Clark Atlanta Grad Erica Barrett Shares Her Recipe For Success With You

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You’ve probably scrolled past editorial stylized dishes on your favorite food blog or on social media. But it’s not every day that you learn about the business behind culinary entrepreneurship. Yes, it’s an entire industry. And if you’re ready to learn how to take the heat in the kitchen, Chef Erica Barrett, founder and CEO of Southern Culture Foods, wants to help you learn the recipe for success as a food entrepreneur.

(Barrett is also a graduate of Clark Atlanta University.)

Since launching her company in 2012, Southern Culture Foods products are being sold in 4,000 stores nationwide. And we hear that her pancake mix, waffle mix, and rubs are popular by demand! So, if you’ve been sitting on a family recipe, want to learn more about the science of cooking, orbecome an entrepreneur and food personality like her—she has you covered.

Barrett took a moment from throwing down in the kitchen to talk about all things food and business. Take a look at her bite-size tips for food entrepreneurs.

BLACK ENTERPRISE: There are years of training that goes into becoming a chef, how can those interested in food entrepreneurship learn the basics without formal training? 

Erica Barrett: Being an entrepreneur is about figuring things out. When you embark on a food journey, you embark on the road less traveled. Read articles, research everything, exhaust all resources, reach out to people that you admire. Make mistakes as experience is the best teacher.

How did you turn your career as a chef into a successful business, Southern Culture Foods? 

I really didn’t do anything outside of step out on faith. God did the rest. My journey has been an everyday journey of learning, growing, networking, structuring my goals, and working tirelessly to make Southern Culture a household name.

What is the secret sauce to the business of culinary entrepreneurship?

The secret sauce is learning about the food industry every day, studying trends, and striving to be extremely different.

You wrote the cookbook, Shuga & Seoul, which seems like a natural move for a chef but what did you learn about culinary entrepreneurship through that process?    

Writing a book taught me about structure, being organized, and creating a culinary road map for others to follow.

How important is it for food entrepreneurs to position themselves as personalities and build their social media presence? 

Social media is huge and can be life-changing. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, separating yourself comes from being totally different. We have an opportunity to change the world through food, so don’t take it lightly.

Have you been able to monetize your online presence? If so, what advice do you have for other food entrepreneurs? 

Yes, I use FB ads; I also do influencer ads, videos, FB lives and email lists. Building a community online is important to success. My advice is to find your unique calling in food and trust your gut. Be bold in who you are as a chef an entrepreneur and success will follow.

If you want to hear more from Barrett, join us in Charlotte for our newest premier event for innovators, creators, and founders; FWD. Get your tickets today!

This post was written by Lydia Blanco, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.

Wakanda As A Classroom Tool: Celebrating Black Teachers Who Go The Extra Mile

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Black History Month is a time when most American school children learned about the amazing accomplishments of a few iconic leaders like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. They may have studied the Civil Rights Movement or watched a documentary chronicling the fight for black liberation. However, a few teachers took the celebration of black culture a step further. Here’s a roundup of three creative strategies employed by educators to celebrate and teach their students about black culture.

TEACHER BRINGS WAKANDA INTO THE CLASSROOM

Inspired by Black Panther—a Marvel sci-fi flick that is being celebrated for redefining blackness and its portrayal of Afrofuturism and Africa—one Ohio educator is copying a popular moment from the hit movie to greet her class. Tina Rucker Bailey, a teacher at Dayton Leadership Academies, uses Shuri and T’Challa’s handshake with her students in the morning to help get them pumped for the day, reports Yahoo Entertainment. A video of Bailey greeting her students with their special Black Pantherhandshake while wearing a panther mask went viral.

TEACHER CELEBRATES BLACK HAIR

Afro

(Image: Instagram.com/ktatuem)

Another educator celebrated the beauty of black hair by turning the door to her classroom into a giant, 3D mural of a black woman with an afro. Kimberly Tatuem, a History and American Government educator for Baltimore Public Schools, used strips of black construction paper to create faux 3D curls that covered the outside of her classroom door and extended onto the walls of the hallway. The mural also features a black girl wearing a shirt decorated with the faces of historic African American leaders like Huey P. Newton and Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

Tatuem says photos of her creation went viral, installing a sense of cultural pride in her students.

