Saint Augustine’s University Launches First Graduate Program In Its 154-Year History

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The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) just approved Saint Augustine’s University to expand its education in a significant way. For the first time in over a century, the university will finally have a graduate school program. Read about the great news from Saint Augustine’s University below!

One year after being approved by SACSCOC to offer online programs, Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) has officially launched their first graduate program in its 154-year history. Starting this year, SAU will offer a fully online practitioner-oriented Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program. The MPA Program is a rigorous program of study designed to prepare career professionals to serve in leadership roles such as public administrators, public managers, and policy analysts with critical decision-making skills.

Courtesy of Saint Augustine’s University

“Launching the MPA program is a new dimension that we have reached to support the workforce needs of the region,” said Dr. Maria A. Lumpkin, SAU’s Interim President. “Saint Augustine’s educates change makers to build flourishing futures. Transformative leaders in the public and social sectors need education that helps to move organizations beyond the status quo. The academically rigorous program is accessible in price and format to be equitable for students and working professionals from every background.”

Introducing a graduate-level program initiates a new chapter for SAU and the students that enter her gates, aligning with the school’s vision of being nationally recognized as a comprehensive institution with high performing students, renowned faculty, focused community engagement and a strong alumni base of change agents.

“Gaining the SACSCOC Level III designation, which permits graduate programs, ushers in an entirely new frontier for SAU,” said Dr. Michael Boone, Online Program Consultant. “I see the MPA Program as a great start along the path of offering many exciting new graduate degree programs. I am delighted to be a part of this development and am excited about the future benefits to students who pursue the MPA Program at SAU.”

The Program operates in six (6), eight (8)-week sessions throughout the academic year and is designed to accept students regardless of their undergraduate degree background. Once students are accepted, the Program provides five (5) foundational courses that provide an understanding of the nature of public administration. After completing these courses, students move on to take remaining courses in the major areas of study. There is a total of thirty-six (36) credit hours required to complete SAU’s MPA Program.

Courtesy of Raleigh News & Observer

“The Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree is one of the most sought-after degrees of this time period,” said Dr. Josiah Sampson, III, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “It provides strategic value, insight, and ability to the individual holding it and the entities that hire those people. It leverages the ability to understand and develop policy with management of resources of all types; human, fiscal, and other. The added plus of the MPA from Saint Augustine’s University is ability of individuals to flow through a cutting-edge program at an institution that is known for innovation, social action, and cultural awareness.”

The SAU MPA program is one of the most affordable advance degree programs in the region, boasting a Tuition rate of $450 per credit hour (all program courses are three credit hours) and an administrative fee of $125 per session. It is designed to be a high-quality, affordably priced, fully online program of study leading to greater career and professional achievement. The SAU administration anticipates this program becoming one of the most desirable and practical advanced degree programs in the marketplace.

“I am thrilled about the continued impact that we at Saint Augustine’s University will have on society with the newly-minted Master of Public Administration degree,” said Dr. Wanda Coneal, Dean and Associate Professor of the School of Humanities, Education, Social & Behavioral Sciences. “Preparing individuals to create, implement, and evaluate public policies that concern quality of life issues is empowering. Certainly, by offering rigorous courses that require critical thinking and requiring authentic internship opportunities in leadership, the MPA graduates will be innovative problem solvers at all levels of government and business.”

Morris Brown Receives $160K Gift To Establish ESports Center

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Things have been looking up for Morris Brown College amid its journey to re-accreditation. A leading Black gaming technology organization just gifted the school with enough funds to get an eSports program started! Read the full details in the heart-warming story from Black News below!

Pharaoh’s Conclave (PCX), Georgia’s leading organization for diversity and inclusion in competitive video gaming, and the Thomas Family Fund are proud to announce a contribution of $160,000 to Morris Brown College in honor and memory of the family patriarch, Ronald Floyd Thomas (MBC 2002). The gift was designated to establish the Ronald Floyd Thomas Center for eSports and Innovation. The Morris Brown College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the decision to establish the center in October 2020.

Courtesy of PCX

Jakita O. Thomas, Ph.D. and Erich Thomas founded Pharaoh’s Conclave (PCX) in 2017. PCX is a company that uses education and exposure to video gaming to address diversity and inclusion in the technology industry by leveraging eSports. They created the first high school state eSports championship in the United States, which they featured at DreamHack, the world’s largest gaming lifestyle festival. Through PCX, the Thomases have exposed over 10,000 children across the country to eSports. They have awarded over $30,000 in college scholarships and guided youth and young adults in becoming eSports professionals. Their work in technology has most recently received non-dilutive funding of $100,000 from Google for Startups and financial support from the Stadium Neighborhood Community Trust.

PCX will now complete its “Cradle to Career” model with the opening of the Ronald Floyd Thomas Center for eSports and Innovation at Morris Brown College, the alma mater of Erich Thomas’s father. The focus on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will help to address the lack of diversity in eSports and technology.

