The Growing Culture of Digital Savviness on HBCU Campuses

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Something is shifting on HBCU campuses across the country, and it goes beyond hashtags and campus Wi-Fi upgrades. A genuine culture of digital fluency is taking root — one where students aren’t just consuming technology but actively building their financial and technical literacy around it. Crypto wallets, DeFi protocols, and fintech apps are becoming as familiar as textbooks in certain circles.

This isn’t a fringe trend. It reflects a broader generational pivot toward financial independence and decentralized tools, and HBCU students are embracing it with notable energy and ambition. The combination of strong community networks and a historically motivated drive to close the wealth gap is making these campuses a particularly fertile ground for this kind of forward-thinking engagement.

HBCU Students Are Going Digital-First

HBCU students have long understood that traditional financial systems weren’t always built with them in mind. That historical context has made many of them early and enthusiastic adopters of alternative financial tools. Mobile banking, peer-to-peer payment platforms, and investment apps have all seen strong uptake within HBCU communities, often driven by peer-to-peer conversations rather than formal instruction.

What’s particularly interesting is how organically this digital-first mindset has grown. It shows up in dormitory conversations, campus organization meetings, and social media circles where students share resources, investment strategies, and tools for building wealth outside conventional banking. The culture around financial self-determination is real, and technology is the vehicle driving it forward.

How Students Are Exploring Decentralized Platforms

Decentralized finance — commonly called DeFi — is becoming a real area of interest for HBCU students looking to build wealth on their own terms. Platforms that allow lending, borrowing, and earning interest without a traditional bank intermediary are attracting attention from students who are skeptical of legacy financial institutions. Cryptocurrency isn’t abstract theory for many HBCU students anymore — it’s a practical conversation. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins are being discussed as legitimate tools for wealth building, remittances, and even entrepreneurship. 

Some students invest through platforms like Coinbase or Kraken as part of personal finance education. Others use stablecoins for peer-to-peer payments and cross-border remittances to family abroad. Some explore crypto in consumer-facing entertainment environments, like anonymous betting platforms for crypto users, with no-KYC account access and wallet-based transactions, that offer a practical lens on how digital assets move through real-world applications. This kind of exploration helps students understand blockchain mechanics beyond just price speculation.

According to Chainalysis research, crypto adoption in North America has continued to grow significantly among younger demographics, with peer learning cited as a key driver.

What’s compelling about this moment is the collaborative spirit behind it. Students aren’t just reading whitepapers in isolation — they’re hosting workshops, running group investment pools, and building community around shared financial goals. The HBCU network, already powerful in career mentorship and alumni giving, is extending naturally into this new digital economy.

What This Tech Shift Means for HBCU Graduates

The implications of this digital fluency go well beyond campus life. Employers in fintech, blockchain development, and Web3 startups are actively recruiting candidates who understand decentralized systems, and HBCU graduates who have built that knowledge base are entering the job market with a distinct edge. This is one of the clearest examples of how campus culture can directly shape career outcomes.

A Deloitte workforce trends report highlighted that technology fluency — including familiarity with digital finance tools — is increasingly one of the most valued competencies across industries, not just in tech-focused roles. HBCU graduates who have been engaging with crypto and DeFi in genuine, community-driven ways are exactly the kind of candidates those employers want. The digital savviness emerging on HBCU campuses isn’t just culturally significant — it’s a competitive career advantage that will continue to pay dividends long after graduation day.

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Tony Brown, Pioneer of Black Media and HBCU Champion, Dies at 93

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Tony Brown’s Hampton University legacy defines one of the most important careers in the history of Black media — and the HBCU world has lost one of its greatest champions.

Brown, the host and executive producer of Tony Brown’s Journal — the longest-running series in PBS history — died on June 17, 2026, at his home in Newport News, Virginia. He was 93. Coronary heart disease caused his death. For more than five decades, Hampton University and Howard University served as the academic homes where Brown poured his vision into the next generation of Black journalists. Together, those two institutions reflect the full arc of a career built not just on television — but on legacy.

A Voice That Changed American Television

Tony Brown was born on April 11, 1933, in Charleston, West Virginia. He grew up in poverty and under segregation. Those experiences shaped everything he would later build. He started his journalism career at the Detroit Courier before moving to Detroit’s WTVS public television station in 1968.

