FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professors, Tarik Dickens and Hui Wang, with the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Carl Moore, with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, have been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE) award to develop research in advanced manufacturing utilizing biomimetic robotics. HBCU-RISE activity within the major Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program supports the development of research capabilities at HBCUs that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering. This competitive national grant, worth over $958,673 is the first one awarded to FAMU, and one of only two ever awarded in the entire state of Florida.
Their research involves high performance additive manufacturing of composite structures via reconfigurable cyber-physical robotic systems. “The question we are trying to answer, is what will 21st century manufacturing look like? We are especially exploring biomimetic and high-throughput prototypes for additive manufacturing systems. Our cutting-edge research will help our students gain the skills needed for commercial and defense careers of the future,” remarked Dickens.
NSF RISE is a research infrastructure award targeted at building innovative research opportunities for graduate students. The NSF-RISE award means having the opportunity to establish at Florida A&M a research program in dimensional printing, one of the most promising technologies of the future, while at the same time developing a system to recruit and train underrepresented students to conduct that research and enter PhD programs in science and engineering.
“The NSF-RISE award provides us a great attractor to encourage students at FAMU to follow interesting careers being offered in Engineering involving the application of advanced manufacturing,” added Dickens.
Professors at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering have garnered a prestigious Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) grant from the National Science Foundation to support the Center for Complex Materials Design for Multidimensional Additive Processing (also known as the CoManD Center).
The $4,999,388 grant will be distributed over a five-year period and will assist researchers at the University in promoting advancements in manufacturing at the micrometer scale. These developments will be important to a number of applications such as in vitro 3D tumor models for biological applications, electromagnetic radiation shielding materials for aerospace applications (i.e. for use at NASA), and nanostructured photovoltaic devices for energy applications.
The developed technology and the devices that will be built as a result of the grant will also result in novel methods of drug delivery to treat cancer. Additional expected outcomes include better aircraft/space shuttle wings (that will not be affected by radiation) and highly portable electronic devices with longer lasting batteries (which will aid several industries, including the Department of Defense). The key focus of many of these technologies is to pattern multiple materials in three dimensions, which will be made possible with the use of a state-of-the-art, high-precision 3D printer.
“This grant will give us a chance to make a bigger footprint in materials and biological research at FAMU and to create a pipeline of new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals to address the challenges of the future,” said the center’s director Subramanian Ramakrishnan, Ph.D., an associate professor of chemical and biomedical engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
According to Ramakrishnan, the grant’s principal investigator, the center will be comprised of an interdisciplinary team of faculty from various academic departments at FAMU, including biological and agricultural systems engineering, chemistry, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences and physics, as well as from the FAMU-FSU chemical and biomedical engineering and industrial engineering departments. The center is home to three different sub-projects and an educational program.
Ramakrishnan will direct the center’s first sub project, which focuses on developing nanostructured lightweight materials for shielding and sensing applications in association with FSU’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Industrial Engineering Assistant Professor Tarik Dickens, Ph.D., will direct the center’s second sub-project, which will consist of developing materials/devices for energy applications in association with the High-Performance Materials Institute. FAMU Pharmaceutics Professor Mandip Singh Sachdeva, Ph.D., will direct the center’s third sub-project, which includes developing materials/devices for biological applications such as a 3D-printed tumor biosystem on a chip.
Ramakrishnan said the aim is to integrate research and strong educational outcomes to produce novel materials and devices for different applications using additive processing while at the same time gaining a fundamental understanding of process manufacturing.
“The uniqueness of this award is the synergy between universities, national labs and defense labs,” he explained. “This award is a new milestone for FAMU. It will help establish FAMU as a pioneer in additive manufacturing research in the Southeast and garner attention from regional industries. It creates strong collaborations between the engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, agriculture, and science and technology colleges and schools at FAMU. This project also opens up avenues for students and faculty to work with some of the top scientists in the world at our collaborator institutions like MIT and Harvard.”
Co-principal investigators and faculty involved in the center’s diverse projects include FAMU professors Nelly Mateeva, Ph.D.(chemistry), Satyanrayanan Dev, Ph.D. (biological systems engineering), Daniel Hallinan, Ph.D. (FAMU-FSU chemical engineering), Charles Weatherford, Ph.D. (physics), and Komalavalli Thirunavukuarasu, Ph.D. (physics). Project collaborators include Florida State University, Harvard University, MIT, Army Research Labs and Air Force Research Labs.
In addition to research, the grant will help support undergraduate courses based on the fundamentals of self-assembly, nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, additive manufacturing, nanomaterials in biology, and nanoparticles in medicine, which will be developed and offered to FAMU students. Also, a laboratory course in materials will be offered to graduate and undergraduate students involved in materials research. The center will work to produce 15 doctorate students, directly impact 40 undergraduates and influence 100 graduate students and 300 additional undergraduates through collaborations and coursework.
CREST supports the enhancement of research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. It also promotes the development of new knowledge, enhancements of the research productivity of individual faculty, and an expanded presence of students historically underrepresented in pharmaceutical sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.
Dillard University, a New Orleans-based HBCU, is amongst one of the greatest creators of Black undergraduates graduating in physics.
According to The Associated Press reports, the New Orleans-based University ranks second in the nation for Black physics undergraduate students.
Dillard, which is one of the smallest HBCUs across the country, continues to thrive in graduating students in this field despite having far less resources than other schools. The University, which was founded more than a century ago, has an enrollment of a little more than 1,200 students.
But the University isn’t the only HBCU paving the way for Black physics graduates. Research from The American Institute of Physics states that most Blacks who graduate with an undergraduate degree in physics come from HBCUs. Currently, the top producer of Blacks graduating in physics is all-male HBCU, Morehouse College.