“When my husband, Ronald Floyd Thomas, entered Morris Brown College to complete the work on his degree, he fully embraced becoming a true “Brownite.” Funding the establishment of the Ronald Floyd Thomas Center for eSports and Innovation at Morris Brown College is a fitting tribute to a man who valued education and the contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to our culture and family. Morris Brown College, in the words of her Alma Mater, was “a welcome true to everyone until thy work was done.” It is in keeping with his commitment to educational opportunity that a program exists to equip this generation of scholars with the skills to excel in STEM and be on the cutting edge of this new technology at—Dear Old Morris Brown,” said Geri Thomas, Grant Advisor of the Thomas Family Fund.

Courtesy of WSB-TV

“Google has provided us with a very unique opportunity to be the people on the ground doing the real work. My wife and I both grew up in Atlanta; we are both graduates of HBCUs and are now watching the fourth generation of our family attend HBCUs. As a product of the Atlanta Public Schools System, I was inspired to teach and work with youth by graduates of HBCUs all throughout my life, many of whom were alumni of Morris Brown College. So it is imperative that we continue the work of creating opportunities that will allow our children to thrive in the generations to come,” said Erich Thomas.

“I am so grateful for the gift from the Ronald Floyd Thomas family and Pharaoh’s Conclave. This designated gift will help take our new eSports program to the next level. I am so excited that Morris Brown College can lead as Georgia’s first State approved eSports Performance degree program. The institution has two tracks including a certificate and a degree. Additionally, high school students will be able to dual enroll and complete high school with 24 college credit hours in eSports. Morris Brown will lead in eSports education and competitive gaming. This gift just catapulted us forward. We will immediately begin plans to remodel an area on campus into the Ronald Floyd Thomas Center for eSports and Innovation, which will include top-notch eSports equipment. Moreover, we will begin recruiting the best gaming students to attend Morris Brown and compete competitively on our eSports team,” said Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown College.

Dr. Jakita Thomas was the recipient of the Blacks in Tech Award in 2019, which recognizes African American Tech Entrepreneurs and Innovators. Dr. Thomas is an author and researcher whose work was recognized by President Barack Obama in 2016 with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

IBM Gifts Harris-Stowe With $2 Million In Artificial Intelligence Technology

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Valuable artificial intelligence and open hybrid cloud technology is heading to a Missouri HBCU from one of leading companies of tech in the world! The gift will is part of a larger initiative to drive HBCU diversity in STEM fields, and will put the students at the forefront of technology development. See the full statement on plans for the collaboration from IBM.

Harris-Stowe State University announced today a multi-million dollar collaboration with IBM (NYSE: IBM) on a comprehensive program designed to develop diverse and high demand skill sets that align with industry needs and trends so both students and faculty can develop the skills they need today for the jobs of tomorrow. 

IBM and Harris-Stowe State University are building on the need to advance digital skills in education and are dedicated to providing future focused curriculum and educational tools to help train the diverse workforce of tomorrow in fast-growing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, data science, cybersecurity, cloud and quantum. 

“Harris-Stowe State University is thrilled to collaborate with IBM to provide greater access to skills and training in the tech industry,” said Dr. Corey S. Bradford, Sr., president of Harris-Stowe State University. “As the world, more than ever relies on the use of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve grand societal challenges, Harris-Stowe must continue to develop well prepared and ready graduates to join the STEM workforce. This collaboration is yet another example of our commitment to supporting student and faculty development and assisting in preparing students to compete and lead globally.”

Harris-Stowe State University President Dr. Corey S. Bradford, Sr., courtesy of SLBJ

The collaboration extends IBM’s recent investment in technology, assets, resources and skills development with HBCUs across the United States through the IBM Skills Academy and enhanced IBM Academic Initiative.

“Equal access to skills and jobs is the key to unlocking economic opportunity and prosperity for diverse populations,” said Valinda Scarbro Kennedy, HBCU Program Lead, IBM Global University Programs.  “As we announced earlier this fall, IBM is deeply committed to helping HBCU students build their skills to better prepare for the future of work. Through this collaboration, Harris-Stowe State University students will have an opportunity to gain modern skills in emerging technologies across hybrid cloud, quantum and AI so they can be better prepared for the future of work in the digital economy.”

As part of its multi-year Global University Programs, which include the IBM Academic Initiative and the IBM Skills Academy, IBM is providing more than $100M in assets, faculty training, pre-built and maintained curriculum content, hands on labs, use cases, digital badges and software to participating HBCUs. The IBM Academic Initiative provides access to resources at no-charge for teaching, learning and non-commercial research with recent enhancements including access to guest lectures. The IBM Skills Academy is a comprehensive, integrated program through an education portal designed to create a foundation of diverse and high demand skill sets that directly correlate to what students will need in the workplace. The learning tracks address topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, data science and quantum computing.

IBM’s investment in HBCUs like Harris-Stowe State University is part of the company’s dedicated work to promote social justice and racial equality by creating equitable, innovative experiences for HBCU students to acquire the necessary skills to help unlock economic opportunity and prosperity.

