Page 5 – HBCU Buzz

Tennessee State Aaron Nkrumah Could End a 15-Year NBA Draft Drought for HBCU Players

Posted on Jun 23, 2026

Aaron Nkrumah NBA Draft buzz is building fast, and the timing couldn’t be more significant for HBCU basketball.

Tennessee State guard Aaron “AK” Nkrumah didn’t expect to even attend the NBA’s G League draft combine in May. He received a late invitation days before the event after a spot opened up. Once there, he impressed scouts with his athleticism, versatility, and hustle, earning a promotion to the NBA draft combine and transforming overnight from an under-the-radar prospect into a name on actual draft boards.

“When I scored 22 in the G League combine, that’s when I knew — ‘All right, I could really play with these guys,'” Nkrumah told Andscape. “I just needed the platform. I just needed the stage to prove that I belong.”

It’s been nearly 15 years since an HBCU player heard their name called on draft night. The Orlando Magic selected Norfolk State center Kyle O’Quinn with the 49th overall pick back in 2012. Now, after working out with more than half the league’s teams, Nkrumah stands on the verge of ending that drought during this week’s 2026 NBA Draft in New York.

A Winding Road From Outdoor Courts to Division I

Nkrumah’s path to this moment looks nothing like a typical draft prospect’s résumé. The Worcester, Massachusetts, native started out playing pickup ball at outdoor parks and didn’t join an organized team until middle school. He began his college career at Nichols College, a Division III school in his home state, before transferring to Worcester State for the 2022-23 season.

That move paid off immediately. In his first season at Worcester State, Nkrumah averaged a team-high 16.9 points per game and earned Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors. He followed that up by bumping his scoring average to 20.0 points per game and repeating as conference Player of the Year.

Rather than settle, he entered the transfer portal hoping to prove he belonged at the Division I level. Former Tennessee State head coach Brian “Penny” Collins and assistant Joshua Bone Jr. recruited him, and Nkrumah made the jump to the historically Black university for the 2024-25 season.

Finding His Footing at an HBCU

The transition from Division III to Division I basketball wasn’t seamless. “The biggest growing pains I had making a jump from D-III to D-I was the physicality and understanding for the game,” Nkrumah said. “I just had to embrace all the information coaches are giving me while trying to produce, so it was a lot to soak in.”

Bone, now an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State, watched that adjustment happen up close. He remembers Nkrumah delivering powerful dunks in practice that stopped the gym cold, and he saw a combination of athleticism and leadership that set Nkrumah apart from his teammates. “He trains like he has something to prove from day one,” Bone said. “He’s always been the hardest worker on the team.”

In his first season at Tennessee State, Nkrumah averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, crediting Collins with sharpening his basketball IQ.

A Coaching Change That Could Have Derailed Everything

When Collins left Tennessee State in the summer of 2025 to join the Memphis Grizzlies, Nkrumah faced a decision many transfer players confront: stay or leave again. He chose to stay, along with several teammates, to play under new head coach Nolan Smith, a former Trail Blazers guard who won a national championship with Duke in 2010.

“Everyone enjoyed playing with each other, so we all decided to stay and play for each other,” Nkrumah said. “We were really bought in to what he has to offer and obviously his championship DNA.”

That decision turned into the best season of Nkrumah’s career. Playing under Smith, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 steals per game, earning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year honors and leading the Tigers to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1994. He scored 21 points against No. 2 seed Iowa State in that tournament run.

A Coach’s Frustration With How Scouts Overlook HBCU Talent

Smith didn’t hold back when discussing how late Nkrumah’s recognition came. He called the last-minute combine invitation nearly disrespectful, given everything Nkrumah had already accomplished.

“That to me was almost disrespectful to HBCUs and the talent at HBCUs, that a guy like Aaron Nkrumah gets overlooked,” Smith said. “But it’s OK — it’s all part of his story.” Bone echoed that frustration from a different angle: “I think a lot of these scouts — they know what they’re doing, but they’d rather go to the Tennessees or Kentucky and Dukes to find these guys. But he just sheds light on HBCUs, and you never know what you’re going to get, so you can get a steal.”

What’s at Stake on Draft Night

Nkrumah enters the 2026 draft as a second-round prospect with realistic two-way contract potential. If selected, he would add to a proud but quiet legacy. Tennessee State and Jackson State are tied for the most NBA draft picks among HBCUs, with 23 each — though neither program has produced a draftee since the mid-1990s.

He plans to spend draft night with family in his hometown of Worcester, fully aware of what the moment would mean beyond his own career. “It would be a dream come true,” Nkrumah said. “It will just let you know, if you can play [high-level basketball], they will find you.”

For an HBCU basketball landscape still searching for its next true breakthrough story, Aaron Nkrumah’s name getting called this week wouldn’t just be a personal victory. It would be proof that the talent pipeline scouts keep overlooking has been there all along.

Football

Terron Armstead’s Saints Hall of Fame Moment Comes With a Message for HBCU Athletes

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Terron Armstead HBCU pride was on full display this week, and it arrived at one of the biggest moments of his football life.

Armstead was named to the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame, a well-earned honor for one of the most accomplished offensive linemen of his era. But rather than keep the spotlight on himself, the newly minted Hall of Famer used part of his moment to speak directly to current HBCU athletes chasing the same dream he once pursued.

A Direct Message From the Top

In his speech following the announcement, Armstead paused to address HBCU players specifically. “The dream is not out of reach. It’s obtainable. It’s hard. But I think that’s the beauty of it that makes the story worth telling,” he said.

That message carries weight because of where Armstead’s own story started. He didn’t arrive at his Hall of Fame moment through a conventional path, and his words reflect a genuine understanding of what HBCU athletes are up against when they set their sights on professional football.

From Pine Bluff to the NFL

Armstead built his college career at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he stood out both on the football field and in track and field. His combination of consistent All-SWAC recognition and an elite physical profile eventually caught the attention of NFL scouts, and the New Orleans Saints selected him in the third round of the draft.

From there, Armstead developed into one of the premier left tackles in the league, anchoring the Saints’ offensive line for years and building a résumé strong enough to earn this week’s Hall of Fame nod. His path from a small HBCU program to one of the most respected positions in professional football makes him a clear example of what’s possible when a player gets a real opportunity to be evaluated.

Why HBCU Scouting Still Lags Behind

Armstead’s success highlights a persistent challenge in NFL scouting. The cliché often repeated to HBCU prospects is simple: if you can play, they’ll find you. In practice, that’s only true to a point. The number of players selected from FCS programs, including HBCUs, has continued to shrink, exposing a real gap in how thoroughly these prospects get evaluated.

Part of the problem stems from how some scouts approach HBCU talent in the first place. There’s a lingering assumption among evaluators that if a player were truly good enough, he would have transferred to a bigger program at some point in his career. That assumption overlooks why many talented players choose to stay, whether out of loyalty to their program, comfort with their coaching staff, or a genuine desire to represent their school and community.

The players who do make it through tend to be the absolute best of the best, the rare prospects whose talent is impossible to ignore even with limited exposure. But there’s a wider group of players, those who may not be elite but carry legitimate developmental upside, who rarely get the same chance. A late-round flier based on physical tools and projection is common for small-school prospects elsewhere; it’s far less common for HBCU players.

The Bigger Pattern Worth Watching

That scouting gap has real consequences. As Power 4 programs continue to pull top recruits and transfer targets, more talented players are leaving HBCUs earlier in their careers, drawn by greater visibility and stronger pipelines to professional scouts. That trend, while understandable from an individual player’s standpoint, threatens to thin out the talent pool that built programs like Pine Bluff’s into proving grounds in the first place.