“Degrees in physics are rare for women and minorities and that Dillard — with a campus that is 73 percent female — is outpacing its larger counterparts is significant,” University of Pennsylvania professor Marybeth Gasman told The Associated Press.
This year, the liberal arts school ranked No. 12 amongst all HBCUs in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best College Rankings. Prior to that, the University ranked in the top 60 amongst all liberal arts colleges by The Washington Monthly in 2013.
Singer, songwriter and actress Janelle Monae, who recently delivered the commencement speech at the University, championed the school for the accomplishment.
“To have physicists coming out of New Orleans who are African-American women … that’s a huge deal,” Monae told The Associated Press.
The “Hidden Figures” actress shared her gratitude for speaking at the University on social media.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DILLARD UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2017!! THANK YOU 4 HAVING ME AS YOUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿😭 pic.twitter.com/1wMsUckXmE
Written by Andrew Kreighbaum: Trump promised best effort ever for HBCUs but has left top position at key advocacy office unfilled for longer than any previous administration did. And his pledge to move office to White House remains unfulfilled.
The White House today marked a milestone in leadership on historically black colleges and universities, although probably not the kind President Trump had in mind when he promised in February that support of those institutions would be an “absolute priority.”
A new administration hasn’t made it to August without having named a leader of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities since that office was launched under President Carter. But Trump has not named a leader for the office.
The initiative is a modestly staffed administrative unit in the Department of Education — and the administration has been slow to fill politically appointed positions throughout the federal government. But this position was the focus of a heavily touted executive order on HBCUs that Trump signed in February after hosting leaders of historically black colleges in the Oval Office. And naming an executive director for the initiative and making progress on moving it into the White House — the only concrete promise in that executive order — would have been a start toward his promise to outdo previous administrations.
Walter Kimbrough, president of Dillard University, a private historically black college in New Orleans, said even though the initiative doesn’t wield serious power beyond the ability to convene meetings with various federal agencies, installing new leadership would have value in demonstrating the administration’s commitment to historically black colleges.
“That becomes the next step in saying HBCUs are important,” he said.
Kimbrough said he couldn’t assign one signature policy achievement to the work of the initiative. Rather, it provides a voice advocating for the interests of HBCUs within the administration.
“I look at it as another opportunity to share the message of HBCUs as well as to have someone, in a way, lobbying for HBCUs every day within the federal government. So I think that’s a tremendous opportunity,” he said.
The office hasn’t had consistent long-term leadership since John Sylvanus Wilson, President Obama’s first executive director appointee, left to become president of Morehouse University. Since Wilson’s departure in 2012, three different executive directors have overseen the initiative.
But Kimbrough said the initiative has clear opportunities to find “wins” for HBCUs. Among them, he said, the executive director could push for the extension of a special Title III aid program for HBCUs launched under George W. Bush and extended under Barack Obama.
That might help a narrative that has become extremely negative for the White House despite early overtures to HBCUs. In May, Trump suggested that a key financing program for historically black colleges might be unconstitutional before spokesmen quickly backtracked. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos months before drew heavy backlash when she referred to historically black colleges, which were originally established because African-Americans were denied access to higher education, as “pioneers” of school choice. And when DeVos gave the commencement address to graduates of Bethune-Cookman University in May, students loudly booed and jeered throughout her speech. Many in media reports cited those comments from DeVos on HBCUs as well as cuts to higher ed programs that serve black students in the proposed Department of Education budget.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which represents the country’s public historically black colleges, has pursued a strategy of heavy outreach to the Trump administration and provided input on the executive order. Thurgood Marshall President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr., who declined to comment for this article, has argued that partnering with the administration helped to preserve dedicated funding for historically black colleges in the White House even as massive cuts were proposed for programs elsewhere in the federal government. And Taylor has argued the relocation of the HBCU initiative to the White House is a long sought for and significant win for black colleges.
But Trump has passed on speaking to major African-American organizations like the NAACP and the Urban League. And on top of every controversy involving black colleges in his administration is the fact that Trump is a historically unpopular president with African-Americans. Kimbrough said the White House would do well to select a leader for the initiative with unquestionable credentials among the HBCU community who could hit the ground running.
Leonard Haynes, who led the initiative under President George W. Bush, said the fact that it would be relocated to the White House has implications for identifying the right person for the job. He said the leader of the initiative should have excellent interpersonal skills and should understand how the resources of federal agencies can be leveraged to benefit HBCUs. The relocation of the initiative would also have implications for the executive director’s dealings with federal agencies, Haynes said.
“When I was the director, I would say, ‘I’m coming from the Department of Education,’” he said. “Now, whoever the executive director is says, ‘I’m coming from the White House,’ and that gets you immediate attention.”
Haynes worked with the White House in crafting the February executive order and has had discussions with the administration about selecting an executive director. While rumored to be under consideration for the job, he said he was not interested in reprising that role himself. Whoever is named, Haynes said, should put together a comprehensive plan for their first 100 days and consult the leaders of historically black colleges across the country to figure out a handful of key priorities they would like to see the initiative address.
A White House spokesman said the administration has several finalists for the position but no decision has been made. The relocation of the initiative from the Department of Education would take place after the new executive director is installed.
Kim Hunter Reed, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, said the power of the initiative comes through its ability to convene various federal offices.
“Our HBCUs have tremendous value,” she said. “The leadership in that office has the opportunity to really build relationships and resources to accelerate important work.”
