Wiley College President Announces 2018 Retirement Plans

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Wiley College President Haywood L. Strickland announced on Monday his plans to retire in June 2018.

“I’m getting old,” he said Monday, chuckling. “It’s just time. I’ve served longer than most presidents now. Most now (serve about) seven years or so and this is my 18th year. “That’s really a long time to be in this high octane, high pressure job. I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve accomplished what I wanted to now it’s time to enjoy retirement, enjoy my granddaughter. It’s really more personal than anything else.”

Strickland made the announcement and submitted his formal letter of intent to retire to the college’s board of trustees at the end of his board presentation Thursday during the summer board meeting, a release on Monday said.

“We wanted to make it seamless and ensure there was no downtime between presidents,” Strickland said. “Far too often presidents leave under some kind of pressure and there’s a disconnect between the (administrations). I want to make sure I have a conversation with the new president and answer any questions. I wanted to give them an opportunity to prepare for my leaving rather than a short (notice) departure.”

Strickland said the trustees formed a search committee in the spring, which is being advised by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, in its work to recruit and name a successor.

“Not many people know that at one time in his life, President Strickland thought his life’s work would be in the ministry,” said Walter L. Sutton Jr., the chair of Wiley’s board of trustees, in response to Strickland’s letter. “It was fortunate for Wiley College and the higher education community that he ultimately fulfilled his calling through years of consistent and dedicated service to ensure access to a higher education.”

Read full at Marshall News Messenger 

Meet HBCU YouTubers Kiara Nelson and Alexis Whidbee

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There are tons of YouTube videos that show common topics like what you should bring or how to eat healthy while in college. However, the scope of advice needed for college, especially HBCUs is much wider.  Kiara Nelson, a  TV/Film student at Howard University and Alexis Whidbee, a Psychology Student at North Carolina A&T both have YouTube channels where they shed light on a wide range of HBCU Topics. Below are some of the most helpful (and funny) videos I’ve watched on their channels that I wish I had my freshman year. By the end of these you’ll be able to figure out what songs to learn before coming to an HBCU, as well as the Dos and Don’ts.  Be sure to follow them and stay updated on their vlogs and other fun/informative videos!

Handle Sadness in College: 

Songs to Know Before You Attend an HBCU:

Terms to Know Before You Get to Howard:

Part1:

 

How to Dress @ Your HBCU:

Manage Natural Hair in College:

 

Hacks for Free Textbooks

*DOs and DON’Ts at HBCUs: 

*College Must Haves/Essentials:

*Organization Tips for College Students: 

For an inside look at life at Howard and NCAT head over to their channels and check out some vlogs!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCfZxCH0kUH0fCny-30x_sIMX2wm7yekw

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQb7OzMTejnhPHFhnlgueghg7cD0xsaiq

Meet Howard University’s DJ Magic

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DJ Magic, aka Dionne, is a sophomore, Music Composition major from Atlanta, GA. She began her DJ career in her senior year of high school  and quickly learned just how important the role of a good DJ was.

“I really admire the fact that DJs love to have fun, hype people up, and make great memories no matter which genre the audience is into.”

– DJ Magic

Over the past few months she has developed her personal DJ style even more. Many would describe her as a DJ whose style is consistent and smooth, “laid back with a southern twist and feminine edge.”

Dionne’s overall passion for music came sort of out of the blue seeing ASB she didn’t grow up in a musical household. She went from elementary school chorus to middle school musical theatre and band in high school. At Howard she’s taken thisbpassion to new heights with music production in addition to her DJing. Her personal music taste is super diverse including favorite artists ranging from NAO to Dua Lipa;  she listens to music from just about ever genre.

A Message from the DJ 

“On July 21, I am releasing ‘Femme Fatale Vol. II’ the second installment of my all female hip hop and R&B mix. I’m extremely excited about it because I’ve grown tremendously as a DJ ever since I released the first ‘Femme Fatale’ and I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone reacts to the new artists and songs that I put into this one.