Armstead’s story argues against giving up on that pipeline. His example suggests that the right player, given the right opportunity, can rise from an HBCU roster all the way to a professional Hall of Fame, regardless of what program logo sits on his helmet during his college years.

Whether his words land the way he intends remains to be seen. But coming from a now-decorated NFL veteran with a Hall of Fame plaque to his name, the message carries real authority. If his story and his encouragement push more HBCU athletes to stay the course, and more NFL teams to take HBCU evaluation seriously, it could mark a meaningful shift in how the league approaches an entire tier of college football talent that’s too often overlooked.

Bands

Texas Southern’s Ocean of Soul Lands in Vogue on Juneteenth

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

The Texas Southern Ocean of Soul Vogue feature is here, and the timing makes the moment even bigger than the headline suggests.

On Juneteenth, Texas Southern University’s famed “Ocean of Soul” marching band graced the pages of Vogue. The Houston HBCU’s band appears in the magazine’s article titled “Lone Star State of Mind: Snapshots of Texas Today,” part of the 2026 Summer issue that hit newsstands the same day. The spread features the band’s full ensemble, including the drum majors and the Motion of the Ocean dance team.

Why the Timing Matters

This wasn’t a coincidence. Juneteenth carries deep significance in Texas, particularly in the Galveston and Houston areas. June 19, 1865, marks the day enslaved people in Galveston first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed it. Galveston sits nearly 50 miles south of Texas Southern’s campus, placing the university in the very region where the holiday now recognized nationwide originated.

The feature also landed during Black Music Month, the June observance celebrating Black musical heritage and its lasting imprint on American culture. Vogue’s decision to spotlight the Ocean of Soul on this particular date wasn’t incidental — it tied a historic HBCU institution directly to the place and moment that gave Juneteenth its meaning.

Texas Southern University President J.W. Crawford III spoke to the significance of the placement. “This moment does not just belong to our students and the University, but to Houston and to every HBCU in this country,” Crawford said. “To be in Vogue is incredible, and for this to happen on Juneteenth, in the region where Juneteenth began, is revelational.”

A Band Already Used to the Spotlight

This recognition caps a stretch of national exposure that few college bands have matched. Under director Brian Simmons, now in his fifth year and entering his sixth season, the Ocean of Soul has performed at WrestleMania and become a fixture of Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans.

Perhaps most notably, the band accompanied Beyoncé Knowles-Carter during her Beyoncé Bowl halftime performance on Christmas Day 2024, one of the year’s most-watched sporting events, drawing a global audience of more than 27 million viewers. The Ocean of Soul also shared a stage with Grammy winner Lizzo at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, further cementing its reputation as one of the most in-demand HBCU bands in the country.

Simmons reflected on what the Vogue feature means in the context of that broader journey. “Every time we step onto a new stage, we carry the legacy of every student who has worn this uniform,” Simmons said. “There are no words that are adequate for what it means to see our students in the pages of Vogue, on Juneteenth. This is what we built this for. It is what our students prepare for daily.”

Inside the Ocean of Soul

Founded in 1969, the Ocean of Soul comprises more than 200 members who travel to Houston from across the country to join the program. Under Simmons’ direction, the band has built a reputation for having one of the best sounds in the SWAC. Its variation of field shows and musical repertoire makes it a consistent favorite among fans in the stands at football and basketball games, with a technical sound defined by heavy bass tones and crisp precision drills.

According to the university’s announcement, Vogue shot the band on location at TSU’s campus and at its Alexander Durley Sports Complex in Houston, documenting the band as part of a broader visual story about the state of Texas. Photographer Tyler Mitchell led the shoot alongside stylist Carlos Nazario. Mitchell holds his own historic distinction in fashion media, having become the first Black photographer to shoot a Vogue cover in 2018, and he’s built much of his career around photographing Black cultural subjects for the magazine. A documentary tied to the shoot is expected to premiere on Vogue’s YouTube channel.

What This Means for HBCU Bands

Moments like this carry weight beyond a single magazine feature. HBCU marching bands have long been cultural institutions in their own right, blending musicianship, choreography, and tradition into performances that rival professional entertainment. Yet mainstream fashion and culture publications have historically given that world limited space.

Vogue’s choice to feature the Ocean of Soul, on Juneteenth, in the region where the holiday began, signals a different kind of recognition. It places HBCU band culture within the same visual conversation as high fashion and national identity, rather than treating it as a niche sports sidebar.

The feature is available in Vogue’s Summer 2026 print edition and online. Texas Southern has invited supporters to back the band through its High Tide giving campaign, giving fans a direct way to contribute to the program responsible for one of the more remarkable HBCU cultural moments of the year.

Basketball

Duncan Powell Acquitted of Domestic Violence Charges Ahead of NBA Draft Push

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Duncan Powell domestic violence charges came to a close this week, ending a legal battle that threatened to overshadow one of the most significant HBCU basketball journeys of the modern recruiting era.

On June 17, a Rhode Island judge found the former Providence forward not guilty on two misdemeanor domestic violence charges following a three-day bench trial. The verdict closes a case that began in March, when Powell was arrested after an incident involving his ex-girlfriend.

How the Case Unfolded

Providence police charged Powell with domestic violence-simple assault and domestic violence-disorderly conduct after a March 28 incident. According to the allegations, a woman claimed she suffered a knee injury after Powell threw a water bottle during an argument at his Providence apartment.

The situation expanded hours later into a second police investigation in nearby Cranston. Reports indicated the woman alleged Powell tracked her to another residence and made threats involving a firearm. That charge was dismissed in May, well before the trial on the remaining Providence counts.

Powell pleaded not guilty from the outset and maintained his innocence throughout the legal process. Following this week’s trial, he was acquitted of the remaining charges as well, closing the case entirely.

From Groundbreaking HBCU Recruit to Power Conference Contributor

Powell’s path to this trial began with one of the more notable commitments in recent HBCU basketball history. When he signed with North Carolina A&T in 2021, the four-star prospect from DeSoto, Texas, arrived in Greensboro as the highest-ranked American-born basketball recruit ever to commit to an HBCU program. At the time, Powell said he wanted to build on the legacy of his cousin, Adrian Powell, a member of the Aggies’ 2013 MEAC championship team. “Just carrying on his legacy. Filling up his shoes, times two,” Powell said. “I’m just ready to get there and dominate.”

A knee injury forced Powell to redshirt his first season at NC A&T, but he emerged as one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s top young forwards in 2022-23, averaging 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds and earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors.

From there, Powell became one of the more recognizable names moving through the transfer portal. He led Sacramento State in scoring and rebounding during the 2023-24 season, then moved to Georgia Tech, where he developed into one of the ACC’s most productive sixth men, averaging 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting nearly 36% from three-point range. He transferred to Providence for his final collegiate season while simultaneously exploring NBA Draft opportunities. That’s when the legal proceedings began, shifting much of the public conversation away from his game.

The Reality of Public Allegations and Legal Outcomes

Athletes facing criminal accusations often discover that public attention moves faster than the legal system does. Even when charges are dismissed or a defendant is acquitted, the reputational impact can linger well past the verdict. Powell’s case played out publicly during a critical stretch of his basketball career, when nearly every game and interview carried added scrutiny.

History offers several comparable cases. Former Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman saw his draft stock collapse after sexual assault allegations surfaced ahead of the 2016 NFL Draft; a Texas jury found him not guilty in 2019, but the years lost during litigation altered his career path. Former Ohio State defensive backs Amir Riep and Jahsen Wint were dismissed from their program in 2020 after rape and kidnapping allegations, then later acquitted once trial evidence contradicted key claims. Brian Banks remains perhaps the most cited example: his football career was effectively ended by a plea deal tied to allegations later proven false, and he didn’t receive exoneration until after serving prison time.