One of the biggest opportunities for that work every year comes through the HBCU Week Conference organized by the White House initiative. Work organizing the conference, which takes place in September, has been ongoing for the past year. Still, Kimbrough said the White House needs to have a leader in place by that point. Whoever is named to the post would also have to be ready to work through the fraught relationship between African-Americans and this administration.
“There is some risk. And I think people understand that,” he said. “A really good person has to say, how do I assure people in the African-American community that I am still committed to the causes of the African-American community, knowing that there might be some things that the president does that might be diametrically opposed to the interests of African-Americans?”
INSTITUTE, W.Va. — Come hear favorites like George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Bedrich Smetana’s “Die Moldau” on Saturday, Aug. 26, as musicians from all walks of life volunteer their talents to raise money to treat opioid-dependent infants born at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) and West Virginia State University (WVSU) are co-presenting the free Orchestra of the Hills and Chorus concert beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier St., Charleston. Donations will be accepted via cash, check, and credit card to the CAMC Foundation for the treatment of infants born to opioid-dependent mothers.
“The opioid-addiction crisis has reached critical proportions in West Virginia and affects members of every generation,” said WVSU Associate Provost and WVSO Cover Conductor Scott E. Woodard. “It is our intention to use the healing and edifying power of music to affect change for the youngest and most helpless of those generations, infants born to opioid-dependent mothers. We at WVSU and the WVSO are proud to partner with the CAMC Foundation in this effort, knowing that the greater West Virginia community will stand in support.”
The WVSO and WVSU joined forces last year to present the first Orchestra of the Hills and Chorus concert as a relief effort to benefit three high school music programs devastated in the June 2016 floods in West Virginia. The volunteer orchestra and chorus, which involves community musicians of all skill sets, performed a concert at Haddad Riverfront Park, and the monetary and instrument donations raised were divided among the schools.
West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service, and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.
HOUSTON – Texas Southern University Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Charles McClelland has announced that the TSU Athletics Program has reached a renewal agreement with AT&T SportsNet (formerly ROOT Sports Southwest) to have the Tigers five home football games broadcast on the network.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with AT&T SportsNet as we look to further enhance the visibility of our football program on a local, regional, and national level,” said McClelland. “AT&T SportsNet reaches the homes of millions and having the ability to showcase our program to such a large viewing audience has truly benefitted our program in a variety of ways including recruiting, brand recognition, and marketing. The continuation of this partnership is something that we’re very excited about as we look forward to what should be a very entertaining season with Coach Haywood leading the program.”
Texas Southern Fans can tune into all of the action on AT&T SportsNet this season as Butch Alsandor returns to the booth to handle play by play duties with sideline reporter Nick Strong providing the latest breaking in-game updates.
The first broadcast of the season is slated for Saturday, September 2nd at 8:00 pm as the Tigers host Prairie View A&M at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Texas Southern will have a quick turnaround for its next home outing as the Tigers will host Houston Baptist for Community Day on a Thursday (Sept. 7) at BBVA Compass Stadium.
TSU will host the defending SWAC East Champion Alcorn State Braves (Sept. 29) on AT&T SportsNet at BBVA Compass Stadium for its third home game of the season in a game that will be played on a Friday.
Texas Southern will host Alabama State for Homecoming (Oct. 14).The Tigers will wrap-up their 2017 home broadcast schedule versus Southern (Nov. 11) on Senior Day rounding out the list of the five TSU home football games slated to be showcased on the network.
An only child, Marshall spent much of her days in the company of her parents. She recalls them as supportive with high expectations. Marshall’s parents divorced, when she was 12. Despite the split, both remained heavily involved in her life. Together they invested in her interests and continued to push her academically.
“They always expected excellence from me, since pre-K,” said Marshall. “I was expected to [earn] all A’s in school, which I lived up to until high school, where I got a few B’s, but still graduated with a 3.5.”
Those high school years were pivotal in Marshall’s life. During her sophomore year at an all-girls school, she had an epiphany that redirected her career goals. After years of training in performing arts, she decided that journalism was the route that she wanted to take.
“I began watching Soledad O’Brien and Lisa Ling. I decided that that’s the type of journalism that I wanted to do,” Marshall said, “I fell in love with profiles and investigative journalism.”
With her plans for the future all mapped out, Marshall continued to strive for excellence by becoming a well-respected student on her school’s campus.
“I was that person you’d go to if you had a problem with anything,” Marshall said, “I was also the liaison between students and staff.”
Marshall served as president of her class and in many other campus organizations, including a diversity initiative club. She was also involved on the cheerleading squad, the dance team, and in the theater arts department. Even though she maintained high levels of service and leadership, Marshall was still surprised when she was honored with two high-ranking awards, during her senior year; winning those awards has been her greatest accomplishment to date.
“To me, that was just a testament to the impact that I was able to make within those four years,” said Marshall. “I wanted to be one of those people that people looked up to.”
Marshall continued to succeed academically, as she entered higher education. Wanting to follow in the legacy of her parents by attending an HBCU, she enrolled at Howard University in the fall of 2015, her passion for journalism still intact. In the future, she plans to begin her own daytime television show that highlights stories that are often overlooked.
“I want to showcase [unique individuals] that go against what [society’s] stereotypes would say they should be doing,” Marshall said.
With the show, Marshall also plans to give back; by incorporating philanthropy and mentorship into the show’s format, she hopes to inspire others, just as she once was.
“When I do have my own show, I want to hire people that look like me, give opportunities out, and fund scholarships,” Marshall said.
Since she’s been at Howard University, Marshall has gained a great appreciation for the Black Press. When she was younger, her father worked at The Tennessee Tribune. There, she spent time chatting with publishers and editors. Though she was exposed to the Black Press at an early age, it wasn’t until she began taking classes in college that she truly gained an understanding of its importance.
