STEM careers are fruitful, but it often takes extensive schooling up to the graduate level to be able to practice. Luckily, eight HBCU students from Oakwood University, Tennessee State University, and Morgan State University will be getting the experience they need to take their careers to the next level after being accepted to a summer graduate program. Learn more about the program and who was accepted in the Missouri S&T release by Nancy Bowles below.
Eight students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are participating in a summer program at Missouri S&T that is designed to encourage engineering students from underrepresented groups to pursue graduate studies. This year, students in Missouri S&T’s Summer Engineering Research Academy (SERA) are from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, Tennessee State University in Nashville and Morgan State University in Baltimore.
During the two-month program, which is in its third year, the students get involved in a range of research projects, including hypersonic flight materials, arsenic mobility in groundwater, additive manufacturing in laser 3D printing, fiber optics in steel manufacturing and other applications, and self-escape in mining.
Emmanuel Edorodion works on a mount inside a plasma vacuum chamber at Missouri S&T. Edorodion, an undergrad from Jackson State University, is visiting and doing research as part of the Summer Engineering Research Academy (SERA) program.
Michael Pierce/Missouri S&T
“The students in the SERA program bring new perspectives to research projects in the College of Engineering and Computing at Missouri S&T,” says Dr. Kelley Wilkerson, assistant teaching professor of materials science and engineering and SERA director at S&T. “In turn, they are exposed to new research areas and degree programs throughout the summer in hopes that they will find their passion in engineering.”
Wilkerson says the SERA program provides students not only with research experiences, but also with networking, team building, and personal and professional development. While they attend SERA, the students live in a residence hall on campus and meet for weekly workshops that provide additional opportunities for learning.
The SERA program also allows Missouri S&T to further build bonds with the participating HBCUs and collaborate with the schools to continue research when the students return to their home campuses.
Eight students are participating in SERA this summer:
Gerald Amory of Frederick County, Maryland, a student at Morgan State University
Joshua Campbell of Ripley, Tennessee, a student at Tennessee State University (attended in 2019 and has returned for a second summer)
Emmanuel Edorodion of Jackson, Mississippi, a student at Jackson State University
Godwin Chierika Eke of Baltimore, a student at Morgan State University
Grayson Mejia of Atlanta, Georgia, a student at Oakwood University
David Pembamoto of Baltimore, a student at Morgan State University
Marcus Sarpong of Owings Mills, Maryland, a student at Morgan State University
Dorren Searcy of St. Louis, a student at Tennessee State University.
“The SERA program has been an exhilarating experience,” says Chierika Eke. “Missouri S&T is intellectually stimulating and gives you an incentive to pursue your goals. I love it.”
Delaware State University students will be able to attend an institute in Irvine, California over the next 3 years through a new grant worth $600,000! Learn more about how neurobiology students will be able to expand their studies in the release by the University of California at Irvine below.
Manuella Yassa and Dr. Autumn Ivy
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
photo: Steve Zylius/UCI
The three-year, $600,000 grant will support 30 students from HBCUs to participate in the Summer Institute in Neuroscience, an intensive, paid residential research training and professional development program for undergraduate students interested in neuroscience. The grant will also fund year-around scientific and professional development activities, including a joint virtual seminar series and continued mentorship.
“The CNLM’s Summer Institute in Neuroscience provides a robust structure for training high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds, and we are excited to bring in students from DSU,” said Dr. Autumn Ivy, assistant professor of pediatrics at UCI, a CNLM Fellow and principal investigator of the UC-HBCU program. “By placing HBCU students in faculty labs that value diversity and culturally-aware mentorship, UCI will facilitate a high-caliber research and mentorship experience for these students to explore careers in neuroscience.”
Each year, HBCU students will be joined by an additional 10 students who are funded by a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense. The students will live on the UCI campus for 8 weeks each summer and will conduct cutting-edge research in CNLM laboratories.
“We aim to provide a holistic experience for the students where they will gain the scientific and professional development skills necessary to thrive in an environment where they feel welcomed, valued and supported,” said Manuella Oliveira Yassa, director of outreach and education for the CNLM and training director for the UC-HBCU program.
The University of California is committed to attracting and graduating scholars who reflect the communities of the world. However, at the graduate level, Black students are under-represented – the five-year average for enrollment in UC academic doctoral programs is 3.1 percent. The UC-HBCU Initiative, funded by the UC Office of the President, invests in building relationships and active collaborations between UC faculty and faculty and students at HBCUs. The Summer Institute in Neuroscience was one of only seven UC proposals awarded funding in 2021 and the only one awarded to UC Irvine this year.
“This multi-year partnership between UCI and Delaware State University fully aligns with UCI’s Black Thriving Initiative. Launched in August 2020, this university-wide initiative aspires to make UCI the nation’s foremost destination for Black people to thrive in higher education,” said Douglas Haynes, UCI’s vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion. “In broadening pathways to graduate education in neuroscience, the Summer Institute will contribute to transforming the professoriate and knowledge workforce of the future.”
Grambling State University President Rick Gallot is approaching his fifth year in the role. He’s experienced so much, and also grown for the better. Learn what he had to say about how he’s seen Grambling change in the eye-opening release by The News Star/USA Today below.
On Aug.1, Rick Gallot will celebrate his fifth year as Grambling State University president. During his tenure, the former Louisiana state senator has presided over enrollment and infrastructure growth, shoring up of university finances and a reboot of the nursing program.
But, overall, what gives him great joy is the success of Grambling State students.
“The thing that I’m most proud of is the improvement in our first-to-second year retention rate. When I started in 2016, our first-to-second year retention rate was only 60% and we have improved that to 77%,” Gallot said. “When you think about what our core mission is — to educate our students and have them persist in the pursue of a degree — the greatest of all achievements is that our student success rate and retention have improved so significantly.”