In 1970, Brown became executive producer and host of “Black Journal” on PBS. That program later became “Tony Brown’s Journal” and remained on the air until 2008. Over 40 years, he produced nearly 1,000 episodes. The show earned the 1991 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News, Talk or Information Series. Moreover, the New York Daily News recognized it as one of television’s greatest programs for its presentation of positive Black images. At its peak in 1979, Nielsen ranked it the number one syndicated talk and educational series in the country.

Brown’s motto drove every broadcast: “No Black Lies. No White Lies. Only the Truth.”

Tony Brown’s Hampton University Legacy Began at Howard

Television was never enough for Tony Brown. Furthermore, he believed representation in front of the camera meant nothing without Black people owning the skills, pipelines, and institutions behind it.

In 1971, Brown founded the School of Communications at Howard University — the first of its kind at an HBCU. He served as its founding dean until 1974. That program became one of the most important pipelines for Black journalism talent in the country. Its alumni include former NFL Network reporter Jim Trotter, the first Black president of the Pro Football Writers of America, and Steve Wyche, a senior national reporter inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in June 2026.

Decades later, Brown returned to HBCU academia. In 2004, he became the inaugural dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University — a position he held until 2009. In 2012, Hampton inducted him into that school’s Hall of Fame.

Current Dean Julia Wilson captured his impact directly. “Tony Brown was more than an award-winning journalist; he was a visionary who expanded the role of journalism as a force for education, empowerment, and social progress,” Wilson said. “Through his groundbreaking work in the media, he challenged generations to think critically, pursue truth with courage, and tell stories that elevated the Black experience with dignity and excellence.”

Black College Day and the Fight for HBCU Survival

Brown’s commitment to HBCUs extended well beyond the classroom. In 1980, he founded Black College Day — a national effort to encourage students to choose historically Black colleges and universities. Congress later recognized the effort by designating the last Monday in September as the official Black College Day observance.

That initiative reflects something Brown understood deeply. HBCUs needed more than funding. They needed cultural investment, visibility, and advocates willing to make noise on their behalf. Brown made that noise consistently, loudly, and for decades.

A Legacy Built on Self-Help and Truth

Brown was also a prolific author and radio host. His books include “Black Lies, White Lies: The Truth According to Tony Brown” and “Empower the People: A 7-Step Plan to Overthrow the Conspiracy That Is Stealing Your Money and Freedom.” Additionally, he hosted influential radio talk shows on WLIB in New York and WLS in Chicago. Talkers magazine named him one of the 100 most important radio talk show hosts in America.

His personal mission statement — “Diversity Through Excellence” — and his call to action — “Self-Help” — guided every platform he built. In 2002, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducted him into its Silver Circle. In 2015, the National Association of Black Journalists inducted him into its Hall of Fame.

Furthermore, Brown organized one of the most significant civil rights events in American history. In June 1963, he coordinated a march in Detroit that drew an estimated 500,000 participants alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — one of the earliest public deliveries of King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.

What the HBCU Community Lost

Tony Brown’s Hampton University impact did not simply pass through campus. He built things there that outlasted his tenure and will outlast his death. The journalism schools he founded continue to shape Black media professionals. The students he trained carry his standards into newsrooms, production companies, and classrooms of their own.

For the HBCU community, Brown’s passing is not simply the loss of a broadcaster. Rather, it is the loss of a builder — someone who understood that Black media and Black education were not separate missions but the same one, pursued across different platforms.

No memorial or public service has been announced at this time.

Howard University Alumnus Chequan Lewis Named CEO of Crunch Fitness

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Chequan Lewis just became the CEO of one of the largest fitness brands in the world — and Howard University is at the root of his story.

Howard University alumnus Chequan Lewis was named chief executive officer of Crunch Fitness on June 30, 2026, succeeding Jim Rowley, who will transition to executive chairman. Lewis joined Crunch as president in January 2024 and now takes the helm of one of the world’s largest fitness franchise systems. The Chequan Lewis CEO Crunch Fitness appointment adds another HBCU alumnus to the growing list of Black executives leading nationally recognized consumer brands.

From Howard’s Yard to the Corner Office

Lewis graduated from Howard University in 2005 with dual bachelor’s degrees in political science and economics. That foundation sent him to Harvard Law School, where he earned his law degree. He started his career at McMaster-Carr before transitioning to corporate law at Baker Botts.

