Savannah State Alum Shannon Sharpe Lands Multi-Year Contract With ESPN

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ESPN has agreed to a multi-year contract with Pro Football Hall of Famer, three-time Super Bowl champion, and Savannah State University alum Shannon Sharpe. Under this new deal, Sharpe will expand his role on First Take, ESPN’s signature morning debate show featuring Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim.

“Shannon Sharpe has been an incredible addition to the First Take team, enhancing the show’s dynamic with his engaging presence and insightful commentary,” said David Roberts, ESPN’s Head of Event & Studio Production​. “Shannon’s chemistry with Stephen A. Smith has elevated our debates and been another key reason First Take is the premier destination for morning sports discussion.”

First Take recently earned its 22nd consecutive month of year-over-year growth and the most-viewed May ever, thanks in part to Sharpe’s contributions.

Sharpe – who originally joined First Take in August 2023 – will also see his role expand across various other ESPN programs to be announced later.

Said Sharpe, “Being a part of this family has been a blessing. Everything about this relationship with ESPN, Stephen A., and First Take, has been tremendous. I look forward to expanding my role and showing more of the world what I have to offer. The show goes on!”

ESPN’s First Take airs on weekdays from 10 a.m. – Noon ET on ESPN. Sharpe also hosts his weekly podcast, Club Shay Shay, where he sits down with athletes, celebrities and influencers to break down, analyze and discuss the latest headlines in sports, pop culture, and everything in between.

Shannon Sharpe attended Savannah State University from 1986-1989, where he played football and basketball, and also competed in track and field. Sharpe was a three-time All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection from 1987 to 1989 and the SIAC Player of the Year in 1987.

Savannah State alumnus Shannon Sharpe was one of seven inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 7, 2011.

He was also selected as a Kodak Division II All-American in 1989. He led the Tigers’ football team to their best records in the program’s history: 7–3 in 1988 and 8–1 in 1989.

As a senior, Sharpe caught 61 passes for 1,312 yards and 18 touchdowns, including three games with more than 200 yards. Sharpe finished his college career with 192 receptions for 3,744 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Division II Football Hall of Fame in 2009, Savannah State’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Morehouse School Of Medicine Grad Found Dead In Georgia, Family Demanding Answers

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The family of Dr. Diamond Clarke, a recent graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine, is seeking justice after she was found dead in Georgia. Her family suspects foul play in her untimely death, just weeks following her graduation.

Darren Anglin, a long-time friend of Diamond, shares her family’s concerns. “We received a crash alert from her phone between 5 and 5:30 p.m. That prompted our concerns,” he told Atlanta News First.

Dekalb County police reported that Diamond was last seen at her Decatur home on May 28. Authorities found her body the next day in a wooded area in Lithonia, with a gunshot wound to the head. Her car was found abandoned nearby, and her phone was later found in her driveway.

Dr. Diamond Clarke, a 28-year-old recent graduate from Morehouse School of Medicine was found dead in Georgia on May 29th.

Anglin said the circumstances surrounding her death don’t make sense.

“If I’m not mistaken, there were five rounds found on the scene and Diamond suffered a gunshot wound to the head. We want to better understand who the owner of the gun may be. How the gun was discharged,” he said.

Police records indicate Diamond’s boyfriend was the last person to see her. He told police they argued at her home, and she left and never returned.

Dr. Clarke, a promising medical professional, had recently earned her medical degree and was slated to begin her residency in South Georgia.

Morehouse School of Medicine Dean Adrian Tyndall expressed the school’s grief and honored Dr. Clarke’s dedication to healthcare and community service.

“Dr. Clarke’s commitment to underserved communities, her volunteer work at our H.E.A.L. Clinic, and her efforts in establishing the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group exemplified her dedication to holistic healthcare and helping others,” he said. “She was honored with the 2023 Excellence in Public Health Award and the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians T.A. Sappington MD Award. Dr. Clarke’s compassion and vision for Family Medicine will continue to inspire us. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time.”

A tribute to Diamond Clarke was also given at a recent Megan Thee Stallion concert at State Farm Arena.

Meanwhile, Dekalb County Police currently consider Clarke’s death a suicide. Her family insists the investigation is ongoing to rule out any foul play. They are working with police to ensure a thorough investigation.

“Now that she’s gone, the family is looking for justice for this woman who dedicated her entire life to seeking justice and life for others,” Anglin emphasized.

The medical examiner’s office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

*This story is developing and we will update you as more information becomes available.