Billionaire Philanthropist Robert F. Smith Creates Plan For HBCU Loan Repayment

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Robert F. Smith, courtesy of PE News

Robert F. Smith is a man of outreach and of action. He made good on his pledge to pay off the student loan debt of Morehouse College’s whole Class of 2019. He is opening up a school in Denver modeled around HBCU principles. Read the details from Forbes on how the finance executive now plans to relieve even more HBCU students of student loan debt in a new program.

Student Loans

The latest student loan update on Capitol Hill is shaping up like this: many in Congress are calling for $2,000 stimulus checks, which may be bad news for student loan forgiveness. The latest stimulus included limited student loan relief for student loan borrowers. It’s unclear when, or if, you’ll get student loan cancellation. However, none of this has deterred Smith from finding innovative ways to help address student loan repayment. Smith, the CEO of Vista Equity, followed through on his pledge to pay off $34 million of student loans for approximately 400 students who graduated Morehouse College in 2019. Now, Smith wants to expand his student loan repayment effort to help students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) through the non-profit organization, the Student Freedom Initiative, which helps provide financial and career assistance for HCBU students. 

As part of this effort, which Smith help fund with a $50 million contribution, the Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) is offering an innovative alternative to traditional student loans. Here’s how it works:

Are you eligible?

  • Rising college juniors and seniors at eligible HBCU’s can participate. 
  • This financing option is available to student after they borrow the maximum amount of federal subsidized student loans, federal unsubsidized student loans, grants and scholarships.
  • The program is initially available at nine HBCU’s, and is expected to grow over time to additional HBCU’s and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI’s).

How much can you borrow?

  • Students can borrow up to $20,000 per year
Robert F. Smith, courtesy of CNBC.com

How does student loan repayment work?

  • This is an income-based student loan alternative.
  • For every $10,000 of income that a borrower earns after graduation for a certain period of time, borrowers agree to pay 2.5% of their salary each month. 
  • If you earn less than $30,000 a year, you don’t owe a student loan payment.
  • For example, if your monthly income is $12,000 and you borrowed $40,000, then you could owe 10% of your monthly income, or $1,200, as your monthly repayment.
  • Your monthly payment is returned to SFI (not your college or a lender), which will use the proceeds to help future borrowers fund their education.

Deferment and Discharge

  • Borrowers can defer up to 12 monthly payments for any reason (financial hardship or otherwise)
  • Borrowers can discharge their payment obligations after 20 years, or in bankruptcy, permanently disability or death.

Next Steps: Student Loans

While traditional student loans have an interest rate, this student loan alternative does not. While some features are similar to an income share agreement (another income-based alternative to traditional student loans), SFI wants to limit the repayment amount based on a multiple of your income. The goal is to make this alternative income-based repayment lower than the cost of Parent PLUS Loans, which parents borrow to fund their dependent child’s education. Parent PLUS Loans typically can have higher interest rates than federal student loans and private student loans. While parents can refinance Parent PLUS Loans, federal income-driven repayment plans are limited for parents who are struggling to repay Parent PLUS Loans. Today, there are more than 3 million Parent PLUS Loan borrowers who collectively owe approximately $90 billion. Many of these borrowers are seniors or retirees who have limited income to pay off Parent PLUS Loans. SFI wants to create a financial product to help alleviate this burden.

What is the future of student loan repayment? While income share agreements are available at more than 50 colleges and universities, income-based alternatives to student loans have not gained widespread support in Congress. Therefore, don’t expect student loans to be fully replaced by alternative lending options based on income anytime soon. Congress is also not consider income share agreement as an alternative to cancel student loans. That said, President-Elect Joe Biden wants to reform income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans. As part of his student loan plan, among other proposals, Biden would make enrollment automatic, student loan forgiveness tax-free and lower the percentage of income required for monthly student loan payments for millions of student loan borrowers.

Texas Southern Professor Appointed To Fulbright Board of Directors

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Texas Southern University has world-renowned professors and staff. Now, professor Dr. Kamala Raghavan will sit on the Board of Directors for the world-renowned Fulbright program! See the announcement from Texas Southern University for details on Dr. Raghavan’s career and new appointment below!

Dr. Kamala Raghavan, professor and interim department chairman for Finance and Accounting, has been elected to the Fulbright Association Board of Directors under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. John Bader. The mission of the Fulbright Association is to advocate for the Fulbright program and promote international education. Fulbright alumni are leaders in every field representing over 165 countries, and are committed to advancing mutual understanding, tolerance, and peaceful relations worldwide. 

Dr. Kamala Raghavan, courtesy of Research Gate

“We are very proud to have Dr. Raghavan serve on the Board of Directors for the Fulbright Association; she is among top educators and difference makers in the world and we look forward to her sharing all of the knowledge she will gain back to our School and students,” said Dr. David Yen, dean of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business. 