However, the courtroom was never his final destination. Lewis has been open about why he eventually left law entirely. “The reality was I still had this fire burning from my time at McMaster-Carr to not be a lawyer on the outside of the business, but in the heart of the action,” he said. That hunger led him to Pizza Hut U.S., where he served as chief operating officer. Furthermore, he became the brand’s first-ever chief equity officer — a role that reflected both his operational skills and his commitment to building equitable workplaces.

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Taking Over at a Pivotal Moment for Crunch

Crunch Fitness is one of the most recognizable names in the fitness industry. The brand operates hundreds of locations across the United States and internationally, built around its signature “No Judgments, No Limits” ethos. Moreover, Lewis now leads that system at a moment of active global expansion.

In Crunch’s official announcement, Lewis made his priorities clear. “As we enter this next chapter, our focus remains clear: to support our franchise network, invest in innovation, and grow the Crunch community in a disciplined way while staying true to the culture, values, and ‘No Judgments, No Limits’ experience that define this brand,” he said. That message signals continuity rather than disruption. Additionally, it reflects a leader who understands that trust within a franchise system is earned over time — not declared from the top.

A Career Rooted in Purpose

Lewis has consistently pointed to family as the foundation of his professional drive. He credits the work ethic and sense of purpose instilled early in his life as the force that has guided every career decision since. “The mission has always been to do all that I can with all that I’ve been given,” he said.

That sense of mission connects directly to his Howard University experience. The university has a long tradition of producing graduates who enter corporate America not simply to climb — but to lead with intention and bring others along with them. Furthermore, his appointment fits into a broader pattern. In recent years, HBCU alumni have ascended to CEO and C-suite roles at companies including Fannie Mae, Starbucks, and Nike. However, each appointment still carries weight in a corporate landscape where Black executives remain significantly underrepresented.

What the Chequan Lewis CEO Crunch Fitness Appointment Means for HBCUs

The Chequan Lewis CEO Crunch Fitness appointment is more than a career milestone. Rather, it is a data point in a growing body of evidence that HBCU graduates are built for the corner office.

Lewis built his path through law, operations, equity leadership, and franchising. Moreover, he did it without taking the traditional route. He pivoted out of law when he knew operations was where he belonged. He took on equity work because he believed it mattered strategically — not just symbolically. As a result, he arrived at the CEO chair with a fuller picture of how businesses actually work than many executives who followed a more conventional path.

For students currently walking Howard’s Yard, that résumé is a blueprint. Dual degrees. Law school. Operational leadership. Equity strategy. And now, the top job at a global fitness brand.

Crunch Fitness has a new CEO. Howard University produced him. Consequently, the HBCU community has another name to add to its growing list of corporate leaders reshaping American business from the top.

Hampton University’s Armstrong Stadium Is Getting a $3.2 Million Makeover

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Hampton University Armstrong Stadium renovation is officially underway — and the Pirates are about to have one of the best facilities in HBCU athletics.

Hampton University announced on June 30, 2026, that Armstrong Stadium will undergo a $3.2 million renovation this summer. The project replaces the stadium’s aging playing surface and track. It also expands the facility’s multi-sport capabilities. Construction is already underway and NPSG Built, LLC is leading it in partnership with Advanced Sports Group — a firm that has completed projects for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and Georgia Tech. Furthermore, civil engineering firm ForSite, PLLC is serving as the project’s lead engineer.

A Stadium With More Than 100 Years of History

Armstrong Stadium is not just a facility. It is a cornerstone of HBCU athletics with a history stretching back over a century.

Originally opened in 1922, the stadium was formally dedicated in 1928. It is named after Brigadier General Samuel Chapman Armstrong — Hampton’s founder and first principal. Over the decades, the facility added a video board and premium seating. Today, Armstrong Stadium holds 9,710 fans and serves as home to Hampton’s football program and several other athletic teams.

However, the AstroTurf 3D Decade surface installed in 2014 has reached the end of its projected lifespan. As a result, a major upgrade became necessary.

What the Hampton University Armstrong Stadium Renovation Actually Changes

The centerpiece of the renovation is a brand-new playing surface. The old AstroTurf system gives way to Shaw Sports Turf’s Legion 2.0 hybrid synthetic system — built for durability, safety, and consistent play across multiple sports. Additionally, the new surface supports football, women’s soccer, and lacrosse, expanding the stadium’s multi-sport capacity.