“When I came into school the next day after the post went viral and was shared on sites such as The Shade Room, Black Wall Street, Power 105.1 and Motown Records, as well as liked by a number of celebrities, my students were so excited and proud. I saw in them a renewed sense of pride in themselves, their abilities, their city, and their school,” said the eight-year teaching veteran.

TEACHER INSPIRES BLACK GIRL THROUGH HAIRSTYLE

(Image: Twitter/LeighaBishop)

A Texas pre-K teacher went the extra mile to help a black little girl appreciate her braids by styling her own hair the very same way. Last month, Leigha Bishop of Lakeview Elementary in Sugarland, Texas, said she noticed when her student, August Burroughs, didn’t feel confident about a new braided hairstyle.

“August always changes her hair, kind of like I do. And when she got here Monday, she got out of the car and I was like, ‘August, your hair is so cute,’” Bishop told ABC 7 News. “And she was like, ‘Yep, thank you, whatever.’ And I was like, ‘No, I’m really going to go home and do my hair.’”

The educator stayed true to her word and showed up to class with her hair styled the very same way. She then shared a photo on Jan. 31 of the two flaunting the identical braided topknot hairstyles that went viral.

“I went home and got to work on my hair! With my student’s hair being similar to mine, I thought, what better way to show her how she inspired me to feel beautiful [than] with that same braided updo?” she told Teen Vogue.

The elementary school teacher said the small gestures go a long way to help students embrace and feel good about their originality.

“When students are valued for who they are as an individual beyond grades on a report card, they tend to want to be present in school and want to succeed in all aspects of life.” she explained. “This small gesture of copying a hairstyle also shows that students have the ability to inspire teachers.”

She added, “Ultimately, I am a teacher who sees my students as whole people and not just bodies sitting in my classroom. I am a woman of color, and I want to pour positive light into children of all races and ethnicities.”

This post was written by Selena Hill, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.

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The Rich, Black, Southern Heritage Of Hip-Hop Majorettes

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As a boy back in Arkansas, we called them dancing girls. These all-women dance troupes combined the energy of the high-step marching style of black college bands with lyrical, West African, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop choreography. The result was almost too sexual to be looked at straight on. Back then, I could only steal glances at the Golden Girls, the majorettes for the band at my father’s alma mater, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. I wasn’t old enough to be leering at grown women like that, and why else would a boy be so transfixed by the dancers, unless of course he was “that way.”

You no longer have to be an initiate of Southern black college culture — the kin of some insufferably proud Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) alumni; annual attendee to a black college classic or homecoming game; bystander at a local Juneteenth parade; nostalgist for TLC’s “Baby-Baby-Baby” video, or NBC’s A Different World or Spike Lee’s School Daze— to recognize the style of dance performed by hip-hop majorettes. But even that term, “hip-hop majorette,” is a recent invention, a hastily applied umbrella description for a tradition of movement defined by dance lines that have fronted the marching bands of historically black colleges since the late ’60s. Hip-hop is an anachronistic but necessary distinction meant to distinguish this auxiliary group from more customary majorettes, women who march before traditional bands twirling batons.

Beyoncé’s recent Netflix concert film Homecoming highlights her admiration for the hip-hop majorette style. Her iconic Coachella performance, which opens with a phalanx of majorette-inspired dancers clearing the way for Bey costumed as Nefertiti, arrives at an auspicious moment for majoretting. Advocates of this uniquely Southern performance style — a community that includes both Southern straight black women and femme gay black men — have been using digital media platforms over the past decade to formalize and institutionalize the genre as a dance discipline. The 2018 Beychella performance is a culmination of many cultural phenomena that have helped amplify the visibility of majorette dance, including the emergence of commercial dance through televised dance competitions, the continued popularity of dance reality programming like Lifetime’s Bring It! (which just aired its fifth season and has spawned a road tour that travels the South), and the work of amateur videographers who upload weekly game performance footage to YouTube, creating a digital archive of the dance form and making performances available for future study.

Southern University's Dancing Dolls are known for their balletic port de bras.

Hip-hop majoretting began formally in the late ’60s. Marching bands had long featured carnivalesque acts pulling acrobatic stunts or tossing and catching flaming batons as a part of their halftime entertainment, but dance lines enabled bands to dramatize the popular songs they were beginning to mine from the radio.