An acquittal does not retroactively prove every allegation was fabricated. It means prosecutors did not meet the legal burden required for a conviction. For athletes whose careers hinge on timing, though, the consequences of public allegations frequently arrive long before any legal resolution does.

Unverified Claims Around NIL Add a New Wrinkle

After the verdict, Powell’s father, D.J. Powell, made additional claims in an interview with GoLocalProv. He alleged that Providence College wanted the charges to result in a conviction because a conviction would have voided portions of his son’s NIL agreement. “It was Providence College that wanted the case to stick,” D.J. Powell said. “Because if the charges stuck, Duncan would be in violation of his NIL agreement.” He further claimed the school remains obligated to fulfill the rest of Powell’s NIL compensation following the acquittal.

It’s important to note these are unverified allegations from Powell’s father, not confirmed facts. Providence did not publicly respond to the claims. Duncan Powell himself later distanced from his father’s remarks on social media, writing: “He is not my spokesperson for me or my family. I have not spoken to him about this matter.” That statement leaves the NIL claims unresolved while signaling that Powell intends to control his own public narrative going forward.

What Comes Next

With the legal proceedings concluded, attention shifts back to where it stood before March: Powell’s NBA Draft prospects. His college career included stops at NC A&T, Sacramento State, Georgia Tech, and Providence, a journey that took him from a groundbreaking HBCU signing to a Power 4 contributor with legitimate professional aspirations.

Whether NBA teams treat the case as fully closed remains to be seen. What’s certain is that one of the most significant HBCU basketball recruits of the modern recruiting era now gets the chance to have his future decided on the court rather than in a courtroom.

Entertainment

Tay Keith, the Producer Who Brought HBCU Culture to a Global Stage, Has Died at 29

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Tay Keith’s connection to HBCU culture and Beyoncé’s biggest homecoming-inspired hit will remain part of his legacy, following news of his death this week.

The Grammy-nominated producer, born Brytavious Chambers, died at age 29. Nashville police discovered him at his apartment on June 18 during a welfare check and indicated there was no suspicion of foul play. As of this writing, the cause of death has not been determined and remains pending autopsy results. News of his passing sent shockwaves through the music industry, with tributes pouring in from artists across hip-hop.

The Memphis native built a career producing chart-topping records for artists including Drake, Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, and Beyoncé, establishing himself as one of the most influential hip-hop producers of his generation.

An HBCU Connection Built Through His Work, Not His Alma Mater

It’s worth noting upfront: Tay Keith did not attend an HBCU himself. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, graduating in December 2018. His tie to HBCU culture came entirely through his production work, specifically one of the most celebrated songs of the last decade.

In 2019, Beyoncé released her version of “Before I Let Go” as part of her acclaimed Homecoming project. The track quickly became a fan favorite and served as a musical extension of the HBCU-inspired performance that defined her historic Coachella set. Tay Keith was among the producers credited on that track, helping shape a modern reinterpretation of the Frankie Beverly and Maze classic.

Where HBCU Culture Entered the Picture

For the HBCU community, one of the most memorable parts of “Before I Let Go” arrived before Beyoncé even started singing. The track’s opening chant sampled the energy of a Winston-Salem State University gathering, capturing the voice of Winston-Salem State alumnus and entertainer B Daht. That crowd participation, originally a moment of pure HBCU joy, became part of a song heard around the world.

That sample represented far more than a clever production choice. It captured the spirit of HBCU homecoming culture and introduced millions of listeners to traditions, energy, and community that define Black college life. Beyoncé’s Homecoming project as a whole celebrated marching bands, step shows, dance lines, and the broader cultural influence of HBCUs, and Tay Keith’s production work helped bring that vision to life on one of the project’s most recognizable songs.

A Legacy That Reaches Beyond the Studio

Tay Keith’s producer tag became synonymous with hit records throughout the streaming era. His sound helped shape the direction of modern hip-hop, and his work earned him recognition across the music industry over the course of his career.

For many in the HBCU community specifically, though, his legacy carries an additional layer. His role in helping bring HBCU homecoming culture to a global audience through Beyoncé’s Homecoming era ensured that the sounds, traditions, and pride of Black college life reached far beyond campus gates, into the ears of millions who may have never set foot on an HBCU campus.

That connection between a Memphis-born producer and the energy of a Winston-Salem State homecoming will remain part of how the HBCU community remembers him.

Football

Ian Wheeler Signs With the Buffalo Bills After a Championship UFL Season

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Ian Wheeler Buffalo Bills news broke Thursday, and it marks another chapter in one of the more compelling comeback stories in recent HBCU football.

The Buffalo Bills announced that they signed Wheeler, a former Howard University standout, to a one-year deal. The move comes fresh off a breakout season with the Louisville Kings of the United Football League, where Wheeler helped author one of the league’s most dramatic championship runs.

A Championship Run That Changed Everything

Wheeler’s path back to the NFL started with a dominant UFL campaign. He rushed for 541 yards on 85 carries across 11 games with Louisville, and along the way, he set a UFL single-game record with four rushing touchdowns in an April 26 contest. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in a league increasingly used as a proving ground for NFL hopefuls.

Wheeler saved his best for the biggest stage. In the United Bowl championship game, he broke off a 44-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that gave Louisville the lead for good in a 27-20 win over the D.C. Defenders. He finished the title game with 81 rushing yards on 10 carries and walked away with United Bowl MVP honors.

From Howard University to the NFL

Wheeler’s HBCU roots run deep. He played at Howard University from 2019 through 2023, developing into one of the most explosive players in HBCU football during that stretch. He finished his college career with nearly 2,500 all-purpose yards and set a school record by returning three kickoffs for touchdowns. Along the way, he helped Howard capture back-to-back MEAC championships.

What set Wheeler apart, though, extended well beyond the field. He earned a 3.57 cumulative GPA at Howard, picked up MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team honors, and was accepted into Howard University’s College of Medicine in 2023. That combination of athletic and academic achievement made him one of the more notable success stories to come through the program in recent years.

A Rocky Path to This Opportunity

Wheeler’s road to Buffalo hasn’t been straightforward. After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, he signed with the Chicago Bears and quickly turned heads in training camp, rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns across two preseason games. One of those strong outings came against the very team that just signed him.

Then injury struck. Wheeler tore his ACL during the Bears’ third preseason game in 2024 and was later released with an injury settlement. He spent time on the New Orleans Saints practice squad in 2025 before landing with Louisville in the UFL, where his championship-winning season ultimately rebuilt his case for another NFL shot.

What Comes Next

Buffalo announced that Wheeler will wear No. 27 as he joins the roster. For a player who started his collegiate career at an HBCU walk-on and has since become a UFL champion, United Bowl MVP, and now an NFL signee, the journey reflects exactly the kind of perseverance that defines so many HBCU-to-pro success stories.

Whether Wheeler earns a permanent roster spot in Buffalo remains to be determined. Still, his path back to the league after a serious injury setback offers a clear reminder that talent developed at HBCU programs continues to find its way onto NFL rosters, even when the route there isn’t a straight line.

Basketball

Khadijah Rushdan Builds a Battle-Tested Staff to Lead Delaware State Basketball

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Khadijah Rushdan Delaware State plans are taking shape fast, and the new head coach isn’t wasting time assembling a staff built for immediate competitiveness.

Delaware State announced Friday that Rushdan has completed her coaching staff, bringing in a mix of HBCU veterans and experienced assistants as she begins what the university is already calling the “Rushdan era” for Hornets women’s basketball.