Hampton football coach Van Malone did not hold back. “This upgrade is a game-changer for our program,” Malone said. “Having a high-performance surface enhances player safety, supports the speed and physicality of our game, and creates a championship-level environment for our student-athletes.”

In addition, the surrounding eight-lane track will also be replaced. The new Beynon BSS 1000 system offers superior shock absorption and energy return. Moreover, workers will relocate field event areas adjacent to the stadium to improve functionality and meet competition standards.

Women’s Soccer Finally Gets a True Home

One of the most meaningful outcomes of this renovation has nothing to do with football. Rather, it is about Hampton’s women’s soccer team finally coming home.

The Pirates have previously played matches at off-campus locations. After this renovation, the team will host matches at Armstrong Stadium for the first time in recent years. Head coach Sam Cain summed it up well. “Being able to play on campus in a first-class facility strengthens our identity and gives us a true home-field advantage,” Cain said.

That matters more than it might seem. Home-field advantage in college athletics is real. Furthermore, hosting on campus changes recruiting conversations, fan engagement, and program identity in ways off-site venues simply cannot replicate.

Track and Field Gets a Major Boost

The renovation also elevates what Hampton’s track and field program can do at home.

Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Maurice Pierce explained what the upgraded Beynon track opens up. “It allows our teams the opportunity to compete at home and positions us to host youth, high school, and collegiate championship meets,” Pierce said. As a result, Hampton gains a significant recruiting tool. Moreover, student-athletes now have an elite training environment right on their own campus.

An Investment in the Future of HBCU Athletics

Athletics Director Anthony D. Henderson put the renovation in broader terms. “We are committed to providing a premier environment for all of our student-athletes to train, compete, and succeed,” Henderson said. “This project represents a significant investment in the future of Hampton Athletics.”

For Hampton University and the broader HBCU community, that kind of institutional investment sends a clear message. HBCUs are not simply maintaining what they have. Instead, they are actively building toward something better — and Armstrong Stadium’s $3.2 million renovation proves it.

Construction is expected to finish before the 2026 fall athletic season begins.

This Howard Sophomore Turned His Own Journey Into a Foundation for the Next Generation

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Julian Jarrett Juventas Foundation news centers on a simple but powerful idea: success should never end with the person who achieves it.

Jarrett, a sophomore Honors Finance major at Howard University, founded The Juventas Foundation, a nonprofit built to expand educational access, mentorship, and leadership development for young Black men. What started as a personal conviction during his freshman year has grown into a structured organization with two named scholarships, an advisory board, and a launch date already on the calendar.

From Birmingham to The Mecca

Jarrett’s story starts in Birmingham, Alabama, where his parents raised him on the belief that education, faith, service, and hard work could open doors that once seemed out of reach. He also grew up hearing a message familiar to many young Black men: that he would likely have to work twice as hard to receive half the opportunity. Rather than discourage him, that reality pushed him forward.

By the time he finished high school, Jarrett had built an academic and leadership résumé strong enough to earn admission to more than 65 colleges and universities, along with over $1.5 million in scholarship offers. He chose Howard University anyway. “When I chose Howard University, I chose more than a college. I chose a legacy,” Jarrett said.  That choice put him in daily contact with future CEOs, attorneys, physicians, and policymakers who shared something he hadn’t experienced at the same scale before: a community unapologetically committed to lifting each other up. At the same time, Howard sharpened his awareness of a harder truth. Financial barriers continue to keep many capable students out of college, and Black male enrollment nationally keeps declining. Those two realities sitting side by side became the spark for what he’d eventually build.

Jarrett didn’t want to create just another scholarship fund. He wanted an organization built to outlast his own time on campus. That meant developing a mission statement, building an advisory board, designing scholarship structures, and creating application processes, all while carrying a full course load as an underclassman.

He also gave real thought to the foundation’s identity. The name “Juventas” comes from the Latin word for youth, a deliberate choice Jarrett says reflects the foundation’s purpose. “I was drawn to Latin because it serves as the foundation for many modern languages, just as I hope The Juventas Foundation can serve as a foundation for students beginning a new chapter of their lives,” he said. That same philosophy carries into the foundation’s scholarship names: Elevare Vir and Promissum 1867.