There is some dispute over which school’s dance line debuted first, an issue that still regularly rouses debate from fans online. As the ability to watch black college bands was often limited to spectators at sports games, Alcorn State University’s claimthat its Golden Girls made their national debut at a televised 1968 Orange Blossom Classic offers a tenuous origin date for hip-hop majorettes, or “a featured squad with choreographed movements to an HBCU’s marching band’s live tunes,” as the GGs define it.

The Dancing Dolls of Southern University officially date back to 1969, founded by team adviser/coach Gracie Perkins and then–band director Isaac Greggs. The Dolls have enjoyed national acclaim due to the annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans, which is one of the few nationally televised HBCU football games. Jackson State’s J-Settes were founded in 1971, when Shirley Middleton, a former majorette and the squad’s initial sponsor, petitioned for the majorettes to “put their batons down.” Middleton, along with JSU twirler and choreographer Hollis Pippins, and eventual sponsor Narah Oatis, pioneered j-setting, a style so unique its movement is still recognizable in much of hip-hop majoretting today.

Read more here.

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Bowie State Nursing Program Gets Full Accreditation Reaffirmed

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(BOWIE, Md.) – Bowie State University’s undergraduate nursing program had its full accreditation reaffirmed through March 2023 after demonstrating significant enhancements to its program and curriculum.

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) extended the program’s full accreditation, indicating that it meets all the requirements of a quality nursing program with no stipulations. During the accreditation review, the Department of Nursing highlighted critical improvements in the first-time pass rate of students taking the NCLEX-RN licensure examination to become registered nurses, a key indicator of a program’s success.

“I commend the ongoing work to prepare our students to function as high-quality professionals in the medical community,” said Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux. “This achievement is another example of the university’s commitment to quality teaching and learning that is reflected in the Racing to Excellence Strategic Plan.”

Bowie State University enrolls more than 600 students in its undergraduate nursing program, which prepares them for one of the nation’s most critical and in-demand careers. Recent graduates work at local medical facilities, such as the MedStar Health DC Hospital System, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.

At Bowie State, nursing students learn effective patient care using life-like mannequins in hospital and clinical settings in a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab housed in the Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing, a premier facility for transformational learning. The simulation lab is designed to flexibly change as new educational strategies emerge. Combined with hands-on experience gained in community-based internships, students prepare to graduate with the skills and knowledge to be an exceptional nurse.

“The faculty and staff of the Department of Nursing have worked diligently to strengthen the foundation of the undergraduate curriculum and provide additional support for our students to ensure that they demonstrate thorough preparation to enter the profession of nursing,” said Dr. Tanya Smith Brice, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “We anticipate seeing continued successes among our nursing students and graduates.”

Demonstrating a commitment to promoting academic excellence, the department provides a Nursing Student Success Center to closely monitor the progress of undergraduate students through the program and offers appropriate support. The center uses a student-centered approach that includes supplemental instruction, academic coaching and comprehensive NCLEX-RN examination preparation.

HBCU Grad, Olympia Auset Wants To Reopen Healthy Food Store In Nipsey Hussle’s Neighborhood

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When L.A. rapper, entrepreneur and activist, Nipsey Hussle, died last month, he was in the midst of inspiring a health revolution for the Black community. His advocacy for fresh food and the production of a documentary on holistic healer, Dr. Sebi, were just glimpses of a growing movement to expose how deadly unhealthy food is in African-American communities.

Olympia Auset (right) speaks about her fight against food deserts at the Titan Generator in Austin, TX. (theGrio)

But now South LA food entrepreneur and activist Olympia Auset is picking up the torch to help underserved communities access healthier options.

“This is the thing that’s killing us the most and it’s making it so that we can’t pass on that wisdom to our children because we’re dying too early,”

she told theGrio in a recent interview.

Auset, who runs a low-cost organic grocery service and pop up shop called SÜPRMARKT, was deeply touched by the news of Hussle’s death.

In response to his passing, Auset gave away free food at the local Underground Museum and opened up about his impact in a YouTube video.

“That’s just one small way I can contribute…This is just another reason for us to go eight times harder.”

In neighborhoods where liquor stores and fried chicken joints are sprinkled on every block, Black Americans are often left starving for healthy food options.

“When I lived in a food desert, I would ride on the bus for two hours every time I wanted to get fresh food,” Auset recalled

The isolation from anything fresh, organic and green has resulted in the terms food desert, food oppression and food apartheid to describe what has become a growing epidemic. The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) even has an online food desert tracker which shows what cities are mostly like to be without accessible supermarkets.