When Gallot came in as the 10th president of GSU, the university was on fiscal watch by the Board of Regents.
“Our finances are in better shape than they’ve ever been,” he said. “We’ve had three consecutive years of no findings in our audits.”
In 2017, the university launched an effort to raise $1 million by homecoming through a partnership between Grambling, GSU Foundation, Inc. and the GSU National Alumni Association. The funds raised by alumni, students, faculty and business partners from around the country exceeded the goal — generating $1.2 million. The funds went toward institutional growth and the carrying out of the university’s mission, including student scholarships, university stability, faculty support, balancing the budget and athletic facility improvements.
Grambling State University President Rick Gallot wears an officially licensed mask with the GSU logo. (Credit: Courtesy)
Later that year, Gallot was honored with the HBCUGrow LEAD award for ”Best Leadership” for his energetic, student-focused approach to leadership and accomplishments, including the successful fundraising effort and record student enrollment.
Fall 2020 marked the sixth consecutive year that Grambling had seen enrollment increases. The university saw a 20.47% increase from fall 2014 to fall 2020.
Focusing on people, partnerships
Gallot’s presence has brought stability to the university because he is the longest-serving president in recent history. He recalled that shortly after arriving on campus in 2016, he was walking by the Student Union and a student came up to him.
The young scholar said, “President Gallot, this is my third year here. You’re the third president and the first one I’ve met.”
That statement resonated with him and solidified the need for him to be out and about talking with students, faculty and staff — something that he did a lot of before the pandemic hit.
Martin Lemelle, Grambling State University executive vice-president and chief operating officer, said working with Gallot has been a master class in the art of leadership.
“[President Gallot] displays a powerful mixture of personal humility and indomitable will,” he said. “He is incredibly ambitious, but his ambition is first and foremost for the students, the university and its purpose, not himself.”
Lemelle said Gallot embraces diversity of thought and experience and shares space with his leaders and encourages them to be innovative and bold.
“From his passion to champion “first and only” achievements to his intense focus on ensuring that (Grambling State University) has a first-row seat at tables of influence, President Gallot’s leadership ensures that (Grambling State University) remains focused on service, growth, and intelligence,” he said.
Connie Walton, Grambling State University provost and vice president for academic affairs, also describes Gallot as forward-thinking.
“President Gallot’s leadership style has consistently been that of a visionary leader,” she said. “He actively looks for partners who can enhance the reach of the university. He is student and faculty centered.”
She cited a number of “wins” under his leadership including new construction, implementation of a bachelor’s degree in cloud computing and cybersecurity, and approval to offer the university’s first doctorate program in criminology and justice administration.
Grambling also transitioned its registration process to an e-process that “proved to be invaluable during our transition to telework during the pandemic,” Dr. Walton said.
Ironically, six years ago, becoming a college president was nowhere on Gallot’s radar. The Grambling State University alumni and Southern University Law Center graduate decided to leave politics and spend more time with his wife and family, and practice law.
“I have grown to appreciate the scripture, Proverbs 19:21 — “Many are the plans in man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,” he said.
When the opportunity arose for him to lead Grambling State, he knew it was the right fit because God “provided me with that peace that this was the purpose that He has for me.”
Grambling also transitioned its registration process to an e-process that “proved to be invaluable during our transition to telework during the pandemic,” Dr. Walton said.
Ironically, six years ago, becoming a college president was nowhere on Gallot’s radar. The Grambling State University alumni and Southern University Law Center graduate decided to leave politics and spend more time with his wife and family, and practice law.
“I have grown to appreciate the scripture, Proverbs 19:21 — “Many are the plans in man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails,” he said.
When the opportunity arose for him to lead Grambling State, he knew it was the right fit because God “provided me with that peace that this was the purpose that He has for me.”
Overcoming challenges to build legacy
Gallot said his greatest challenge as president is how slowly the wheels of government often move. As an example, when he asked GSU Computer Department head Yenumula Reddy about emerging technology, Reddy cited cybersecurity.
“So, we set about creating the first and only bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity in Louisiana,” he said.
“Business needs solutions quickly — not as rapidly as the government infrastructure would allow,” Gallot said. “That’s been one of the challenges — to quickly navigate the approval process.”
He said his goal is to “cast a vision for the institution that will make us relevant.”
The university’s new digital library, now close to completion, will be the first of its kind in the state.
“To know that we are the first and only in the state of Louisiana and the first and only HBCU with a digital library is quite an accomplishment,” he said, adding that the university needed a new library for many years but (Grambling State University) didn’t want to just build a library of the past, but a library of the future.
“We wanted to be bold and do something that would be the first of its kind but also be forward thinking and elevate our standing as an academic institution,” he said. “Our students will have the very best cutting-edge technology as it relates to the library.”
The Grambling State University School of Nursing also relaunched its undergraduate nursing program with a 12-month curriculum in 2018. It came after the Louisiana State Board of Nursing voted to remove the conditional approval status in 2015.
A $5 million renovation of the dining hall began in 2020 and was completed earlier this year.
“SodexoMAGIC has been an incredible partner to us in enabling us to deliver that,” Gallot said.
It has been his mission to provide students with the best opportunities to be successful.
“When students choose to come to Grambling, they will be surrounded by a community of people who will provide them with the kind of environment where they will feel celebrated and not tolerated,” Gallot said.
That resonates with parents and students because of what’s going in society — police shootings of people of color, challenges to voting rights and other issues.
“We are just as relevant, even more so, as we were in post-reconstruction years,” he said.