The ‘Femme Fatale’ series means the most to me because it was the first full-length mix that I ever did but I have to say that my favorite project overall is ‘Rise Up: The ATL Mix’. I made it in February 2017 when I got super homesick after the Atlanta Falcons made it to the Superbowl. I felt that I had to make something to pay homage to my hometown and show everyone how prominent Atlanta has become in hip hop culture in a short period of time.”

Make sure to stay updated on all of the latest news and projects by following DJ Magic  on her social media sites @yagirldjmagic. Check out some of her most popular mixes and videos below!

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/275081975″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

https://twitter.com/yagirldjmagic/status/886330945237856257

Femme Fatale Vol. II: https://soundcloud.com/yagirldjmagic/femme-fatale-vol-ii
Rise Up: The ATL Mix: https://soundcloud.com/yagirldjmagic/rise-up-the-li-mix

VIBE Featured HBCU App Changes The Game

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An app created over a year ago by a group of young HBCU students for a school competition has now become one of the strongest assets to HBCU awareness and enrollment increase, HBCU HUB: Raising Enrollment.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HBCU Hub Jonathan Swindell, a Senior at Grambling State University said the app came into fruition after winning the 1st Idea Competition at Grambling State University, with that also receiving a $1,000 prize to help launch the app. The primary goals of HBCU HUB is to increase HBCU awareness amongst their majority millennial audience, while also increasing enrollment on every HBCU campus. The app also provides a social market for HBCU businesses to sell products, personal tutor(s) for students, information on Divine 9 organizations, and Stop Shop for everything HBCU.

A new featured launched on the app, Live Chat allows for students, parents, and alumni to ask questions, communicate on HBCU related issues, or serve as a hangout to socialize with others.

In short, “HBCU HUB is the high school to HBCU Pipeline.” CEO Swindell said.

With a feature story from VIBE Magazine  and ranked #5 on the “Top 5 Successful Black Owned Tech Companies To Check Out” from CampusLATELY, it’s evident that HBCU HUB is the premier app for HBCU interested students, current students, parents and alumni.

The team of HBCU HUB also consist of his Chief Operating Officer (COO) Grambling State student Justin Willis and Creative Director Morgan Adams who attends Southern University. With the combined brain power from these three innovative individuals, they have created an app that impacts the HBCU community and millennial generation.  Director Morgan Adams experienced work in the field of social media and as a Creative Director aided in the drastic increase in HBCU HUB social presence, rising by 748% in three weeks.

In an effort to address HBCU enrollment issues, HBCU HUB created a “HUB Pack”. The HUB Pack is a free service provided by the app in exchange for basic student information that sends a student all the information they need to be accepted by any specific HBCU, while also allowing for students to go on an HBCU Tour. With this being the first of its kind this project launched by the app has already began to increase student interest and enrollment at several HBCUs.

“HUB Packs are ordered daily, we are literally helping students get into school each and every day.” says Swindell.

Although the perfect app may have just arrived, Swindell says that the app is still looking to contribute to the HBCU Community in bigger ways. The vision of the app in five years is to increase overall HBCU enrollment by 25%  with a presence on every HBCU campus and in 10 years increase enrollment by 50% and offer full ride scholarships to any HBCU in the country on the expense of HBCU HUB. Apart of their vision for the upcoming years is also launch their HBCU HUB 10k Giveway,where they will travel to select HBCUs and rain down $10,000 cash for the students to go after and grab.

HBCU HUB believes that the same community that gave them the opportunity to launch this app and all the success that has come with; they are now in debt to. Providing opportunities that the HBCU community and millennial generation may not have been given before has been proven to be the primary goal.

“As we grow as a company, our efforts to give back will grow as well, our company success empowers our community, the same community that empowered us, we will never forget that.”

The app as also aided in funding several students to attend HBCUs who may not have any the necessary funds prior to. A feature on the app, “Scholarship Matchmaker” allows the user to take a test that determines what scholarships across the country they qualify for. In the past a student attending Howard University received over $77,000 in scholarship money after completing the test and will never have to worry about paying for school again.

With success like the company has had in recent times, the question almost becomes what can’t this app do?