The vision for the association is a world where international exchange is widely recognized as a force for peace. They are global change-makers in politics, business, science, education, and the arts. Their ranks include 82 Pulitzer Prize winners, 59 Nobel Prize laureates, 37 current or former heads of state or government, 70 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, and 16 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. The alumni come from thousands of public and private universities in the United States and abroad. 

“I’m delighted and honored to serve as a board member of this prestigious international organization to promote education,” said Raghavan. “I am so grateful to be of service to this community of scholars.”

Raghavan will begin her three-year term January 1, 2021, with a portfolio of responsibilities to include finance related activities.

Courtesy of the India Herald

“We are very proud to have Dr. Raghavan serve on the Board of Directors for the Fulbright Association; she is among top educators and difference makers in the world and we look forward to her sharing all of the knowledge she will gain back to our School and students,” said Dr. David Yen, dean of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business. 

The vision for the association is a world where international exchange is widely recognized as a force for peace. They are global change-makers in politics, business, science, education, and the arts. Their ranks include 82 Pulitzer Prize winners, 59 Nobel Prize laureates, 37 current or former heads of state or government, 70 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, and 16 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. The alumni come from thousands of public and private universities in the United States and abroad. 

“I’m delighted and honored to serve as a board member of this prestigious international organization to promote education,” said Raghavan. “I am so grateful to be of service to this community of scholars.”

Raghavan will begin her three-year term January 1, 2021, with a portfolio of responsibilities to include finance related activities.

Spelman Partnership With Sotheby’s Institute of Art Shapes Future of Art Industry

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Spelman College and Sotheby’s Institute of Art are partnering for a truly remarkable intersection in art and education. Read the statement below for how Spelman will have unprecedented access to art programs, scholarships, and more.

Spelman College and Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York recently announced an innovative academic partnership designed to increase access to art market education for Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective undergraduate students.

Through this new partnership, SIA will launch the SIA+Spelman Collective Futures Scholarship, an educational initiative designed to expand postgraduate pathways in the visual arts by offering one full tuition scholarship each year to attend an SIA master’s degree program.

The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art exhibition for Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness, courtesy of Spelman College

“Sotheby’s resides at the center of the global art market. Establishing a relationship between Sotheby’s and Spelman enables our aspiring arts professionals to gain invaluable experience at the heart of a dynamic and rapidly changing art world. said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. “Through scholarships, and the expansion of curricular and co-curricular programming, the SIA-Spelman partnership will become an integral part of the training of African American arts leaders.”

Students will also have access to annual collaborative events designed to encourage educational diversity, equity and access.

“This partnership provides an exciting opportunity for our inaugural class of art history and curatorial studies graduates, while leading the charge to transform the art industry through sustainable educational pathways,” said Cheryl Finley, Ph.D., director of the AUC Art Collective and distinguished visiting professor, Spelman. “We’re delighted to join Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York, a global pioneer of art business education, in this cutting-edge collaboration.”

A Sotheby’s auction, courtesy of the Art Insider

The partnership will also include a lecture series covering a range of topics from art and art markets of the African diaspora to art valuation, law and careers. In addition, an annual symposium will offer long-term networking, mentorship and career development opportunities. The first major event will take place virtually during the spring 2021 semester and feature a convening focused on implementing strategies for structural change in the art industry.

“In our 50-year history as pioneers of art market education, we are honored to partner with the AUC Art Collective to take this important step forward to broaden African American and African Diasporic art history in our graduate curriculum and to help foster a more diverse and inclusive global art world for the future,” said Christine Kuan, CEO and director of SIA.

The AUC Art Collective, which is part of the Atlanta University Center Consortium, is housed at Spelman. The program offers a major in art history and minors in curatorial studies and art history to students at Spelman, Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.

Hampton Alum Marie R. Sylla-Dixon Appointed As Raytheon Technologies Chief Diversity Officer

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Hampton University alumna Marie R. Sylla-Dixon has just been tapped by Raytheon Technologies to advance diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as the company’s new Chief Diversity Officer! Read from the release below to learn how Sylla-Dixon will drive social progress in the corporate space.

Sylla-Dixon will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Gregory Hayes and serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team.

As CDO, Sylla-Dixon will be responsible for leading Raytheon Technologies’ diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. The role will integrate initiatives across the four pillars of talent management, community engagement, public policy and supplier diversity, and shape externally how the company shows up in its communities. 

Marie R. Sylla-Dixon, courtesy of Raytheon Technologies

“Prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in all that we do will make us a better company, a better employer and a better contributor to the communities we touch,” said Hayes. “Marie has a strong track record of aligning diversity and inclusion with business strategy to drive results, and in creating tangible community and societal impact. We welcome Marie to Raytheon Technologies and look forward to her leadership.” 

“When diverse minds come together to advance innovation and business growth they propel the economic progress of communities around the world,” said Sylla-Dixon. “I am excited to join Raytheon Technologies to drive the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy that will bring employees, partners and communities together to achieve enduring progress.”