Olympia Auset sells fresh produce in her neighborhood. (Photo: John Francis Peters)

“You find it happens quite often in our community; the Black community. That came to be by design and it’s having an effect on us,” said Auset.

According to analysis by Auset’s team, there are only 60 full-service grocery stores to serve 1.3 million people in South Los Angeles, leaving people with little to no choice but to eat from corner stores that only provide prepackaged foods heavy on the salt, fat and additives.

Once she noticed a pattern of family friends who were perishing from preventable health related issues, Auset, a Howard University graduate who became a vegan 10 years ago, decided to put her hustle and book smarts to work.

She started by creating a new business model. If companies wouldn’t bring healthy food to inner city neighborhoods, then she would bring it to them.

Read full via The Grio

Beyoncé And John D. Rockefeller Invested In HBCUs. Here’s Why You Should Too.

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Pop quiz! What do Beyoncé and John D. Rockefeller have in common? 

At first glance, the two American icons couldn’t be more different. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (you’ve heard of her, right?) is a paragon of contemporary black excellence. World-famous for her talent and drive, Beyoncé’s life and artistry in 2019 would likely have been unimaginable to Rockefeller.

Not to be confused with Jay-Z’s former record label Roc-A-Fella, John D. Rockefeller was an oil magnate and philanthropist. Born before the Civil War, Rockefeller died in 1937 and is generally considered to have been the richest person of the modern age. So what interests could these two legendary figures, separated by a century, possibly both share?

The answer is surprisingly simple: both are known as strong supporters of historically black colleges and universities, also known as HBCUs. And there are several reasons why these schools continue to be incredible sources of diverse talent in today’s world.

But first, a quick history lesson. In 1882, the founders of what’s now called Spelman College (keep that name in mind) were on a crucial fundraising tour for their school, which was one of the first higher education institutions for black women in the United States. After meeting with them at a church conference, Rockefeller made a relatively small investment: $250. This was just his first donation toward black education; eventually, he would invest millions. Rockefeller soon paid off the debt for the college’s property and made large donations toward the construction of campus buildings. By 1884, the school’s name had been changed to honor Laura Spelman, Rockefeller’s wife, and her abolitionist parents.

Read more here.

Leo Denault Encourages Alcorn Graduates To Put Love First During The 2019 Spring Commencement Exercise

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Parents and loved ones gathered from around the world to witness students close a chapter on their educational journey at Alcorn State University.

Over 400 students earned their college degrees during Alcorn’s 2019 Spring Commencement Exercise Saturday, May 4 in the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex. The new alumni departed the university with well wishes and encouraging words from Entergy Corporation CEO Leo Denault, who delivered the ceremonial address.

Entergy’s leader began his speech by congratulating the graduates on their dedication to achieving their goals.

“You are college graduates,” said Denault. “You have earned your place among the 40 percent of Americans who have earned degrees. I applaud you and your drive, ambition, and perseverance.”

Love was the topic of Denault’s message to the graduates. He encouraged them to define what success means to them and then proceed to pursue their passion.

“The most important word in your career is love. You must figure out what success means to you. Once you find your answer, grow to love what you do. It is also important to love who you are working with and who you are working for.”

Developing bonds with fellow employees in the future was a trait that Denault motivated the graduates to remember when they enter the corporate world. He spoke on how critical it is to support their colleagues.

“Your co-workers are your family away from home. Make sure that you and your co-workers look out for each other and lift each other often. Motivate each other to do your best for the best results. Earn their trust and support them as they strive for excellence.”

Lastly, Denault inspired the graduates to remember those who support them, including Alcorn. He reminded them to give back to the university for providing them with a solid foundation.

“Never forget that they are real people with real dreams, so love the community you serve. Understand that those who invest in you are putting their trust in you. Alcorn has invested in you, so continue to invest in your alma mater with your time, talent, and money in the future.”

Interim President, Dr. Donzell Lee, concluded the ceremony by congratulating the students for reaching the pinnacle of their undergraduate and graduate pathways.

The graduates expressed their excitement for completing their educational milestone. Ayana Jones, a Natchez, Mississippi native who earned a bachelor’s degree in child development, was almost at a lost for words when describing her feelings about graduation. Because of the obstacles she’s had to hurdle, earning a degree is a special accomplish.

