college.
Bozeman said he went to work before behind hired to address the Golden Lions’ needs, having the feeling he would be the search committee’s top choice. For two months following Ivory’s resignation, the Golden Lions were faced with having to replace their leading scorer, Shaun Doss Jr., and second-leading rebounder Markedric Bell to transfer. Both earned degrees from UAPB.
“We’ve just got to work,” Bozeman said, asked about the program’s most pressing needs. “We’ve got some good guys coming back, some good kids, some tough kids. Then, we’ve got an incoming recruiting class. I’m telling you, it’s going to be a special season.”
Like many teams in the SWAC, UAPB has been known for taking its lumps against bigger-name competition in “money games” to bolster the athletic department coffers as a limited-resource institution, but Bozeman made clear he doesn’t want to settle for any blowout losses against anyone. He confirmed the Lions will play a rare nonconference home game against Arkansas State and are looking for a second opponent to host.
“We will win here, and I expect to win here,” Bozeman said. “And I’m not planning on taking two to three years. I want to get this thing done Year One.”
FAMU is among the institutions that will receive funding due to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture! Read about what the funding was set up, and what it means to FAMU in the article from staff at the Tallahassee station WTXL below.
Credit: WTXL
Florida A&M University is receiving a portion of $19 million in grants for scholarships from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s 1890 Land Grant.
FAMU is one of 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities to receive the funding, proposed by FAMU alumnus U.S. Rep. David Scott as part of the 2018 Farm bill.
For the 2021-22 academic year, AMU College of Agriculture and Food Sciences received $500,000 in mandatory funds from USDA/NIFA to continue supporting the 1890 David A. Scott scholars.
FAMU said the investment in undergraduate student scholarships is designed to “stimulate interest in food and agriculture careers.”
Dean Robert Taylor, Ph.D., with FAMU College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, said the grant will help recruit top students to the program. FAMU currently has 92 students on the 1890 scholarships.
“These NIFA Scholarships will attract some of the brightest minds in the nation to study agriculture at FAMU as is needed to address the predicted global food shortage by 2050 while enhancing food and agricultural production in the USA,” Taylor said.
Scholarship recipients received 2-year and 4-year scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year who are pursuing baccalaureate degrees in food and agricultural sciences.
FAMU says these scholars are expected to be funded each year until their graduation in 2022 and 2024.
CAFS also received $505,263 in discretionary funds in the 2022 fiscal year, which will fund about 80 new scholars, who are new first-time-in-college majors, with a minimum FAMU recalculated GPA of 3.0 and a minimum combined ACT score of 21 or a minimum combined SAT score of 1080, qualified new college/transfer students, and qualified returning CAFS majors.
Allen University has brought two new professionals onto its leadership ranks, and one of them is a titan who has quite the impressive resume. Read the release from Allen below to learn about new Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. J. Michael Harpe, who graduated from both North Carolina Central University and Fayetteville State University.
Allen University welcomes new faces in leadership as it continues to experience steady growth. Dr. J. Michael Harpe, Vice President for Student Affairs and Mr. Ti Barnes, Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Director of Development joined the leadership team at Allen University in June of 2021.
Dr. J. Michael Harpe
Dr. J. Michael Harpe
With over 20 years of experience in education, Harpe joins the executive leadership team as a visionary and multifaceted professional with a diversified portfolio of higher education experience. His experience in executive level HBCU student affairs spans the east coast. Additionally, Harpe lends his expertise on the faculty side at multiple institutions. His dedication to effective leadership and impact in higher education is evident as he was the first recipient of the Joseph and Lynne Horning Faculty Fellowship at Mount Saint Mary’s University as well as was the youngest sitting dean in the North Carolina Community College System.
Harpe holds a Bachelor of Arts in English/Media Journalism and Masters of Arts in Counselor Education with a minor in Educational Psychology from North Carolina Central University, and Ed.D in Educational Leadership/Higher Education from Fayetteville State University. He holds K-12 school counselor and principal certifications. Harpe comes to Allen University highly decorated with administrative and professional acumen, earning him participation in the American Association of State College and Universities (AASCU) Millennium Leadership Institute for Senior Administrative Leadership and acceptance into the prestigious Harvard University Institute for Educational Management for prospective aspirants for college or university presidential appointments.
Mr. Ti Barnes
Mr. Ti Barnes
Barnes comes to Allen University standing firm on his experience as an Executive Director and Chief Fundraising Officer of the Bowers-Rodgers Children’s Home in Greenwood, SC where he led the planning, fundraising and, programming efforts benefiting abused, abandoned and neglected children from across the state.
He earned a Bachelor of Media Arts with a minor in Journalism from the University of South Carolina and a Masters of Arts in Public Administration from Strayer University. Barnes also holds a certification of constitutional law from the Prestigious Duke Law DC Summer Institute on Law and Policy. Barnes may be a familiar face to some as he is also a multiple Emmy Award Nominee and former photojournalist for WOLO-TV 25 in Columbia SC and WSPA News Channel 7 in Spartanburg, SC.
Staying connected to his community, he has also served as the NAACP Political Action Chair for the Greenwood and Ninety Six Chapters and is a member of the Greenwood Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi.
Barnes a native of Greenwood, SC, is the son of the late Deacon Herbert Barnes and the Rev. Dr. Clara O. Barnes. He is happily married to Christine Barnes and is a proud “Girl Dad” to Halee Camille Barnes who is a rising senior at Claflin University, Patricia Claire Barnes and Katherine Clark Barnes.
Harpe will lead the Division of Student Affairs overseeing enrollment management, admissions, career and counseling services, and student activities. Barnes will serve as a fundraising officer, developing community partnerships, seeking investors for the institutions growing economic impact and liaising with Allen University Alumni. Both Barnes and Harpe will play a integral part in the institutions strategic plan.
