A North Carolina Central University assistant football coach was arrested Sunday in Florida.
Brian Jenkins, 48, was arrested in Volusia County, Fla., after an altercation with an ex-girlfriend and booked on three separate charges, according to an arrest affidavit. Documents show Jenkins was charged with depriving use of 911, battery and criminal mischief. The battery charge was listed as domestic because the two had been in a relationship. As of Monday evening, Jenkins’ status on the Volusia County Corrections website was listed as not in custody.
According to the affidavit, Jenkins went to the home of his ex-girlfriend Sunday evening to talk about their breakup. She asked him to leave and when he did not, she attempted to call 911, the affidavit states. Jenkins then allegedly grabbed the phone from her hand and threw it across the room, cracking the screen. The damage to the phone and physically taking the phone from her hand led to the criminal mischief and domestic battery charges, respectively.
In a text message statement on Tuesday afternoon, North Carolina Central said Jenkins was “no longer an employee of the university, effective today, July 30.” It’s unclear whether he was fired or quit. The school declined to comment further, according to the statement.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 30, 2019 – The Board of Trustees of LeMoyne-Owen College, a four-year historically black college in Memphis, today announced it has selected Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean to serve as Interim President, effective Aug. 26, 2019.
“Dr. Johnson-Dean’s breadth of educational leadership experience and unique understanding of the inner workings of HBCUs made her stand out as a highly qualified candidate for interim president,” said Dr. Christopher Davis, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “Selecting Dr. Johnson-Dean to serve in this critical role is just one of the many great strides LeMoyne-Owen is making as we push forward in our mission.”
Dr. Johnson-Dean currently serves as executive director of New Leaders – South Region in Memphis. She has also previously served as superintendent in Memphis, Minneapolis and Boston Public Schools.
“It is truly an honor to assume the role of Interim President of LeMoyne-Owen College, an institution with a more than 150-year legacy in Memphis,” Dr. Johnson-Dean said. “As an HBCU, LeMoyne-Owen College continues to play an integral role in educating and serving students, many of whom are first-generation college-goers. I am humbled at the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead for the College, and I look forward to working with faculty, students and community partners in this critical endeavor.”
A permanent president for the College will be determined at a later date. LeMoyne-Owen also recently appointed Dr. Christopher Davis – pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church and local community advocate – to serve as chairman of the Board of Trustees.
For more information about LeMoyne-Owen College, visit www.loc.edu.
About LeMoyne-Owen College
LeMoyne-Owen College is a four-year college that provides a transformative experience for students of all ages with a goal of preparing them for future professional endeavors. Located in Memphis, it is the city’s only historically black college, among approximately 100 such institutions remaining nationwide. LeMoyne-Owen College is an accredited institution through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC) to award the baccalaureate degree.
Over the weekend, Kamala Harris—the junior senator from California and presidential candidate—announced her student debt relief plan for black college graduates interested in entrepreneurship and I was not impressed. Take a look at her tweet for yourself and then I’ll take a deeper dive into it.
Yesterday I announced that, as president, I’ll establish a student loan debt forgiveness program for Pell Grant recipients who start a business that operates for three years in disadvantaged communities. https://t.co/ldwuC9RiIE
About 44 million people account for the $1.6 trillion student loan debt in America. As a result, the wealth gap has been widened. In an outlined report, Reducing the Opportunity Gap: Investing in HBCUs and Black Entrepreneurship, on her campaign site, Harris proposes that she will “make investments that create opportunities for Black entrepreneurs to bring great ideas into the marketplace and grow the small business engine of our economy.”
As a part of that investment, she states that one of the ways that black students will benefit is if they are “Pell Grant recipients who start a business that operates for three years in disadvantaged communities.”
Although there are concrete solutions in her plan, here’s the issue that I have with it. When you look at the facts and figures as it relates to black Pell Grant recipients, most students and graduates come from disadvantaged communities. Pell Grants typically are awarded to families that have an annual household income of $50,000 or less. As a result, many first-generation and low-income black students and graduates accumulate more debt than their white counterparts.