“It feels amazing to achieve a goal that I’ve been working on for years,” said Jones. “Initially, I was a nursing major, but I realized that the field wasn’t for me. So, I followed my true passion, which is working with children. So to overcome the obstacles is an indescribable feeling.”

Ro’Myrus Preston, who earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, reflected on the hours of dedication it took for him to become the first person in his family to graduate from a four-year university.

“It was a journey filled with hard work,” said Preston. “I had to juggle ROTC, take 22 credit hours in a semester, and overcome the pressure of passing state exams to receive my teaching certification in Mississippi. It was a hard fought battle, but it was worth it. I love Alcorn, and I’m so glad I chose to attend this university.”

Commencement featured other highlights during the celebration. A total of 81 members of Alcorn’s 1969 Golden Class took the stage to receive their golden diplomas.

Wilbert Jones, a board member for the ASU Foundation, Inc., presented Robert Tatum Jr., a Madison, Mississippi native who earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, with the Award of Excellence, which includes a $1,000 check and a plaque of achievement from the Foundation. The award is the culmination of Tatum’s dedication to academic excellence.

“I was always told to do my best, and that’s what I strove to do,” said Tatum. “I thank God for giving me the strength to persevere through all eight semesters. Being in this position is a surreal feeling because it’s a prayer that has been answered. I’ve waited for a long time to share this day with my classmates that also worked hard to get to this point.”

Before Denault’s address to the graduates, Lee presented him with an honorary doctorate.

For the first time, three Alcorn alumni received the Alcornite of the Year Award. The Rev. Dr. Neddie Winters presented Fred McNair, Braves head football coach, Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr., commissioner of Higher Education for the state of Mississippi, and Senator Willie Simmons, who has served in the Mississippi State Senate for 26 years.

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This Mom Follows Her Twins To FAMU – And Earns Her Own Degree

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In most cases, college-bound students find themselves counting down the days, eager to leave the home nest and parents behind, to move on campus, meet new friends and get underway with studies.

Madelyn McClarey will graduate from Florida A&M University this Saturday, May 4 with a degree in English with a minor in education. Her twin sons, Aaron and Aubrey Hough, both earned scholarships to FAMU which lead McClarey to take a leave of absence from her job and come to Tallahassee to go to school with them. (Photo: Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Parents, in the meantime, shield their anxieties and wish them well, while inwardly jumping for joy at this rite-of-passage send-off. But, in rare circumstances, there are cases like Madelyn McClarey and her twin sons’ decision to study at Florida A&M University – together.

Rather than leaving mom back in South Florida, Aaron and Aubrey Hough insisted she join them in Tallahassee.

On Saturday, they will celebrate as McClarey crosses the stage at the Lawson Center, graduating with a degree in English from Florida A&M.

For the single mom, it represents a finish line that she’s been edging toward since completing business school in Staten Island, then returning to South Florida following a divorce, holding down full-time jobs, volunteering in her sons’ schools and traveling with them as a band parent.

But what landed her at FAMU was the opportunity presented to her twins, Aubrey, a music business major who will be graduating this fall, and Aaron, who is earning a specialized degree in music composition and expects to graduate in the summer or fall 2020.

Read full via USA Today

A Campaign To Sustain Historically Black Colleges

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Our nation’s historically black colleges and universities have been getting a lot of bad press of late.

They lack quality education and degree offerings. They can’t meet accreditation requirements. Enrollment is down.

Valencia Bean has heard it all.

But here’s a fact that, in her mind, can’t be repeated often enough and should never be forgotten: Not only were HBCUs the first to give African Americans the opportunity to obtain higher education when virtually no other colleges would, they remain vitally important in the black community, especially when it comes to closing wealth and achievement gaps.

That means everything to Bean, and it ought to mean something to the rest of us.

A lot of people give lip service to the importance of education. Bean and the other members of the Pearls of Purpose Foundation Inc., the philanthropic arm of the Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., have for 32 years given scholarships so deserving Atlanta and Fulton County school students can attend college.

Just a week ago, the foundation handed out $31,000 in scholarships at its annual Pink Pearl Mother-Daughter Luncheon, and through its signature College Admissions Program — #CAP — it is helping students with entrance exams and application fees.

Read more here.