Swindell believes the limit within this company is endless, “With so much accomplished in one year it really leaves the question of how far can this company go?”

Coming in August 2017, HBCU HUB will launch a new feature, “Student Connection” that will soon after become the what we recognized as the “Tinder for HBCUs.”

This revolutionary app has truly emerged into the market spotlight and will continue to ring the bell for HBCUs for years to come with hopes of one day moving from being an app to becoming a dominant HBCU based company.

In his final thoughts Swindell left HBCU Buzz with these short but very powerful words, “We are going to change the world.”

EWC Instructors Speak at WordCamp Jacksonville 2017

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Emma Kent and William Jackson speakers at the 2017 / WordCamp Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida presented a different presentation that engaged those in attendance with a new way to look at creating content, Branding and even Marketing.

Titled “How to be Dope on Social Media,” shared the intricate dynamics of connecting with diverse groups to provide information, resources, potential collaborations and even building PLN – Professional Learning Networks and building PLC- Professional Learning Communities.

The national and international conference encourages the sharing of experiences of developers, users, web developers, graphic designers and others with a passion with working on the WordPress platform. The multi-generational conference even held a “Kids Camp” to teach youth, teens and young adults about creating and building a web platform using WordPress.

Emma Kent is a research librarian at Edward Waters College and William Jackson is a Professor at Edward Waters College where he teaches Educational Technology, Social Media and STEM.
Both are involved in Social Media in higher education teaching students the value of their content and being responsible and accountable for their content. Ms. Kent and Professor Jackson encourage higher educational institutions especially HBCU’s Historical Black Colleges and Universities to teach Social Media skill-sets to the students from freshmen to seniors because of the seriousness and relevance of digital content.

Professor Jackson is a national and international blogger, content creator and digital visionary. He speaks to youth, teens and young adults on the value and importance of their digital content that can affect credit scores, employment opportunities and even earning internships and scholarships.

Prof. Jackson and Ms. Kent work to be mentors and role models of proper Social Media engagement while attending conferences, workshops, seminars, and encouraging HBCU students to attend and speak at events to increase network and collaboration opportunities.

As the need for increased learning opportunities grows, Ms. Kent and Prof. Jackson are traveling to speak about being safe, responsible, accountable and dependable online. Each person not only has a voice to share, but their building a valuable Brand that represents them to the world.

Events like WordCamp, EdCamp, BarCamp, WordPress and other technology Meetups need the energy and engagement of youth, teens and young adults that will be the future engineers, web developers, graphic designers and even Podcasters and Micro-bloggers that will tell the stories of their communities.

There is enough room on the Internet for everyone to catch a Niche, develop their Brand and Market their talents, skills and abilities.

Paul Quinn College Partners with Lyft Rideshare Corporation

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What an exciting time for Paul Quinn College! Last month, Lyft rideshare corporation officially announced it’s  philanthropic partnership with the historically black college located in Dallas, Texas. Paul Quinn is a work college, meaning full time residential students are placed in on and off campus jobs as part of their mandatory graduation requirements. Lyft Corporation committed to donating 1% of all revenue earned from rides to and from campus to the school’s work program.

This designation has allowed Paul Quinn College to rank as the first college in an urban area and the only historically black college and university with this particular distinction. Since the college-wide launch in 2015, student tuition fees have been reduced by $10,000. Student are also no longer charged for learning materials or textbooks.

“We are incredibly excited to combine our innovative higher education practices with Lyft’s groundbreaking leadership in the transportation space” stated Dr. Michael J. Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College. “We are thrilled to partner with Paul Quinn College to provide students of the work program affordable and reliable on-demand rides when they need them,” stated Gyre Renwick, head of enterprise partnerships at Lyft.

According to Dr. Sorrell, the partnership will address four critical areas in higher education: students working jobs that compromise their academic pursuits; rising student debt; absence of relevant work experience by graduation; and lack of preparedness among college freshman.

It looks like this partnership will be the start of something amazing for fellow “Quinnites”. Sorrell’s ultimate goal is for each of his students to graduate with less than $10,000 in debt. What a presidential inspiration!