Gallot said Grambling’s motto “Where Everybody Is Somebody” is more than just a motto. “It is, at our core, who we are. We value our students and our faculty and staff.”
That was evident when he opted not to have an investiture — a traditional president’s inauguration. Instead, he chose to put money that would have been raised for the event into the university. Fiscal decisions like this are one of many that helped facilitate two raises to faculty and staff over the last five years totaling 5.477%.
Meeting needs, planning for the future
Moving forward, Gallot said the university must continue to invest in things to meet students’ needs. That includes having degree programs that will provide them with the best opportunity to be successful, including the Call Me Mister program which seeks to train black male teachers, Gallot said.
“Only 2% of classroom teachers are black males and only 5% are black females,” he said, explaining that the teachers in the classroom should reflect the diversity of the students.
“As an HBCU, we have a charge, a duty, a mission to ensure that we are training classroom teachers who will be the molders and mentors of children in their formative years — educators (both male and female) who will help bring the best out of these students,” Gallot said.
The university’s goal is the holistic development of students — not just in the classroom but by providing great facilities, engaging activities, internship opportunities and employment options.
Gallot said he’s looking forward to leading Grambling State into a bright future.
“Our best days are still ahead of us,” he said. “We’re really just getting started. This still doesn’t feel like work to me. For me, I feel like I’m living God’s purpose in my life.”
Spelman College is offering an unprecedented 14% off tuition for upcoming tuition, among other perks for students! Get the full story on all Spelman is offering from the Good Morning America article by Briana Stewart below.
Spelman College announced it will use federal funding to clear outstanding tuition balances for the past academic year of to address the financial hardships of students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMA
The historically Black college based in Atlanta, Georgia, will also offer a one-time 14% discount on tuition for the 2021-2022 academic school year and rollback mandatory fees to the 2017-2018 rate.
The Spelman College financial relief comes after Clark Atlanta University, a neighboring HBCU in Atlanta, announced it would cancel outstanding tuition balances for the spring 2020 and summer 2021 semesters.
“We understand these past two academic years have been emotionally and financially difficult on students and their families due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why we will continue to do all we can to support their efforts to complete their CAU education,” Dr. George T. French, President of Clark Atlanta University, said in a statement last Friday.
For Ta’Lar Scott, a 21-year-old junior at Clark Atlanta University, having her $500 tuition balance canceled was the fresh start she needed to re-enroll to finish her undergraduate degree in social work after taking a semester off.
Students listen to a discussion at a Spelman Convocation at Spelman College on Nov. 17, 2016, in Atlanta, Ga
Like thousands of HBCU students, Scott has relied on federal grants and student loans to pay for her college education. With aspirations of becoming a teacher and now as an expectant mother, paying for school expenses in addition to re-enrollment was so daunting she considered not attending the fall semester.MORE: Coronavirus erodes dreams of college for low-income students
“I was going to take this semester off and it was really because I knew I had a balance,” Scott told ABC News. “The university clearing my balance up kind of pushed me and let me know that I can do this. I’ll be fine. Regardless, I’ll have to learn how to adjust, which I’ve been doing all my life.”MORE:Bank surprises single mom by paying off $150K in student loans
HBCUs received approximately $2.6 billion through the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, a $40 billion funding allocation set aside for higher education as part of the American Rescue Plan.
Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College are the latest of over 20 HBCUs using federal funding to provide financial relief and emergency funds for students in recent months. South Carolina State University, Delaware State University and Wilberforce University used federal COVID relief dollars to cancel student loan debt for eligible students.
ABC News’ Jianna Cousin contributed to this report.
A talented student at North Carolina Central University is getting support from Amazon and the Recording Academy to the tune of $10,000! Get the full story from Kia C. Bell by the NCCU release below.
The scholarship for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) offers them an opportunity to learn all facets of the music industry. Davidson is among three students selected nationally. To be considered for the honor, students must submit their college transcripts, a personal statement, a video showcasing their creativity and a letter of recommendation.
“This is a huge honor to be selected; it’s truly a dream come true,” Davidson said. “This scholarship is a testament to how far I’ve come in my personal life and academic career.”
Recipients also will participate in a two-week immersive rotation program with Amazon Music, which will provide a detailed look at their chosen field of work.
Davidson, a senior voice student majoring in jazz studies, developed his love for music as a young child preforming in school plays and in an after-school choir. He is now a member of NCCU’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
“Jawan has the kind of passion you can’t manufacture; he has that fire-in-the-belly passion for the arts,” said associate professor of music Lenora Helm Hammonds. “It is a joy to teach Jawan. His hunger for producing quality work and love for music is apparent in his continued success.”
Davidson credits Helm Hammonds with being an inspirational figure during his academic career.
“Professor Helm Hammonds has been persistent and motivating in getting me to share my own interpretation of song and dance,” Davidson said. “I want to inspire the world by sharing personal experiences in art forms that transcend in different genres of music including jazz, hip-hop, funk, soul and pop.”
The Harlem native’s love for music goes beyond traditional music forms. In 2019, he participated in a new outreach program by Carolinas District of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Barbershop Revival that introduced traditional barbershop singing to students in NCCU’s Department of Music.
Wiley College President Felton Jr. will be sticking around for a little longer. Learn why trustees at the college want to keep the president close in the article by Bridget Ortigo at Marshall News Messenger below.
The Wiley College board of trustees recently voted unanimously to renew the contract of university President Herman Felton Jr. for another five years, according to university officials on Monday.
Wiley College board of trustees recently renewed university President Herman Felton Jr.’s contract for another five years. (Credit:News Messenger)
Felton was hired by the board in 2018 to replace the Marshall HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) former president and Chief Executive Officer Haywood Strickland who had served in the role since 2000.
