William Jackson and Aida Correa are attending multiple community events sponsored by Ford Motor Company and the Southern Ford Dealers across Florida. Selected as part of 25 Blogging Influencers that attended the Florida Blogging and Technology Conference in 2018. Several of the events are highlighted in this blog.
Theresa Campbell (Regional Marketing Specialist Orlando Region), Aida Correa (FordVIP Blogger), William Jackson (FordVIP Blogger), Chaun Brown (Orlando Sales Operations Manager for Ford), Cayla Whitcomb (Sales Business Development Specialist).
The Black History Month Unity Networking Mixer in Orlando, Florida, sharing this event on social media channels to encourage community collaboration to build partnerships in mentoring and business. Ford sponsors many activities across the state, this effort through the #FordVIP and #ConnectFord program addresses the use of social media and digital platforms to reach out to communities to broaden the vision for unity, collaboration, business growth and family/community engagement.
William and Aida residents of Jacksonville and part of the 25 member team FORDVIP Bloggers that blog using multiple platforms and report on state-wide activities that are sponsored by Ford. Each event represents family oriented and community based to engagements promoting the beauty of diversity, awesomeness of inclusion and the need for increased community service. What better way to create a vision of diversity and inclusion, to allow bloggers of diverse backgrounds to share their experiences through their eyes using their talents, skills and abilities using social media.
The Unity Mixer was attended by several hundred business and community organizations that contribute to building youth and teen leadership skills, advocates for STEAM and educational success in Orlando and surrounding areas. The ROLEX 24 auto race held at Daytona International Raceway gives a view into the world of motor racing that many do not get to see and experience. Bloggers like William, African American, educator and speaker at national and international WordCamp conferences shares his views why people of a diversity should experience attending races with their families.
Aida of Latina background, Puerto Rican shares from the perspective of a mother, grandmother, Artist what her views are of the fun women can have with their families attending motor sports.
Cultural backgrounds should not limit the involvement and engagement of activities that are different and out of the norm. What better way to experience life than to do things that are different, exciting, new and innovative.
Pictured are operations managers and marketing specialists that coordinate with William and Aida to provide maximum exposure for the Southern Ford Dealers that are sponsoring events that promote family engagement and unity in their communities. Attending community events like the Women On The Rise that celebrates women doing phenomenal things in their communities that influence youth, teens and young adults is more than a movement it is a passion for the direction of change.
Attending these events are pictured: Theresa Campbell (Regional Marketing Specialist Orlando Region), Aida Correa (FordVIP Blogger), William Jackson (FordVIP Blogger), Chaun Brown (Orlando Sales Operations Manager for Ford), Cayla Whitcomb (Sales Business Development Specialist).
When Michael Sorrell became president of Paul Quinn College 12 years ago, he assessed the dire situation his school was in and made a bold choice: No more football.
“I mean, we’re in Texas. We’re an HBCU in Texas,” Sorrell said. “I got a little flak for that, OK?”
But to him, eliminating the program was the only way the historically black college in Dallas, which was founded in 1872 by a group of preachers from the African Methodist Episcopal Church to educate freed slaves and their children, could get back on track.
Football had cost the school roughly $600,000 to $1 million a year, he said, and scholarships went mainly to the players. Meanwhile, other students struggled, faculty and staff members were leaving, and buildings had fallen into disrepair.
“We were roughly 18 months to 24 months away from closing. We had financial problems. We had academic problems. We had morale problems, and it was the prototypical scenario for an institution that had been struggling for a long time and the end of the road was coming,” he told NBC News in a phone interview.
The challenges Paul Quinn College faced are not unique, experts said, even if its solution was one of a kind.
Last month, when billionaire philanthropist Robert Smith thrust historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) into the national spotlight by pledging to eliminate up to $40 million in student loans for Morehouse College’s almost 400 graduates, his gift was heralded as both historic and likely life-changing for those students.
But student loan debt is merely a symptom of a systemic problem that dates back to the schools’ beginnings, according to Marybeth Gasman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert on HBCUs.