Who Joins the New Staff

Rushdan’s hires reflect a clear strategy: surround herself with coaches who already understand the demands of HBCU and MEAC competition. Alishia Mosley joins after serving as head coach at both Cheyney and Lincoln (Pa.), giving her direct experience leading programs at the conference level. Mosley spent the 2025-26 season as Lincoln’s interim head coach and previously held dual roles as athletic director and women’s basketball coach at Cheyney, experience that speaks to her range as both an administrator and a coach.

Cherrelle Dennis returns to Delaware State after previously serving as an assistant coach there. A former standout player and assistant at LUPA, Dennis worked under both E.C. Hill and Jazmone Turner before stepping away following the 2024-25 season. She’ll also take on the role of director of operations, giving her a hand in the program’s daily structure beyond the bench.

Lou Hamilton, who previously served as Shaw’s interim head coach, rounds out the experienced tier of new hires. Adding a coach with recent head-coaching experience elsewhere strengthens the staff’s collective basketball IQ heading into a competitive MEAC slate.

Fresh Energy to Round Out the Group

Rushdan also brought in newer voices to balance the staff’s experience. Skyler Delgado joins as a veteran assistant, most recently serving as a graduate assistant with Providence College’s women’s basketball program after earlier stops with the Oral Roberts men’s program and Division III and JUCO positions in Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Kaliya Garcia was hired as the program’s executive assistant, rounding out the staff’s day-to-day operations.

Together, the group blends head-coaching pedigree with hungry up-and-coming assistants, a common formula for programs looking to rebuild quickly without sacrificing institutional knowledge.

Why This Staff Matters for Delaware State

Delaware State women’s basketball has had its share of ups and downs in recent years, and the program is looking to return to consistent MEAC contention. Building a staff with this much combined head-coaching and HBCU-specific experience gives Rushdan a strong foundation to work from in year one.

Mosley and Hamilton both arrive with recent head-coaching reps, which means they understand the pressure and pace of leading a program rather than simply supporting one. That kind of experience tends to pay off quickly, particularly in recruiting and in-game adjustments where head-coaching instincts matter most.

Dennis’ return adds continuity, too. Coaches who already know a program’s culture, administration, and player relationships from the inside often accelerate the rebuilding timeline compared to an entirely new staff learning the landscape from scratch.

What’s Next for the Hornets

With the staff now complete, attention turns to roster building and preparing for the MEAC season ahead. Rushdan inherits a program with real potential in a conference that’s actively expanding its sports offerings and investment in women’s athletics, exactly the kind of environment where a strong coaching staff can make an immediate impact.

The Hornets won’t take the court for months, but the foundation Rushdan has built suggests a program serious about competing right away rather than treating this as a rebuilding year in name only.

Sports

MEAC Adds Women’s Flag Football and Golf as Championship Sports

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

MEAC women’s flag football is officially here, and it arrives as part of a bigger expansion for women’s athletics across the conference.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced this week that women’s flag football and women’s golf will become championship sports starting with the 2026-27 athletic year. The addition brings the MEAC’s total sport offerings to 16, with full championship formats and other details expected later.

A Strategic Expansion for the Conference

MEAC commissioner Sonja Stills framed the announcement as part of a broader commitment to growing opportunities for student-athletes. “The addition of women’s flag football and women’s golf represents an exciting step forward for the MEAC and our member institutions,” Stills said. “As we continue to create meaningful opportunities for student-athletes, these sports further strengthen our commitment to supporting the growth of women’s athletics, while enhancing the championship experience across our conference.”

That language reflects a larger trend across college athletics. Specifically, women’s flag football has been gaining serious institutional momentum nationwide, and the MEAC’s move puts the conference ahead of that curve rather than playing catch-up.

2024 GOTG Flag Football Photo Copy 78 1080x570 1

Why Flag Football’s Addition Is a Bigger Deal Than It Looks

Adding women’s flag football isn’t just a conference-level decision happening in isolation. The sport now holds NCAA Emerging Sport status, with the potential for a national championship as early as spring 2028. It’s also been added to the 2028 Olympic Games, which has accelerated interest and investment at the collegiate level nationwide.

With this move, the MEAC becomes the second HBCU conference to offer women’s flag football as a championship sport, joining the CIAA. Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State already field women’s flag football programs in the SWAC, and Florida Memorial competes at the NAIA level. As a result, HBCU conferences now sit in a genuinely competitive position as the sport scales toward Olympic and NCAA championship status, rather than catching up once the infrastructure is already built elsewhere.

Women’s Golf Already Has Momentum

Unlike flag football, which is brand new to the conference, women’s golf arrives with existing competitive success already on the board. Howard claimed the Northeast Conference championship this past spring, with North Carolina Central and Maryland Eastern Shore also finishing in the NEC’s top five.

That existing talent pool gives the MEAC a head start. Rather than building a golf championship from nothing, the conference is formalizing recognition for programs that have already proven they can compete and win against a broader field of competitors.

What This Means for Student-Athletes

For prospective student-athletes, this expansion opens real doors. More championship sports mean more scholarship opportunities, more roster spots, and more pathways into college athletics specifically through HBCU programs. It also means more visibility for women’s sports across the conference at a moment when investment in women’s athletics is growing nationally.

For the MEAC as a whole, this move signals an intent to stay ahead of where college athletics is heading rather than reacting to it. Both flag football and golf are sports with real growth trajectories, and getting in early positions MEAC schools to benefit as those sports continue to expand.

The conference says specific championship formats will be announced later, but the foundation is set. Two new sports, sixteen total offerings, and a clear signal that the MEAC plans to keep growing its footprint in women’s college athletics.

Sports

The Tennessee State Hockey Program Could Fold Before It Ever Takes the Ice

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

The Tennessee State hockey program was supposed to make history. Instead, it may not happen at all.

TSU Interim President Dwayne Tucker told The Athletic this week that the university is evaluating whether it can move forward with its Division I men’s hockey program, a project first announced in June 2023 in partnership with the NHL’s Nashville Predators. A final decision could come within the next month if the school can’t secure sustainable funding.

A Program Already on Shaky Ground

This wouldn’t be the program’s first setback. The Tigers’ hockey team was originally scheduled to debut as a club team during the 2024-25 season but got pushed back to 2026-27 due to a lack of funding. Now, even that delayed timeline is in jeopardy.

Tucker didn’t soften the message. “I can tell you we’re not going to move forward with a hockey program if the sustainable funding is not there,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s no funds through 2030 that we can provide to a start-up program.”

That’s a striking admission. Launching a Division I hockey program from scratch is expensive, and Tucker said the university needs funding commitments covering operational costs and scholarships for at least five years before it can consider the program viable long-term.

Competing Priorities on Campus

Part of what’s driving the decision is where Tennessee State’s broader financial priorities sit right now. Tucker pointed to aging residence halls and a needed renovation of Hale Stadium as more pressing needs. Consequently, the university is preparing to launch a two-year, $100 million fundraising campaign specifically to address those improvements.

“We need that money to help fix some of the modernization that needs to take place on the campus, not another sport that couldn’t be standing on its own,” Tucker said.

That framing matters. Tennessee State isn’t rejecting the idea of a hockey program outright — the university simply can’t justify funding a new, unproven sport while existing campus infrastructure needs urgent attention. Hockey, unlike most college sports, also carries unusually high overhead. Head coach Duante’ Abercrombie noted that annual operating costs for NCAA Division I hockey programs can run between $900,000 and $3 million, not including scholarships.