Board Vice-Chairman Walter L. Sutton Jr. said in a statement Felton was the right leader for the university, especially during the most recent challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Students can relate to him, he’s straightforward with the board, and he knows his way around Washington, having recently secured $2.5 million in EDA (Economic Development Administration) funds for the college,” Sutton said.
Felton said he plans to keep the university on the course he’s led for the past three years.
“This affirmation illustrates the shared vision between the board and myself to continue this important work as thought partners,” Felton said in a statement. “My excitement approaching this next chapter is rooted in my fond appreciation of board governance that supports me continuously and offers help we asked.”
The five year contract’s salary was not disclosed by the university.
After an initial employee furlough on campus following his hiring, Felton then moved the university to seek additional funding and installed programs to help students with everything from tuition costs to living needs.
“For the last three years, President Felton and his team at Wiley College moved with an intentional focus on strengthening its impact on the local economy as one of the largest employers in the city, increasing the physical growth of the campus with the establishment of the Wiley College Welcome Center and remodeling of two historic buildings on campus – Cole Library and Pemberton Complex,” the university said in a statement. “His efforts have also positioned Wiley College to develop a Workforce and Economic Development Center in collaboration with local officials to increase student experience and community access, and to receive gifts from EDA, PayPal, SWEPCO, Capitol One, all while stewarding relations with the institution’s historic religious partner – The United Methodist Church.”
Felton earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Edward Waters College and earned his juris doctorate degree from the Levin College of Law. He is co-founder of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (H.E.L.F.), an organization that works to cultivate leaders to address the challenges and opportunities facing the nation’s HBCUs and he served eight years in the U. S. Marine Corps.
Before being named president at Wiley College, Felton served as president at Wilberforce University and as senior vice president, chief operating officer and vice president of institutional advancement for Livingstone College in North Carolina. He has also served as the director of development, as well as a lecturer at Murray State University in Kentucky.
“He has kept the relationship strong with the United Methodist Church which is very important to Wiley,” Wiley College Board Chairman Billy Casey said. “We made a great choice, and he is doing an awesome job. He’s an accessible president and has made good headway in building community relationships.”
Felton said he and his staff seek to continue to boost enrollment, the university’s retention rate, fundraising and to help students find jobs and careers post graduation.
“My goal is to strengthen our posture and enhance our exposure to shore up our value proposition – as a premier liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church with an intentional focus on social good,” Felton said.
Wiley College National Alumni Association Inc. President Nolan H. Anderson Jr. said he has been impressed with Felton’s leadership and looks forward to the next five years.
“President Felton has reset the legacy and purpose of Wiley College within the Marshall community,” Anderson said. “He has been a plus-plus and a win-win for Wiley College, and we are confident he will continue to expand his vision in the years to come.”
Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns addresses the media during practice and media availability as part of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 7 at Phoenix Suns Arena. (Credit: Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul is continuing to put the spotlight on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with the arrival of a new college basketball tournament, The Undefeated has learned.
Paul and the Basketball Hall of Fame have partnered in the development of the Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off on Nov. 22-23 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The two-day doubleheader will feature HBCUs Morehouse College, Virginia Union, West Virginia State and Winston-Salem State. The games are also expected to be televised nationally, a source said.
“I appreciate the collaboration of the Basketball Hall of Fame and Mohegan Sun in hosting this inaugural event,” Paul said in a statement. “With several family members and friends who have attended HBCUs, I know firsthand how important they are to our community and country’s future. I’m excited to offer an elevated experience to the players and fans this November.”
Paul has been a champion of HBCUs – he regularly wears Black college gear to NBA games and currently attends Winston-Salem State to study for a bachelor’s degree in communications.
The 11-time NBA All-Star partnered with Harvard Business School to bring its Entertainment, Media and Sports program to North Carolina A&T and other HBCUs, creating the Special Topics in Management course to develop a career pipeline for students. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina, native raised awareness through his HBCU Sneaker Tour and launched voting initiatives to encourage students to vote in the 2020 election. He executive produced ESPN’s Why Not Us, a documentary about North Carolina Central’s men’s basketball team. Paul partnered with Sour Patch Kids and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to create the Mischief for Change Scholarship, a college scholarship fund with a $1 million commitment over the next five years for HBCU students.
“Chris Paul has shown unwavering support for HBCUs and brought an awareness to creating opportunities for the student-athletes at these institutions,” John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame, said in a statement. “The Hall of Fame is proud to share in Chris’ vision and bring this event to life at beautiful Mohegan Sun Arena.”
The Basketball Hall of Fame includes the Early African American Pioneers Committee in its enshrinement election process to acknowledge and honor those who were “the greatest players of their time and created opportunities for future generations.” Hall of Fame inductees with HBCU ties include Nat Clifton (Xavier University of Louisiana), Sam Jones (North Carolina Central), Coach John McLendon (Hampton, Tennessee State, North Carolina Central), Earl Monroe (Winston-Salem State), Earl Lloyd (West Virginia State) and Willis Reed (Grambling University). Ex-Virginia Union University star center Ben Wallace is in the class of 2021.
“This is a great honor to be invited to the Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off with some of the best HBCUs in the country. It will also be a great opportunity for our young men to tour the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, right after my teammate and Virginia Union’s very own Ben Wallace goes into the Hall of Fame in September. I would like to thank Chris Paul for continuing to give HBCUs the opportunity to showcase our prestigious schools on the biggest stage,” Virginia Union coach Jay Butler said in a statement.
Said West Virginia State head coach Bryan Poore: “We owe this privilege to the great players from WVSU who came before us and in particular the trailblazing NBA pioneer Mr. Earl Lloyd. Participating in this event will be something our players will remember for the rest of their lives.”