 

KS

Ivory Nelson Named Jackson State Provost

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Longtime academician Dr. Ivory V. Nelson, a three-time university president and one-time community college chancellor, has assumed the role of interim provost at Jackson State University.

The native of Shreveport, Louisiana, had retired to his Houston home in December 2011. He returned to the college scene at the behest of his protégé, new JSU President William B. Bynum Jr., who took the helm of the HBCU on July 1.

In 2000, Nelson, then the 12th president of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (1999-2011), hired Bynum as his vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “He worked for me for nine years. We’ve had a great relationship over time,” said Nelson, 83.“He’s the only one who could get me out of retirement to do this,” said Nelson, speaking admirably of Bynum. “I’m here to help with the current transition and assist in the search for a permanent provost. I will support the president in this academic endeavor wherever I can use my expertise and knowledge.”

He describes JSU as a phenomenal institution in terms of academic programs and prowess. He said he’s had two previous relationships with the nation’s current fourth-largest HBCU. Nelson was part of a review team for JSU’s re-accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in the 1970s and was among finalists for the presidency when Dr. James Hefner was ultimately selected in 1984.

At Lincoln, he displayed an extraordinary ability to turn the nation’s first degree-granting HBCU into a powerhouse institution after once being on the brink of collapse. During his tenure, he developed a five-year strategic plan for financing and phased construction that resulted in the elimination of operating deficits and repayment of outstanding loans and debts.

READ full JSU

Howard Graduate Faraday Okoro Wins $1 Million Award for Feature Film

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Howard graduate Faraday Okoro won the AT&T Presents: Untold Stories Program which includes $1 million to make a film that will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival next year.

The grant will go to production on his thesis film, Nigerian Prince, which will then stream on AT&T video platforms after its Tribeca premiere.

Faraday impressed the Untold Stories greenlight committee, comprised of industry leaders and film experts, with his vision for his project Nigerian Prince at this morning’s Facebook Live pitch event in New York City. The committee heard pitches from 5 finalists, deliberated and named Faraday as the winner. Faraday’s win was announced at a luncheon today celebrating inclusivity in storytelling, as well as all 5 of the filmmakers selected for the program.

What’s next? Faraday will now use the next year to create or finish his film. It’s a story about a stubborn Nigerian-American teenager who after being sent to Nigeria against his will, joins forces with an internet scammer, in order to return to the United States.

Read more via ATT

Vincent Williams Elected Chair of WVSU’s Board of Governors

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Contact: Jack Bailey

(304) 766-4109

jbaile19@wvstateu.edu

 

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Tennessee attorney L. Vincent Williams has been elected Chair of the West Virginia State University (WVSU) Board of Governors for the 2018 fiscal year that began July 1, 2017.

A 1972 graduate of WVSU with a degree in business administration, Williams is an attorney in private practice in Nashville, Tenn. He was formerly the Deputy Attorney General of the Special Litigation Division in the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General.

“West Virginia State University is on the upswing with continued growth in enrollment, and the addition of new degree programs to meet the economic demands of the state and nation,” said Williams. “I look forward to working with my fellow members of the Board of Governors and WVSU President Anthony Jenkins and his administration to continue that positive growth.”

A native of Alderson, W.Va., Williams was first appointed to WVSU’s Board of Governors in October 2009 to fill an unexpired term and has served in various capacities on the board including, Vice Chair, Secretary and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committees.

“Being both an alum of West Virginia State, and someone who has built his own successful law practice, L. Vincent Williams brings a valuable perspective to the Board of Governors,” said WVSU President Anthony Jenkins. “He knows the values and history of our institution, but also understands what we as a University must do to continue to be successful in today’s competitive higher education landscape.”

In addition to his bachelor’s degree from WVSU, Williams has a master’s of business administration degree from Tennessee State University and a law degree from Vanderbilt University. Prior to serving the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General, Williams acted as the Assistant Commissioner for Labor Standards at the Tennessee Department of Labor.

Williams’ election as Chair came on Thursday, June 15, during a meeting of the Board.