Coach and League Partners Remain Hopeful

Despite the uncertainty, the people closest to the project haven’t given up. Abercrombie, who was hired specifically to lead the program, struck an optimistic tone. “I have faith in the Nashville Predators, I have faith in the NHL,” he said. “And, more importantly, I have faith in my institution that they will find a path forward that is positive for the hockey program.”

The Nashville Predators echoed that sentiment. Chief Marketing Officer Bill Wickett said the team has stayed in close contact with university leadership throughout the process. “We’ve had very informative and productive conversations with the president and others at the university,” Wickett said. “We understand all of the priorities and opportunities in front of Tennessee State, but we remain hopeful that Division I hockey will still be played in Nashville in the future.”

What Happens Next

Tucker said he remains committed to pursuing fundraising opportunities and engaging potential donors, but he was firm that any path forward requires the program to be financially self-sustaining. “I’d love to have the hockey program and make history,” he said. “But it has to be a stand-alone program in terms of the funding to make it work, because of the bigger financial challenges that the university has.”

The next month will determine whether Tennessee State becomes the first HBCU to field a Division I hockey program, or whether the partnership with the Predators ends before a single puck ever drops. Either outcome says something important about the financial tightrope HBCUs walk when trying to expand into new, high-cost athletic territory.

Ambition and sustainability don’t always arrive on the same timeline. Right now, Tennessee State is being forced to choose between them, and the answer will likely shape how other HBCUs approach similarly ambitious athletic ventures going forward.

Sports

Kendrick Perkins Is Bringing NBA Star Power to Jackson State Basketball

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Kendrick Perkins Jackson State news just dropped, and it’s a partnership that could change how the Tigers compete off the court.

Jackson State announced this week that Perkins, a 14-year NBA veteran and 2008 champion, will join the men’s basketball program as general manager. The move pairs an ESPN analyst with national name recognition to a SWAC program looking to expand its reach in fundraising, NIL, and overall visibility. It’s a volunteer position, but Jackson State leadership made clear they expect real impact from it.

Why Jackson State Made This Move

Perkins isn’t just a former player picking up a title. He’s one of ESPN’s most recognized NBA voices, appearing across the network’s programming since his 2018 retirement. That platform matters for a program competing for attention in a crowded college basketball landscape.

Jackson State athletics director Ashley Robinson made clear the role carries real weight despite its volunteer status. “It’s a volunteer role, but he’s going to come in to fundraise,” Robinson said. Perkins is also expected to take part in the program’s name, image and likeness efforts, an area that has reshaped recruiting and roster building across every level of college sports.

What Perkins Brings to the Table

Perkins went straight from high school in Nederland, Texas, to the NBA, joining the Boston Celtics in 2003. He started at center for Boston’s 2008 championship team, averaging 7 points, 6 rebounds, and a block per game while shooting 59% from the field during that playoff run. He also suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans, and Cleveland Cavaliers before retiring in 2018.

That résumé gives Jackson State something most HBCU programs don’t have easy access to: a direct line to NBA-level credibility and media reach. Robinson said the impact should be immediate. “That’s going to be huge for us,” she said.

A Broader Vision for the Program

Jackson State head coach Trey Johnson framed Perkins’ addition as part of a larger plan to build sustained success. “This partnership represents a significant step forward in our commitment to building a championship-caliber program while creating meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes beyond the court,” Johnson said.

Perkins will also connect with Jackson State’s broadcast and journalism program, extending his involvement beyond basketball operations alone. Johnson added that Perkins’ experience in both basketball and sports media could benefit the team, the university, and the wider Jackson State community.

For his part, Perkins framed the opportunity in personal terms. “I’m thankful for this opportunity to impact young lives and pour back into my community,” he told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

What This Means for HBCU Basketball

High-profile figures lending their name and resources to HBCU sports programs isn’t new, but the trend has accelerated as NIL reshapes the competitive landscape. Programs without massive television contracts or booster networks need creative ways to compete for talent and attention. A figure like Perkins, with built-in media reach and championship credibility, gives Jackson State exactly that kind of edge.

The hire also signals something about where Jackson State basketball wants to go. Pairing a respected coaching staff with national-level fundraising and NIL support suggests a program serious about building toward championship contention rather than simply staying competitive in the SWAC. Meanwhile, Jackson State continues to position itself as one of the more ambitious athletic departments among HBCUs nationally.

Whether Perkins’ involvement translates into measurable wins on the court remains to be seen. Still, for a program looking to raise its national profile, his name alone buys instant attention, and that’s often the first step toward bigger opportunities down the line.

Editorial

Juneteenth 2026: How HBCU Pride — and Opal Lee’s Legacy — Are Showing Up Nationwide

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 19, 2026

This Juneteenth HBCU celebration carries extra weight in 2026. The holiday just marked its fifth year as a federal observance, and at the center of that history stands a 99-year-old HBCU alumna who refused to let the world forget.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865 — the day enslaved Black people in Texas finally learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It became a federal holiday in 2021. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because of Opal Lee.

Meet the Grandmother of Juneteenth

Opal Lee was born October 7, 1926, in Marshall, Texas. She graduated from Wiley College — now Wiley University — in 1952 with a degree in elementary education. Decades later, that same HBCU background would help shape one of the most consequential grassroots movements in modern American history.

Lee’s connection to Juneteenth isn’t abstract. On June 19, 1939, when she was just 12 years old, white rioters vandalized and burned down her family’s home in Fort Worth, Texas. She carried that memory for the rest of her life — and she turned it into decades of advocacy rather than letting it define her in silence.

In 2016, at 89 years old, Lee set out to walk from her home in Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., to push for Juneteenth’s national recognition. “My idea was to walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., and that surely somebody would notice a little old lady in tennis shoes,” she said. She started that September and arrived in the capital the following January. Her Change.org petition gathered 1.6 million signatures along the way.

Five years later, in June 2021, President Joe Biden signed Senate Bill S. 475, making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday — with Lee standing right beside him. Biden called her the “grandmother of the movement.” In 2024, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

An HBCU Story Through and Through

Lee’s legacy is deeply rooted in HBCU tradition. Beyond her Wiley College degree, she’s a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated — joining in 2016, the same year she began her historic walk. Zeta Phi Beta has celebrated her ever since, holding her up as a living embodiment of the sorority’s commitment to service and social justice.

“Our Economic Justice Town Hall was both a tribute to Dr. Opal Lee’s historic contributions and a call to action,” said Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President and CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., during a past Juneteenth commemoration. “Juneteenth is more than a holiday. It’s a reminder of the work still needed to dismantle systemic barriers to equity.”

That’s the thread connecting HBCUs to this holiday at the deepest level. Lee didn’t just attend an HBCU — she carried the values that institution instilled in her all the way to the White House.

HBCU Energy at Celebrations Nationwide

You don’t have to look far this Juneteenth to find HBCU pride on full display elsewhere, too. In Goodyear, Arizona, the city’s Family Day: Homecoming celebration leans directly into HBCU culture, featuring a marching band made up of HBCU alumni from across the country. In Raleigh, North Carolina, the Capital City Juneteenth Celebration at Dorothea Dix Park is bringing HBCU line dancing to the main stage. In New York City, the Juneteenth Parade through Brooklyn draws HBCU alumni, fraternities, and sororities by the thousands every year.

Celebrate, Reflect, and Remember Her Name

Wherever you’re celebrating this weekend — a parade, a cookout, a step show, or a quiet moment of reflection — take a second to say her name: Opal Lee. A Wiley College graduate. A Zeta. A 99-year-old who walked her way into history and made sure this day belongs to all of us.

To every HBCU student, alum, faculty member, and supporter: Happy Juneteenth. The legacy continues with you.