Multiple HBCUs Ranked Among Colleges With Largest Increases In Applicants Since Pre-COVID

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This summer, high school students worldwide will begin researching the colleges that best suit their ambitions for the future, sending millions of applications to their top schools by the fall.

Numerade recently analyzed National Center for Education Statistics data to rank the 50 colleges where applications are growing the fastest. To be included, colleges and universities had to receive at least 2,000 applications in the 2022-2023 school year and offer four-year degrees. They are ranked by the percent increase in applications from the 2019-2020 school year to the 2022-2023 school year, the latest data available.

Among the 50 colleges, the nine Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) included were Grambling State University (#5), Paul Quinn College (#6), Edward Waters University (#13), South Carolina State University (#15), Morehouse College (#16), Fisk University (#19), Morgan State University (#30), Fort Valley State University (#31), Bethune-Cookman University (#50).

College application volumes have grown steadily over the past decade, plateauing in 2020 and rising again the following year. The COVID-19 pandemic presented a blow to the college experience, altering it completely and pushing enrollees into online courses they didn’t intend to take. Applications have seen growth, but by 2022, around 1.5 million fewer students were enrolled in college than before the pandemic.

Some schools have continued to grow their applications by more than 100% from 2019-2022 despite survey data suggesting that the overall enrollment decline is primarily due to the belief that a college degree holds less value today than in previous decades.

That’s despite evidence of a growing earnings gap between young people with college degrees and those without. The typical college degree recipient can earn $20,000 more annually when entering the workforce than their peers without a degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Hall Of Fame HBCU Coach Doug Porter Dies At 94

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Doug Porter, a longtime football coach at multiple HBCUs and the oldest living member of the College Football Hall of Fame, has died at 94.

Porter, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, died last Wednesday, according to online reports.

Porter was the head coach at Mississippi Valley State, Howard, and Fort Valley State. He was an assistant coach under Eddie Robinson at Grambling, returned to the school in 1997 as an advisor, and helped establish the Eddie G. Robinson Museum in Grambling.

Coach Doug Porter, the 2008 College Football Hall of Fame inductee

Porter coached at Fort Valley State from 1979 to 1985 and again from 1987 to 1996, going 112-66-3 between stints.

″He left a lasting impact on not only his players, but all students, faculty, staff and alumni,” said Jeffery Parlor, a former player under Porter at Fort Valley.

At Fort Valley, Porter was a seven-time Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year.  He was chairman of the Division II Football Committee and president of the National Athletic Steering Committee. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the FVSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

Prior to coaching, Porter played quarterback at Xavier of Louisiana and served in the U.S. Army. He began his college coaching career at Mississippi Valley State, going 21-19 from 1961-65. He then spent nine seasons at Grambling with Robinson, then was 30-21-2 at Howard from 1974-78.

“Doug Porter was a remarkable person, crafting an impressive career in coaching and athletics administration among the HBCU ranks,” National Football Foundation chairman Archie Manning said. “A great football mind, he was a top-flight recruiter who cared deeply about his players and put them in a position to succeed.”

Porter’s wife, Dr. Wilma Jean Porter, died in 2017.

Nashville Council Approves Fisk University To Repurpose COVID-19 Funds To Stabilize College’s Finances

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Nashville’s council has approved a motion to repurpose millions in federal COVID-19 relief funds to support Fisk University, the city’s oldest institution of higher education.

Approximately $8.5 million of the remaining funds from a $10 million American Rescue Plan Act grant, which was initially intended to renovate Fisk’s historic Burrus Hall, will now be redirected to help the university maintain financial stability amidst budget challenges over the upcoming academic year.

The council voted 35-1 in favor of expanding the use of the funding, with District 16 Council member Ginny Welsch being the sole vote against it.

According to The Tennessean, the funding comes from Nashville’s total $259.8 million pot of one-time federal ARPA money and was originally allocated to transform Burrus Hall into a 12,000-square-foot business incubator facility. The project was supported by former Nashville Mayor John Cooper, who pitched the funding allocation and advocated for the council’s support.

Of that $10 million grant, about $1.5 million has been spent on renovation design and development, according to Metro Finance Director Kevin Crumbo. The Darrell S. Freeman Sr. Incubation and Innovation Center celebrated a kickoff event in January 2023, but renovation of Burrus Hall is now on hold. The center is named for the late Darrell Freeman, a prominent Black business owner who long dreamed of creating a business resource center in North Nashville.