“Once I started learning about the Black Press, it just got me excited, because we have a different responsibility to our community than other journalists do,” said Marshall. “There’s such a history of our stories being told by other people, that I think it’s so important for us to be able to tell our stories. We’re the only ones who understand it.”
This summer, in honoring the historic Black Press, Marshall participated in the National Newspaper Publishers Association “Discovering The Unexpected” Journalism Fellowship; the eight-week program was sponsored by Chevrolet. The Nashville native worked alongside staffers at The Washington Informer in the nation’s capital as a contributing writer.
As a young, Black journalist, she describes herself as a part of a generation of storytellers that are dedicated to continuing the legacy of the Black Press that began 190 years ago. With the role, she explained, comes great responsibility.
“[Young, Black journalists] have to work hard to make sure that [our] stories are being told and to make sure that we’re active in our community, so that we have even more Black journalists coming though,” Marshall said.
The man behind what we know today as the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite has passed. Samuel Griffin aka Griff passed away Friday August 4 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Griffin is credited with forming Alcorn State’s Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite, Golden Girls dance line and the Purple Flashers Flag Corp.
Under the direction of Samuel Griffin, the band began to venture into a world that could only be dreamed of. Upon his arrival in 1969, the band only had 35-40 members. With the transition of a new style of marching known as “show-style” many bands throughout the south began to make their mark with the use of many techniques unfamiliar to non-HBCU marching bands.
In 1975 “The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite” became the first band to perform in the New Orleans Superdome. The Band has performed before crowds at Soldier Field in Chicago, the Los Angeles Coliseum, Texas Stadium in Dallas, and many more high-profile venues throughout Georgia, Indiana, New York and Washington, D.C. The band participated in the inaugural parade of President Jimmy Carter in 1977 and many inaugural parades for governors of the state of Mississippi.
“Alcorn lost one of its most beloved figures,” said Rankins. “Mr. Griffin was the epitome of Alcorn excellence. He loved this University, and he dedicated his time to instilling key values of hard work into generations of Alcornites. Our condolences goes out to the Griffin family and all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.”
“Mr. Griffin was an Alcorn State University icon,” said Murray. “He touched the lives of so many young people. He not only taught us how to be musicians, but he also taught us how to be strong men and women.”
Griffin is survived by his wife Peggy Griffin, two sons and three daughters.
Betsy DeVos, the top education administrator in the country, is still trying to figure out what the word “choice” means.
The Secretary of Education spoke to the Associated Press on Wednesday about her “controversial” (read: incredibly ahistorical and dumb) comments about historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which she called “pioneers of school choice,” as if they weren’t products of total educational racism.
Back then, the only logical thing to conclude was that DeVos had profoundly misunderstood (or maybe, had conveniently forgotten) how segregation was enforced in our nation’s school systems. Surely, if she had, “choice” is not a word that she would have applied.
Well, logic ain’t Betsy’s thing.
“When I talked about it being a pioneer in choice it was because I acknowledge that racism was rampant and there were no choices,” DeVos told the AP. “These HBCUs provided choices for black students that they didn’t have.”
Hmm, seems like she’s still not getting how the concept of “choice” works. But hey, maybe DeVos just needs to unpack her thoughts a bit more! Let’s give her one more try.
“My intention was to say they were pioneering on behalf of students that didn’t have another choice. This was their only choice,” said the woman who was heckled and protested by an entire auditorium full of black graduates and their parents this past spring. “At the same time I should have decried much more forcefully the ravages of racism in this country.”
Ahem.
You think???
Without racism, you don’t have segregation—whether legalized or in the de facto form which extended well beyond the Jim Crow South. Without segregated schools, you don’t have HBCUs, which still managed to flourish and produce generations of black graduates. So to laud them as being pioneers of a non-existent choice without acknowledging the racism that made them necessary is as insulting as it is ignorant.
But what’s worse than what DeVos is saying about school choice is what she may do about it. As an advocate for vouchers and charter schools, her policies at the Department of Education will have a real impact on millions of our nation’s public schoolchildren, a great portion of whom are nonwhite. And recent studies have shown that these programs can have disparate effects on public schools that serve majority Latinx and black students.
In fact, the effect that “school choice” could have on students of color is of such concern that the NAACP and the Movement for Black Lives recently called for a moratorium on these schools.
So not only has Betsy DeVos shown that she’s the last person who should be talking about the challenges students of color have faced in the past, she’s also showing that she’s the last person who should be handling the challenges they face now.
North Carolina Central, North Carolina A&T, Tennessee State, Bethune Cookman and South Carolina State were among the “others receiving votes.”
Grambling which beat North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl last season after an 11-win season and first league championship since 2011, was the preseason pick to win the SWAC Western Division for the second consecutive season.
“We’ve been in this position before,” said Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs at SWAC Media Day. I would much rather be in this position than any other position, but it really doesn’t matter. They don’t give you a 10-yard head start as the pick to win the whole thing. It’s up to us to extend and make ourselves better.”
The Tigers will open the season on Sept. 2 at Tulane.
Allstate and The Tom Joyner Foundation have teamed up to support historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Allstate’s Quotes for Education (QFE) program. From August 1 through November 30, for every quote made at allstate.com/HBCU, Allstate will donate $10 to HBCUs. It is that simple!
“Ever Rising” showcases the contribution that HBCUs have had on our nation through compelling statistics and actual HBCU alumni and students.