As part of its commitment to improving communities, Raytheon Technologies has made a $25 million, five-year community engagement and philanthropic commitment to support marginalized individuals and communities through programs focused on racial justice, empowerment and career readiness. The company is also supporting the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation with the establishment of its first-ever Defense and Aerospace Policy Fellowships, and has expanded its support for the Faith & Politics Institute and the Equal Justice Initiative to address understanding and discourse around issues of race.  

Sylla-Dixon joins Raytheon Technologies from T-Mobile US where she spent 11 years, most recently serving as vice president for government and external affairs, leading T-Mobile’s DE&I efforts and community outreach through the company’s recent merger with Sprint. She spearheaded the operational management of the company’s diversity and inclusion commitments including a community investment focused on workforce development, digital literacy and adoption, and programming for underserved and underrepresented communities, and has worked with national civil rights groups.

Prior to T-Mobile, Sylla-Dixon served as vice president for government relations at Verizon Communications. 

Sylla-Dixon holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Hampton University and a Juris Doctorate from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.

Tuskegee Airmen Honored On New U.S. Mint Quarter

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“They fought two wars,” reads the top of the new U.S. coin honoring the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. With foundations at Tuskegee University in Alabama, the airmen are credited with having the best loss records on combat missions as air escorts, destroying 260 enemy aircraft, and accumulating 850 medals for their service and valor. Read the story below for more on the value of seeing these brave men on a U.S. coin.

The United States Mint honors its final issue of its popular America the Beautiful Quarters Program by honoring the Tuskegee Airmen. The coin which had a Feb. 1 release date was issued on Monday due to an increased demand for circulating coins.

Tuskegee Airmen, courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum

The new quarter displays the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Moton Field which pays homage to nearly 1,000 Black military pilots and more than 15,000 support staff who trained in Tuskegee during World War II.

According to the Mint, the design depicts a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen suiting up to join the fight during World War II with the Moton Field control tower in the background. The pilot looks upward with pride and confidence as two P-51 Mustangs pass overhead. “They fought two wars” is arced across the top as a reference to the “dual battles the Tuskegee Airmen fought–fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home.”

On the other side is a 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST,” said the Mint.

The new coin courtesy of Tuskegee University

“The legacy of our famed Tuskegee Airmen is forever marked with the release of the newly issued quarter by the U.S. Mint dedicated in their honor,” said Interim President, Dr. Charlotte P. Morris. “These sons and daughters of Mother Tuskegee fought battles, both in air and on land. They served our country with pride and dedication. This is a deserving recognition.”

According to the Bureau of the Federal Department of Treasury the Quarters Program was launched in 2010 and has highlighted a series of 56 quarter-dollar coins with tail-side designs depicting national parks and other national sites. The coins were released in the order the sites officially become a national historic site or park – the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site was established in 1998.

Moton Field was recognized as the only primary flight training facility for African American pilot candidates in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Thus, the facility symbolizes the entrance of African American pilots into the Army Air Corps and the singular role of Tuskegee Institute in providing economic and educational resources to make that entry possible, although on a segregated basis.

Howard President Wayne A. I. Frederick Encourages Vaccination In New PSA

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Several HBCU leaders are stepping up to share why the COVID-19 vaccine is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, Howard University‘s President just created a whole 1-minute PSA with other Howard staff members to show just how simple protecting yourself from COVID-19 can be. Read Howard’s release below for the full story!

Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick, a practicing surgeon and person living with sickle cell disease, has a message for Black America: When the time comes, please get vaccinated! As an essential health care worker, educator, father and person at high risk, Dr. Frederick decided to lead by example by producing a public service announcement (PSA) on the importance of getting the coronavirus vaccine. He was among the first to get a vaccine shot at Howard University Hospital, and he hopes his message will encourage others to do the same. Watch the PSA here.

“The coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on communities of color, and that narrative won’t change until we take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from exposure,” said Dr. Frederick. “The vaccines that are coming to market are safe and have been proven to be more than 90% effective. However, we can’t get to the other side of this pandemic without you. Wear a mask, keep your social distance, wash your hands and, when the time comes, get vaccinated.”

President Wayne A. I. Frederick, courtesy of Howard University

Dr. Frederick has been on the frontlines of the pandemic in a variety of ways, including making the tough decision to close the University in March, spearheading efforts to set up COVID-19 testing sites in urban communities, co-chairing the Mayor Muriel Bowser’s ReOpen DC subcommittee to address equity and vulnerable populations, and actively speaking out to encourage more vaccine trial participation and, now, vaccination participation.

Nationally, African-Americans are almost three times as likely to die of COVID-19 as whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Washington, D.C., African-Americans have comprised 75% of the COVID-19-related deaths in Washington, D.C., while making up only 46% of the city’s population. Public health officials and academics are pointing to underlying health conditions for the severity of the virus in vulnerable populations. 