Jacksonville, Florida –The winds of change officially swept through the Edward Waters College Athletic Department on Tuesday as Paul Bryant was introduced as the ninth director of intercollegiate athletics in program history.
Bryant comes to EWC with over a decade of experience as an Athletic Director, with five of those years serving as AD at NCAA Division I institutions. Bryant has also served as athletic director at one Division II institutions, one NAIA institution, and has a wealth of experience as an Athletics Administrator as well.
“When we started this journey, we made a concerted effort to find a leader, a leader of young people, a leader of staff that can take Edward Waters College to heretofore unprecedented heights,” stated EWC President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr. “Today is a great day of excitement as we look forward to the future of athletics here at Edward Waters College,” Dr. Faison further added.
Most recently, Bryant served as the Director of Athletics at Grambling State University from 2017-2018. Under his purview at GSU, the Tigers won Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships in football, women’s basketball, and men’s basketball. In addition, four Grambling State programs made it to the SWAC Championship of their respective sports. Bryant engineered facilities upgrades at venerable Eddie G. Robinson Stadium in Grambling, which included installation of Field Turf and new digital scoreboards in just eight months.
Prior to his time at GSU, Bryant spent three years as the Director of Athletics at South Carolina State University. While at SCSU during the 2014-15 year, the SC State football team claimed a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship and the men’s tennis program won and represented the MEAC in the first round of the NCAA Division I Tennis Championship. Bryant also created the “Kennel Booster Club” and oversaw the renovations of the Hardeep Judge Tennis Center.
Bryant also served as the Director of Athletics at Stillman College from 2013-2014, where he oversaw three athletic programs that won Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) division and tournament championships in men’s & women’s tennis and baseball.
He also has served as Director of Athletics at Eureka College, Associate Director and Interim Director of Athletics at Urbana University. Bryant also has coaching experience, serving as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Urbana as well as Sinclair Community College
Bryant holds a bachelor’s degree from Alaska Pacific University as well as a master’s degree in Education from Urbana University. Bryant will also receive his doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership/Athletics from Northcentral University in July.
“I am excited and I am enthused to be here as the ninth Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Edward Waters College,” remarked Bryant. He also said, “Our athletic department will be disciplined in everything that we do, in the classroom, on the playing field, and in the community.” “In everything that we do, we will walk and talk like champions.”
For New Bern, N.C., native, Ny’Quasia Brown, the dream of attending college was one she was set on realizing.
On June 15, 2019, the Jacksonville, N.C., teen graduated from White Oak High School at the age of 16 with more than $1.5 million in scholarships.
“I’ve always wanted to go to an HBCU (historically black college or university),” Brown said. “When I started doing my research, I looked at colleges that ranked high in the nation where I knew I could also get a great education.”
She quickly put North Carolina Central University (NCCU) at the top of her list and has since confirmed her enrollment as an Eagle freshman, entering with the class of 2023. Her goal is, after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, to attend NCCU School of Law.
The university’s chancellor, Johnson O. Akinleye, Ph.D., called Brown to congratulate her on her achievements and formally welcome her to the university upon learning of her college decision.
To get to this point, Brown spent two years working with her school’s counselors, Sandra Young and Rena McAllister, not only to apply for colleges, but also find the resources to pay for her education. Her persistence paid off greatly: to date, Brown has amassed over $1,543,500 in scholarships. These funds include the People Helping People scholarship offered by the State Employees Credit Union along, with awards from the Jacksonville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., White Oak High School and NCCU.
“One day we were sitting and talking about college and Ny’Quasia was beginning to receive mail from several institutions,” said Crystal Gill, Brown’s mother. “She started filling out applications and looking into scholarship opportunities and said, ‘Mom, I’m going to college for free.’”
Her mother credits the Counselor’s Corner at her daughter’s high school for helping Brown achieve her goal. “There is a book of scholarships they keep in the front area of the office and Ny’Quasia was there diligently, multiple times each week.”
Gill, who also has two children who are younger than Ny’Quasia and one who is older, didn’t want Brown to choose a college far from home, but she practiced a piece of counsel she passes on to other parents: “Don’t lead your children, guide them.”