HBCUs have produced 50% of the country’s black lawyers, 40% black members of Congress, 80% of black judges, 42% of black agricultural science majors, 21% of black business and management majors, and this legacy is ours to protect. With a goal of $100,000 for its 2017 campaign, we are excited to unite with their team to support black colleges across the nation and ensure this goal is met.
“As an alumna of a HBCU, I feel compelled to protect its future. Clicking a link and spending like 3 minutes of my time to get quoted is so worth protecting the legacy of my beloved alma mater. Seriously, it is the least I can do,” says proud graduate, Imani J.
Did you know that this year’s goal could potentially pay for the cost of all the textbooks 166 students need this year or even fund the cost of in-state tuition for 10 students? It could sponsor the cost of 106 classes for HBCU students and buy dorm essentials for 119 students.
Our HBCUs need us, and we need you to visit allstate.com/HBCU to get your quote today.
“Throughout the search process, Dr. Lucas impressed the committee with his clear vision for liberal arts education and creating an enhanced student experience,” said Richardson. “He is an energetic and wise leader and we believe that he will serve Virginia Union University well.”
Dr. Lucas brings nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience in higher education. His career successes include fundraising, strategic planning, and the engagement and retention of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Dr. Lucas has served as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla. since 2012. Under his leadership, unrestricted and restricted giving rose by 30-percent and the endowment increased by 53-percent. He developed a strategic government relations plan that resulted in millions of dollars in appropriations from the state of Florida. These funds aided in the development of new academic programs and a Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. His responsibilities also included chairing the Strategic Growth and Sustainability Taskforce, as well as, leading the sponsored research team that secured more than $45 million in research grants.
Prior to his accomplishments at Bethune-Cookman, Dr. Lucas served as Director of Development at State University of New York at Old Westbury and the Dean of Institutional Advancement and Development at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY. He was also a tenured lecturer and Deputy Chair of the Philosophy and Religion department at Medgar Evers College.
“Virginia Union University has a rich history of academic excellence and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this distinguished university,” said Dr. Lucas. “I look forward to joining the dedicated administrators, faculty and staff as we continue to make a difference in the academic life of our students.”
Dr. Lucas earned his Bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, a Master’s degree in education from Tufts University, and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary. He earned his doctoral degree in education from Fordham University.
Dr. Lucas will begin his appointment on September 1. He replaces Joseph F. Johnson, Ph.D., who has served as Acting President since July 2016.
Howard University alumna Susan Kelechi Watson shared how Howard helped to shape her career in acting, and the rigor of the school’s fine arts programming. Watson is signed to the United Talent Agency, a firm representing some of the nation’s top talent in film, media and entertainment. The actress plays Beth Pearson, the wife of Sterling K. Brown’s character, on the breakout NBC drama.
NCCU completed the fundraising program with gifts and commitments totaling approximately $7,235,834. More than 7,000 contributed to the campaign, including 564 first-time donors to the university.
The $7.23 million included a $1 million planned gift from the estate of Jill Hamilton, wife of NCCU Board of Trustee Chairman George Hamilton. The future bequest will benefit the university’s new School of Business.
“Thanks to our generous contributors, NCCU continues to advance in providing high quality education to students,” said NCCU Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye, Ph.D. “Every gift makes a difference in the lives of students and expands the impact of this great university on the world.”
NCCU received more than $2.5 million of the $7.23 contributed by 3,913 alumni, who responded generously to the ongoing Every Eagle. Every Year. initiative during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2017. Many of the new donors were millennial graduates, with alumni graduating in 2000 or later comprising nearly 40 percent of all contributors – a 20-percent increase over fiscal year 2015-2016.
“A successful fundraising year is always exciting, especially one that includes new donors,” said Harriet Frink Davis, Ph.D., vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement. “NCCU’s culture of philanthropy is continuously developing. The continued success of NCCU’s annual giving campaign is the result of the commitment and generosity of our alumni and supporters.”
For NCCU students, successful fundraising means wider availability for need-based financial aid and scholarships. The contributions will also be used to support faculty needs and research efforts.
North Carolina Central University prepares students to succeed in the global marketplace. Consistently ranked as a top Historically Black College or University, NCCU offers flagship programs in the sciences, education, law, business, nursing and the arts. Founded in 1910, NCCU remains committed to diversity in and access to higher education. Our alumni excel in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. Visit www.nccu.edu.
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) produce more than a quarter of all African-American graduates in the country and are responsible for producing the nation’s leading black citizens. Revolutionary civil rights leaders, doctors, religious leaders, bankers, writers, Olympians, lawyers, musicians, engineers, actors/actresses, humanitarians, professional athletes, educators, scientists, and politicians that hail from historically black campuses, all graduate with more than a degree or honors.
An HBCU education is a world class one, and it is found both in the classroom and on the yard. Amid intensifying cultural tensions, political warfare, and blatant appropriation and injustices targeted toward people of color, we are thrilled to celebrate the black community and highlight 30 stellar young minds.
Every year, the HBCU Top 30 Under 30 honors talented and selfless young men and women who are making phenomenal steps forward in a multitude of industries including education/academia, science, sports, fashion, journalism, technology, business, community/public service, politics, and entertainment. Check out the former classes here.
This year, with nominations more than doubling from last year, we are exceptionally proud to present the 2017 HBCU Top 30 Under 30 class. Congratulations to the young leaders who are honored and congratulations to the esteemed historically black colleges and universities that have unquestionably helped mold these leaders of today and tomorrow.