In fact, according to the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit in Durham, North Carolina, “Half of Black graduates owe more on their undergraduate student loan after four years than they did at graduation, compared to 17% of white graduates. Even a degree is no shield from racial disparities: Black bachelor’s degree graduates default at five times the rate of white bachelor’s degree graduates, and are more likely to default than whites who never finish a degree.”
With that information at hand, my question to Sen. Harris is: How do you expect black people to win at entrepreneurship in the very communities they’ve struggled in and sustain a business for three years (in which they might accrue more debt) just to be qualified for your program?
The same way that Harris highlights the difficulties black entrepreneurs face when starting a business is the same way she ought to examine and highlight predatory lending to black students and the impact that borrowing has on their financial futures and the barriers that it creates—from homeownership to starting a family let alone a business.
DES MOINES, Iowa–There is no need to ask the question anymore. Yes, North Carolina A&T State needs to be mentioned when discussing the best track & field programs in the country.
They proved it again at the 2019 USA Track & Field (USATF) Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium on the campus of Drake University this past weekend.
Thanks to impressive showings, there will be three Aggies on the U.S. national team when some better-resourced programs across the country cannot boast one. Former N.C. A&T track & field stars Rodney Rowe and Chris Belcher are on the team, along with current Aggie standout Trevor Stewart.
In addition, former Aggie hurdler Michael Dickson put together the two best performances of his life over the weekend.
Duane Ross, who has led N.C. A&T to a total of 12 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) track & field championships in eight seasons as the school’s Director of Track & Field Programs, said he is excited for his entire program that includes men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track field and men’s and women’s cross country.
“We’re only doing what we have been doing all season – training smart, training hard and believing that we are among the best in the world,” Ross said. “I’m happy for all our athletes that competed here. They showed the world that A&T is and will continue to be one of the best track & field programs in the country.”
Belcher was the first to make the national team on Friday. He ran a 10.12 in the 100-meter final to finish third, becoming an automatic qualifier. Stewart, who finished second in the nation in the men’s 400 meters last month, will compete for the U.S. at the IAAF World Championships in the 4×400-meter relay.
On Sunday, it was Rowe’s turn. He will be a member of the team as a 200-meter runner after makingg the final at USATF by running a qualifying time of 20.59. Rowe then finished seventh in the final in 20.75. Rowe needed to finish in the top-3 in order to be an automatic qualifier for the national team.
However, since some of the other athletes competing did not have the qualifying standard between Jan. 1, 2018-July 21, 2019, Rowe will make the world championship team.
Meanwhile, Dickson abolished his personal record twice on Sunday in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Dickson blew away his previous PR of 13.65 by running a 13.47 in the semifinals to qualify for the finals. Dickson’s time was the fourth-fastest qualifying time.
In the final, Dickson again lowered his PR by finishing in 13.45, a MEAC record.
His fifth-place finish, however, was not enough to place him on the U.S. team.
“Michael has had the potential all along to be one of the best,” Ross said. “Tonight, he proved it.”
Dickson is a two-time First Team All-American, earning the accolade in both the 110 hurdles and the 4×100-meter relay. He is an eight-time MEAC champion with three gold medals in the 60 hurdles, two apiece in the 110 hurdles and the 4×100, and he has one 4×400 outdoor MEAC title.
Rowe finished his career with 11 MEAC titles, including a four-year claim on the 4×100-meter relay gold medal. He won the outdoor and indoor 200-meter titles two times apiece and he has a 60-meter, 100-meter and 4×400 relay title in the MEAC. Rowe is also a two-time first-team All-American in the 4×100 and he has a First Team All-American accolade in the outdoor 200 meters.
Stewart, a rising senior at N.C. A&T, is considered one of the favorites to win an NCAA national title in 2020. In 2019, Stewart’s 44.38 ran in the 400 meters at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at N.C. A&T’s Irwin Belk Track made headlines because at the time, it was the 14th-fastest time in world history. Stewart went on to finish second nationally in the 400 meters with a 44.25.