Howard University staff, courtesy of GlobeNewswire

The PSA, produced in partnership with Howard University’s television station, WHUT-TV; Howard University Hospital; and the Office of University Communications, features several essential health care workers sharing their personal reasons for getting the vaccine. As each person steps up to be vaccinated, they express their “why”: for family, to protect fellow co-workers and in honor of those who’ve lost their lives.  

“I understand there is a lot of hesitancy in minority communities across the country when it comes to healthcare, but this is not an American experiment on Black people. The vaccine is a worldwide cure to end a global pandemic and set us on a path back to normalcy,” said Howard University Hospital CEO Anita Jenkins, who is featured in the PSA getting her shot.“We want the public to know that we trust the science, we’re leading by example and taking the vaccine will help us end this pandemic and the tragic loss of life.”

Morehouse Alum Rev. Raphael Warnock Makes History As Georgia’s First Black Senator

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Morehouse College alumnus Reverend Raphael Warnock just made history by becoming the state of Georgia’s first Black senator! Considering that Georgia has long been a red state, this Democrat’s triumphant upset is remarkable.

“I can’t tell you how honored I am that the people of my home state where I was born and raised and educated at Morehouse College have decided to send me to the United States Senate to represent their concerns at this defining moment in American history,” Warnock told Savannah Guthrie after his win on the TODAY show.

Raphael Warnock, courtesy of Jessica McGowan

“It’s a time when people are suffering so many ways. As a pastor, I’m used to walking alongside people at their high moments and their low moments. It is the honor of my life that I get to represent the people of this very great state in the United States Senate,” he continued.

With razor-thin margins, Warnock’s race against his opponent, Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler, was a nail-biter. According to the New York Times, he ultimately came out on top with 50.6% compared to Loeffler’s 49.4%. She won her seat in 2019, and has yet to concede despite the Senate runoff results.

Ironically, it was Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp who appointed Kelly Loeffler to her Senate seat. Kemp has been accused of employing voter suppression tactics to win his seat against Stacey Abrams, who has since been credited in leading Georgia to become a blue state. Notably, Georgia’s democratic votes in the 2020 presidential election was a major contributing factor in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ ultimate win.

Fellow Democrat Jon Ossoff is also expected to win his Senate seat in his own Georgia runoff race. Together. Warnock and Osslof will create a sweep that will allow Democrats to take hold of the US Senate and implement policies that will uplift the lives of everyday Americans. According to his website, Warnock plans to focus on top issues such as affordable health care, jobs and the economy, and criminal justice reform.

Warnock has a sort of rags to riches story. Just like fellow Morehouse graduate Martin Luther King, Jr., Warnock grew up to become a pastor at the landmark Ebenezer Baptist Church. Yet as one of twelve children, he grew up in public housing. He was the first of his siblings to go to college. His father was a veteran, businessman, and pastor. His mother would pick cotton for work. It is something that he reflected heavily on after his win.

Raphael Warnock, courtesy of Twitter

“The 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else’s cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator,” Warnock said in a live-streamed address, which he posted to his Twitter page. “The improbable journey that led me to this place in this historic moment in America could only happen here.”

Jackson State Lands Trevonte Rucker, One Of Its Highest-Rated Recruits

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Florida native Trevonte Rucker has officially committed to Jackson State University. Rucker will join Javonte Gardner as the second University of Florida Gator to make the move to Jackson State University.

Aside from Javonte Gardner, Rucker is the second former Florida Gators commit to reroute their talent to JSU. Jackson State coach Deion Sanders has been credited with aggressively building the JSU Tigers football program. Find the full story from the Jackson Clarion Ledger below.

Trevonte Rucker, courtesy of Gator Territory

Jackson State has added another heavy hitter to its 2021 recruiting class. 

Vanguard wide receiver Trevonte Rucker of Ocala, Florida committed to JSU and first-year coach Deion Sanders on Tuesday afternoon.

Rucker, a former Florida commit, is a four-star recruit ranked No. 189 nationally, according to the 247Sports composite ranking. That makes him the highest-rated high school prospect to commit to Jackson State.

 He announced the commitment calling his decision “official” with the hashtag “BLM” as well.

Sanders signed his son, Shedeur, as the highest-rated high school player (No. 234) ever in JSU history last month during the early signing period, but should Rucker sign in February, he would become the highest-rated player to sign with JSU.

Sanders previously said one of his biggest reasons for coming to a historically Black university was to level the playing field for HBCUs with Power 5 schools.

Trevonte Rucker, courtesy of 247 Sports

Rucker is a four-star wide receiver and ranks as the No. 29 senior prospect in Florida, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. The 6-foot, 157-pound athlete is an Under Armour All-American.

Sanders, a Fort Meyers, Florida native and Florida State alum, has recruited the Sunshine state well, flipping former Florida commit Javonte Gardner in addition to bringing in Rucker and IMG Academy offensive lineman Charlton Goodell as commits. Three transfers, Isaiah Bolden, Maljon Joor and Tony Gray, are coming from Florida colleges as well.