And, Gill knows what makes her daughter thrive: “Ny’Quasia is very independent and has a mind of her own, and I support her. I see her being a successful attorney. She will be phenomenal and make changes in the world.”
Dr. Christopher Barnes, principal of White Oak High School, concurs.
“My first interaction with Ny’Quasia showed me she was a very vocal and confident freshman. She has become intense and determined about success beyond high school,” Barnes said. “Her ability to know what she is after, where she is going and how to get there is admirable. She is a mold-breaker.”
One specific example of Brown’s early abilities to mediate and negotiate came when she saw an opportunity to create an inaugural Black History Spirit Week at her high school.
“I brought the idea to my principal, Dr. Barnes, and I saw it as a way to be a leader and spark a change following a challenging situation with my classmates,” Brown explained.
Barnes said that Brown is solutions oriented. “She brought with her the assumption that I cared and I didn’t shut her down.”
She hopes that the week now will be celebrated annually at her school and has already spoken to junior class officers at her high school.
Since her story began generating publicity and speaking requests, Brown has provided her words of wisdom to other young people who are looking to follow in her footsteps. The keys to her success thus far are simple: “Leadership is very important; take advantage of every opportunity you are given. Place God first. Utilize your full potential. God has blessed me with a community and family that have supported me when I couldn’t do it for myself. Always remember that you have to sow a seed.” She also credits her godparents, Will and Natisha McCarter, for playing a role in her success.
NCCU will welcome Ny’Quasia Brown as part of its first-year class of 2023 in August 2019.
When a South Carolina store owner called security and threatened to notify police on a group of black men for talking too loud, putting their negro hands on his merchandise and—most egregiously—paying him no attention, the young men learned a valuable lesson about racial profiling and being black in America. However, it turns out that the group in question was not a roving band of unruly thugs, but an HBCU professor on vacation with his scholar/athlete sons.
Every year in early June, thousands of high school graduates head to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for “Senior Week” to celebrate their high school graduations. But instead of simply sending his sons to the resort city unsupervised, college professor Chris Carraway decided that he would take his two sons himself as a reward for completing their high school education and earning college scholarships.
“Myrtle Beach has a reputation and I didn’t feel comfortable with my 18-year-olds going down there without supervision,” Carraway told The Root. “So I took the week off and went down there with them to just hang out.”
Along with his sons, Carraway, who lives in Columbia, S.C., also invited his sons’ friends to join them for the “boys weekend.” The group decided to go shopping at Myrtle Beach Mall and were patronizing Fun Wear Sports when they were approached by the owner of the store, Michael Means, clad in a grease-stained shirt and wearing a haircut that was either a tribute to David Bowie or troll dolls.
And troll he did.
“As soon as we walked in, you could just feel him staring at us,” Carraway said, describing an ancient phenomenon experienced by the Freedom Riders, fugitive slaves and every black person who works at an all-white company.
“It was almost as if he was expecting us to … Well, I won’t speculate why he was staring. But he was staring,” explained Carraway. “Of course, being who we are, black people in South Carolina, that’s not too unusual.”
The graduates continued to shop and talk among themselves as Means watched them closely. After one of the boys made a funny comment that tickled the group, the unamused store owner asked the boys what they were laughing at. Carraway said he quickly stepped in and told the store owner that it was none of his business, at which point which Means reportedly told the group to stay together because he couldn’t “keep an eye” on all of them at one time.
That’s when one of Carraway’s sons pulled out his phone and started recording. The video shows Paul Blart, the Racist Mall Cop yelling to the group, unprompted: “Nobody touch anything unless you wanna buy.”
Just because something sounds good, doesn’t mean you should put it on your resume. A million other people probably have used the same phrase time and time again in their cover letter and during their interview. In today’s competitive job market, your resume needs to be innovative, unique, and eye-catching. This can’t be accomplished by using the same tired phrases that recruiters and hiring managers see and hear just about every day. Career strategist Jodi Brockington, founder & president of Niara Consulting talks about the most overused resume phrases and how we can put them to rest for ultimate job seeking success.