A champion for social justice and active participant in the Civil Rights Movement joined the faculty at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) this month. Anthony J. Harris, Ed.D., was named chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education (WRGCOE).
“We find ourselves at a place of welcoming a proven leader,” WRGCOE Dean Michael L. McFrazier, Ed.D., said during a recent welcome reception for Harris, adding that the college is looking forward to “the innovation and change” Harris will help usher in.
“I won’t say they twisted my arm, but they made it so easy for me to say yes,” the Hattiesburg, Mississippi native said of members of the search committee.
Harris earned his doctorate in counseling from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce), where he worked as an administrator and faculty member. He served as a school board member in the Commerce Independent School District for 15 years, six as chair. He most recently served as chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at Sam Houston State University and was previously an administrator and faculty member at Mercer University and the University of Southern Mississippi.
“I have published a total of 13 books across different genres – children’s books and my memoir about growing up in the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. That’s one of the reasons I was so attracted to the opportunity to come to Prairie View A&M University – being a historically black college, being an 1876 university. I feel so at home here. I feel so welcome here. I feel like I am among family and kindred spirits.
In 2014, Harris was featured in a PBS documentary called Freedom Summer. The documentary, directed by Stanley Nelson Jr., chronicles the summer of 1964, during which white students and activists forced the country to notice the violence and injustice taking place in Mississippi. According to The Den, they held voter registration drives and set up schools to teach African American history and culture across the state.
“One of those was Freedom School,” Harris told the paper. “I was a student at Freedom School and participated in marches and demonstrations, although I was a kid.”
Some of Harris’ books detail these experiences, including “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round: A Coming of age story and a personal account of the Civil Rights Movement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi” and “Fruits of a Disgraced Legacy.” His latest books, “Leading While Black: Challenges of Being an African American Leader in a Predominantly White Organization” and “More Adventures of Little Mikey,” will soon be available in paperback and e-version.
“I published my first book in 2012, and my 13th was published in 2021,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoy writing, which enables me to tap into that artistic and creative side of my persona. A quote from Dr. Maya Angelou keeps me writing and publishing books. She once said: ‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.’ So, I write because I have stories to tell, as we all do.
My books, whether fiction or non-fiction, focus on justice, education and equality. My hope is that readers will be moved by the lessons, characters and themes embedded in each book.”
Even with more than a dozen novels under his belt, Harris says these days, he’s most excited about beginning his journey on “The Hill” and getting to know his new students.
“Our students are the most important people. We are all important, but they are the reason we’re here,” he said. “As a faculty, we have to support one another. We have to support the mission of the department, college and university because Prairie View has a legacy that is the envy of so many colleges. The president here, Dr. Ruth Simmons, is so prominent and so well known throughout this country. I just feel honored to be on a campus working under her leadership.”
Harris said he gets a little spiritual about his new role, which began on July 1. “I just say God puts us where we are supposed to be. At this season in my life, I feel this is where I’m supposed to be.”
An Alcorn State University alumna has been elected as an Alderwoman in Fayette, Mississippi! The appointment means she was elected by the residents in that city to work with the mayor and uplift the needs of her constituents. Learn more about her and the work she plans to do in the ASU release below!
Ella Hudson elected as an alderwoman for the city of Fayette.
The citizens of Fayette, Mississippi, have chosen one of Alcorn State University’s own to be a leader in its community.
Ella Hudson, director of Judicial Affairs and Student Conduct, was voted as an alderwoman in the city of Fayette. Her duties include implementing city ordinances and overseeing Fayette’s fire, maintenance, police, parks and recreation, and public works departments.
Before being elected a city official, Hudson served multiple organizations that include the Fayette Day and AJFC Parent committees. She currently serves as a board member of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Health Center and is a member of the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition, among other things.
Community involvement is vital for Hudson. Her idea of a thriving community is one filled with people enthused about making their community better.
“I have always been active in my community,” said Hudson. “So, when God placed it on my heart to pursue this position, I was obedient. I feel everyone has a part to play. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes everyone to help make their community a better place.”
Attending meetings, workshops, conferences, and networking with seasoned officials is helping Hudson acquire knowledge to execute her plans to enhance the city.
“Getting informed will help me to put my platform into action. My plans include working with the community to beautify our city, obtain better pay and benefits for city employees, and improve city infractions. Also, I want the city of Fayette to partner with Alcorn because I’ve always longed for Fayette to become a college town.”
Hudson holds being an elected official in high regard. She’s proud to lead by helping others.
“I am honored and thankful to hold such a prestigious position. Serving my community brings me joy, for I am my brother’s keeper.”
A young Howard University student saw a lack of gourmet vegan options in Washington, D.C. and got to work! Get the delicious full story Kayla Pasko from VegOut Magazine.
Credit: Kayla Pasko
Last March, Chanice McClover-Lee, a 19-year old Howard University student, launched Baked by Chanice, a gourmet vegan treat company that specializes in cookies and custom cakes. The young entrepreneur began selling baked goods at farmers markets in her hometown of South Florida, and after a successful launch, McClover-Lee is now relocating the business to a food hall and commercial kitchen in DC’s Brookland neighborhood. The new shop is set to open on May 22-23 at 1pm, and will operate on weekends for takeout only.
“In March 2020, hundreds of millions of people were stuck in the house [in] a global quarantine. So, what did then 17-year-old me decide to do with my spare time? I got in the kitchen and [started] baking. After one bake sale, the overwhelmingly positive community response led to the creation of Baked by Chanice. It is Baked by Chanice’s goal to transform the meaning and perception of what vegan can taste like for all customers, one soft and crispy cookie—or moist and fluffy cake—at a time!” McClover-Lee told VegOut.