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Larry Dodson To Receive Honorary Degree From LeMoyne-Owen College

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The sound of music is something Larry Dodson has been surrounded by for decades. But this time his music has a different tune to it. A different band and now, one solo artist.

You may know Dodson from his role as lead singer of the R&B funk band, The Bar-Kays. Last year, after 30 albums and 40 years with his crew, he hung up his mic.

But he just couldn’t stay away from the music.

“I really thought that I could really retire and just maybe call it quits and ride off into the sunset, spend some time fishing and doing other things.”

Those retirement plans sounded good at first, but they just couldn’t compare to time spent with fans.

Now as a new solo artist Dodson finds himself a bit nervous at times wondering if fans will likes his new music.

“You know Just being accepted as Larry D now.”

But one thing he is certain about is his love for education and dedication to students, especially at LeMoyne-Owen College.

“Those are some special people at LeMoyne.”

For more than 10 years he’s helped send students to the college through a scholarship foundation. Later this month he will receive an honorary doctoral degree for his contributions to the music industry and all that he’s given to historically black colleges.

“I`m just humbled by it. I`m humbled by it,” Dodson said. “I`ll have a handle on my name.. Doctor.. so you know, it`s very very cool.”

But that`s not the only honor making that day special. His wife, who has been by his side for almost 50 years, will walk the stage too. She will receive her degree in business management from Southwest Community College.

Dodson has always valued family. In fact, that was his big reason for giving up music. But it’s something that he can’t let go of and something he will continue serving his community through.

Howard President Dr. Frederick Selected For 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Award

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WASHINGTON – Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick is the 2019 recipient of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Distinguished Alumnus Award, an honor given to prominent individuals who’ve made distinguished contributions in their respective fields. As a former trainee at the cancer center who completed his post-doctoral research and surgical oncology fellowships at MD Anderson, Dr. Frederick was selected from nominations received by the institution’s faculty. Notable researchers and scholars have received the prestigious award since it was introduced in 1980.

“For almost 40 years, MD Anderson has honored an alumnus who has made a significant impact since graduating from the institution, and that certainly is the case for our 2019 awardee, Dr. Wayne Frederick,” says Diane Bodurka, M.D., chief education and training officer at MD Anderson. “Dr. Frederick is recognized as a role model for his vast professional accomplishments and his dedication to others, such as his commitment to mentoring. Sharing his perspectives as our keynote presenter builds on that commitment as our current trainees and faculty benefit from his insights.”

On Tuesday, May 7, Dr. Frederick will deliver the Keynote Lecture for fellows and faculty of MD Anderson for its 23rdAnnual Trainee Research Day. He will speak on the value of an MD Anderson trainee experience and how it can position one for a successful career. Additionally, he’ll serve as a featured judge during the Oral Competition of Trainee Research Day. 

“It is indeed an honor to be recognized and honored with the MD Anderson Distinguished Alumnus Award for leadership and a fulfilling career in surgical oncology,” says Dr. Frederick. “I am humbled to return as the keynote lecturer for this event and I look forward to sharing how this esteemed program prepared me for leadership and my journey in surgical oncology.”

On July 21, 2014, Dr. Frederick was named the 17th president of Howard University. The Board of Trustees voted to appoint Dr. Frederick after a unanimous recommendation by the University’s Presidential Search Committee. Dr. Frederick’s goal is to enhance the Howard University legacy, ensure that the University maximizes its impact and that its students receive a well-rounded educational experience. Through his experience as a scholar and an administrator, Dr. Frederick strives to develop innovative approaches to focus on the institutional priorities of his beloved alma mater and support the success of its students.

As an undergraduate student, Dr. Frederick was admitted to Howard University’s B.S./M.D. dual degree program. He completed the requirements for both degrees in six years, allowing him to earn both his Bachelor of Science and his medical degree by the age of 22. 

Following his post-doctoral research and surgical oncology fellowships at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Frederick began his academic career as associate director of the Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut. Upon his return to Howard University, his academic positions included associate dean in the College of Medicine, division chief in the Department of Surgery, director of the Cancer Center and deputy provost for Health Sciences. He also earned an MBA from Howard University’s School of Business in 2011. Dr. Frederick continues to operate and lectures to the second-year medical students of Howard University’s College of Medicine. His medical research seeks to narrow the disparity in all cancer-care outcomes, with a focus on gastrointestinal cancers.