5 MOST OVERUSED RESUME PHRASES
‘I’m a team player’
This phrase is used far too often because job seekers know that every employer wants a team player. However, it’s best to demonstrate how you’ve been a team player rather than just saying that you are one. “‘Team player’ can also be misleading because it can suggest that you are a follower rather than a leader,” Brockington says. Consider phrases like “played various roles,” “worked with multiple departments,” “thrived in diverse work environments,” or “handled a variety of tasks.”
“The team player thing is kind of played out,” she adds.
‘I have extensive experience in…’
People love to use this phrase, whether they’ve been working for 10 days or 10 years. Extensive is a very vague word that doesn’t tell an employer much about the actual experience you have, Brockington says. “[Extensive experience] can imply that you’ve been stagnant or that you’re older.” There was a time when this phrase was more acceptable because employers sought out individuals who had been doing the same thing for a long time. “Nowadays people are looking to hire that ‘master of many,’” Brockington says. Employers are more impressed by job seekers who have advanced and have multiple areas of expertise.
More specific phrases such as “five years progressive experience in project management and staff leadership” are a better option.
‘I’m a multitasker’
The fact that you can surf the Web while talking on the phone doesn’t make you a multitasker. In addition, multi-tasking isn’t necessarily a good trait if it isn’t done effectively. Brockington says that if not used in the proper context, “multitasker” can lead employers to believe that you aren’t detail-oriented or able to pay adequate attention to specific tasks.
It may be better to include that you are “able to prioritize and efficiently manage multiple assignments” rather than just saying that you’re a multi-tasker.
‘I am entrepreneurial-minded’
This word can be particularly damaging if it’s not something that the position calls for. Most job seekers refer to themselves as “entrepreneurial” in order to show independence and leadership skills. However, the term often implies that you “lack work experience or want to do things your own way,” Brockington says.
She suggests that a better approach would be to highlight your skills in strategic planning, leadership, understanding corporate vision and culture, risk-taking, and out-of-the-box thinking.
‘I work well in a fast-paced environment’
It’s not very likely that an employer will refer to their company as slow-paced. So, it really isn’t necessary to indicate that you can “work in a fast-paced environment.” The term is too general and doesn’t tell the employer about the specific settings in which you’re most experienced, Brockington says.
She suggests that you provide more valuable phrases that talk about competency and completion of tasks such as “implement key time-management skills in high-demand settings” or “able to exceed company expectations by prioritizing tasks and completing assignments ahead of schedule.”
While these phrases might be cliche, Brockington says they can work for or against a job seeker. While there are no set rules on what phrases should and should not be used, it’s important to research the company and the role to see what might work and what should be avoided. Whenever possible, stay away from generic and general terms and always quantify or quality your experience with specific numbers and tangible evidence of your accomplishments.
This post was written by Aisha M. Taylor, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
Elijah Rutland, the 19-year-old FAMU graphics design major from Macon, GA, who broke the internet last fall with his “Black Rolf” meme, will now take his talents to Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA this fall. The FAMU junior was tapped by WB studios for an animation internship where he will work on the Dr. Seuss Green Eggs & Ham show which will air on Netflix. (Rattler Nation)
Lauren Kingsbury is a 21-year-old senior in the 5-year MBA program at Hampton University.
Lauren is also a real estate agent, licensed at 18-years-old, who is passionate about her peers understanding the importance of home ownership.
On campus, Lauren is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Entrepreneurship Club, and the National Association of Black Accountants. She spends her weekends giving seminars & workshops and balances her studies as she prepares to graduate in December.
Lauren’s mantra is “When you learn, teach. When you get, give” by Maya Angelou and was recently inspired:
“I hosted the first ‘Millennials Moving Out: Your Guide to More Money & More Freedom’ at Hampton University. 61 students showed up on a Saturday morning to learn about real estate! This event encouraged me to create the HBCU Real Estate Tour which will spark the real estate conversation at all HBCUs.”
Lauren says if she could tell her peers one thing, it would be “to financially prepare yourself right now in order to own properties, increase your net-worth and rebuild generational wealth!”