Fisk University is a private historically black liberal arts college in Nashville, Tennessee.

District 3 Council member and Fisk alumna Jennifer Gamble said the incubator program itself is up and running with its first cohort of businesses, but the renovation of Burrus Hall is delayed.

“The overall premise here really is that Burrus Hall as was intended can go on at some point, but at this moment, the university has different needs and really needs to work through its own fundamentals before it can bring around the completion of that project,” Crumbo told members of the COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee in May.

Fisk University, a historically Black college, recently celebrated its 150th commencement. Approximately 90% of Fisk’s roughly 1,000 students receive financial aid, and around 60% are eligible for the federal Pell Grant, according to Fisk University President Agenia Walker Clark. Nationwide delays in processing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the gateway for federal tuition assistance, has put Fisk in a “very precarious position,” Clark told committee members in May.

Clark said Fisk is working to build a more robust philanthropy outreach strategy. In the meantime, these funds would provide a “bridge.”

District 26 Council member Courtney Johnston, who serves on the oversight committee, said while she agrees Fisk is an important part of Nashville, using the funding to “bail out a private university” is “just not the best use of taxpayer dollars.” Johnston was not present for Tuesday’s vote but voted against the resolution in the Budget and Finance Committee Monday.

Clark said in May that completing the Burrus Hall project is “hugely important” to her but she’s currently focusing on the longevity of Fisk’s mission: higher education.

“While I understand your statement about Metro investing in a private school, I have to say, if not for Fisk, there would be no Music City,” Clark told Johnston in May. Nashville’s moniker came about because of the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

Crumbo will build a monthly accountability reporting process that he will share with the oversight committee and Metro Council, he said Monday.

“In the end, Fisk will be better off, entrepreneurship will survive and this jewel of our city won’t be lost,” Crumbo said.

Built in 1945 and designed by African American architecture firm McKissack & McKissack, Burrus Hall falls within the Fisk University Historic District. The two-story building is named for James and John Burrus, two of the university’s first graduates from the class of 1875. The brick structure was named to Historic Nashville Inc.’s list of nine most at-risk historically significant buildings in 2019.

Son Of Hip-Hop Legend Big Boi Transfers To Bethune-Cookman University

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Cross Patton, former running back for the University of Oregon and the University of Nevada and son of hip-hop legend Big Boi from Outkast has decided to play his final year of eligibility at Bethune-Cookman University, an HBCU in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Patton, a 5’6″ running back from Atlanta, Georgia, committed to the University of Oregon in 2019 after attending Woodward High School, where he received an Honorable Mention All-Region 4-AAAA selection as a senior.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C77cU1sPq5F/?hl=en&img_index=2

He redshirted in 2019 and had limited playing time during the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic. In 2021, he played in five games but only on special teams, and he finished his Oregon career with one tackle in seven games.

In 2022, Patton transferred to the University of Nevada and played in 10 games over two seasons, gaining 68 yards on 23 carries.

Now, with one year of eligibility left, he has decided to play HBCU football for Bethune-Cookman University under head coach Raymond Woodie.

Throughout his journey, Cross Patton’s father, Big Boi, has been his biggest supporter, regularly attending his games at the University of Nevada and even traveling to away games at Hawaii and Iowa to show his support.

“He’s been a part of my journey ever since I started playing football,” Cross Patton told Nevada Sports Net about his father’s ongoing support. “I don’t think he’s ever missed more than maybe four games my whole life. He’s been there all the way.”

In 2023, Bethune-Cookman’s football team had a 3-8 record and finished 5th out of 6 teams in the SWAC East. Head coach Raymond Woodie addressed the school’s media department during the 2024 spring ball program, highlighting his focus on filling position gaps using the transfer portal and emphasizing his commitment to the running game.

The recent signing of Patton fulfills both objectives and the added support from his father, a well-known figure, will contribute to the already vibrant atmosphere of HBCU football in Florida.

HBCU Coach Explains Why Caitlin Clark Should Be Added To Team USA

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The major sports news on Saturday was the controversy surrounding the exclusion of Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark from the United States women’s basketball team for the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, France.

Among the many advocates who feel WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark should be included in Team USA for the 2024 Olympics is an HBCU coach.

North Carolina Central University men’s basketball coach LeVelle Moton, who previously worked with USA Basketball in 2015 and 2019, made a case on X, formerly known as Twitter, explaining why adding Clark to the Olympic roster would benefit the USA women’s team both on and off the court.