Leadership

Alabama State and Morris Brown College Just Signed a Deal That Opens Doors for HBCU Graduates

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

The Alabama State Morris Brown College partnership is official — and it could reshape what comes after graduation for hundreds of students.

On June 16, 2026, Alabama State University President Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr. and Morris Brown College President Dr. Kevin E. James signed a Memorandum of Understanding on ASU’s campus in Montgomery, Alabama. The agreement creates a formal pipeline for Morris Brown graduates to apply directly to Alabama State’s graduate degree programs — both in person and online. It’s a straightforward idea with real impact: two HBCUs working together to make sure their students don’t fall through the cracks between undergraduate and graduate education.

The timing is significant. Just a month before the signing, Morris Brown graduated its largest class in over 25 years — 93 students. President James made the connection explicit. “We want to send them to Alabama State for grad school,” he said at the ceremony. “We thank you for this opportunity for our students.”

What the Agreement Actually Covers

This isn’t a vague partnership announcement with no substance behind it. The MOU creates specific, structured pathways into ASU’s graduate programs across multiple disciplines.

Through the agreement, eligible Morris Brown graduates gain a streamlined path into Alabama State University’s master’s programs in business, cybersecurity, data analytics, healthcare administration, management, information technology, and biotechnology. ASU also offers 13 key online master’s programs — including rehabilitation counseling, accountancy, social work, forensic science, and health counseling — many of which are now accessible to MBC graduates through this pipeline.

Furthermore, the agreement includes pathways for students interested in careers in education. ASU’s College of Education offers “Alternative A” certification routes for students who didn’t complete an undergraduate teacher preparation program. That opens the door even wider, giving Morris Brown graduates options regardless of their undergraduate major.

“Once we looked online at the program offerings, many of those offerings are direct pathways for our graduates in business, psychology and music alike,” President James said.

Why Morris Brown Needed This

Morris Brown College’s story is one of the most remarkable in HBCU history. The Atlanta-based institution lost its accreditation in 2002 and spent nearly two decades fighting to survive. By 2023, the college had regained accreditation through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools and was rebuilding steadily. Graduating 93 students — its largest class in 25 years — is proof that the comeback is real.

But rebuilding an institution from near-collapse means doing it with limited resources. Morris Brown primarily offers undergraduate programs. It doesn’t yet have the infrastructure to offer a full range of graduate degrees on its own. That’s exactly where a partnership like this fills a genuine gap. Rather than leaving graduates to navigate the graduate school landscape alone, MBC now has a formal HBCU-to-HBCU pathway that keeps students connected to the mission and culture that brought them this far.

“What’s attractive about the partnership is that ASU has in-person and online options,” President James said. “This gives our students access and opportunities to complete their graduate degrees.”

What Alabama State Brings to the Table

Alabama State isn’t just doing Morris Brown a favor here. ASU brings a robust graduate program infrastructure that makes this partnership genuinely valuable. With 13 online master’s programs and a strong College of Education, ASU has the depth to absorb and support a new pipeline of graduate students without stretching thin.

Dr. Anthony Broughton, dean of ASU’s College of Education, framed the agreement as mission-driven on both sides. “This partnership between ASU and MBC share a mission to remove barriers so that students can have the best access to quality education,” Broughton said. “We are excited to welcome and support Morris Brown students as they pursue careers in education and help strengthen the teaching workforce for generations to come.”

That last point matters. Teacher shortages are a national crisis, and HBCUs have historically produced a disproportionate share of Black educators. Agreements like this one directly feed that pipeline at a time when it’s badly needed.

HBCUs Working Together — the Way It Should Be

Perhaps the most important thing about this agreement is what it represents beyond the specific programs. Two HBCUs sat down, looked at what each institution does well, and built something that benefits students on both ends. That’s the kind of collaboration the HBCU community talks about wanting — and it’s rare to see it executed this cleanly.

President Ross put it plainly at the signing: “When we unite, we multiply opportunities, expand possibilities and build legacies that will impact generations to come.”

He also spoke directly to Morris Brown students: “I want you to know that we are prepared to receive you, we are prepared to make room for your greatness, we are prepared to support your aspirations, and we are prepared to help you continue your path to educational and professional excellence.”

For HBCU students watching from other campuses, this is worth paying attention to. The HBCU ecosystem is strongest when its institutions pool their strengths instead of competing in isolation. Alabama State has graduate infrastructure. Morris Brown has a growing undergraduate body and a resilience story that draws students who believe in the mission. Together, they’ve built something neither could offer alone.

That’s not just good for ASU and MBC. It’s good for the entire community.

Track & Field

Howard University and Five HBCUs Made History at the 2026 NCAA Track Championships

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

Howard University NCAA track 2026 just wrote a new chapter — and the whole HBCU community was on the track in Eugene.

When the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships opened at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, from June 10–13, five historically Black colleges and universities sent athletes to compete. Howard University led the charge with four entries — more than any other HBCU program — and the Bison didn’t just show up. They competed deep into the championship rounds, earned All-America honors, and reminded the country exactly what HBCU athletics can produce when the resources and coaching match the talent.

This wasn’t luck. It was the result of years of deliberate program-building, elite coaching, and a culture at Howard that now genuinely believes it belongs among the nation’s best.

How Howard Got to Eugene

The path to Hayward Field ran through Lexington, Kentucky, where Howard dominated the NCAA East Regional. The Bison qualified in four events — the women’s 200-meter dash, the women’s 400-meter hurdles (two athletes), and the women’s 4×100-meter relay.

Sophomore Yahnari Lyons punched her ticket in the 200 meters with an automatic qualifying time of 22.72 seconds, finishing second in her regional heat. She entered the championships ranked among the nation’s best in the event and backed it up by winning her semifinal heat in 22.36 seconds to advance to the national final.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Howard sent two athletes. Sophomore Cenaiya Billups won her quarterfinal heat in a personal-best 55.09 seconds — breaking Howard’s school record in the process. Senior All-American Aniya Woodruff followed by winning her heat in a personal-best 55.43. Both athletes delivered their best performances at the highest-pressure moment of the season. At nationals, Billups advanced all the way to the championship final, posting a 55.44 in the semifinals — the fourth-fastest time among all finalists. Woodruff narrowly missed the final with a 56.30, but finished her collegiate career with back-to-back Second Team All-America honors.

The Howard University 4×100 relay team — graduate Marcia Sey, juniors Yahnari Lyons and Mackenzie Robinson, and freshman Nilijah Darden — rounded out the Bison’s Eugene presence with a season-best 43.23 seconds at regionals.

The Coach Behind the Rise

None of this happens without Head Coach David Oliver. An Howard University alumnus and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in the 110-meter hurdles, Oliver has spent years building the women’s program into something the country has to take seriously.

This spring, Howard ranked 13th nationally in the USTFCCCA National Rating Index — the highest ranking in program history. The Bison also won their fifth consecutive MEAC Outdoor Championship in May, completing a rare triple crown by taking cross country, indoor, and outdoor conference titles in the same academic year. That kind of sustained excellence across all three seasons is hard to build. Oliver has built it.

“Howard is on track to become a national powerhouse, and the women’s team is leading that charge,” said Howard Vice President of Athletics Kery Davis.

The Rest of the HBCU Field in Eugene

Howard led the way, but the full HBCU track and field story in Eugene was bigger than one school. Four other HBCUs sent athletes to nationals, making this one of the strongest collective HBCU showings at the NCAA level in recent memory.