Timothy Moore | Harris-Stowe State University (30)
Timothy Moore, better known simply as “T.Moore” is the Founder and CEO of T. Moore Media and he is one of the few individuals who possess the ability to capture moments through a lens and allow their stories to live authentically through a single moment. Moore began his career in photography almost eight years ago as a high school student and since then he has grown to become more than just your average photographer. He now serves as a Creative Director & Branding Specialist for some of the world’s leading brands. To bring his most iconic visions to life, he has always dedicated his energy to aligning his vision to opportunities that he can use to help change the trajectory of the next generation.
As T.Moore begins preparation for 2018, he is tirelessly working to develop new programs and outlets to start serving his community and various industries. With a mission to serve T.Moore is sure to continue raising the bar with his hustle and innovation. Anyone can take a photograph. But not many people have the ability to capture a moment in its true essence. And while it is very true that a picture is worth a thousand words, not many pictures can tell you an entire story. In the words of T.Moore, “If you keep your head low and your hustle high, then you’ll find yourself on the other side of fear by the time you look up.”
Sapphira E. Martin | Johnson C Smith University (29)
Queens, NY Native, Sapphira E. Martin is a Full-Time sassy Entrepreneur. With a boss mindset instilled in her at a young age, becoming an Entrepreneur has always been her number one goal. After graduating from Johnson C. Smith University with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Communication Arts and interning her way to the top, Sapphira acquired the “ dream job.” She worked as a Social Media and Content Producer at Emmis Communications. Being able to create content for the very audience and generation that she was a part of was so rewarding. However, there was something more rewarding about working for herself while positively uplifting black women, thus SassBoxx was born.
Living by Habbakuk 2:2 “Write the vision, make it plain.” Sapphira believes that you truly have to see yourself where you want to be and envision all your desires to happen. Over a year later, SassBoxx has shown tremendous growth. SassBoxx is a monthly subscription box that offers products exclusively from businesses owned by black women. Sapphira was inspired to create SassBoxx because she saw there was a need for businesses owned by black women in the African American community to be uplifted and financially supported. “Of course the many subscriptions that came before me played a major role in inspiring SassBoxx” she said. “But it was definitely the hardest working, biggest spending demographic, black women. “SassBoxx is meant to create a huge network and sisterhood of African American women that support, uplift and inspire one another.
For Sapphira, she hasn’t been happier and more liberal than she is now. She’s more appreciative of her business now because the time and effort she spends on it has already lead to great things. She’s providing a platform for women of color business owners, celebrating and honoring women entrepreneur’s through SassBoxx’s six city Brunch Series Tour, and speaking, inspiring and uplifting all black women through “ Black Girl Podcast” in which she co-hosts with four other amazing women in media; discussing everything under the sun. Sapphira’s goal is to continue flourishing and lifting her fellow sister up alongside her!
DeJonique N. Garrison | Clark Atlanta University (28)
DeJonique Garrison is an anchor/investigative reporter for 12 News Now. Prior to making her way to Southeast Texas, she was a multimedia journalist concentrating on government affairs at WFXG Fox 54 in Augusta, Georgia. DeJonique graduated magna cum laude from Clark Atlanta University in 2011 with a degree in Mass Media Arts. While there, DeJonique served as a member of the Essence Dance Line, Admissions Ambassadors, Junior Class Council, and Miss Black and Gold Georgia for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. The position that DeJonique held in the highest regard during her matriculation was being crowned Miss Clark Atlanta University 2010-2011. In that capacity, she was able to mentor students, advocate for the institution, and raise awareness surrounding the importance and relevance of HBCU’s in the 21st Century. DeJonique capped off her reign by being voted as one of the nation’s top ten campus queens for Ebony Magazine.
Her southern roots, specifically experiencing natural disaster and political scandals in her hometown of New Orleans, La., created the foundation for her passion of service through reporting. Before devoting her career to storytelling, DeJonique worked for the extras casting department for MTV Productions and Bunim/Murray Productions on projects that included The Real World, Teen Wolf and Worst Cooks in America.
Kimberly F. Monroe is a two-time graduate of Grambling State University. Having received a Bachelor’s in History in 2012 and Master’s in Mass Communication and History in 2015, she is continuing her education as a third year Ph.D. student at Howard University. At Howard she is a history major concentrating in African Diaspora and Women’s studies. While a student at Grambling, she was an editor for the school newspaper The Gramblinite, a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, and founder of Natural Sistahs, an organization for natural haired women on campus.
On the national level, she served as the historian for the National Black Graduate Student Association from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, she published her first book titled Homecoming in Tigerland with Mascot Books as a way to give back to her Alma mater. Homecoming in Tigerland was written as a way to expose children to Grambling and HBCUs at an early age. While there is a need for more youth to attend college, Monroe’s goal is to expose children to the rich history of HBCUs by highlighting homecoming, football, marching bands and more.
As a doctoral student studying the African Diaspora and Women’s Studies, Monroe is also the secretary of the Howard Graduate Student Council and president of the History Graduate Student Association. Over the past two years, she has studied abroad in London, Paris, and Tanzania. In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, she became fluent in Swahili in order to teach it in her classroom. Swahili has always been the language of revolution for many prominent African American leaders. She feels as though an African language like Swahili supports the rich Africana presence of HBCUs.
Kimberly devotes her time mentoring HBCU undergraduate students with their graduate application process. As a Life Member of the Grambling University National Alumni Association (GUNAA) she continues to support Grambling as the secretary of the Washington DC Alumni chapter, and returns to speak to current students whenever possible. Upon graduation from Howard University, Monroe plans to become a History professor at an HBCU. As Lake Charles, Louisiana native, she is in the process of creating a non-profit organization to help high school seniors from her hometown matriculate to college. She will also continue her mission to ensure more undergraduate students attend graduate school.