When Shirley Raines first began working with the homeless, it was through a charity that provided Los Angeles’ Skid Row with food. She then began to notice the women were more interested in her colorful hair and makeup than anything else.
In an interview with Insider, Shirley said: ‘As we passed out food, the women were more interested in my hair color and my makeup. And they used to compliment me, going “oh my god, we love your makeup” or “we love your hair color” or “you smell so good.”
‘After a couple months, it hit me, that “wow, women are still interested in these things”, and I realized that at their core, they’re still women.’
‘Tis the season to be breezy, ladies, and with so many sunny days ahead, there’s so much to think about when it comes to bringing out the best and the brightest of your wardrobe and your beauty kit According to Taper Cypher. However, summertime comes with its own set of conundrums, from constant sweating, all the way to our bad hair day numbers through the roof (humidity is a killer) – and it’s time to solve them beforehand to keep your sunny spirit undisturbed.
Details that matter
It makes perfect sense that your fading color is driving you nuts and that potential frequent haircuts due to ponytail damage are on the horizon, but there are a few worthy beauty bits that deserve your special attention during these sultry days. We’re talking about your juicy lips and your lovely nails!
In order to prevent chipping, roughness, and dryness in both, you should keep a close eye on how they behave in this weather. Of course, a dab of coconut oil or a similar nourishing substance can do wonders for both so you can keep them handy for your beachy basking sessions. Then again, make sure you have a hand cream with SPF and a lip balm for added nourishment and UV safety.
Ermias Joseph Asghedom, known as “Nipsey Hussle”, was an American rapper, entrepreneur, and community activist from Los Angeles, California who made a difference in the lives of millions.
Most importantly he was a proud father, devoted boyfriend and loving brother, uncle, nephew and son. Hussle was no stranger to an evolved, conscious state of thinking. Just like the tattoo on the temple of he face, which reads “prolific,” Hussle was especially known for his raw, truthful, empowering words and lyrics.
Watch as he discusses fatherhood. Happy Father’s Day to all dads everywhere.
One of the first articles I ever had published was a feature story I wrote many years ago on growing up with a single, black father. “Oprah doesn’t do stories on single, black dads,” I wrote. I complained about them being an ignored demographic.
To my surprise, I received several letters from black women angered by my article. I recall one stating that the single, black father was the exception, not the norm and why take focus off of black women who so often pull double duty as mother and father while working full time?
Those women deserve support and admiration. Yet, I said then as I say now: Black men with sole custody of their kids, comprise a small yet mighty group that deserves far more attention than received.
A look at the statistics: From the Pew Research center’s data from 2017; 36% of black children under 18-years-old live with married parents; 47% live with single mothers; 7% live with cohabitating partners; and 4% live with single fathers.
I was part of that scant percentage. My father had little-to-no resources when my mother just upped and left him with two pre-teen kids. He worked two, sometimes three jobs to keep paying the mortgage on the house he and my mother had just bought; and to provide for us. Although there was no time or money for vacations I cannot remember ever doing without lights, heat, air conditioning, school supplies, clothes—without any of the basic needs, really.
My father would come home from a two-hour commute every night just in time to make sure we were OK—fed, homework done—and then was back out the door two hours later—on yet another grueling two-hour train ride to his second job. Our lives ran that way for years until we kids were grown.
Still, I think my then-over-taxed father could have benefited with some support. In her book, “The Best Kept Secret: Single Black Fathers,” associate professor of sociology at Marquette University Roberta L. Coles writes that “monies, scholarly research, and public debate have nearly entirely focused on non-custodial fathers or so-called ‘irresponsible fathers’ for which black fathers have become the poster child.”
In her research, which included interviews of single, black fathers, Coles discovered, “African American fathers struggle to extricate themselves from the negative and restrictive cultural baggage that attends the ‘black male’ identity in American society.”
As a child, and even today as an adult, I get defensive about the persistently negative portrayals of black men as fathers as I remember my own and how he did so much to raise us.
So, what is my point? Well, I guess I wish there were more single, black fathers highlighted in media. I wish there were more policies and organizations that advocated for fathers’ rights when the father is the more fit custodial parent.