“The NBA’s brand went ‘GLOBAL’ in ’92 with The Dream Team!! They didn’t assemble that team to win…That was a “Business” move to introduce the WORLD to our most marketable NBA STARS,” Moton posted Saturday afternoon. “It 4ever changed the Economic landscape. IMO, WNBA should take Caitlin to grow Global Brand!”

When a poster asked how Clark could help if she wouldn’t see much playing time, Moton responded, ”It’s called ‘Cultural Expansion’…If the WNBA can secure Modern Globalization especially with China, that’s more $$$ for their brand. If a player from China enters the [WNBA] because of CC’s popularity, do you know what that does for the economy of the league? (Yao Ming)”

Another poster mentioned that Clark wouldn’t make the team over Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi, who will be seeking a record sixth gold medal. Moton countered that Taurasi’s inclusion was a personal choice.

“Those decisions are PERSONAL….Im strictly Tweeting for the BUSINESS!!,” he said. “Those ladies deserve to be PAID!”

LeVelle Moton began his coaching career at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in 2009, leading the men’s basketball team. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in the program’s history.

During the 2023-24 season, Moton became the all-time winningest coach in the history of NCCU men’s basketball.

New Tennessee State University Board Halts Presidential Search, Launches Quest For New Leadership

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The newly-instated board of Tennessee State University has decided to stop the current search for a new president and start over.

According to the Tennessean, the decision was made unanimously, without any discussion, during a full board meeting on Friday. The move to scrap the current search and start over was recommended by a three-member ad hoc committee of trustees. This decision comes less than three months after the previous TSU board of trustees was removed by the state legislature.

All new members, who were appointed by Gov. Bill Lee, are graduates of TSU, a historically Black university. They met for the first time on April 26.

Here are the next steps for the search process:

  • Name an interim president by July 1.
  • Continue its contract with Academic Search, a national search firm hired for a previous presidential search.
  • Establish a new presidential search committee, which will encompass a variety of voices, including faculty.
  • Appoint a new president by July 1, 2025.

Trustee Marquita Qualls led the ad hoc committee that laid out the next steps Thursday for the search for a new president. Board Chair Dakasha Winton and Trustee Terica Smith were also on the committee.

“This is an historic moment in the life of TSU,” Qualls said Thursday. “For the first time in our institution’s history, our independent governing body will solely select the ninth president of Tennessee State University. This is a responsibility that we as a board of trustees do not lightly.”

Rep. Harold Love, Jr., D-Nashville, speaks with supporters of Tennessee State University before a Senate Government Operations Committee in the Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.

It’s not clear who the new interim president will be or if that person will be named ahead of the July 1 appointment date. It’s also not clear what the new search means for the three finalists named by the previous board in March after its months-long search. The previous presidential search was abruptly paused as state Republican lawmakers passed the measure that dissolved the previous board shortly after the finalists were named.

Those finalists were Charles Gibbs, the now-former CEO of the national 100 Black Men of America, William E. Hudson, the vice president of student affairs at Florida A&M University, and Michael Torrence, the president of Motlow State Community College in Tennessee.

“This option is not a reflection of the capability of the current finalists, but more rather a step to ensure that we, as a new board, are exploring all potential candidates comprehensively,” Qualls said Thursday.

The eight new Tennessee State University Board of Trustees Board members were appointed by TN Governor Bill Lee. They are all Tennessee State alumni.

TSU President Glenda Glover is set to retire at the end of the current academic year, which wraps up on June 30. On Thursday, Qualls praised Glover for her service and leadership.

“President Glover’s tenure and her legacy are forever solidified by her being a vocal champion for students to have access to a college education and a steadfast advocate for (historically Black colleges and universities),” Qualls said.

Glover, a 1974 TSU graduate herself, took office in 2013. She called her decades-long history with the university a “50-year blessing” as she spoke before the board on Friday.

“It has been the privilege and honor of a lifetime to serve as president as Tennessee State University, my alma mater,” she said. “This is indeed more than a full circle moment for me. This is where I got my start … as a young teenager from South Memphis who aspired to change the world when I came to Tennessee State University.”

During its Friday meeting, the board also unanimously approved rising senior Tyler Vazquez as its new student trustee. Vazquez is majoring in molecular biology and premedical studies at the Dr. Levin Watkins, Jr. Institute at TSU. He plans to graduate next May.