Most recently, her efforts were recognized by DC Metro Alumni Alliance by being the awarded the “Young Alumni Award.” This honor will be given in September to highlight the work she has done in the community and for HBCUs. She was also recognized at the Grambling Alumni Convention, which took place in Los Angeles California by receiving the “Distinguished Alumni Award Freshman Category.” The Howard University Graduate Student Council presented her with the “Most Likely to Publish Conscious Raising Books.” Her forthcoming book, which will be released August 1st, is titled So Lyrical, If Feels Spiritual and compiles eight contributing women poets, all of whom graduated from Grambling. As an author, HBCU advocate, mentor, and historian, this young alum deserves recognition for all she has done and is going to do for HBCUs across the nation.
Shaquille Dillon | Southern University & A&M College (26)
Friend, brother, mentor, advisor, leader, designer, humanitarian, are a few words to describe Shaquille Dillon. I’d like to call him “The Small Town Hero“. Mr. Shaquille Dillon is a 26 year old native of Franklinton, Louisiana. He began his matriculation at Southern University and A&M College in the Fall 2009 semester. Since his arrival on the Mighty Bluff of Mississippi River, Shaquille has not only served his university in leaderships roles but his community as well. Upon his graduation in the Fall 2013 semester, he was the Sophomore Class President 2010-11, Vice President of the T.J. Jemison Baptist Student Union 2010-11, Men’s Federation President 2011-12, Collegiate 100 Black Men President 2012-13, a Jaguar Ambassador for three consecutive years, and also served on Miss Southern University Royal Court for three years. Shaquille enjoyed traveling and encouraging students to seek higher education during his undergraduate years. In the summer of 2014, Southern University approached him with an opportunity to become an Admissions Recruiter.
This opportunity began his journey in Higher Education where he had found his passion in life. The native of a small town gave the university a new directive in marketing the institution which eventually increased enrollment. He is a active member of the Southern University Alumni Home Chapter, has been the advisor to Men’s Federation for three consecutive years, the Historian, Education Chair, Juneteenth 2017 Chair – where he helped raised 12,500 in scholarships, and Scholarship Gala Co-Chair of the Beta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and also serves on Advisory Board to the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Dillon was selected to be the Keynote Speaker of the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Program in his hometown, where he encourage the youth to seek higher education and the community to invest in our youth’s education. He was presented the Unsung Hero Award at the 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight Vigil and Program hosted by Southern University Office of Student Life and the Beta Sigma Alphas.
Shaquille lead the Beta Iota Lambda and Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to victory, winning the National Charles H. Wesley Award at the 94th General Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. this summer. At the 2017 NASAP SLI Conference in Savannah, Georgia, Shaquille was presented with the Male Advisor of the Year Award, voted on by the 44 HBCUs leaders that were present at the conference. On August 1, 2017, Dillon will begin his new role as Assistant Director of Recruitment at Southern University and A&M College.
Amber G. Johnson | Spelman College (25)
Amber Gayle Johnson is a 2017 Woman of Excellence and Leadership Scholar, a Young Ambassador for the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst(DAAD), a CIEE HBCU Scholar and a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar. She also speaks German, is a a two time Investigative Reporters and Editors(IRE) Knight Scholar, a Lead UPS Community Service Scholar, the Co-Special Events Director of the Spelman College Student Government Association and the 1st Female PR Director and Business Manager of the Maroon Tiger Student Media Group at Morehouse College.
She spends her free time reading, traveling, working and volunteering in her community and is an influential leader at her school of Spelman College. She studies Comparative Women’s Studies & Political Science and she aspires to be a philanthropist, educational consultant and superintendent of a school district. She will use her background in gender studies, research skills, German language skills and leadership experiences to help fund and uplift the students of the future.
Aria Hill | Hampton University (24)
Aria entered Hampton University as a merit scholar. Throughout her collegiate career at Hampton University, Hill has answered her call to lead in countless ways on campus and in the neighboring Hampton Roads, Virginia community. Her passion for being the “voice” of the students, led her to Student Government Association Senate which she joined in 2014, and currently participates in as Chair of Buildings and Grounds. Soon thereafter, Hill received the Hillary Clinton Award, being honored for her recognizable ambition.
As if her hands weren’t already full, Hill created “Senators in Action”, establishing a program for student leaders to actively service the community. This ultimately led to the birth of Service Spree. Service Spree became the bridge that students on campus used for public and community service. The non-profit provides and schedules assistance for social service organizations throughout the Virginia Peninsula; making those who desire to serve, aware of many opportunities.
As the liaison of service opportunities throughout the Peninsula area, it has obligation to remain in constant communication with the leaders of 10 organizations and connect them to volunteers. The Service Spree motto is: “Providing helping hands of service throughout our community” currently has over 400 hands who serve at 10 community sites including local churches, hospitals, Habitat for Humanity, and mentorship organizations. The young organization is expanding and has developed new initiatives: 1- a big brother mentoring program for middle school young men-Gentilligence, 2- a program providing young women living in shelters with purses filled will feminine hygiene products-Passionate Purses, and 3- a scholarship program awarding Hampton students studying abroad-Service Spree Across the 7 Seas.
The young pharmacy major and non-profit owner is dedicated to the community and the study of medicine and her favorite quote is “When God sends you His calling to serve, you must be an open vessel.”
Russell Pointer Jr. | Morehouse College (23)
On January 29, 1994, Russell Andrew Pointer, Jr. was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and he was raised in Gallatin, Tennessee. Russell graduated from Morehouse College with a BA in Kinesiology, Sport Studies, and Physical Education with a minor in Leadership Studies. Currently, Russell is pursuing a Master’s in Sport Management at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Once he has completed this program, he plans to begin a JD/M.Div program.