Skepticism came with the territory. As a college freshman building a nonprofit from scratch, Jarrett regularly fielded doubts about whether someone his age could pull it off. He pressed forward anyway, betting that age shouldn’t be a ceiling on impact.

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What The Juventas Foundation Actually Does

The foundation currently runs two scholarship initiatives: the Elevare Vir Scholarship and the Promissum 1867 Scholarship. Both are designed to recognize young men who demonstrate leadership, resilience, service, and academic achievement, alongside a genuine commitment to lifting others up alongside them. Jarrett is clear that scholarships are only the starting point. The longer-term plan includes mentorship, leadership development, and professional opportunity pipelines that extend well past the moment a scholarship check gets cut. 

“We are not simply investing in academic potential,” Jarrett said. “We are investing in people, their aspirations, and their ability to create lasting change within their communities.”

The inaugural scholarship cycle opens July 1 and runs through August 1, giving incoming first-year Black men at Howard a direct opportunity to apply for support before they even set foot on campus. Jarrett’s foundation didn’t emerge in isolation. It grew directly out of his experience navigating Howard’s campus and student leadership structures. During the 2025-2026 academic year, he served as Freshman Senator-at-Large in the Howard University Student Association Senate, representing more than 2,700 students alongside fellow senator Amaya Lawrence. He now serves as the 2026-2027 School of Business Senator and Finance Committee Chair.

He’s also Chair of Professional Development for The Men of George Washington Carver, Inc., a freshman male selective organization built on the principles of manhood, brotherhood, and community service. Jarrett credits that brotherhood with teaching him how to lead with empathy across differing perspectives, a lesson he says was reinforced by attending a majority-female campus where understanding and collaborating with Black women became essential to effective leadership.

Add to that his recognition as Howard’s School of Business First-Year Student of the Year, plus his standing as a Greenwood Project Scholar, SEO Fellow, and Wharton Academy Scholar, and a clear pattern emerges. Nearly every experience Jarrett has accumulated at Howard fed directly into the foundation he’s now built.

A Mission Bigger Than One Person

Asked about his proudest moment, Jarrett didn’t point to any single accolade. He pointed to the foundation itself, calling it the first time he’s been able to bring his accumulated experiences together in service of something larger than his own résumé. “It is a reminder that success is not simply about reaching new heights yourself, but about building something that allows others to climb alongside you,” he said.

That ethos echoes a principle his parents raised him on: to whom much is given, much is expected. It’s a value he says Howard reinforced through its culture of reaching back to bring others forward, and it now sits at the center of everything The Juventas Foundation is trying to build.

What Comes Next

Beyond the July scholarship launch, Jarrett envisions the foundation eventually expanding its reach to serve Black scholars more broadly, not just incoming Howard students. His long-term goal is mentorship and community that extends well past a single financial award.

His advice to students hoping to walk a similar path is direct: don’t let other people define the ceiling on your potential. “Just because something has not been done before does not mean it is impossible,” he said. For Jarrett, that belief isn’t just a quote he lives by. It’s the entire premise behind an organization built by a sophomore who decided not to wait until graduation to start giving back.

Shaw University Launches the Nation’s First HBCU Doctoral Program in AI and Moral Agency

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Shaw University just made history — and the Shaw University EdD in AI is unlike anything the HBCU world has ever seen.

On June 24, 2026, Shaw University announced that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approved the university to offer doctoral-level degrees for the first time in its 160-year history. That approval cleared the way for Shaw University Divinity School to launch the Doctor of Education in Artificial Intelligence and Moral Agency — the first program of its kind at any HBCU in the country. The first cohort of 12 students will begin in Spring 2027. Applications open this summer.

A Historic First for Shaw and for HBCUs

This milestone is significant on two levels. First, it marks the first time Shaw has ever been authorized to confer doctoral degrees. Second, it positions the Shaw University Divinity School as a national leader at the intersection of theological ethics and emerging technology.

Shaw University was founded in 1865. Moreover, it holds the distinction of being the first HBCU established in the South. For 160 years, the university has prepared graduates in ministry, education, and public service. Now, it is stepping into one of the most consequential conversations of the 21st century — and doing it from a uniquely HBCU perspective.

“This is a historic moment for Shaw University and for theological education,” said Dr. Paulette R. Dillard, President of Shaw University. “Furthermore, it reflects our commitment to preparing leaders who are not only academically excellent but morally grounded and ready to serve.”