In his career, Stewart has claimed four MEAC championships with two 4×400 relay indoor titles, one 4×400 relay outdoor title and one 400m title.
Belcher ran an incredible 9.99 in the 100m at the 2017 Aggie Invitational. He would later go on to run a 9.93 in the 100m at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He earned first-team outdoor All-American honors in the 100 and 200m in 2017. He is a nine-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion with two 100m titles, two 200m titles, two 4×100-meter relay titles, one 60-meter title, one indoor 200-meter title and one indoor 4×400 relay title.
WASHINGTON – Howard University Hospital (HUH) and Adventist HealthCare today announced they have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore partnership opportunities. The agreement outlines that the two organizations will enter into exclusive conversations to determine how they could best collaborate to serve the D.C. region.
This collaboration would include the development of a management agreement between Adventist HealthCare and Howard University where Adventist HealthCare would bring in a senior leadership team to operate Howard University Hospital, starting in 2020.
“Adventist HealthCare and Howard University Hospital share long traditions of caring for our communities,” said Terry Forde, President & CEO of Adventist HealthCare, one of the longest-serving providers in the D.C. region. “We hope by working together, we can expand access to care for a growing part of our region.”
The partnership between these two institutions will go a long way to addressing the challenges that face teaching hospitals in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. In addition, it could increase medical opportunities and provide access for the talented Howard University Hospital medical trainees (medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and allied health), residents, medical students, and graduates to Adventist HealthCare’s network of hospitals in the region. This is vitally important given the national shortage of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
“Stand-alone teaching hospitals in the U.S. continue to face a multitude of unique challenges,” said Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick. “The opportunity to partner with Adventist HealthCare demonstrates our shared commitment to find solutions that serve the healthcare needs ofthis community and also forwards Howard’s 150-year mission of training diverse healthcare providers that share the common goal of servicing underserved populations.”
Howard University Hospital is a private, nonprofit institution that has served the community for more than 150 years. It is one of the most comprehensive health systems in the District of Columbia, with a Level 1 Trauma Center and an emergency department that sees approximately 50,000 patients annually. It is recognized as a national leader in training future doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Adventist HealthCare, founded in 1907, serves patients throughout the region. Based in Gaithersburg, MD, it employs close to 6,000 people, has more than 1,700 physicians and cares for more than 800,000 community members each year. It includes three acute-care hospitals: Shady Grove Medical Center, Washington Adventist Hospital, and Fort Washington Medical Center, which is joining the system later this year. It also features: a 97-bed rehabilitation hospital and outpatient clinics; mental health services; physician practices and outpatient locations. On Aug. 25, it will open White Oak Medical Center in Montgomery County to replace Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park.
Esports is large and continuing to grow, this we know.
Look no further than this past week when Fortnite held their inaugural World Cup Solo tournament, which was won yesterday by 16-year-old Bugha, who took home the $3 million prize.
Yes, $3 million!
As Esports continues to grow, many colleges and universities are getting in on the trend, institutions like Marquette announcing a move into Esports, becoming the first Power 5 school to have an Esports team as part of their varsity sports offerings.
Well HBCUs aren’t going to be left out of the Esports wave, and Hampton is making sure of that.
Per HBCU Gameday, we’ve learned that Hampton’s Department of Sports Management has secured a technology grant from the Department of Homeland Security for roughly $340,000 to develop an Esports lab, one that will enable students to take courses in the emerging field.
“This is a great example of how Hampton University continues to be ahead of the game.” said Hampton President, Dr. William R. Harvey in a press release. “We always provide students with the best opportunities to excel and advance in whatever profession they choose. We are excited to see the elevation of this new addition to our campus.”
This addition to the University’s curriculum will ensure that HBCU students aren’t shut out of this exploding career path.