Hampton Alumna Simone Craig of Morristown’s Art In Atrium Named Trustee At MPAC

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Hampton University alumna Simone Craig has recently been selected to join the Board of Trustees of the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)! Craig, who earned a B.S. in Accounting from Hampton, has gone on to found her own consulting firm and beyond.

According to Morristown Green, Craig is among a group of three individuals that the MPAC selected for three-year terms. Art Corwin and Ken Lantigua were chosen along with Craig to serve on the Board.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to give back to the community in this way,” Craig said. “I’m very happy to be elected to the Board of Trustees of MPAC as it embarks on a path of diverse entertainment programming to a burgeoning and increasingly diverse Morris County community.”

Simone Craig, courtesy of Morristown Green

Craig is the founder and CEO of SLC Global, a boutique accounting and wealth consulting firm created for women business owners. She also works as a capital building strategist. Outside of her firm, she often offers her expertise on money and success to private business groups and even on podcasts. She is known to help with money mindset, entrepreneurship, women in business, financial freedom, and generational wealth. She wants to drive others to create a thriving business they love, while leaving a legacy they’re proud of.

Simone Craig has established herself as a capital building strategist. Her extensive experience in the financial industry includes KPMG Peat Marwick and Prudential Financial.

Aside from her other roles, Simone has made time for the arts by serving on the Board of Directors of Art in the Atrium Inc. in Morristown, where she also lives now.

The Mayo Performing Arts Center, courtesy of Suzy Perler

“I grew up in Morristown and have such fond memories of enjoying movies and events at The Community Theatre, as it was previously known,” said Craig.

Whether it’s her financial expertise of her love of the arts, Simone Craig is sure to have a lasting impact on the MPAC as a member of the Board of Trustees.

“On behalf of my fellow Trustees I’d like to welcome Simone, Ken and Art to the MPAC Board,” says Greg Supron, MPAC chairman. “We are thrilled that such outstanding community members and leaders will be helping to guide MPAC’s future direction.”

Several Civil And Human Rights Leaders Vaccinated At Morehouse School of Medicine

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As one of the few HBCU medical schools, the Morehouse School of Medicine has done a thorough job of directly handling COVID-19 prevention and treatment in its community. On Tuesday, January 5, the institution took care of some special guests who all belong to a particularly vulnerable demographic.

Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron (left) and former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Louis W. Sullivan (right) prepares to be vaccinated, courtesy of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Four leaders in politics, entertainment and public service will be honored by receiving their vaccination at the HBCU. Those individuals are Former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, veteran broadcasting executive Xernona Clayton and Major League Baseball legend Hank Aaron.

“They marched to the polls to secure our rights,” said Morehouse School of Medicine President and Dean, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, “And now, they are rolling up their sleeves to save lives. The way to stop the devastating impact of COVID-19 in the Black community is to get the vaccines into black arms.”

Considering that all the leaders are over 75 years of age, they are entitled to a space on the vaccine priority list in Class 1A. Grady Health System, which is one of the largest public safety net systems in the nation, will provide the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

MSM’s vaccinations are part of a larger plan to quell fears of the vaccine within the African American community. Historically, racism in healthcare have led African Americans to receive debilitating and even fatal treatments. However, the resulting hesitation to engage with healthcare professionals couldn’t come at a worse time. African Americans are disproportionately more likely than other racial groups in the United States to be infected and also die from the virus.

Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron awaits his COVID-19 vaccine, courtesy of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hank Aaron shared how proud he was to be vaccinated at such a historical pillar of the Black community. Back in 2015, he and his wife, Billye Suber Aaron, went so far as to donate $3 million to MSM for the medical school to construct a new pavilion on campus.

“I am so proud of Morehouse School of Medicine for efforts to remain in the forefront of the country’s response to COVID-19,” Aaron said. “And I am honored to join the medical school in combatting vaccine hesitancy. Its new Morehouse Healthcare clinic in Atlanta’s historic West End is a tremendous investment and resource in the effort to erase health inequity in underserved communities.”

Former N.C. A&T Chancellor James C. Renick Has Passed Away

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North Carolina A&T State University‘s ninth chancellor, James C. Renick, has unfortunately passed away at the age of 72.

Renick’s daughter, Karinda Renick, confirmed the sad news in a Facebook post. She previously shared that Renick was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS. Unfortunately, the leader was only diagnosed with the disease less than a year ago.

“Today I had to say goodbye to a great man, my dad,” said Renick. “I am completely heartbroken.”

James C. Renick, courtesy of News Break

The Illinois native came from humble beginnings, but his ambition earned him a lifetime filled with leadership roles. According to Greensboro News & Record, Renick In 1989, he became associate provost and program director at George Mason University in northern Virginia. Two years later, he was promoted to vice provost for academic initiatives and external affairs. By 1993, Renick became chancellor of University of Michigan-Dearborn near Detroit.