What the Shaw University EdD in AI Actually Covers

The Shaw University EdD in AI is an interdisciplinary, practice-oriented doctorate. Therefore, it is designed for leaders who are already working — not traditional graduate students entering directly from undergraduate programs.

Specifically, the program targets bi-vocational and pastoral leaders with at least five years of leadership experience and an accredited graduate theological degree. A Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry qualifies as the required foundation. New cohorts will enroll each fall and spring after the inaugural class begins in 2027.

The curriculum combines AI literacy, AI application, moral reasoning, social justice, and applied ethics. As a result, graduates will leave equipped to critically assess AI technologies and shape ethical norms in their fields. The goal is not simply to understand how AI works. Instead, it is to ensure that the people making decisions about AI are guided by accountability, human dignity, and equity.

“Artificial intelligence is already shaping decisions in healthcare, criminal justice, hiring, and public policy,” said Dr. Mark Harden, Dean of Shaw Divinity School. “Those decisions raise questions of fairness and accountability that technical fields alone cannot resolve. Therefore, Shaw is uniquely positioned to train leaders who can bridge that gap.”

Why This Program Matters Right Now

AI is not a future concern. Rather, it is already embedded in how institutions make decisions about people’s lives. Hiring algorithms screen job applications. Predictive tools influence criminal sentencing. Healthcare systems use AI to allocate resources. Public policy increasingly relies on automated data analysis.

In each of those spaces, the question of who is accountable — and whose values are built into the system — is often left unanswered. Moreover, Black and brown communities have consistently borne the cost of AI systems that were not designed with their dignity in mind. Furthermore, the people with theological and ethical training to address those failures have rarely had a formal academic home to do that work from.

Shaw University is creating that home. Consequently, the HBCU community now has a doctoral pipeline specifically designed to produce leaders who can hold AI accountable.

Building on Shaw’s Existing Divinity Pipeline

The new doctoral program does not exist in isolation. Instead, it grows directly out of Shaw Divinity School’s existing graduate programs. The school’s Master of Divinity program and its recently approved Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry together form a direct pipeline into the new doctorate.

Shaw Divinity School graduates currently serve across more than 35 professional fields — from pulpits to hospitals to nonprofits to public service organizations. As a result, the school already has a well-established network of bi-vocational leaders who are exactly the kind of students this program is designed to serve.

That pipeline matters. Additionally, it means the Shaw University EdD in AI is not starting from scratch. It is building on decades of graduate theological education and channeling it toward one of the most urgent ethical challenges of our time.

What Comes Next

Applications for the inaugural Spring 2027 cohort are now open. Prospective students can contact Shaw University Divinity School directly for more information. New cohorts will enroll each fall and spring going forward, giving the program a steady and growing pipeline of ethical AI leaders coming out of an HBCU institution.

Shaw University has been training leaders for 160 years. Consequently, it is now preparing to train the leaders the AI era actually needs — and it is doing it first.

Fisk University’s Proposed Data Center Sparks Heated Backlash — and a Bigger Conversation About HBCU Survival

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The Fisk University data center proposal is forcing a painful conversation about HBCU survival — and a Nashville community is refusing to stay quiet.

On June 29, 2026, Fisk University President Dr. Agenia Clark faced a packed sanctuary at Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church in North Nashville for the school’s first public town hall on the issue. The proposal is part of Fisk’s $1 billion “Quantum Leap” campus master plan. It includes a new academic center, revamped dormitories, and a 30-megawatt data center on campus. However, the community’s response has been sharp, sustained, and growing fast.

What Fisk Is Actually Proposing

The data center sits inside a broader $400 million, 100,000-square-foot Innovation Center. Fisk describes it as a hub for academic growth and workforce development. University officials have been careful to separate the project from the kind of industrial data centers drawing criticism elsewhere in Nashville — most notably a proposed facility near the Nashville Zoo.

Clark addressed the crowd directly and tried to clear up misconceptions. “Does everyone really know what a data center is?” she asked. She also made a key promise: Fisk will not sell any land. That statement drew applause from the audience.