“Esports is the newest thing in sports management. Since 2016, there has been $16 million allocated for Esports Scholarships. Many African Americans have not been afforded these opportunities. There is a void in diversity between HBCUs and the history of the white institution level.” said David C. Hughes, Instructor of Sports Management. “I’m looking to increase the diversity in Esports and also have a revenue opportunity for this institution at the same time.”
The grant will enable the University to build a lab and create courses geared towards Esports.
“The first thing we have to do is create a lab, then we’ll offer a concentration in Esports at the graduate level. In the lab, we’ll have TV’s, video games, computers, and people can practice their craft of playing video games,” continued Hughes. “They can learn how to play a video game, play with each other and against each other. The lab will be on the fifth floor of the library. We have a goal to kick things off summer 2020.”
While there have been a few tournaments geared towards HBCU students, Hampton is now taking a major step in enabling its students to not only compete in Esports, but to also develop a possible future career for themselves as well.
Faithful Alcorn State University alumni have teamed up to form the university’s first charted alumni chapter in the state of Florida.
Alcorn’s South Florida Alumni Chapter made its debut during the fifth annual HBCU Picnic at Rolling Oaks Park in Miami Gardens, Florida Saturday, July 13. Alcorn and a host of other Historical Black Colleges and Universities alumni groups, National Panhellenic organizations, and the South Florida Black Professionals Network joined together to sponsor the event and bring awareness to HBCUs.
At the picnic, representatives from the newly formed chapter sponsored a tent where they served food, shared information about the university and fellowshipped with others.
Rolonda Bridgewater, chapter president, expressed her passion for the university and why it was vital for her and fellow Alcornites to represent their alma mater in the local community.
“The feeling is humbling as well as an honor to be the first to give Alcorn a presence in South Florida officially,” said Bridgewater, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in May 2019. “To be able to form a group of like-minded alumni to promote Alcorn leaves me speechless. There are no words to describe my true emotions, so I decided to put some of my time, energy, and money where my heart is. We are privileged to help increase Alcorn’s student enrollment from Florida. We are excited to give back to the university that empowered us, instilled values and morals, and educated us.”
Alumni leaders are enthusiastic to see the rise of the new Florida chapter. Neddie Winters, president of the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association, welcomes the South Florida chapter with open arms. Winters expressed his eagerness to get to work with the chapter.
“We are excited to welcome the first-ever alumni chapter in the state of Florida,” said Winters. “Braves are everywhere, and it’s good to know that they have come together to form a chapter. I’m looking forward to working with them and making them an integral part of the national alumni association.”
Janice Gibson, director of Development & Alumni Affairs, spoke about the importance of alumni chapters and how their presence will play a significant role in the life of the university.
“I am very thrilled to see our newest alumni chapter being formed in the South Florida area,” said Gibson. “Joining the national alumni association is the best way for alumni to keep in touch with the activities and events happening at Alcorn. Alumni Chapters are so important because they allow Alcornites the opportunity to play a role in the future of the university.”
With the new platform, South Florida alumni plan to help promote the university to those unaware of its accomplishments. Bridgewater said that this is an excellent recruiting opportunity.
“The birth of this alumni chapter will preserve the university’s legacy, remind some that we are proud to be the first HBCU Land-Grant university, and attract new students that will give back. It allows us to speak of our academic reputation, our world-class athletic program, campus lifestyle, and promote Alcorn to those who are not informed.”
The future looks bright for the growth of the chapter. Bridgewater said that more events and fundraisers are in the chapter’s future, along with attending events such as Alcorn’s annual Mid-Winter Conference. She also hopes to one day bring the Mid-Winter Conference to Miami.
Texas Southern University will serve as the venue for the third Democratic primary debate, to be held Thursday and Friday, September 12-13, 2019, in the Health & Physical Education (H&PE) Arena. The agreement between ABC News and TSU was announced on ABC’s “This Week” show with George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, July 21.