Also, WVSU alum William Lipscomb was re-elected Vice Chair of the Board of Governors for fiscal year 2018. Lipscomb is a Re-Entry Specialist with KISRA.

In addition, E. Gail Pitchford was re-elected the Board of Governors Secretary for fiscal year 2018. Pitchford is President of the Charleston Area Medical Center Foundation.

The Board of Governors provides oversight to the University and consists of nine members appointed by the governor of West Virginia, as well as representatives of the school’s faculty, students and classified staff.

The next meeting of the WVSU Board of Governors will be in September.

Follow West Virginia State University on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @WVStateU.

 

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.

 

 

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15 HBCUs Enter Partnership to Provide Technical Expertise to Federal Agencies

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For additional information, contact:
Sharon Brooks Hodge
Phone: (276) 732-3408
Email: aamu-rise@sharonbrookshodge.com

15 HBCUs Enter Partnership to Provide Technical Expertise to Federal Agencies: Initiative Is Expected to Increase Diversity in Government Contracting

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – July 10, 2017) Scientists and engineers affiliated with AMIE (Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering) will be collaborating with the Research, Innovation, Science, and Engineering Foundation at Alabama A&M University to submit proposals and compete for research and development opportunities with the federal government for defense, aerospace, cyber security, and other critical areas. The new consortium is expected to increase the participation of black engineers in government technology projects, give leading agency contractors more options for diversity in their partnerships, and generate new revenue streams for Historically Black College and Universities.

The endeavor is led by the AAMU-RISE Foundation, which has extensive experience in developing innovative technology to help government agencies meet their needs.

For example, the AAMU-RISE Foundation currently is partnering with a prominent defense contractor to demonstrate the technical feasibility of autonomous systems that reduce daily tasks of military pilots. The AAMU-RISE Foundation has just completed Phase I of a small business technology project involving additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, for NASA. The AAMU-RISE Foundation team also has been contracted to apply their expertise on the lifecycle of missiles and testing a turbopump bearing system for the Marshall Space Flight Center.

“We have been successful in executing contracts to provide meaningful products and services to the government. These projects increase learning experiences for engineering students and create new revenue streams for the university,” said Chance M. Glenn, Ph.D. Glenn is executive director of the AAMU-RISE Foundation and dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences at Alabama A&M University.

“This partnership is unlike other consortia attempts,” said Veronica Nelson, executive director at AMIE. “It is driven by opportunity and mutual benefit. The AMIE/AAMU-RISE Foundation partnership will allow us to collaborate and develop a method to utilize subject matter experts from various universities, as well as the facilities and equipment of a nationwide network of HBCUs. ” All of the 15 universities affiliated with AMIE have ABET-accredited engineering programs.

“Although these schools have faculty scientists who are experts across technology disciplines, contracting with the government represents a new opportunity for some of them. What makes this collaboration unique is that we will actually be training and preparing our partners to work with the government as a contractor,” Glenn said.

According to Glenn, government contracting is a paradigm shift for most HBCUs, which have been more accustomed to applying for grants than competing for contracts. As grant dollars dwindle, Glenn and Nelson believe it is critical for university administrators to recognize the potential of contracting and pursue those opportunities.

 

“Consider NASA, for example,” said Latonia Jones, a contracting specialist who worked with Glenn to create the Knowledge Sharing Center, which is the web portal that will connect the consortium members, as well as prime contractors and agency program managers. “NASA has a contract budget of $19.5 billion, and it has a goal of awarding 1 percent of that to HBCUs and other minority serving institutions. That means there is roughly $195 million available to HBCU engineering programs. Yet, in the past, according to NASA officials the agency has been unable to award even 10 percent of that amount. And that is just NASA. Other agencies also are looking for contract-ready HBCU partners.”

Jones, Glenn and Nelson said pursuing such contracting opportunities is critical, particularly because many HBCUs are looking for ways to create sustainable revenue streams and the government wants to increase contract diversity. Membership in the Knowledge Sharing Center is open to all HBCUs, federal agencies and government contractors.