Vazquez was selected after the board received input from the TSU Student Government Association, Glover, and other leaders.

“It’s really great to have this opportunity,” he said, as he delivered brief remarks to the board and thanked those who have supported him during his time at TSU so far.

Alabama A&M University To Submit Second ‘Cash’ Offer To Purchase Birmingham-Southern Campus

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Alabama A&M University will submit a second ‘cash’ offer to purchase the hilltop campus of now-closed Birmingham-Southern College later this month, says Shannon Reeves, AAMU’s vice president of government relations and external affairs.

“[The] cash offer will focus on eliminating the entire BSC debt (not just assuming debt payments),” Reeves confirmed in a text message to AL.com. “We intend for the land to be free, clear, and unencumbered of all debt.”

The respected 168-year-old institution on the city’s west side closed at the end of May after years of financial strain and failing to secure a bailout loan from the state legislature. (BSC did receive a $5 million loan from the City of Birmingham.) It is among numerous small, private colleges nationwide that have closed of late.

As we reported last month, A&M reportedly made a $52 million offer for the campus. Reeves would not disclose the amount of the second offer.

“Our Finance team is working on that and want to keep that private until BSC has had an opportunity to receive the offer and review it,” Reeves said. “The team is working on this every day and communicating with BSC on a regular basis to arrive at the right offer as fast as we can. Lots of considerations of a lot of people in this deal.”

Earlier this week, WBRC reported that Miles College in Fairfield had submitted a letter of intent to buy the 192-acre campus. Officials from Miles or BSC would not confirm the report.

“No HBCU in the state has ever been in a position to do such a large expansion because it’s complicated,” Reeves said. “So we just want to dial the transaction in right and be responsible about it as a state institution. We want to respect BSC and allow them the opportunity to keep the details private for a period of time as to not further complicate the deal.

“If our offer is accepted,” Reeves added, “we will operate the entire campus as an institution of higher learning and offer other services and various activities to the surrounding community.

“Our plan is to rehire as many credentialed employees back [as possible] and offer state health and retirement benefits. AAMU’s investment and operation as a university on that site will have a positive impact on neighborhood property values.

“AAMU will attract retail and other businesses to open on Arkadelphia [Road, which runs in front of the campus] and in the surrounding area.”

“Finally, AAMU will be the sole owner of the site and WILL NOT [Reeves’ emphasis] break the campus up in pieces to be used by private interests.”

The next meeting of the school’s Board of Trustees is on June 14.

Reeves said Board chair Dr. Roderick Watts and the board’s executive committee are “fully aware of our efforts.”

North Carolina A&T State University Alumna Helps Washington Post Win A Pulitzer Prize

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EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. – Ashleigh Wilson ‘16, North Carolina A&T State University’s Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC) program alumna, contributed to The Washington Post’s “American Icon” series, which recently won a 2024 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.

The groundbreaking series explores the impact of the AR-15 on the United States and chronicles the rise of the weapon in a polarized country, according to The Post, which has won the National Reporting Prize six times in the past decade, including this year.

Wilson served as search engine optimization (SEO) editor for the series, playing a key role in ensuring the impactful reach and accessibility of the series. Her efforts helped bring critical stories to a broader audience, amplifying the series’ educational and societal impact.

“The ‘American Icon’ series gives a rare and chilling look at the AR-15’s cultural impact in America and its capacity to destroy human bodies,” said Wilson. “I’m truly honored to have served as the SEO editor on this series.”

More than 75 journalists from The Post took part in the “American Icon” series, which features 3D shooting animations, crime scene photos, interviews with industry insiders, shooting survivors, and investigative records.

The seven-month examination found the AR-15’s rise over the past two decades was sparked by a dramatic reversal in strategy by the country’s biggest gun companies as they looked for new revenue.

The Post also earned two additional Pulitzer Prizes for Editorial Writing and Commentary and was a finalist in several categories including Public Service, International Reporting, Illustrated Reporting, and Commentary.

“I had the pleasure of collaborating with Ashleigh on a research project a few years ago and I am very pleased to see that she and her team were awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for their reporting,” said Yahya Kamalipour, Ph.D., interim JOMC Department chair.

For more information about The Post’s prize-winning work, click here.

North Carolina Central University Selects Chancellor From Elizabeth City State

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RALEIGH, N.C. – Dr. Karrie Dixon, who has led Elizabeth City State University to a new era of expansion and success, was elected chancellor of North Carolina Central University today by the UNC Board of Governors.