“As the heart and soul of Houston, Texas Southern University is proud to serve as the venue for for such a prestigious event,” said TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane. “Not only does this reflect positively on the university and the City of Houston, it also provides our students with opportunities to work directly with ABC and its partners to gain valuable experience throughout the process. We are thankful for the strong relationship we have with proud TSU alumnus Michael Strahan, who does an incredible job at ABC and has a strong appreciation for the historic significance of our university.”
The agreement between ABC News and TSU includes H&PE Arena for the debate itself, as well as the Student Recreation Center, which will serve as a media center throughout the week of Sept. 9-13.
“Our students will gain valuable experience leading up to – and during – the event,” added Dr. Lane. “ABC will provide ‘real world’ work experiences for students who will serve as interns, runners, pages, etc., for both ABC and its partners throughout the event. We are working with our schools of Communications and Public Affairs specifically to make sure our students are involved and engaged in this event from a learning perspective. Likewise, ourpublic broadcast radio station, KTSU 90.9 FM, and KTSU2 student streaming station will be involved on the media side.”
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.
Former band director at Southern University in Louisiana is accused of pocketing more than $293,000 from public funds owed to the school. A report released Monday by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says Nathan Haymer set up a collection system with an unauthorized third party to collect the money.
The Advocate reports Haymer also appears to have submitted false invoices, collecting about $46,000 from the university in expense reimbursements he didn’t incur. He also received about $43,000 in payments from Mardi Gras krewes for the band’s performances at the parade from 2015 to 2018.
Purpera says taking the money on top of his salary may violate state law.
Haymer was fired last year after allegedly seeking kickbacks for the band to appear at an event for schoolchildren. Haymer denies any wrongdoing.
More than a year after being relieved from his duties with the Cleveland Browns, Sashi Brown, Hampton University Alumni is reentering the business of professional sports.
Brown, who served as both the Browns‘ executive vice president/general counsel from 2013-16 and EVP of football operations from 2016-17, will join Monumental Basketball, a newly-formed collective under Chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Ted Leonsis that includes the NBA’s Washington Wizards and WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
According to a statement issued by Monumental, Brown will function as the group’s chief planning and operations officer, help lead teams providing shared services to all of the group’s franchises, and “manage efforts relating to technology, finance, communications, security, research and player engagement.”
The third round of Democratic presidential debates will be held at Texas Southern University, a historically black public university, on September 12 and 13, the university announced Sunday.
Texas Southern University will serve as the venue for the third Democratic primary debate, to be held Thursday and Friday, September 12-13, 2019, in the Health & Physical Education (H&PE) Arena. pic.twitter.com/Mr7tCdyvku
— Texas Southern University (@TexasSouthern) July 21, 2019
The event will be hosted by ABC News and Univision.
The Democratic National Committee announced the debate would be in Houston, Texas, earlier this month.
“As the heart and soul of Houston, Texas Southern University is proud to serve as the venue for for such a prestigious event,” TSU President Dr. Austin A. Lane said in a statement.
“Not only does this reflect positively on the university and the City of Houston, it also provides our students with opportunities to work directly with ABC and its partners to gain valuable experience throughout the process.”
The first Democratic debate was held in Miami, Fla., and the second will be held in Detroit, Mich., over July 30th and 31.
To qualify for the third round of debates, White House hopefuls will have to amass 130,000 unique donors and receive the support of at least 2 percent of respondents in four qualifying polls.
The third debate being held at a historically black university is significant, given the efforts on many candidates to more specifically focus on issues affecting African Americans.
With so many apps on the market for food delivery, making a lunch seems like a lost art. However, packing your own food can keep food costs down, not to mention calories. For those who like to leave the house in style, finding a nice lunch bag might have seemed impossible. Not anymore.
T|W Tote is the modern lunch bag making waves in offices and even picnics. With its vegan leather design, the bag has garnered attention as a spacious and stylish upgrade from the boring lunch box we all know. We sat down with co-founder Sherika Wynter to discuss the unique T|W Totebags, growing a black-owned business through relationships, and what’s next for the brand.