She also addressed questions about the university’s finances head-on. Clark told more than 100 attendees that Fisk is “woefully under-resourced.” She shared that on her first day on the job in 2023, she had to use a personal hotspot just to access the internet. “Here we are in what I would say is one of the best institutions in this country, that’s been right here in 37208 since 1866, but the digital age-born student that we’re trying to recruit now, they need a hot spot, too?” Clark said.

That financial context is important. Like many HBCUs, Fisk has spent decades doing generational work on starvation-level funding. Supporters argue the data center is a path toward the revenue generation the school has never had.

A Community That Has Been Through This Before

The opposition is not simply anti-technology sentiment. Instead, it is rooted in a specific geography with a specific history.

The zip code surrounding Fisk — 37208 — consistently ranks among the highest in Nashville for asthma-related emergency department visits. Moreover, North Nashville has absorbed decades of harmful infrastructure decisions. Those decisions include the construction of Interstate 40 through the community, landfills, and industrial projects. Residents know what it looks like when their neighborhood gets treated as available land for someone else’s vision.

State Sen. Charlane Oliver opened the town hall by acknowledging that history directly. “This is a community that has been hurting for decades,” she said. Furthermore, she said she could not support the project at this time because she does not yet know enough about its impact on her constituents.

Fisk alumnus and state Rep. Justin Jones, who joined earlier protests at the university gates, was more direct. “If AI data centers are not good for a zoo, then it’s not good for an HBCU,” Jones said. “If this project was so amazing for universities, it would be at Vanderbilt. But instead they’re coming to Fisk University, using this tactic of extraction and preying on our HBCU.”

16,000 Signatures and Growing

The opposition has organized quickly. Fisk alumnus Winston Wright launched an online petition against the Fisk University data center proposal that has now collected more than 16,000 signatures. Wright drew a direct comparison to the construction of I-40, which decades ago cut through North Nashville and displaced thousands of residents and businesses.

At a June 10 protest at the university gates, the concerns were consistent: noise, energy consumption, water demand, diesel pollution, rising utility costs, and a lack of transparency about corporate partners. A Fisk student named Eriqua Martin put it plainly. “This campus is not just property,” Martin said. “It is not raw acreage waiting to be leveraged.”

Additionally, the Black Mental Health Village this week announced it is suspending its partnership with Meharry Medical College over that institution’s support for Fisk’s plan — adding another layer of fallout to a debate that continues to grow.

The Deeper Question Behind This Story

The Fisk University data center proposal is not really just about one building on one campus. Rather, it raises a harder question the entire HBCU community is being forced to confront: what happens when financial desperation makes an institution vulnerable to deals that may harm the very community it was built to serve?

Sen. Oliver framed it with unusual candor. “Here we see how the crisis of underfunded historically Black colleges and universities can leave communities — and students — vulnerable to exploitation,” she said. That framing does not assume bad intent on Fisk’s part. Nevertheless, it acknowledges that financial pressure can push institutions toward decisions the community ends up bearing the cost of.

The NAACP has also weighed in through its “Stop Dirty Data Centers” initiative, siding with critics of the plan. Meanwhile, Metro Council is reviewing proposed legislation that would require large data centers to sit at least half a mile from homes, schools, parks, and community centers. Based on its proximity to Greater Zion Primitive Baptist Church, Andrew Jackson Park, and Andrew Jackson Boys & Girls Club, the current Fisk site would likely not meet that threshold. Clark has said the university will comply with whatever regulations Metro Council ultimately adopts.

What Comes Next

A public hearing on data centers is scheduled for July 7. Additional community town halls are also planned. Furthermore, Metro Council continues to debate two separate data center bills — one establishing zoning rules and one proposing a temporary moratorium on new permits.

For now, the debate continues — and so does the deeper conversation about what Fisk University owes its campus community, what Nashville owes its oldest institution, and what the country owes its HBCUs.

Tuskegee University Is Launching a Cosmetic Science Program — and an HBCU Consortium Is Coming With It

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Tuskegee cosmetic science is officially here — and it is about to change who leads the beauty industry.

Tuskegee University announced on June 30, 2026, that it will launch a new cosmetic science program beginning in Fall 2026. The interdisciplinary concentration draws from both the College of Agriculture, Environment, and Nutrition Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. Enrollment will be capped at 25 students per cohort. In addition, Tuskegee will join Spelman College — the first HBCU to establish a cosmetic chemistry program — in launching a joint HBCU Cosmetic Science Consortium in early 2027.