The menu features unique cookie flavors such as s’mores, red velvet cheesecake, birthday cake, and chocolate chip coconut walnut. Guests can also order custom cakes and cupcakes, which are available in vanilla, chocolate, funfetti, red velvet, lemon, cookies & cream, carrot, and coconut varieties.
In addition to the flagship shop, Baked by Chanice will be selling both cookies and cakes at the SW DC Farmers Market on Saturdays beginning May 29. Guests can also order through the bakery’s website, which offers nationwide shipping.
Baked by Chanice is located inside Tastemakers at 2800 10th St NE, Washington, DC 20017. To place online orders visit BakedByChanice.com, or follow @bakedbychanice on Instagram for all of the latest updates!
Alabama State University, Florida A&MUniversity, and J.F. Drake State Technical College made the recipient list among several institutions each receiving $1.2 million grant to increase diversity in engineering. Get the full story from the NASA release below.
Graduation ceremony of the 2017 class of Astronaut Candidates. Photographer: James Blair
Creating a future for humanity in the stars and continuing to improve life on Earth are tasks NASA can only achieve by involving all of humanity. To challenge the barriers to entry for students from diverse backgrounds in engineering, NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project, or MUREP, called upon Minority Serving Institutions to develop proposals for how they could use NASA funding to strengthen their support for underrepresented communities.kn;
Today, NASA has chosen six universities to win the MUREP Inclusion Across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science, or INCLUDES, award. Each award provides up to $1.2 million for a three-year period to implement the institution’s proposal.
The selected institutions and their proposed projects are:
Alabama State University
Developing NASA Pathways to Engineering and Experiential Research for Student Success: NASA PEERSS
In order to help close the gap of racial inequality in engineering, Alabama State University, or ASU, in Montgomery, Alabama, is implementing the Developing Emergent Engineers and Physicists, or DEEP, Program with the goal of engaging STEM subject matter experts, professional organizations, social science researchers, and industry partners to create a supportive community of engineering learners. ASU was awarded $1,198,937.75 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
Florida A&M University
Broadening Participation of Next Generation Aerospace Engineers Through Traineeship and Workforce Development Program
Focusing on increasing representation in research related to aerospace systems and technologies, the proposal led by Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, will establish a multi-institution coalition to recruit underrepresented groups for a program that will give hands-on experience to students in NASA-relevant fields. In addition to Florida A&M University, this coalition includes the University of Central Florida, Florida State University, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and four NASA centers. Florida A&M University was awarded $1,199,977.00 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
J.F. Drake State Technical College
Drake State Engineering Frontiers Coalition
The Drake State Engineering Frontiers Coalition, proposed by J.F. Drake State Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama, tackles the issue of representation by starting with students in secondary and postsecondary education. By coordinating with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, aerospace industry partners, other government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and more, the coalition will engage students starting as early as 8th grade and continue supporting them through graduate programs through activities such as summer bridge programs, professional development and research opportunities, mentoring, and more. J.F. Drake State Technical College was awarded $1,189,200.00 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
Navajo Technical College
Broadening Participation in Engineering, Robotics and Computer Science using Zero Robotics on Astrobee
To broaden participation from Indigenous and Hispanic students in computer science and space robotics activities, the Navajo Technical College has proposed the Consortium for Hispanic and Indigenous Education on Robotics in Space, or CHIERS. In partnership with a variety of other institutions, including the Zero Robotics STEM program, it will provide a platform to share strategies and best practices in diversifying the field. The proposal also suggests a programming competition modelled after previous competitions by Zero Robotics, building on a decade of experience. Such a competition would allow participation from middle and high school to university students and give participants the chance to have a hands-on experience with space robotics in a microgravity environment. The Navajo Technical College was awarded $1,179,882.24 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
Texas A&M Kingsville
Proactive Pathways of Excellence to Engage Minority Students in Aerospace Engineering
In an effort to broaden participation among underrepresented minorities, especially Hispanic and female students in South Texas, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, or TAMU-K, in Kingsville has proposed the Proactive Pathways of Excellence to Engage Minority Students in Aerospace Engineering program. In the long-term, the program aims to develop the first Aerospace Engineering Bachelor of Science program in South Texas and use partnerships with a variety of institutions to broaden participation of historically underserved groups – a necessity to accomplish the goal of returning to the Moon and traveling on to Mars. TAMU-K was awarded $1,200,000.00 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Partners Aligned To Heighten Broad Participation in STEM
As the only funded research-intensive minority serving institution in New England, the University of Massachusetts, Boston, has sought to reflect on how systemic racism impacts STEM fields in reaction to recent conversations around the movement for racial justice. The Partners Aligned to Heighten Broad Participation in STEM, or PATHS, program proposed by UMass Boston aims to provide a variety of paths into engineering. By working with a coalition of partner institutions, using metrics to identify gaps in representation, telling the stories of diverse student perspectives, enhancing existing opportunities, and fostering a sense of belonging among Black, Indigenous, and people of color within the engineering community, PATHS seeks to knock down the barriers that have blocked participation. UMass Boston was awarded $1,200,000.00 as a three-year budget for its proposal.
The Minority University Research and Education Project is administered through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Office of STEM Engagement. MUREP’s Inclusion Across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science program amplifies the National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES efforts.
Making healthy food choices is just a little easier for Central State University students and community members thanks to a mobile food bank! Learn more about the power of healthy food access in the Dalton Daily News article below.
For students who are in college, eating junk food is tempting and easy.
That is just one reason why, on the second Tuesday of each month, Central State University offers a mobile food bank called The Community Marketplace. It offers better food for students who might otherwise make less healthy choices or even run out of food by the end of the month, plus it helps local community members in need.