The T|W Tote name combines the last initials of both you and co-designer Shallon Thomas. How did you two meet and come up with T|W Tote?
We share a religious background so as children, we would see each other at events but never spoke. It wasn’t until I moved to the DC area that a friend of mine “introduced” me to Shallon. She felt, “he’s good people to know.” I’m not a people person but hey… what’s the worst that could happen? The rest is history. Shallon, however, may have a different account of the story!
So both of you are from the West Indies! How did your island background inspire your decision to become an entrepreneur?
Our parents instilled qualities centered around independence and excellence. When you see where they’ve come from and what they have accomplished, you can’t help but be motivated. Our parents provided the same takeaways: do better than we did and never settle for anything less than greatness.
Ideally, who is the T|W Tote made for? Our primary audience is the professional male between the ages of 25 and 45. As we continue to grow the tote’s brand, we realize our secondary audience is really the professional individual. Both men and women see themselves with our lunch tote.
How did you come up with the T|W Tote design? The initial design was all Shallon. He had a serious need and decided to investigate what is out there. Once he realized nothing on the market met his needs, he brought the idea to me and we started to sketch. From there, we searched for someone who could either manufacture the idea or provide us with a sample that we can reverse engineer. After about a year of product design and manufacturing, we launched the T|W lunch tote in December 2018.
This tote can fit way more than a sandwich. Just how big is it? Tell us about the compartments it has.
The lunch tote is 10.0″h x 9.4″w x 5.5″d. It has 2 insulated compartments that can hold hot or cold items. You can separate items by temperature, by meal… it’s really your choice. It will keep items cold for up to 16 hours and items hot for up to 8 hours.
Is my T|W Tote suitable for the outdoors, like a picnic or festival? Your lunch tote is suitable for all temperatures. Before launch, the tote underwent over six months of testing; outdoors, in the rain, in a hot car. We know our audience is active and we did not want our tote to be restrictive.
Would you consider making smaller versions in the future, so perhaps parents could match with their kids?
Funny you ask. We are currently working on a smaller tote for those who’d like to get one of their young loved one (for example: daddy & me, big brother & little brother) or our women who want a smaller lunch tote to throw into their larger tote.
What obstacles did you encounter in the pursuit of making T|W Tote?
Design and Manufacturing. We really wanted a high quality, vegan leather. Sadly, it is not the easiest material to source and there are a limited amount of manufacturers specializing in using it. In addition, one of our founders has a type A personality. Nothing short of perfection is accepted.
In recent years, even more HBCU students are becoming designers. What advice would you give these new designers to start their businesses? Design to solve root problems, not symptoms. Most users can only verbalize the symptoms they are experiencing. Make sure you understand your market through continuous interaction, usability testing and feedback loops. Users cannot predict the future but they do know what they don’t want. Don’t let your selfish desire to start a business dictate what you produce.
Did HBCUs play a role in your design process, business, or customer base? How? Yes many of our supporters used their HBCU network to spread the word about our product. The result was happy customers we personally would never have reached on our own. Shallon finds that the HBCU community is very supportive of black-owned businesses that focus on quality.
Why do you think a product like T|W Tote didn’t exist before? Honestly, we aren’t sure. But, have you ever seen a great product and be like, “Why didn’t I think about this?” We’ve gotten that response a few times with both our products, T|W tote and The Slip Guard. We just dare to try!
Designs for T|W Tote are classy single shades. Do you see patterns becoming a part of the design in the future?
We are trying to push the boundaries of style so we are open to meeting the needs of our clients. Seeing the T|W lunch tote’s parent is a Research and Development company (R&D), we are always touching base with our clientele and target audience to get the feedback needed to dictate the next offerings and their designs.
Why is it so important to be a black-owned business in America? Also, share why it’s important to support black-owned businesses?