North Carolina A&T arrived in Eugene with arguably the deepest HBCU men’s contingent of anyone. Jason Holmes set both a Colonial Athletic Association and school record in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a 13.17-second run to advance to the finals. Isaiah Taylor and Xzaviah Taylor — the Aggie twins — both advanced in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. The men’s 4×100 relay posted a CAA-record 38.53 to reach the finals, and the 4×400 relay also advanced. Senior Spirit Morgan qualified in the women’s high jump after clearing 1.82 meters, while junior Olivia Dowd advanced in the women’s triple jump with a personal-best 13.23 meters.

Southern University’s Tashina Alase delivered one of the most compelling individual performances of the entire championship. The junior won her 100-meter hurdles semifinal heat in 12.90 seconds to advance to the national final — a result made even more remarkable by the fact that she missed last outdoor season entirely after a serious collision that injured her toe. She came back, ran 12.74 seconds at regionals to earn an automatic qualifying mark, and then advanced to the national final against the country’s best. That’s resilience.

Alabama State freshman Daedrian Beville qualified in the women’s triple jump with a 13.21-meter leap — the only HBCU freshman to punch a ticket to Eugene this year. Florida A&M’s Leonard Mustari also made the trip in the men’s 110-meter hurdles after a personal-best 13.53 seconds at regionals.

What This Moment Means for HBCU Athletics

Five schools. Nine individual and relay entries. Multiple finalists. Several All-America performances. That’s not a fluke — that’s a movement.

For years, talented Black track and field athletes faced a difficult choice: attend an HBCU and risk lower visibility, or go to a Power Five program and get the national exposure that leads to professional opportunities. The 2026 championships push back hard against that narrative. Howard’s athletes competed in the same finals as Georgia, Arkansas, and Kentucky. NC A&T’s relay teams posted conference records at nationals. Southern’s Alase stood in the starting blocks of a national final after a career-threatening injury.

The recruitment message writes itself. You can attend an HBCU, compete for an HBCU coach, and still stand on the biggest stage in college track and field. That reality is now impossible to argue with.

Furthermore, the financial and institutional investment is starting to show up where it counts — in the results. As Howard builds its research profile and brand, athletic success at the national level amplifies every other part of the university’s story. Corporate sponsors take notice. Recruits take notice. The country takes notice.

The HBCU athletics conversation is no longer just about homecoming and tradition. It’s about national championships, All-America honors, and what happens when historically Black institutions get the support they’ve always deserved.

Money

Forbes Released 2026 Financial Grades for Private HBCUs — Here’s the Full Picture

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

The HBCU financial grades are in, and the results tell two very different stories depending on where you look.

Forbes recently released its 2026 College Financial Grades, grading more than 900 private nonprofit colleges with enrollments above 500 students. Dozens of HBCUs made the list. The report uses a revamped formula developed with data from Perspective Data Science, designed specifically to measure what Forbes calls “true liquidity” — how much financial cushion a school actually has when things get tight. For private HBCUs, that cushion is often thinner than it should be. The results confirm what many in the community have long suspected: the financial divide across private Black colleges is real, it’s wide, and it’s getting harder to ignore.

Why This Report Matters for HBCUs Specifically

Forbes didn’t build this report with HBCUs in mind. But the findings land differently for Black colleges than they do for other institutions. Private HBCUs already operate with smaller endowments, tighter cash reserves, and less margin for financial error than most of their predominantly white counterparts. When Forbes describes the broader private college landscape as facing a “near perfect storm,” that storm hits HBCU campuses first and hardest.

What does that storm look like? It’s a combination of forces hitting simultaneously. The pool of traditional college-age students is shrinking nationally. Fewer international students are enrolling due to shifting immigration policies. Inflation has driven up operating costs across the board. More families are choosing lower-cost community college and online options over residential four-year institutions. Each of those pressures strains any private college. For schools already operating close to the financial edge, the combination can be dangerous.

Additionally, this report arrives at a moment when federal support for HBCUs faces real uncertainty. Philanthropic donations from high-profile donors have helped in recent years, but one-time gifts don’t replace sustainable operating models. The Forbes grades force a direct look at which schools have built that sustainability and which ones haven’t.

The Schools That Stood Out at the Top

Not every private HBCU is in trouble. In fact, several schools posted grades that signal genuine financial strength.

Morehouse College, Fisk University, and Rust College each earned B+ grades — the strongest marks among private HBCUs in the report. That’s meaningful. Morehouse in particular has spent years building its endowment and alumni giving infrastructure, and those investments are showing up in the data. Fisk’s grade is also notable given its smaller size. Strong financial management at a smaller institution often requires more discipline, not less.

These schools prove that private HBCUs can build real financial resilience. The question is how other institutions learn from those models and apply them in their own contexts.

The Middle Tier — and Why It Needs the Most Attention

A large group of private HBCUs landed in the C range, and that’s where the most important story lives. Johnson C. Smith University, Clark Atlanta University, Tougaloo College, and Xavier University of Louisiana each earned C+ grades. Talladega College, Bethune-Cookman University, and Lane College landed at straight C. Shaw University, Benedict College, Livingstone College, Voorhees University, Dillard University, and Huston-Tillotson University all received C- grades.

None of these schools are failing. But none of them are comfortable either. Many carry strong historical legacies, loyal alumni networks, and deep roots in their regional communities. The problem is that legacy alone doesn’t pay operating costs. Brand recognition alone doesn’t fill enrollment gaps. The schools in this middle tier have real assets — they just need to convert those assets into consistent revenue, enrollment growth, and fundraising results.

Furthermore, the C- cluster deserves particular scrutiny. These institutions sit just above the threshold where financial stress becomes genuinely destabilizing. A single bad enrollment year, an unexpected infrastructure cost, or a shift in federal financial aid policy could push any of them into more serious territory quickly. Proactive planning matters more at this tier than anywhere else.

What the Grades Actually Measure

It’s worth understanding what Forbes is and isn’t measuring here. The grading formula focuses on liquidity — specifically, whether a school has enough accessible cash and financial resources to weather disruption. It factors in endowment size, operating reserves, debt levels, and revenue trends.

What it doesn’t measure is academic quality, student outcomes, or community impact. An institution can have a strong mission, exceptional faculty, and transformative student experiences while still carrying financial vulnerabilities. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. The Forbes grades are a financial snapshot, not a comprehensive verdict on a school’s worth or viability.

That said, financial health and mission delivery are connected. A school that runs out of operating funds can’t serve its students, no matter how strong its academic reputation. That’s the practical reality these grades are pointing to.

The Structural Problem Behind the Numbers

The deeper issue the Forbes report surfaces isn’t about individual school management. It’s about structure. Private HBCUs were built to serve communities that had been systematically excluded from higher education. They took on that mission without receiving the endowment gifts, state support, or philanthropic infrastructure that comparable white institutions accumulated over generations.

That historical gap shows up in today’s balance sheets. Schools that were never given the same starting resources are now being evaluated on the same financial metrics as schools that were. That context doesn’t excuse weak financial management where it exists, but it does explain why the structural challenge is so much steeper for Black colleges than the Forbes grades alone can show.

The report also reinforces a point that HBCU advocates have been making for years: these schools carry a public mission — educating students who might not have strong alternatives — without receiving public-level financial support in return. That mismatch is at the root of many of the grades in the C tier.

What Needs to Happen Next

The Forbes report is a warning, not a verdict. Schools with strong grades have a window to build further. Those in the middle need clear-eyed strategies — on enrollment, alumni giving, operational efficiency, and new revenue models — before their margins shrink further. Schools at the lower end need urgent action, honest leadership, and serious outside investment.