 

ABOUT THE AAMU-RISE FOUNDATION: The AAMU-RISE Foundation is the contracting entity for Alabama A&M University. The foundation is capable of serving as either a prime or subcontractor to manufacture products or provide innovative services that the U.S. government must have. The AAMU- RISE Foundation is proficient in executing government R&D contracts. Areas of expertise include defense, aerospace, cyber security, sustainable energy sources, as well as food production and emerging biotechnologies. In addition to fulfilling the needs of federal agencies, the AAMU-RISE Foundation also is capable of collaborating with industry partners and is ready to team up with other academic institutions.

ABOUT AMIE: AMIE (Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to expand corporate, government, and academic alliances to implement and support programs to attract, educate, graduate and place underrepresented minority students in engineering careers. The outcome of an initiative by Abbott Laboratories in 1992, AMIE represents a coalition of industry and government agencies, and the ABET-accredited HBCU Schools of Engineering, who see a diversified workforce as a competitive advantage and an essential business strategy.

 

FAMU Alumna Kelsey Scott Lands Emmy Nomination

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Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna, actress and screenwriter Kelsey Scott has been nominated for an Emmy for “Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.” Scott has received critical acclaim for her role as Sierra on “Fear The Walking Dead: Passage.”

The School of Journalism & Graphic Communication grad and Essential Theatre alum is also known for her role as Anne Northup in the Academy Award-winning film “12 Years a Slave.”

Boasting a long career in both television and theater, Scott has also appeared on hit shows such as “Army Wives,” “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Scott began her screenwriting career when former Rainforest Films partners and FAMU alumni Rob Hardy and Will Packer tapped her to pen the Sony Pictures thriller “Motives.”

Panelists Challenge The “Divine Nine” On Social Activism and HBCU Support

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https://youtu.be/fUe_VRmWjxA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — JULY 14, 2017 — Broadcasting live from the Alpha Phi Alpha 94th General Convention in Baltimore, host and managing editor Roland Martin addressed the disconnect between social activism and historically black sororities and fraternities within the show’s panel discussion, collectively known as the “Divine Nine.” Martin, who is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, pointed out that there are more than two million members between the nine organizations, and that the level of infrastructure does not match up with the amount of social activism and power that can be leveraged among its members. “When we saw the 14 year old girl in Texas, head slammed to the ground by a police officer, I challenged sororities saying ‘You got to say something!’ she doesn’t have to be a member to say something,” said Martin. Sandra Bland – she was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho [but] every sorority and fraternity should have been outraged – and it shouldn’t have to be a press release that comes out a week after it actually has taken place.”

Jeff Johnson, author and  fellow member of Alpha Phi Alpha, agreed, saying that the “tribal nature” of the Divine Nine, in only focusing on their own work, is a disadvantage to ensuring success across all nine organizations.

“I don’t think we’ve used our money the right way. We come to conventions and leave without legitimate strategies, without legitimate plans, without pushing that money into infrastructure that actually transforms,” says Johnson. “There’s a real opportunity for the Divine Nine to say, ‘What are the nine things we do great, and how do we support each organization doing something great as opposed to duplicating services?’ If we were really a collective, there would be nothing to stop us and we could really create change not only at the local level but there would be a model of national leadership that the divine nine can provide that I don’t think any other institutions in our community currently have the capacity to provide.”

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, President and CEO of the Center for Global Policy Solutions and member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, stated that some members choose to stay silent out of fear of losing their non-profit status, which only counters that they must be non-partisan and not publicly endorse any candidates running for public office. “You can protest, you can educate policymakers – you can do a lot. Because people don’t understand that, they’re paralyzed,”  said Cummings. “A 501©3 nonprofit–you’re supposed to be nonpartisan. You can’t endorse a candidate, you can’t endorse legislation, but you can do anything else.”

Alpha Phi Alpha National President Dr. Everett Ward agreed, saying that coming together with a collective agenda is key to the foundation of each organization and for being of service to the general public.

“We said that [the convention’s theme] “The Urgency of Now” requires that we come together and deal with the issues that are impacting the African American community. We’ve got to use our infrastructure, we’ve got to use our financial resources as a Divine Nine to do everything we can to make a change and provide solutions.”