As a culture, we lead culture, rhythm and style. For a long time, non- POC saw the opportunity for financial gain where we were comfortable as mere consumers. As a black-owned business, it is important to recognize our opportunity to change the narrative. We are proud of the fact that we support other small minority businesses and partner with numerous black entrepreneurs.
Where do you see this T|W Tote headed in the next 5 years?
This is always a hard question to answer, right? Ideally, we would love to see a full line of totes, not just for lunch and meal prepping, but totes that address the needs of males as they progress in life. But, it’s really going to depend on the market. Businesses last because they are able to listen and respond to their market. So we will say: in the next 5 years, T|W tote will continue to meet the needs of our professional male audience.
What’s next for the Thomas&Wynter company?
Thomas & Wynter R&D is growing, quickly, into a product and services company. We will continue to grow our 2 product lines: The Slip Guard and T|W Tote. We will also be solidifying our consulting and professional services arm. We will continue to help minority and under-represented businesses get started and grow. We will move into federal contracts. We will continue to seek out minority partnerships to execute our products and services offerings.
Where can we follow you on social media?
If you’re on Instagram, you can find the T|W lunch tote at @twtote. If you’re interested in what the founders are doing in their spare time, Sherika is @yingyangflex and Shallon is @sha_turbo.
Following a lengthy nationwide search and an all-inclusive hiring process, Joan R.M. Bullock, professor emerita and former president and dean of Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) in San Diego, CA, has been named the new dean of Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL). At its June 13 meeting, the Texas Southern University Board of Regents approved the appointment of Bullock as the 10th – and the first female – dean in the law school’s leadership history. Bullock’s appointment follows the recent, two-year chief administrative officer stint by acting dean, Gary L. Bledsoe. In her role as dean, Bullock will serve as the chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer of one of the nation’s top law schools for diversity. Her responsibilities will include leading and managing law school operations, advancing a vision for the school’s future, fundraising, and building and sustaining partnerships and strong relationships with alumni of the law school and University. Bullock officially assumed her role on Monday, July 15.
Bullock, a Michigan-licensed attorney, certified public accountant, and strategic planning and business development expert, has more than 30 years of law school experience as an educator and administrator. She was a senior founding faculty member of the reestablished Florida A&M University College of Law where she held several academic and administrative positions, including professor, interim director of admissions and recruitment, associate dean for teaching and faculty development, and associate dean for academic affairs. Additional diversified, professional credits include: professor at The University of Toledo College of Law; assistant professor at Georgia State University School of Law; tax associate with Coopers & Lybrand, Detroit, Michigan; and solo practitioner providing legal and accounting services. She also held leadership roles in various sections and divisions of the American Bar Association (ABA). Bullock holds a B.A. from Michigan State University, an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business, and a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law.
Bullock is no stranger to overcoming institutional adversity and challenges, having represented Thomas Jefferson School of Law before the ABA regarding issues of compliance related to admissions, finances, academic support and instructional rigor. Her leadership efforts were instrumental in moving the law school toward compliance while improving the law school’s financial stability. Continuing TMSL’s progress toward full compliance with the ABA will be a top priority for Bullock.
“I am privileged to lead TMSL in demonstrating full compliance with ABA Standards and advancing the law school’s mission as a school of inclusion and opportunity. Thurgood Marshall School of Law must continue its impressive and inspiring legacy of producing leaders in law, business, and public service. For instance, we are living in an era where the everyday use of technology is impacting the rights of individuals. Now more than ever, we need the inclusive perspectives of those in law, business, and public service in determining how and to what extent these rights should be modified. The continued relevance of the law school and the opportunity to work with those who believe in and support the inclusive mission are reasons why I am excited about coming to Texas Southern University.”
Dr. Kendall Harris, Texas Southern University provost and vice president for academic affairs, along with Thurgood Marshall School of Law, will host a welcome reception for Dean Joan R.M. Bullock, in the Law School’s lobby on Thursday, July 18, at 5 p.m. All media are encouraged to attend.
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.
The deal includes a $6.7 million renovation project. The funds will go toward renovating dining facilities, creating new on-campus restaurants, and offering 24-hour dining.