Central State University Counseling Services student volunteer Henry Gray said it is easiest to eat what is cheapest or to “make really poor choices of food items that your body does not need.”
“Nowadays, ‘going healthy’ with food choices can be expensive,” Gray said. “The Community Marketplace tries to provide fresh vegetables, fruits, bread and other healthy items for students to pick from as opposed to the junk we might normally pick.”
CSU partners with local food banks, Kroger, the Montgomery County Human Services Department, the USDA, the United Way and other contributors, to offer the mobile pantry.
Gray said the healthier food isn’t always what a student likes the most, “but I know it’s what we need, so I take it with a smile, and eventually end up trying something new, that is probably better for my eating habits anyway.”
Students said the pantry is a helpful resource the campus provides.
Joseph Smith is not only a student at CSU but also is a year-long volunteer for The Community Marketplace.
“I like the cause, it is free, plus I am all for community service,” Smith said.
Volunteer workers for the mobile pantry said they love to give back and serve, and they would like to see the program become a more well-known resource for more students and for local community members.
Mobile Pantry Manager Andy Macy said, “The program itself has been around for 8-9 years, and around 3 years specifically at CSU. All of the food is fresh from local farm markets, the state of Ohio, federal government, and by donation. We try to ensure that each person walks away with one meat, bakery and shelf items.”
The Community Marketplace is run from Central State University’s Ward Center, 14000 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce. All food distributed is free of cost, and all people are welcome from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
Cheyney University in Philadelphia continues to forge partnerships for the benefit of its student body and the world at large. Now get the full story on how Cheyney is going to build up the food systems and economy in Ghana in the story from Susan Snyder from The Philadelphia Inquirer below.
Students walk around campus at Cheyney University. (Credit: Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Cheyney University, a historically black college in Pennsylvania’s state system, will partner with a new university in Ghana on a student, faculty, and cultural exchange program, but first it will help the university attain its accreditation by offering expertise on a program it wants to start.
The partnership with the soon-to-be-built Oboseke University of Excellence in the Asebu Kingdom of Ghana’s Central Region is Cheyney’s first international collaboration with another school, said Cheyney president Aaron A. Walton.
Cheyney will share its expertise in aquaculture and aquaponics — a food production system that combines raising aquatic animals with cultivating plants in water — with Oboseke, which wants to start tilapia fish farming and other aquaculture programs. Ghana’s accreditation board requires a mentor relationship with a university that has an established program in an area of interest, Kwa David Whitaker, Oboseke’s rector, said in a news release. Cheyney, which just a few years ago was struggling with financial and enrollment woes and fighting to keep its own accreditation, will provide that mentoring.
“To be able to share our experience and knowledge with this emerging African university, and potentially help the people of Ghana develop a more accessible food supply, is an extremely significant opportunity for us, a tribute to our academic excellence, and an honor,” Walton said.
Oboseke in return will provide resources to Cheyney including land on the Ghana campus for projects of interest to both schools. An official from Oboseke will visit Cheyney in a couple of weeks, Walton said. He expects exchanges to begin in about a year.
“Students who may be interested in studying abroad can spend a semester at this university and learn what’s going on there and vice versa,” said Walton, who has led the 650-student university that straddles Delaware and Chester Counties for four years.
The relationship came about after officials from Oboseke contacted Steven G. Hughes, a Cheyney biology professor and director of the Aquaculture Research and Education Laboratory, who is helping Oboseke plan its program, Walton said. Cheyney grows tilapia on campus and the waste generated fertilizes basil, which is sold to local grocery store chains, he said.
Tilapia is a major food source in Ghana, and the country currently gets much of its supply from China, according to Whitaker. The university wants to help the country develop its own source.
Cheyney also has been cultivating partnerships closer to home. Last year, it welcomed to campus the Camden-based Sure-BioChem Laboratories LLC, which provides microbial and chemistry testing services. The university signed an agreement with the company to operate a lab on campus. In January 2020, the university announced that ASI Chemicals, a start-up company that manufactures chemicals used in pharmaceuticals, would operate on campus.
Epcot Crenshaw Corp., an environmental technology solutions company; Navrogen, a bio-pharma research and development firm that works on cancer research; and Advanced Alchemy Labs, a company that grows and processes hemp for medical purposes, are among others.
West Virginia State University has a new leader on campus! Learn about the dynamic woman who will lead WVSU’s academic affairs in the release below.
Dr. J. Paige Carney has been named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs for West Virginia State University (WVSU) effective immediately.’
Carney has served as dean of the College of Professional Studies since 2015, in addition to serving as interim associate provost for WVSU since fall 2020.
Under her leadership as dean of the College of Professional Studies, several of the college’s programs, including criminal justice, education, health and human performance, and social work have achieved national recognition. The college also oversees the university’s storied Military Science (ROTC) program. In fall 2020 the college also launched a new bachelor of science in nursing degree program.
“I have worked with President Nicole Pride since her arrival at the university last fall and see her as a strong leader who cares deeply about the university,” said Carney. “I look forward to working with her and her leadership team to achieve the university’s mission of advancing knowledge through access and opportunity, innovative teaching and learning, interdisciplinary research, and impactful service.”
Since 2011, Carney has been a professor of education at WVSU and also previously served as the director of clinical experiences. She has also served as counselor to Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education. Carney previously taught at WVSU from 1996 through 2004 as an associate professor of education.
In addition to her work at WVSU, Carney was chair of the education program and an associate professor of education at the University of Charleston from 2007 through May 2011, as well as an associate professor of education at Eastern Kentucky University from 2004 through 2005. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor with the Marshall University Graduate College.