She was recommended by UNC System President Peter Hans following a national search that drew more than 50 candidates, resulting in three finalists endorsed by the NCCU Board of Trustees. She succeeds Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye, who is retiring June 30 after eight years leading the university.

Dixon has served as chancellor of Elizabeth City State since 2018, bringing forth a renaissance to a campus that previously experienced enrollment declines and financial pressures. During her tenure as chancellor, Dixon grew enrollment by nearly 70%, raised $24 million in private gifts, and built partnerships that led to nearly $300 million in state and federal funding for facilities, infrastructure, and academic programs.

In two years’ time, employee morale moved from the lowest in the UNC System to the highest.

“Karrie Dixon has been a widely admired leader in our university System for more than two decades,” Hans said. “She’s known for building great teams and taking on big challenges with honesty and optimism. I’m excited for NC Central and grateful to Chancellor Dixon for her commitment to this state.”

Dr. Karrie Dixon was elected chancellor of North Carolina Central University by the UNC Board of Governors.

“Being a part of this incredible community of scholars, innovators and leaders on the sloping hills and verdant green is a dream come true,” said NCCU Chancellor-elect Dixon.

“NCCU embodies grit, innovation, leadership, purpose and legacy, and I am committed to building on our rich traditions and ensuring that our students, faculty, staff and alumni have the tools and opportunities necessary to succeed. I can’t wait to engage with all the possibilities that Durham has to offer.”

“We are thrilled to have a dynamic new chancellor in Dr. Karrie Dixon to accelerate the growth of our great institution so our students and graduates can fully compete in a global economy,” said NCCU Board of Trustees Chair Kevin Holloway. “This is about providing the best education we can for our students to achieve their purpose and take flight.”

Dr. James H. Johnson Jr., faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, served as chair of the NCCU chancellor search advisory committee. “I am very excited because I firmly believe that Chancellor-elect Karrie Dixon possesses all the desired characteristics and traits that NCCU constituents who participated in our rigorous search process said they hoped for in the next chancellor,” Johnson said.

“She is a North Carolina native; a seasoned higher education administrator with a track record of student-centered success in the UNC System; committed to active and purposeful engagement with the full range of university constituencies; and has the leadership presence and soft skills acumen to attract the support that NCCU needs to thrive. I am confident in President Hans’ decision and in the future of my alma mater.”

Dixon has worked within the UNC System for 23 years, moving up the ranks in academic positions at the System Office, including as vice president for academic and student affairs, senior associate vice president for academic and student affairs and assistant vice president for academic and student affairs. Previously she was assistant vice provost at NC State University, and before that served as a program assessment consultant in NC State’s Department of Chemical Engineering.

North Carolina Central University, a public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina.
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina.

She was an adjunct assistant professor at NC State’s College of Education and taught communication at NC State and University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Dr. Dixon served a one-year American Council on Education Fellowship at Wake Forest University in 2016-17. She has been a longtime ally of the UNC Association of Student Governments and recently received the student organization’s top award, the William C. Friday Lifetime Achievement Award.

A first-generation college graduate, Dixon holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from NC State University, a master’s degree in speech communication from UNC Greensboro, and a Doctor of Education degree in higher education administration from NC State University.

“This is a great day for North Carolina Central University,” said UNC Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey.

“Karrie Dixon has made enormous contributions to eastern North Carolina during her years of service to Elizabeth City State University and will now be a tremendous leader for another of our state’s important public HBCUs. I congratulate her and look forward to seeing what this new chapter holds.”

Fisk University Alumna & Grammy-Winning Singer, Mandisa’s Cause Of Death Revealed

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The cause of death has been disclosed for Mandisa, the Grammy Award-winning singer and American Idol contestant, who passed away in April.

According to an autopsy report obtained by TMZ, Mandisa, 47, died from “complications of class III obesity,” as she weighed 488 pounds at the time of her death. Per the Cleveland Clinic, Class III obesity, also known as severe or morbid obesity, is a medical classification indicating an exceptionally high level of excess body fat.

Per the report, the singer’s friends found her in a state of decomposition in her residence on April 18. Emergency medical services arrived at the scene, where she was pronounced dead.

Despite her state of decomposition, the autopsy was able to be thoroughly conducted, which showed no signs of trauma to her neck. A toxicology report also found nothing abnormal, resulting in the manner of death being ruled as natural.