Social Activism And The Divine Nine: Are Black Greek Organizations Doing Enough?

Ward, who is also the president of historically black Saint Augustine’s University in Richmond, also discussed the importance of supporting HBCUs.

“You can’t blame anyone else for not supporting your institution if you don’t do it yourself,” said Ward, who is also an alum of the school. “Scholarship funds – emergency funds to help students. That’s what we need people to do. And if you’re not part of an historically black college, adopt one. [If not] for the historically black college, none of … the Divine Nine would not be here today.”

Alpha President Dr. Everett Ward Talks Fraternities, Sororities, Social Action & HBCU Giving

 

Man Accused of Killing Bowie State Student Indicted For Murder

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The man accused of killing a Bowie State University student earlier this year has been indicted for his murder.

Sean Urbanski, a 22-year-old white student at the University of Maryland, was arrested and charged with killing 23-year-old Richard Collins III, an African-American student, on the UMD campus in May of this year.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks held a press conference Thursday afternoon to discuss the indictment of Urbanski according to CBS Local.  Police learned after the stabbing that Urbanski is a member of a white supremacist group on Facebook called “Alt-Reich Nation,” which contains racist material.

“Suffices to say that it’s despicable,” University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell said shortly after Urbanski’s arrest. “It shows extreme bias towards women, latinos, members of the Jewish faith, and especially African Americans.”

Police say Collins, who had been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army just two days before he was killed, was a senior at Bowie State and was celebrating with friends at College Park when he was killed.

Investigators believe Urbanski approached Collins and his friends at around 3 a.m. on May 20 as they were waiting for an Uber on Regents Drive. Police say Urbanski started yelling at the group before stabbing Collins in the chest.

Urbanski was arrested at the scene. Police called the homicide a random, unprovoked attack and probed the murder of Collins as a possible hate crime.

Urbanski was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree assault and was held without bond.

 

Howard University Doctoral Student Gabrielle L. Gray Named American Political Science Association Fellow

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Gabrielle L. Gray, a second-year Ph.D. student at Howard University recently was named a fellow for the 2017-18 American Political Science Association Minority Fellowship Program’s spring cycle.

The ASPA established the program in 1969 to increase the number of underrepresented minority students in political science doctoral programs.

“The APSA MFP is the gold-standard for emerging scholars,” said political science Associate Professor Michael K. Fauntroy, Ph.D. “Gabrielle Gray is among the very best students in our department and is a great fit. Her winning this fellowship is the start of a continuous effort to promote Howard doctoral students for these very important opportunities.”

Gray, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, studies American government and Black politics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in educational policy from Marquette University, where she also was a Ronald E. McNair scholar. Gray has served as the Howard University Graduate Political Science Association president and as a graduate research assistant for the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center at Howard University.

“It is a great honor to be a recipient of the APSA Minority Fellowship,” Gray said. “I look forward to the support and opportunities that come along with the award. As the fellowship was created to increase and support minorities within the discipline, it is a great honor to continue the legacy of excellence, scholarship and representation within political science and in academia.”

Gray plans to use the fellowship to focus on research related to race and politics, urban education, social justice and activism, and public opinion, with an emphasis on the evolution of racism within public institutions.

After graduation, Gray will pursue a career in academia, while also continuing her involvement in community outreach and social activism.

Established in 1969, the ASPA Minority Fellowship Program has designated more than 500 fellows, both funded and unfunded, and contributed to the completion of political science doctoral programs for more than 100 individuals. Fall fellows are college or university seniors, graduates or master’s degree students who plan to apply to a doctoral political science program. Spring fellows are first-year and second-year political science doctoral students. This year, the spring cycle fellows will receive a one-time award ranging from $500 to $1,000 to support their study expenses.