Philanthropic partners, federal agencies, and state governments all have roles to play here. So do alumni. For many private HBCUs, consistent alumni giving at even modest levels could meaningfully shift the financial picture over time. The schools that figure out how to activate that base consistently will be the ones that look different in the next Forbes report.

The HBCU community has survived worse than a tough financial cycle. But survival isn’t the goal. Stability, growth, and the ability to serve the next generation of students at the highest level — that’s what these grades are really measuring, even if Forbes didn’t frame it that way.

Money

The FAMU Underfunding Lawsuit Is Back — and Florida Has to Answer for It

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

The FAMU underfunding lawsuit just got a second life, and this time Florida can’t make it disappear with a procedural move.

On June 9, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit revived a lawsuit alleging that the State of Florida underfunded Florida A&M University by nearly $2 billion over three decades. In a split decision, the court ruled that a lower court dismissed the case too quickly — before the students behind it ever got a real chance to present their evidence. Now they will.

This is not a final verdict. But it is a significant win. And for the FAMU community and HBCU advocates nationwide, it sends a message that these claims are serious enough to survive in federal court.

What the Lawsuit Actually Claims

A group of current and former FAMU students originally filed the lawsuit in 2022. Their argument is direct: Florida has chronically underfunded its only public HBCU compared to predominantly white institutions like the University of Florida and Florida State University. That disparity, they argue, isn’t accidental. It traces directly to the state’s former system of legally enforced racial segregation in higher education.

The specific allegations are wide-ranging. Plaintiffs point to lower per-student funding allocations, reduced faculty salaries, less support for campus infrastructure, fewer academic research resources, and weaker student services — all compared to what UF and FSU receive. They also challenge Florida’s handling of land-grant funding. Both FAMU and UF hold land-grant status, but students argue Florida has never supported the two institutions equally.

A federal analysis backed up part of that argument. It found a funding gap of roughly $1.9 billion between FAMU and the University of Florida over a 30-year period. That number is not abstract — it represents decades of compounding disadvantage.

Why the Appeals Court Stepped In

A federal district court previously dismissed the case. The lower court found that students hadn’t provided enough evidence to show that today’s funding disparities connect to Florida’s history of de jure segregation. In plain terms, the judge said the proof wasn’t there yet.

The Eleventh Circuit pushed back hard on that reasoning. In its opinion, the majority wrote that the lower court had crossed a line — it weighed the evidence rather than simply determining whether real factual disputes existed that deserved to go to trial.

“Simply put, the district court weighed the evidence instead of determining whether genuine disputes of material fact existed,” the majority wrote.

That’s a meaningful distinction in federal law. Courts aren’t supposed to resolve factual disputes at the motion-to-dismiss stage. They’re supposed to ask whether the claims are plausible enough to move forward. The Eleventh Circuit said yes — they are.

What Happens Next

The case now returns to federal district court. Both sides will continue presenting evidence and expert analysis. Plaintiffs will work to prove that Florida’s funding decisions carry the fingerprints of its segregated past. The state will keep arguing its practices are lawful and fair.

Crucially, the appeals court did not rule that Florida discriminated against FAMU. That question remains unanswered. What the court did decide is that the students deserve a fuller examination before anyone shuts the door on their claims. That distinction matters — but so does the momentum.

The Broader Stakes for HBCUs

This case doesn’t just matter to FAMU. It carries implications for public HBCUs across the South and beyond. At its center is a question that many states have quietly avoided answering: Have they actually dismantled the effects of segregated higher education, or have they simply stopped enforcing formal segregation while allowing the inequities to persist?

Maryland faced a version of this question and settled it. In 2021, the state agreed to pay $577 million to its four HBCUs after acknowledging decades of underfunding. That settlement became a benchmark. If Florida’s students ultimately prevail, the ripple effects could pressure other states to take a hard look at their own funding histories.

What This Means for the FAMUly Right Now

For current FAMU students, this ruling is personal. Every dollar the state withheld from FAMU over 30 years is a dollar that didn’t go toward their classrooms, labs, faculty, or support services. The HBCU funding gap isn’t a historical abstraction — it shows up in real time, on real campuses, affecting real students every single day.

The road ahead is still long. Federal litigation moves slowly, and the state will fight back. But after years of procedural setbacks, FAMU students now have what they’ve been asking for: a chance to make their case in full. That chance is worth something.

Money

Howard University Just Scored a $780K Defense Department Grant — Here’s Why It Matters

HBCU Editors

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

Howard University keeps stacking research wins, and the latest one comes straight from the Pentagon.

Dr. Karam Jaradat, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Howard, recently received a $780K Howard University DoD grant from the United States Department of Defense. The one-year award funds his project titled Unraveling the Grain-Scale Mechanism of Soil Thermal Behavior — research that sits at the intersection of national security, climate resilience, and infrastructure engineering.

It’s exactly the kind of high-stakes, federally backed research that HBCUs have long been capable of producing. Now, Howard has the resources to prove it at scale.

What the Research Actually Does

At its core, Jaradat’s work is about understanding how soil responds to extreme temperature changes — specifically freezing and heating — at the microscopic, grain level. That might sound narrow, but the real-world implications are significant.

In arctic and permafrost regions, foundation soils are under constant thermal stress. As those conditions grow more unpredictable due to climate change, engineers need to understand exactly how the ground beneath buildings, roads, and military installations will behave. Currently, this area of research is largely understudied. Existing methods simply don’t capture what happens at the grain level with enough precision.

“Soils are particulate materials, and their response to extreme conditions — such as freezing — starts at the grain level,” Jaradat explained. “Acquiring these advanced research instruments will allow us to study this grain-scale response under such extremes and project it onto the large or macro-scale behavior.”

The Equipment Makes This Possible

The grant doesn’t just fund research time. Crucially, it funds the tools to do the work right.

Jaradat’s lab will acquire three major instruments: a thermomechanical triaxial system, a temperature-controlled atomic force microscope, and a micro-computed tomography scanner. Together, these tools enable real-time, high-resolution analysis of soil behavior under realistic heating and freezing conditions. That kind of data has simply not been possible to capture at this level before.

Moreover, the acquisition of this equipment positions Howard University as a national hub for advanced geomechanics and materials science research. That status matters. It attracts top graduate students, opens doors to future federal partnerships, and strengthens the university’s overall research profile — which is directly tied to its R1 Carnegie Classification standing.

Who Is Dr. Karam Jaradat?

Jaradat joined Howard in spring 2024 and immediately got to work. He founded the Geomaterials Research Laboratory at Howard, which focuses on developing resilient infrastructure solutions for extreme geoenvironmental conditions.

His background is impressive. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Stony Brook University and previously worked with Jacobs Engineering Group and Virginia Tech. He also holds professional engineering licenses in Virginia, West Virginia, and Michigan.

In less than two years at Howard, he has already secured a six-figure federal defense grant. That trajectory says a lot — both about Jaradat and about the kind of faculty Howard is attracting as it grows its research enterprise.

The Bigger Picture for HBCU Research

This grant doesn’t exist in isolation. It arrives at a moment when HBCU research is getting more attention — and more resources — than it has in years. Howard recently became the first and only HBCU to earn R1 Carnegie Classification. It also previously landed a $90 million Air Force contract to establish the first-ever University Affiliated Research Center led by an HBCU.

Jaradat’s $780K award adds to that momentum. Furthermore, it demonstrates that Howard’s research success isn’t limited to one department or one headline. It’s happening across the institution — from defense engineering to civil infrastructure — and it’s building on itself.

For prospective graduate students in engineering, this is exactly the kind of environment worth paying attention to. Real funding, real equipment, and real research problems with national stakes. That combination is hard to find anywhere. At an HBCU, it’s historic.