But, my point is also to highlight the single, black fathers out there this Father’s Day. I remember so well when my father removed the drop leaf that extended our dining room table after my mother left, shrinking it down into a small, encompassing circle. “We were a family of four, now we are a family of three,” he said.
He was right then, and we still are a strong family of three. And Happy Father’s Day to all of the single, black fathers.
This post was written by Samara Lynn, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
The Texas Southern University Board of Regents approved the appointment of five academic deans at its June 13, 2019, meeting.
“Each of these deans is uniquely qualified to lead their respective areas,” said TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane. “Through the hiring process, we focused on their ability to help the university advance its Top 5 priorities, which include student success and completion, academic program quality and research, culture, partnerships, and finances. With their mix of teaching and administrative experience, these leaders will bring new ideas and innovation that will benefit our students, faculty, staff and the entire Tiger community.”
Dr. David Yen was named dean of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business. Since 2013, Dr. Yen has held both academic and administrative roles at the State University of New York (SUNY)-Oneonta, serving as founding dean and professor (2013-16), and most recently as full professor in the department of management, marketing and information systems. Prior to SUNY-Oneonta, Yen held faculty positions in the Farmer School of Business at Miami (OH) University from 1985-2013.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma, both in 1982, followed by a master’s degree in computer science and a doctorate in management information systems from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, both in 1985.
Joan R.M. Bullock was named dean of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She served as president and dean at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) in San Diego, CA, from 2017-18. TJSL is a private, independent law school with 32 full-time faculty, 59 administrative staff, and a budget of $27 million. From 2002-2017, she held several academic and administrative positions at Florida A&M University’s College of Law, including professor, interim director of admissions and recruitment, associate dean for teaching and faculty development, and associate dean for academic affairs.
Bullock earned a bachelor’s degree in legal and political theory from Michigan State University, a juris doctor of law from the University of Toledo College of Law, and a master’s degree in business administration (with a specialty in accounting and finance) from the University of Michigan. She is also licensed as a CPA in Michigan, owned her own law practice for 19 years, and, early in her career, spent one year as a product specialist for General Motors in Detroit, MI. She has been very involved in leadership roles with the American Bar Association and several state bar associations.
Dr. Needha Boutté-Queen was named dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Behavioral Sciences (COLABS).
Dr. Boutté-Queen has served as interim dean of COLABS since October 2018. Prior to that, she was department chair and professor of social work, in addition to her role as the associate accreditation liaison for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). She began her tenure at TSU in 2006, and has also served as an interim assistant dean of student enhancement and academic success from 2012-2015 for COLABS. Prior to arriving at TSU in 2006, Dr. Boutté-Queen was an assistant professor of social work at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and director of social work field education at the University of Houston Clear Lake.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Texas Southern University in 1993, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago, and doctorate of philosophy from the University of Houston.
Dr. Rashid Mosavin was named dean of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.
Since 2013, Dr. Mosavin has served as the executive associate dean at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy in Loma Linda, CA. Prior to that role, he was an associate professor in the department of pharmacotherapy and outcomes science (2004-06), chair of the department of pharmaceutical sciences (2007-2011), and associate dean of academic affairs (2012-13). He also spent four years as a clinical assistant professor and an assistant director of ambulatory care pharmacy at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s College of Pharmacy from 2000-2004.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Kansas and a doctorate degree in molecular pharmacology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Mosavin also received a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago.
Dr. George Kieh, Jr., was named dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs.
Since 2009, Dr. Kieh has served in both administrative and academic roles at the University of West Georgia, most recently as the interim chair of the Department of Criminology (2018-19) and as a full professor of political science (2009-19). He also served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2009-10. Previously, Dr. Kieh held administrative positions at Morehouse College (chair of the Department of Political Science, 2002-05), Grand Valley State University (dean of international affairs, 2001-03), and several other institutions, including Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Memphis.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Liberia, followed by a master’s degree and doctorate of philosophy in political science from Northwestern University.
“We are excited about these new academic leaders,” said TSU Provost Dr. Kendall Harris. “Our search process was thorough and inclusive, and I’d like to thank all of the faculty, staff, administrators, alumni and community members who contributed by serving on the various committees and providing input into the selection process.”