Renick served as chancellor of North Carolina A&T from 1999-2006. The university honored Renick with a thoughtful tweet reflective of his time at the school.

“Under the leadership of Dr. James C. Renick, N.C. A&T saw significant enrollment, facility and infrastructure growth. He was known to spend significant time engaging with students. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and the educational communities he impacted.

Renick was known for his big goals and big spirit. When he was appointed to North Carolina A&T in 2000, he had memorable words for the student body.

“Our key to invigorating innovation is keeping our focus on our students,” proclaimed Renick. “Ultimately we want to nourish the spirit that marks North Carolina A&T as the university that enriches the lives of its students and adds value to the quality of life in North Carolina and the nation.”

James C. Renick, courtesy of Greensboro News & Record

“Chancellor Renick will be remembered as an impactful leader of the university and an educational professional with a heart for students,” said current Chancellor Harold Martin in a comforting message to N.C. A&T students and employees. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Renick family as they grieve a husband and father.”

Shaw University’s Center for Racial and Social Justice Partners With The City of Raleigh

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Shaw University‘s drive to create a more just and equitable society has caught the attention of Raleigh locals. Now, Shaw’s Center for Racial and Social Justice has big plans spread its outreach through a partnership with the City of Raleigh.

Through the recent collaboration, Shaw and the City of Raleigh will produce a series of public listening sessions on race, racism, and social equity beginning in February 2021. Dr. Paulette Dillard, who is the President of Shaw University, looks forward to the impact the partnership will have.

“As the founding location for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Shaw has a rich legacy as a social justice leader,” said Dr. Dillard. “This partnership with the City of Raleigh allows Shaw to expand its work and make meaningful impacts for the citizens of Raleigh.”

The Shaw University campus, courtesy of The Progressive Pulse

Created in June 2020, Shaw University’s Center for Racial and Social Justice has been described as a “space for and support the development of bold, visionary leadership.” The Center has deployed several initiatives to create impactful social change by supporting student engagement around civil and human rights. Those initiatives include lectures, workshops, seminars, certificate programs, forums and advocacy work. The Center is holistic in that it also supports spiritual formation and discernment around social justice. As a result of its work, the Center hope to develop healthy congregations and communities. 

Shaw’s work within its community has created a foundation of trust among people like Raleigh mayor Mary Ann Baldwin, who believe the collaboration will extend far beyond the campus.

Shaw University students, courtesy of Shaw University

“The big goal of our collaboration with the Center for Racial and Social Justice is to develop an actionable plan to build a more equitable community for all of us,” said Mayor Baldwin. “We’re very excited about this partnership and the good work to come. We couldn’t have a better partner than Shaw.” 

Later this month, Shaw University and the City of Raleigh plan to release a joint guidance on participation in conjunction with the lectures. The collaboration is sure to nurture the challenging work people at the Center are doing to address race and racism, environmental and climate justice, social inequities, health, and violence.

Morehouse Alum & Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Hospitalized With COVID-19

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Birmingham, Alabama mayor Randall Woodfin was recently hospitalized with pneumonia complications from COVID-19. He is the second member of his family to be hospitalized from the virus this month.

Those closest to the mayor have done their best to share updates on his condition through a string of tweets from the City of Birmingham Twitter account. Woodfin was admitted to the hospital on January 4.

Randall Woodfin, courtesy of AL.com

“Birmingham Mayor @randallwoodfin is in stable condition and showing improvement as he remains hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, according to his personal physician,” said one tweet.

“We have often heard how important it is to follow the recommendations of health professionals as those recommendations relate to COVID-19. I am doing that,’’ Mayor Woodfin continued.

While the mayor is recovering well now, not everyone in his family is so lucky. Unfortunately, Woodfin’s grandmother succumbed to the virus in the hospital on January 1, just a few days prior to Woodfin’s own hospitalization.

“My Grandma went home to be with the Lord this morning. It doesn’t matter how much you prepare for the call. It’s still so unsettling, devastating, and shocking all at the same time,’’ Woodfin shared in a tweet the day of her passing,’’ he tweeted.

A Morehouse graduate, Woodfin has always made it a priority to serve his community. While there he studied political science, before eventually obtaining a law degree. Except for his four years at Morehouse, the Birmingham, Alabama native has lived in his hometown all his life.

“From fairly early in my youth, I had been committed to the idea that I wanted to serve Birmingham in the most meaningful way possible,’’ Woodfin shared on his website amid his run for mayor. “I wanted to bring people and businesses and organizations across our city together to make Birmingham the very best it can be — a place where every citizen has opportunities to develop their potential to its fullest. I wanted to be responsible for charting Birmingham’s course into a future of innovation and progress, while beginning to achieve at last the goals of equality and inclusion that are ingrained in our civic character.’’

Randall Woodfin, courtesy of Reddit

He has continued to advise his community about his COVID-19 experience, even as he recovers himself.

“I want to encourage people to continue to listen to and to follow the advice of medical experts about this virus,’’ Mayor Woodfin shared in another tweet.