Ultimately, Russell wants to work to provide a voice and equal opportunity for minority and at-risk populations. He also wants to set a standard of high character and high work ethic within a program to create a culture of better coaches and athletes on and off the court.
Russell always had a heart to praise God. He began his music ministry at the age of 11, and he began preaching at the age of 19 under the tutelage of Russell Andrew Pointer, Sr., his father. Through his ministry, Russell desires to provide hope to his peers and inspire others to walk closer with the Lord.
NaAsiaha Simon | Wilberforce University (22)
NaAsiaha Simon is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Mu Zeta Omega Chapter. She is the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director of Media and Publicity for The NxD Group. Her specialties include, but are not limited to: Event Production, Marketing, Branding, Media, and Public Relations. From inception to execution, whether for a social event or brand development, NaAsiaha aims to create well-tailored strategies in line with her clients’ goals and vision. As a member of a close-knit family, NaAsiaha understands the value of a strong community and activism, in all aspects of life. With her most recent project, she chose to celebrate her 27th birthday with the launch of “Project 27K”, an initiative created to raise awareness on reading fundamentals, by gathering 27,000+ book donations for the youth in her hometown Fresno, California and the surrounding area.
Her education has laid the groundwork for strong leadership and interpersonal skills, and her passion for people and service has been nurtured through her central desire of giving back. Simon is no stranger to running businesses, for the past 2 years she’s ran her public relations firm with her business partner, Damilola Bajamo. She personifies the new guard of PR strategists who has her finger on the zeitgeist of the intersection of issues, the news cycle, and pop-culture and consistently positions her clients to break through. She remains behind the scenes, helping to propel artists and influencers such as Hill Harper, Nate Parker, Lance Gross, YG, Angel Brinks and Amber Rose while placing clients in outlets including Revolt TV, VH1, TMZ, Essence Magazine, Bossip, Necole Bitchie and many more.
Now, she’s embarking on a new journey to take on a whole new feat; empowering the school that taught her so much. In July, NaAsiaha will walk through the threshold of Wilberforce University once again but this time, as staff serving as the Director of Public Relations & Marketing. Her journey will surely be something meaningful to witness.
Tamara Bates | Philander Smith College (21)
Tamara L. Bates, a native of Memphis, TN who is a 2016 graduate of Philander Smith College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She is active with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Ambitious Girls Inc , and Central Arkansas Urban League Young Professionals. During her tenure at Philander Smith, Tamara was selected by President Obama to serve as a 2015 White House HBCU-allstar. She was involved on campus which ultimately lead her to receiving student of the year award.
She is founder of RockARVote, a non-partisan political initiative to mobilize and educate millennial voters about the importance of voters education. Post graduate Tamara worked as field organizer for former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton in Tallahassee, Florida. After building so many relationships through networking, Tamara was given an opportunity to work at the 2017 Essence Festival with the Human Rights Campaign, which is America’s largest civil rights organization working to provide LGBTQ people their basic rights to be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
Tamara has developed a reputation as “Tap the Connector” amongst her social circle due to her ability to bridge the gap between individuals based on her conversations of getting to know and understand a person’s passion for what they do. After being well known for this ability, she has been inspired to develop a business venture to build a social platform for individuals who either don’t have access or the ability to connect with influencers for their network. “What good is a product if you don’t have the support behind it to help showcase it?” Tamara has a plethora of gifts and she shares her gifts by adding energy to the spaces of those she encounters each and everyday.
“Renaissance or Revolution”, the open dialogue last Thursday between TV One/NewsOne’s Roland Martin and Wilberforce University President, Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr. during the Wilberforce University Alumni Association Conference. The HBCU Town Hall meeting was 360 degrees of interactive conversation.With 250+ attendees fired up to address the priorities required to heighten survivability amid advancing institutional excellence, innovation, and sustainability at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Opportunities that reflect on the Wilberforce mission as it relates to the HBCU community, this discussion proved to be necessary and result driven.
This powerful conversation highlighted topics such as “how to” build sustainable partnerships internally and externally, including: framing new success pathways to HBCU curriculum innovation; research funding, improving student recruitment accessibility and opportunity, and responding to the needs of non-traditional and diverse student populations.
The primary thinkpiece for the evening correlated the strength of Alumni relations and the corresponding pressure faced at every level of Alumni giving to the institution. Keynote Roland Martin posed this question, “How do we teach to give to our churches, give to the Obama campaign, but not give to Historically Black Colleges and Universities”. Martin expounded on the practice and significance of Alumni giving, to support scholarship funds and research for institutions of higher learning. He explained that too often people get overwhelmed by the size of the gift and forget that multiple small gifts can be just as impactful.
As America’s first privately owned and operated HBCU, Wilberforce University, founded by African-Americans in 1856 is currently experiencing a renaissance .The transition is defined by operational efficiency, fiscal responsibility, strength on intentional focus on providing a rich campus engagement experience for every student enrolled. President Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr. stated, “ In the 2015-2016 fiscal year the Alumni giving percentage was 1 percent, fast forwarding to now Alumni giving has increased 9 percent”!
Reiterating the importance of giving, Wilberforce University was featured as the HBCU of the day for the #HBCUGivingDay Initiative, Monday July 31st .The HBCU Giving Day is a national call to action in support of raising funds for historically black colleges and universities. Created by Roland Martin, the fundraising initiative represents a different historically black college and university by wearing a lapel pin and then posting the photo on social media using the hashtag. From the one day initiative, Wilberforce University raised 1,304 dollars; we are proud to declare that the renaissance is moving forward!