As we reported, Mandisa was found deceased in her Nashville home this past April. Mandisa’s sudden passing at the age of 47 shocked her fans and loved ones. Her father revealed that she had no known health issues before her death.

She had previously opened up about her mental health struggles, telling ABC News in 2017 she’d contemplated suicide before. Her mental health struggles did not play a factor in her death, however.

The singer, whose full name is Mandisa Lynn Hundley, shot to stardom after placing ninth on “American Idol.”

Originally from Sacramento, California, Mandisa grew up singing in church and studying vocal performance at American River College. According to her record label artist bio, she continued her studies at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

After college, she worked as a session and backup vocalist for artists including Shania Twain and Trisha Yearwood before going on “American Idol.”

Mandisa went on to win a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2014 for her album “Overcomer.”

Six HBCUs Receive Over $11 Million In Grants & Gifts

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Here are this week’s grants and gifts to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

North Carolina A&T State University — $369,024

NC A&T, a public, historically black, land-grant research university in Greensboro, North Carolina.
NC A&T is a public, historically black, land-grant research university in Greensboro, North Carolina.

A team of researchers from the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering at Historically Black North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has received a $369,024 grant from NCInnovation, a research support service for public universities. The funds will support research into the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Coppin State University — $1.2 Million

Coppin State University
Coppin State University is a public historically black university in Baltimore, Maryland.

Historically Black, Coppin State University in Baltimore, has received a $1.2 million grant from the United States Department of Education’s Office of Special Education. The grant will fund an initiative aimed at preparing a diverse educational workforce to support school-aged children with disabilities, particularly those who are children of color or multilingual.

Prairie View A&M University — $150,000

PVAMU, a land-grant historically Black university in Prairie View, Texas.
PVAMU is a land-grant historically Black university in Prairie View, Texas.

Jeanelle Hope, an African American studies associate professor at Historically Black Prairie View A&M University in Texas, has received a $150,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support a two-year project designed to enhance the university’s African American studies program. The grant will be used to add new courses to the program’s curriculum and support faculty development initiatives.

Howard University — $5 Million

Howard University is a private, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C.

Historically Black, Howard University has received a record-breaking $5 million donation from Autodesk, a global leader in design and technology, as part of a collaboration the two have shared for six years. The company additionally allows its software to be used in classrooms at no cost to students and educators. The new funding will support the College of Engineering and Architecture’s Design and Make lab to provide software and state-of-the-art equipment, as well as educators who will empower future engineers. This marks the largest unrestricted philanthropic donation in the college’s history.

Jackson State University — $1 Million

Jackson State University is a public historically black research university in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has donated $1 million to Historically Black, Jackson State University to establish a scholarship for high-achieving students in need (with preference given to those pursuing degrees in STEM disciplines). Pres. Thompson described the gift as transformative. The funds will be used to establish the Jack Kent Cooke CSET Scholars Program, which will provide selected STEM students with financial and professional support.

Alabama A&M University — $3.6 Million

Historically Black Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL.
AAMU is a public historically black land-grant university in Normal, Huntsville, Alabama.

The Alabama A&M University Social Work Department has secured a historic $3.6 Million Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant to fund a visionary initiative aimed at revolutionizing geriatric care. The transformative five-year grant is the largest in the history of the department and marks a milestone achievement for the College of Education, Humanities, and Behavioral Sciences.

Congratulations to all the HBCUs for these outstanding contributions!

Four Norfolk State University Programs Earn Perfect Single-Year APR Scores

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Four Norfolk State University athletic programs earned perfect single-year Academic Progress Rates (APR), as the NCAA’s data release on Tuesday revealed. All 13 of Norfolk State’s programs remain eligible for postseason play heading into the 2024-25 academic year.
 
The NCAA posted APR scores over four years, including data from the 2019-20 through 2022-23 academic years. Across that entire stretch, the Norfolk State men’s cross country team led all Spartan athletic programs with a multi-year rate of 994.
 
The Spartans continued their success in the classroom during the 2022-23 academic year, as the baseball, men’s cross country, women’s basketball, and women’s bowling teams posted perfect single-year APR scores of 1,000.

Photo Courtesy of NSU Athletics.


 
The four-year Academic Progress Rate national average for Division I teams remained steady at 984 this year, as the division marked the 20th anniversary of APR data collection. During those 20 years, overall student-athlete academic success has risen substantially.
 
Compared with the four years before the COVID-19 pandemic (2015-16 through 2018-19), the overall national four-year average across all sports increased by one point.
 