“This agreement is a great example of what is possible when universities put our students first,” said Rick Gallot, president of Grambling State said in a statement on the university’s website. “We are fortunate to collaborate with a partner, like SodexoMAGIC who understands the holistic needs of our students.”
Grambling students will be treated to new menus created by Chef G. Garvin, who hosted a cooking show for seven seasons on TV One. A new mobile app will allow students to order takeout and made-to-order food. Additionally, specialized food options for those with allergies and vegetarians will be available.
“We are proud to partner with the Grambling State community and excited about investing in the students,” said Magic Johnson via a press release.
“My team is committed to providing excellent service that the Grambling students, staff, and community deserve so they can continue leading efforts to change the world in sports, technology, and in business.”
The new dining plans are based off a 12-month research effort conducted by the university. The research led insight into Grambling students’ dining predilections:
71% expressed interest in new major brand food options including Chick-fil-A as the No. 1 student choice
69% of respondents requested increasing food variety
56% of respondents suggested increasing dining service hours
More than 50% of respondents shared that they participate in a specialized diet (e.g. keto, gluten-free, vegan/vegetarian)
SodexoMAGIC is a joint business venture between food services and facilities management company Sodexo, and Johnson’s Magic Food Provisions company. Earlier this year, Black Enterprise named two Sodexo executives, Sodexo North America CEO of Inspirus, Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services, Mia Mends; and Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Sodexo North America, Gerri Mason Hall, to its Most Powerful Women in Corporate America list.
This post was written by Samara Lyn, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University is among the safest college campuses in the nation, a new report shows. The National Council for Home Safety and Security, in its 2019 report of Safest Colleges in America, lists TSU in the Top 8 percent of colleges with the lowest crime rate.
TSU Crime Prevention Officer Aerin Washington says the Police Department’s Rape Aggressive Defense program is aimed to help individuals defend themselves in any given situation. (Photo by Emmanuel Freeman, TSU Media Relations)
The report ranked TSU No. 46 of the 490 colleges rated, using law enforcement and FBI data on crime rate and police adequacy.
“It is extremely important that our students, parents, along with university employees, know they are safe on our campus, and this latest ranking is evident of our commitment to the institution’s public safety,” said TSU President Glenda Glover. “Campus safety is always a priority and this administration will continue to invest in proactive measures that we believe will also continue to yield even better numbers.”
Over the past three years, TSU has committed millions to upgrading campus safety. This includes increase in police workforce, technology, physical enhancements and crime prevention programs. Officials say fencing of the campus is about 75 percent complete, the university has added checkpoints with “internal and hard external security,” as well as access-controlled entrances in many of the buildings.
TSU students participating in the Collegiate Citizens Police Academy train with the Nashville Metro Police Department. The academy is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. (Photo by John Cross, TSU Media Relations)
According to Dr. Curtis Johnson, associate vice president and chief of staff, the enhancements are all part of President Glover’s focus and emphasis on campus safety.
“These are all things Dr. Glover values in terms of the safety of our students, faculty, staff and TSU constituents,” Johnson said. “You are now seeing the results of those investments. TSU is a safer campus by any standard.”
The potential of Hurricane Barry’s impact may have canceled Delta Sigma Theta’s sorority convention in New Orleans, but not all of their efforts for the celebratory weekend were in vain.
Hurricane Barry, which was upgraded from a tropical storm on Saturday morning, developed earlier in the week and moved slowly throughout the Gulf Coast region, subsequently flooding streets, homes and businesses. According to AP News, New Orleans’ floodgates were sealed for the first time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Jay Vise, a spokesperson from Second Harvest, told The Times-Picayune the donations are vital during disaster relief operations. The salvaged food included portions of chicken breast, potatoes au gratin, macaroni and cheese and flourless chocolate cake.
Before leaving the city to return home, sorority members donated their time and efforts to the Barry Relief Kitchen in New Orleans.