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ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu

Media contact: Ramzey Smith, Office of University Communications, Ramzey.smith@howard.edu

Former Atlanta Mayor, Kasim Reed To Address Howard Class Of 2019

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Announcing that the former mayor of Atlanta will address the Howard class of 2019, this HBCU graduated is returning to his alma mater. ”Howard University President Wayne Frederick announced Thursday that Kasim Reed will speak to the school’s graduates, their families and school officials on May 11,” according to the Washington Post. ”The school will award Reed the Presidential Medal of Achievement,” according to the Washington Post. ”Reed, who is a graduate of Howard, served two terms as mayor of Atlanta between 2010 and 2018.” The Washington Post went on to mention that Howard will award more than 2,000 degrees, including 282 master’s degrees and 114 Ph.Ds.

Former Syracuse RB Jerome Smith Takes Job On Tyrone Wheatley’s Staff At Morgan State

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Syracuse, N.Y. — A whole new collection of college football players will get to grow up knowing that “the hay is never in the barn.”

Former Syracuse running back Jerome Smith has accepted a job as a running backs coach with Morgan State University, his first job a college coach. He’ll coach on the staff of former SU running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley.

Smith played his first three seasons at Syracuse under Wheatley, who left with former head coach Doug Marrone to join the Buffalo Bills in 2013. During his sophomore season under Wheatley, Smith rushed for 1,171 yards in 2012, the last time a Syracuse running back rushed for 1,000 yards in a season.

“He was a guy that was very hungry,” Wheatley said. “He was relentless, enthusiastic and stubborn. But stubborn in a good way. He wanted to be the guy and he was came in every day trying to prove he was ready. He had that saying, ‘The hay is never in the barn,’ and he’d say it all the time.”

Smith spent four years at Syracuse, leaving after completing his redshirt junior season, when he rushed for 12 touchdowns. He went undrafted in 2014. He played one game in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons.

Known for his dependability and rugged style, Smith worked with young football players in Delaware as a trainer and at an area prep school.

Wheatley said that he keeps in touch with his former players through text messages and he follows them on social media. Smith frequently posts videos of his workouts with young players on Facebook, and Wheatley recognizes many of the drills they worked on together. Smith had put his own personal twist on some of them.

Morgan State hired Wheatley as head coach in February after he had been fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars, taking the fall for Leonard Fournette’s regression in his second NFL season.

Morgan State has been a difficult place to win historically, and the Bears compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, which is generally one of the lowest-resource conferences in FCS football. The league is made up of historically black colleges and universities. Morgan State went 4-7 last year under interim coach Ernest T. Jones.

Wheatley opted to take the head coaching position when it was offered, in part, because he knows how infrequently those opportunities come for black coaches. Last year, only 14 of 130 FBS head coaches were black, according to USA Today. Only three of the NFL’s 32 head coaches are black.

“To be honest with you, African-American coaches don’t get a lot of looks and opportunities,” Wheatley said. “You look at the pro level, at a guy like (Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator) Eric Bieniemy. He’s done a great job. People still say it’s Andy Reid’s offense. You have to create your opportunity.”

When Wheatley was hired, he said he looked back proudly on a pair of SU running backs who he believed would go a good fit at Morgan State. Wheatley said he thought about both Antwon Bailey and Smith, with Smith being the better financial fit. Bailey is currently a coach and physical education teacher at Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C.

“I had a great relationship with all those guys,” Wheatley sad. “We all stayed in touch. I told them all they’d be good as coaches someday because they accepted coaching and worked hard. Guys just need opportunities and we have to create the lane to have that. (Jerome) has done a great job helping young guys develop.”

MVSU Wins 2019 Home Depot ‘Retool Your School’ $50k Grant

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The votes are in and Mississippi Valley State University is pleased to announce that it is a recipient of a $50,000 grant awarded by the 2019 Home Depot “Retool Your School” program.

The annual competition is open to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and is designed to provide winners of the competition with funds to help complete a campus renovation project of their choice. The participating HBCUs were grouped into three clusters, based on size, and supporters were able to cast votes online and through hashtags used on social media.

In honor of the competition’s 10th year anniversary, the top three contenders from each cluster were announced as winners Monday, including MVSU in Cluster 2.

“I would like to thank the MVSU community for supporting our University,” said MVSU President Dr. Jerryl Briggs. “Your votes definitely mattered, and we are extremely grateful.  I would also like to thank Home Depot for this grant…the $50K will help assist us in our efforts to provide a quality educational experience for our students.”