All of the new deans are expected to begin their responsibilities this summer, prior to the start of the fall semester.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 9,700 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
Two local historically black universities are merging some of their services on campus, a move that was first suggested more than 22 years ago.
The Dayton Daily News first reported Thursday that Wilberforce University is in talks with Central State University to share some operations for the two colleges that are located across the street from each other in Greene County. The “collaboration” will begin with some Wilberforce students living on Central State’s campus, according to a release.
The two schools are also “exploring opportunities” to merge some of their academic offerings, food services, library services and information technology, according to the release.
“I have always encouraged positive, collaborative higher education partnerships in Ohio,” said Randy Gardner, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. “In this spirit, I congratulate Central State and Wilberforce as they work together to achieve greater efficiencies while enhancing academic opportunities for students they are privileged to serve.”
The idea of historically black colleges and universities merging operations or campuses is not an unfamiliar concept.
In fact, talk of the two colleges merging in some part dates back to at least the 1990s, the Dayton Daily News reported.
In March 1997, the state legislature was considering requiring Central State to close or merge with another school because of financial issues. Wilberforce University and Ohio State University were both considered as possible options to merge with.
The idea was eventually knocked down by Wilberforce University’s then-president John L. Henderson in a May 1997 commencement speech.
Last year, the chancellor of the University System of Georgia proposed a plan to merge two HBCUs, including Albany State and nearby Darton State College, according to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Locally, Franklin University in Columbus bought Urbana University in 2014. Following the merger, Urbana became a Franklin University branch campus in 2017.
A Central State spokeswoman declined to comment Thursday. This news organization has also reached out to a spokesperson for Wilberforce University.
The two universities actually started off as one. Central State began as the “Combined Normal and Industrial Department” at Wilberforce University before the state legislature voted in May 1951 to separate it into its own institution, according to the Ohio History Connection.
“Central State University and Wilberforce University students will continue to engage on their respective campuses but can look forward to shared and dynamic learning and student engagement experiences,” states a release from Wilberforce.
Both Wilberforce University and Central State have have garnered attention recently for campus housing.
In January, multiple Wilberforce students were displaced after a pipe burst and damaged rooms in Henderson Hall, Cynthia W. Roseberry, vice president for institutional advancement said at the time. All displaced students have been housed in the Ramada hotel in Xenia, Roseberry said.
Central State announced in 2018 that it was building a set of new $24-million student apartments on its campus.
Central State and Wilberforce are also both trying to rebound from financial issues of the past few years.
Wilberforce ran an operational deficit of more than $19 million in fiscal year 2017 and was placed on probation by the Higher Learning Commission. The HLC is a regional accrediting body and is responsible for accrediting colleges in 19 states.
Central State was removed from state fiscal watch in March 2017. CSU was first placed on fiscal watch in 2015, after it fell below a state threshold measuring financial health two years in a row.
The state measures every public college’s fiscal health with something called a “Senate Bill 6 score,” an annual rating of 0 to 5. Any school that falls below a 1.75 two years in a row is put on notice.
Central State scored a 1.3 in 2013 and a 1 in 2014. To get removed from fiscal watch, a university must meet a rating of at least 2.4 and must also re-mediate all conditions that led to its financial troubles.
“No one likes to be on fiscal watch,” CSU president Cynthia Jackson-Hammond said in 2017. “But, it was an opportunity for us to regroup, rethink, re-strategize and re-position ourselves for a better future.”
African Americans have been supported throughout the years by amazing community institutions that have educated, empowered and emboldened generations. Through engagement with organizations like HBCUs, the black church, and community groups, we leverage the strength of our collective to build our own legacies and live our best lives.
#StoryTime : At the turn of the 20thcentury, although Black students were finally being admitted into predominantly white universities, they weren’t always fully integrated into university life. Black Greek letter organizations,known as the Divine Nine,were founded starting in 1906 to provide Black students with a safe space to cultivate Black identity, and foster academic excellence, leadership skills, and an overarching mission to strengthen the community.