 

FAMU Grad Student Receives Honor from Department of Defense

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FAMU graduate student Faheem Muhammed has been awarded the 2017 Department of Defense SMART (Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation) Fellowship, one of only two hundred nationwide across all fields. Muhammed is the first FAMU student to receive this prestigious award. The award also marks the first DoD SMART Fellowship in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

Muhammed’s graduate research will involve working with his advisor, Professor Subramanian Ramakrishnan, Ph.D., in the FAMU-FSU Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, and with U.S. Army Research Laboratory scientist Larry Holmes, principal investigator for Additive Manufacturing Materials Development. The topic of the research involves additive manufacturing of low k dielectric polymer-particle composites for electromagnetic shielding applications.

Working closely with Army Labs, Muhammed will be able to use state-of-the-art materials science and 3D printing technology that increases microelectronic capabilities, reduces unintentional radiated electrical emissions, assists thermal management in thermo-electronics, and creates tunable composites for use in sensors.

“Faheem is a very driven and talented student. Previously he was awarded the NASA Harriet Jenkins Fellowship with internships at Kennedy Space Center and an internship at Army Research Labs. The scientists at Army Labs were impressed by Faheem’s work ethic and productivity and wanted to continue working with him, one of the main reasons he was awarded the SMART Fellowship. I am extremely happy for him and look forward to working with him on this exciting research topic in collaboration with Army Labs,” Ramakrishnan said.

The SMART Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion. It is an extremely competitive national program with a commitment from the DOD to hire the student after graduation. More information about the fellowship can be found at https://smart.asee.org/.

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Hall and Adams Join NCCU Women’s Basketball Staff

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DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Trisha Stafford-Odom has added two more members of her staff for the 2017-18 season with the addition of Assistant Coach A.G. Hall and Director of Basketball Operations Clarissa Adams.

Hall, who was an assistant for the Lady Eagles when they advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament on back-to-back seasons at the start of the millennium, returns to the NCCU coaching staff after having gained head coaching experience.

He spent four years as head coach at Winston-Salem State University from 2012-16, which included a pair of 15-win seasons. The Rams 2012-13 squad under Hall was ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II in team defense, allowing just 51 points per game.

“Adding the wisdom and experience of A.G. is something I am very proud of,” said Stafford-Odom. “I have seen him operate with professionalism throughout his coaching years. He has a calming demeanor and a motor that motivates players to push harder. For me to find an individual who walked the path of a collegiate athlete here at NCCU and who has posted winning seasons as a college head coach, I am thrilled. I know the influx of knowledge A.G. will share will help move our program forward.”

Hall has a total of 16 years of collegiate women’s basketball coaching experience, which features 10 years as an assistant at the Division I level between Providence College (2002-08), Clemson University (2008-10) and Bethune-Cookman University (2010-12).

After graduating NCCU with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) with a major in accounting in 1998, Hall started his coaching career at his alma mater for two seasons from 2000-02. The Lady Eagles went 49-13 over that span, winning consecutive Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Western Division titles before advancing to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. The 2001-02 team in Hall’s second season won its first two tourney games before being eliminated in the round of 16.

Hall played 58 games for the Eagles and was a teammate with current NCCU head men’s basketball coach LeVelle Moton.

Adams will serve as the director of basketball operations at NCCU after spending the past decade with the women’s basketball program at the University of North Carolina.

While in Chapel Hill, Adams served as the director of student-athlete development/recruiting assistant under the leadership of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted coaching legend Sylvia Hatchell since 2007. Her tenure at UNC included two seasons with Stafford-Odom, who was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 2011-2013.

“There was an instantaneous aura of professionalism when I met Clarissa years ago,” said Stafford-Odom. “Her uncanny ability to promote positive alternatives and to bring resolve to situations that appear unresolvable render her invaluable. Clarissa will be an essential resource to our student-athletes as they navigate their way through college and prepare for life after athletics. She will bring life to the community and media presence of women’s basketball, and she will effectively communicate the daily and long term direction of our program.”

Adams, who worked with the UNC football and men’s basketball teams as an undergraduate, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise and sports science from UNC in 2005. She started her career in collegiate athletics by working in both the UNC football operations and recruiting departments before moving over to women’s basketball program two years later.

Adams is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified personal trainer.

~NCCU Sports Information