MVSU’s Office of Advancement incited support from students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the Valley to capture the 2nd place win in Cluster 2. Other winners joining MVSU in Cluster 2 were Alcorn State University and Coahoma Community College.

MVSU received a total of 352,737 votes.

“This is a win we all brought back to Valley,” said MVSU Director of Development Kendall Tanner, who organized the campaign. “Thank you to the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of MVSU for your support and dedication to the campaign. This victory is a glimpse of the bright things that are in store for Mississippi Valley State University.”

MVSU will use the funding to help renovate the campus pavilion and make it more inviting and accommodating for the campus community and visitors.

To help support this MVSU initiative and other campus projects, visit www.mvsu.edu.

Texas Southern University Announces 2019 – 2020 Campus Royalty

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HOUSTON – Texas Southern University is pleased to announce its Campus Royalty for the 2019-2020 academic school year. Adonis Warren, a junior journalism major from Los Angeles, California will serve as Mister Texas Southern University. Adunola Rachel Olaydoyin Osinuga, a junior speech communication major from Chicago, Illinois, will serve as Miss Texas Southern University.

“Adonis and Rachel are the embodiment of academic excellence and social responsibility, and the growth they will experience throughout this year, as Mister and Miss Texas Southern University, is something they will look back several years from now and be proud of,” said President Austin A. Lane.  

Throughout the school year, Mister and Miss Texas Southern will serve as student ambassadors for the university making appearances and hosting programs for TSU students, faculty, staff and community.

“Our Mister and Miss Texas Southern are the face of our university and I am excited to see what they have planned for the upcoming year,” said Wendell King, Royal Court Advisor.

“These students have committed to serving this illustrious institution and I have faith they will go above and beyond the duties required of their positions.”

The first runners-up for the scholarship pageant are Angelica Olunkwa and Joshua Phillips. Sidney Guillory and Ellis-Wolv Salahuddin are the pageant’s second runners-up. 

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.

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Howard Grad Kamala Harris Introduces Bill To Increase Diversity In STEM

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Sen. Kamala Harris introduced new legislation to help students from underrepresented communities gain access to educational materials, mentorships, and work experience related to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). On May 2, the Democratic senator and 2020 presidential hopeful introduced the 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act, which would authorize a $40 million competitive grant program for school districts to improve participation in STEM education among girls, students of color, LGBTQ students, disabled students, and kids from low-income neighborhoods.

“When we have more women, people of color, LGBTQ folks, and people with disabilities in STEM jobs, we get better results,” said Harris in a press release. “Preparing our nation’s students for the jobs of the 21st century starts in the classroom, and we must ensure that the benefits of that education are shared equally with those who are currently underrepresented in STEM professions.”

The bill seeks to provide funding for school districts across the country, and ultimately increase opportunities for women and minorities to secure high wage jobs in STEM fields. According to a 2018 Pew Social Trends report, , 69% of STEM workers in the U.S. are white, while only 9% of the STEM workforce is black and 7% are Hispanic. If passed, funding for Harris’ bill would be allocated towards:

  • Providing tutoring and mentoring programs in STEM subjects.
  • Providing afterschool and summer activities designed to encourage interest and skill-building in STEM subjects.
  • Providing subsidies to minimize the costs of STEM-related educational materials, equipment, field trips, internships, and work experiences.
  • Educating parents about the opportunities and advantages of STEM careers.
  • Providing professional development services to teachers, principals, and other personnel aimed at reduced racial and gender bias.

In addition to Harris, co-sponsors of the legislation include Democratic senators Dick Durbin, Sherrod Brown, Amy Klobuchar, and Jacky Rosen. The bill is also being supported by Girls Who Code, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, NAACP, National Society of Black Engineers, and other organizations.

Harris, who became the first black woman to serve as Attorney General in California and the second black woman to ever be elected as a U.S. Senator, opened up about being second-guessed and misunderstood throughout her career while speaking at the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit back in February:

“I’ve had the setback of attempting to run for office that nobody thought that we could win and all that comes with that,” she said, revealing that people have doubted her ability to become an elected official. However, she added that she has used people’s negative perceptions of her as a source of motivation. “Good, underestimate me. I can work with that,” she said.

This post was written by Selena Hill, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.