Carney has also served as the external facilitator for reading for Kanawha County Schools from 2000 through 2004. From 2005 through 2010 she worked as a lecturer and researcher for the University of Kentucky serving as Kentucky’s principal investigator for Reading First, analyzing effective reading achievement and research-based instruction. She also worked as a kindergarten teacher from 1984 through 1992 in the Fayette County, Kentucky, Public School System.
Carney has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including twice being named Kanawha County’s Reading Association Teacher of the Year for College Educators Award.
Carney received her doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky, and her master’s degree from Georgetown College. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina.
Delaware State University‘s renowned Approaching Storm band has two need leads that will take it to new heights! Get the full story on the two alumni that are exciting to bring the music in the statement from DSU below.
Delaware State University has appointed two alumni to lead its renowned Approaching Storm Band and other instrumental groups – Sidney Sessoms, Jr., as its new Director of Band, and Vincent Adkins as the Assistant Director of Bands.
Mr. Sessoms attended Del State from 1980 -1985, and then completed his Bachelor of Science in General Studies/Music at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a Master’s of Music Education from Salisbury State University. After serving as the interim Band Director at Del State in 1988, Mr. Sessoms served as the Director of Bands at Lincoln University (MO), Clark Atlanta University and Livingstone College, the latter of which he also served as interim Chair of the Music Department and Music Faculty.
Sidney Sessoms Jr.
Mr. Sessoms’ resume includes leading the Clark Atlanta University percussion ensemble’s performance during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, performances for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Team, and a number of national and international commissioned works, including works performed by Berkeley Institute-Hamilton Bermuda Band and Orchestra and the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Sessoms is a member of several professional organizations including, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, Music Educators National Conference, Percussive Arts Society and College Band Directors National Association.
“I am excited about coming home to Del State,” Mr. Sessoms said.
Mr. Adkins earned a Bachelor of Science in Music from Delaware State University in 1988 and a Master’s Degree in Education Media Technology from Full Sail University in 2009. Mr. Adkins has taught music and band to public school students for 32 years, and brings to Del State expertise in drill design, marching fundamentals and jazz.
Vincent Adkins
He is also an instrumentalist for the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, where he is also a Board member. Additionally, as a member of Motown’s Final Mixx, Mr. Adkins has opened for The Manhattans, Miki Howard and many more.
“I am excited to give back to an institution that gave me so much,” Mr. Adkins said.
The Approaching Storm Band – which dates its origins back to the first organized music at the then-State College for Colored Students in 1902 – is a high-energy, entertaining collection of talented musicians and dancers. Delaware State band members have performed in London, for the National Football League, have performed with legendary Motown groups The Temptations, The Spinners and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and is a coveted attraction at parades and celebrations throughout the state.
Elizabeth City State University is one of less than 20 universities across the entire nation that was able to hold a flight training summer academy this summer! Now, 14 students have 8 weeks of training in their journey through the ROTC. Learn more about it in the release by the ECSU below.
Veronica Bearup, 18, sat at a table in the K.E. White Center, dressed in her green Air Force flight suit, celebrating 8-weeks of training to become a pilot. Bearup, along with 13 other Air Force Jr. ROTC cadets, came to Elizabeth City State University this summer to train as pilots with dreams of becoming aviators.
“It was super fun and really challenging,” said the high school senior from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This summer marked the inaugural year for 17 university campuses across the country to host aviation academies for cadets from across all 50 states. It is a call to arms of sorts for more pilots, especially minorities and women.
The 14 cadets celebrated the completion of their summer training with a banquet luncheon Monday, July 26. The future aviators celebrated their time in an intensive version of ECSU’s signature aviation flight program and with the guidance of faculty and certified flight instructors, work towards their private pilot’s license.
Their experience in Elizabeth City, said ECSU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon, is a testament to the university’s world-class aviation program and the story of its growth to national prominence.
“We are proud of our aviation program and now have a new group of ambassadors to tell our story,” she said of the cadets during opening remarks.
ECSU was awarded a $286,000 contract to train the Jr. ROTC cadets. The program brought the 14 cadets to Elizabeth City to train and prepare for a future in military aviation.
The scholarship program is a collaborative effort between the 17 universities and the Air Force to address a national pilot shortage. Currently, Boeing predicts an annual need to hire 6,000 civilian pilots a year for the next 20 years and military needs push that number over 8,000.
Talking to the cadets about their futures in aviation, it’s clear there are a variety of goals amongst them. Some, like 18-year-old Nicholas Boykins, plan to join the U.S. Marines. He is currently focused on aviation mechanics, but after 8-weeks with ECSU’s intensive flight program, he now has his eye on becoming a pilot.
“The program was pretty challenging,” he said. “I don’t have my license yet, but I did solo. It was not as nerve-wracking as I thought. It’s been a great opportunity.”
According to Department of Aviation and Emergency Management chair, Orestes Gooden, all of the cadets completed their solo flights and half of the group earned their private licenses, while the rest are near completing their qualifications.
Air Force Lt. Col. Timothy Strauss was the event’s keynote speaker. Strauss, a fighter pilot, military flight instructor, and former United Airlines first officer, addressed the cadets about the importance of their training over the summer, and its impact on the future of aviation.
“I challenge each one of you to take the lessons you have learned here and build upon them,” he said.
He emphasized that currently, the aviation industry needs them. Their futures, whether in the military or commercial sectors, are secure.
“Every one of you will get a job. The demand is so high,” said Strauss.
This was the first year for the cadet academy. Originally scheduled for the summer of 2020, it was postponed due to COVID-19 safety precautions.
Dr. Kuldeep Rawat, dean of the ECSU School of Science, Aviation, Health and Technology, said he anticipates the academy to continue next summer.