This is the third consecutive year of publicly reported APRs after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Division I board approved the release of APR scores but voted to continue the suspension of program penalties. After further review, the Committee on Academics is not enforcing the loss of access to postseason competition for teams that have scored lower than 930. Instead, a conditional waiver is being offered this year due to the lingering impacts of COVID-19.
 
For complete coverage of Norfolk State athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @NSUSpartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube), or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.

Bethune-Cookman University To Welcome Its Largest Freshman Class Since Pre-COVID

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While most higher ed institutions are in crisis trying to meet enrollment targets, Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) is bucking a national trend.

Dr. Camaille Shepard, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and Title IX Compliance reported the university has received not only a record-breaking number of applications, but to date, 74% more students have paid their deposits to secure their spots in the class of 2028 than had done the same this time last year.

“We are pleased to report that our application yield is robust, surpassing last year’s figures by 6% with a total of 13,172 applications to date,” she said.

“This positive trend is further reinforced by the fact that each student secures their seat by making an enrollment deposit. The upcoming class is performing exceptionally well, with 462 deposits, marking a significant 74% increase compared to the same period last year,” as of mid-April, she said.

Data shows that between 2019 and 2022, college and university enrollment around the country declined by 8%, with cost being one of the leading factors driving a student’s decision to pursue higher education or join the workforce. But B-CU, like many historically Black institutions, is facing the opposite trend.

“Our faith-based institution as well as our student life has really been a driver in terms of why families come to the institution and of course, most importantly, is the legacy and history of our founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune,” Dr. Shepard told Central Florida Public Media reporters last week.

Shepard said the university has recruited heavily from across the state of Florida, as well as in the Bahamas. Information sessions for student outreach are being planned in both Florida and Georgia for the summer, as the institution continues to trek across the country to welcome in future Wildcats.

The university community is working hard to prepare to welcome new Wildcats and to ensure the campus remains a safe and welcoming place for those who are returning to continue their education.

“As we’re looking at the numbers, we are working with our housing because we need to make sure we have beds for students. But there have been plans underway over the past year in terms of our facilities, not only expanding those but improving those. So it’s really a collaborative conversation across the institution,” Dr. Shepard said in the interview.

Grambling State Athletics Achieves Excellence in Latest NCAA APR Report

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GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State University student-athletes continued to excel in the classroom this season, with four programs producing perfect single-year NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores.  

“We are extremely proud of all of our student-athletes and how they have consistently performed well in the classroom,” said Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Trayvean D. Scott.

“It’s also a testament to our wonderful academic staff who have consistently displayed tremendous operational excellence in guiding our student-athletes in their matriculation through Grambling State University.” 

Men’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s bowling, and women’s tennis posted scores of 1,000. In total, six teams improved upon their scores from last season (baseball, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s bowling, women’s soccer, and women’s tennis).

All 15 teams exceeded the multi-year threshold of 930, with women’s tennis also scoring a perfect 1,000. Seven programs improved their multi-year scores (football, men’s track, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, softball, women’s track and women’s volleyball). Multi-year scores were tabulated from 2019-20 to 2022-23. 

Grambling State University, a public historically black university in Grambling, Louisiana.
Grambling State University is a public historically black university in Grambling, Louisiana.


Multi-Year Scores (2019-20 – 2022-23, 930 and above)

Baseball – 955
Men’s Basketball – 950
Men’s Cross Country – 978
Football – 941
Men’s Track – 933
Women’s Basketball – 955
Women’s Bowling – 989
Women’s Cross Country – 960
Women’s Softball – 970
Women’s Soccer – 961
Women’s Tennis – 1,000
Women’s Track – 964
Women’s Volleyball – 983

Single-Year Scores (2022-23, 950 and above)

Baseball – 968
Men’s Basketball – 1,000
Men’s Cross Country – 1,000
Women’s Bowling – 1,000
Women’s Softball – 964
Women’s Soccer – 978
Women’s Tennis – 1,000
Women’s Volleyball – 976

The APR system includes rewards for superior academic performance and penalties for teams that do not achieve certain academic benchmarks. Data are collected annually, and results are announced in the spring.

The Division I Committee on Academics (CoA) oversees the Academic Progress Rate as part of its responsibilities with the Academic Performance Program.  The CoA sets policies and recommends legislative changes to the Division I Board of Directors which has the final say on changes in Division I.


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For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gsu_tigers1 (Facebook), @gramblingathletics (Instagram), or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.