Many members of Black Greekdom have become trailblazers—disrupting industries, breaking boundaries, and making history. Last month’s installment of the #ChevyLegacyTrailblazer serieshighlighted famous members of Black Fraternities. Today, we’re honoring celebrity members of Black Sororities, who are dedicated to their letters for life, and who have adopted community involvement and empowerment as their mission.
K Michelle – Delta Sigma Theta
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 17: K. Michelle attends the Post Show for the 2018 Soul Train Awards, presented by BET, at the Orleans Arena on November 17, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET)
Kimberly Michelle Pate, better known by her stage name K. Michelle is a chart-topping singer, songwriter, and reality TV star. Although many know her from Love & Hip Hop fame, in a post on Facebook, she shared, “I graduated from Florida A&M university and was Miss FAMU. I pledged Delta Sigma Theta, and got into several law schools.”#IfYouWasntKnowin… she’s a whole phenomenon!
Yvette Nicole Brown – Alpha Kappa Alpha
Best known for her award winning roles on Community, Malcolm in the Middle, Drake and Josh, That’s So Raven, The Office, and The Talking Dead, Yvette Nicole Brown is a graduate of the University of Akron and a proud member of the Delta Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. The actress, philanthropist, and DonorsChoose.org board member is often referred to as one of the hardest working women in Hollywood, and her college experience reflects this go-getter lifestyle–, “I was one of those people that tried to get involved in everything. I worked at the radio station, I was a Campus Ambassador – those were the people that gave tours on campus – I worked with the Admissions department, I pledged a sorority (AKA)… I never knew which opportunity was going to give me what I needed to further my life. I wanted to be well-rounded, so I kind of just jumped into everything.”(Risen Magazine)
Victoria Rowell – Sigma Gamma Rho
Victoria Rowell is an award winning actress, New York Times bestselling author, dancer, and producer, best known for her starring role in The Young and the Restless. According to Wiki, at just 18-days-old, she was surrendered to child services and raised in a loving foster home. Due to her early experiences, she later founded Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan Fine Arts Scholarship Fundto provide ‘emotional support and financial aid’ to foster children. In addition to being a professional ballet dancer, and foster activist, she’s a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho.
Syleena Johnson – Zeta Phi Beta
Syleena Johnson is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, author, and daytime talk show host. She’s also a proud member of the Lambda Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta and the founder of an online wellness organization that motivates and educates women “with the tools to achieve mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health”. She is a true trailblazer, using her large platforms to spread positivity and edutainment!
In the comments below, tell us about a woman who you believe is trail blazing, and representing their Sorority well!
HOUSTON (June 13, 2019) – Dr. Teresa McKinney has been named as Vice President of Student Services at Texas Southern University.
McKinney, who has served as assistant vice president of student affairs at the University of North Texas since 2013, has an extensive background in all facets of student services. At UNT, she oversaw recreational sports, the student health and wellness center, disability access, assessment, and counseling and testing services.
“Her skill set as a proven administrator, in addition to her ability to connect with and lead students is what pushed her to the top during the search process,” said TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane. “She has created innovative, student-focused programs – and measuring their effectiveness. I look forward to her joining our servant leadership team and moving our Division of Student Services to new heights.”
Before UNT, McKinney was the dean of students at Chicago State University, where she provided leadership for a division of 10 departments. She also implemented the first Student Leadership Academy at the university and increased multicultural programming and student-oriented civic engagement activities.
At previous institutions, she served as associate and assistant dean of students, as well as an academic advisor at Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio; assistant director of admissions and advising on the satellite campus of Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio; and assistant registrar at Walsh University in Ohio. She began her career as a police officer with the Lansing Police Department in Lansing, Mich.
Dr. McKinney has expertise in a number of student affairs issues, including enrollment management, emergency preparedness and creating cultures of evidence for improved institutional effectiveness. Most recently, her research focused on how higher education institutions could successfully measure institutional effectiveness and use these results to create systems to promote continuous quality improvement.
McKinney earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Eastern Michigan University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Michigan State University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from National Louis University.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 9,700 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