What Tuskegee Cosmetic Science Students Will Actually Learn

This is not a beauty school. Instead, it is a rigorous, hands-on concentration built to prepare students across every part of the beauty and personal care industry.

The curriculum covers product research and formulation, ethical sourcing, packaging design, marketing, brand development, and business planning. Students must also complete at least one industry internship, one business course, and two animal science courses. Each requirement reflects the same goal: graduating students who understand what goes into a product and who that product serves.

“As the beauty industry continues to expand, so too does the demand for professionals who understand both science and culture,” said Olga Bolden-Tiller, dean of Tuskegee’s College of Agriculture, Environment, and Nutrition Sciences. “Our new cosmetic science program will equip graduates to innovate in ways that reflect the diversity of the consumers they serve — in roles from laboratories to board rooms.”

Why Tuskegee Is the Right School for This

Tuskegee’s decision to launch this program is not random. For 140 years, the university has prepared Black students to lead in agriculture, engineering, science, and health. Moreover, cosmetic science fits directly into that tradition.

Research shows that Black consumers spend significantly more on beauty and personal care products than other groups. However, Black-owned beauty brands still make up a small fraction of the overall market. That gap between consumer spending and market representation is both a cultural problem and a real economic opportunity. Furthermore, it is exactly the kind of gap Tuskegee has always worked to close.

Dr. Channapatna Prakash, dean of Tuskegee’s College of Arts and Sciences, put it plainly. “This program is about more than beauty,” he said. “It is a specific response to an industry need. We are building a pathway for students who will widen the pipeline of scientists, entrepreneurs, and executives who understand both the science and cultural relevance of the products they create.”

Spelman and Tuskegee Are Building Something Bigger Together

The most important part of this announcement may not be the Tuskegee cosmetic science program itself. Rather, it is what comes next.

Tuskegee and Spelman plan to launch an HBCU Cosmetic Science Consortium together in early 2027. Spelman launched the first-ever HBCU cosmetic science program in January 2023 as an online certificate. It then expanded to a full undergraduate concentration and minor in Fall 2024. Now, with Tuskegee joining, two of the most respected HBCUs in the country are aligning to reshape Black representation in the beauty industry.

A consortium means shared research and shared resources. It also means a coordinated pipeline of Black scientists, formulators, and executives entering the industry together. As a result, students at both schools gain broader networks and more career doors.

What This Means for the Beauty Industry

The beauty and personal care industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars globally each year. Furthermore, Black women are among its most significant consumers. However, the scientists formulating the products and the executives running the companies have not historically reflected that reality.

Programs like Tuskegee cosmetic science and Spelman’s pioneering curriculum exist to change that. By training Black students in product science and connecting it to cultural knowledge, entrepreneurship, and industry access, these HBCUs are doing what they have always done best. Therefore, their graduates go out and fill the gaps their communities need filled.

Enrollment opens this fall. The consortium launches in 2027. As a result, the beauty industry will never look quite the same.

Grambling State and Southern University Law Center Launch 3+3 Accelerated Law Program

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A new partnership between two Louisiana HBCUs is about to change how students get into the legal profession.

Grambling State University and Southern University Law Center announced a new 3+3 Accelerated Law Program on June 25, 2026, allowing eligible students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years instead of the traditional seven. The Grambling State law program partnership was approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents and is designed to strengthen the pipeline of attorneys across the state while removing financial and structural barriers that often discourage students from pursuing law school.

How the Program Actually Works

The structure is straightforward. Students complete their bachelor’s degree at Grambling State in three years instead of four, then move directly into Southern University Law Center for the remaining three years of legal education. The result is a guaranteed admissions pathway for students who meet program requirements, paired with structured advising designed to keep them on track from day one.

That structure matters because the traditional path to law school often involves uncertainty. Students apply to multiple schools, wait through admissions cycles, and frequently end up taking a gap year between undergraduate study and law school. The 3+3 model removes much of that uncertainty by building the pathway directly into the curriculum.

The Real Savings Behind This Partnership

Grambling State President Martin Lemelle said students are expected to save between $16,000 and $18,000 in tuition and fees alone by completing both degrees in six years rather than seven.

Connie Walton, Grambling State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the total savings climb even higher once housing, meals, and other educational expenses are factored in. “That’s a huge savings,” Walton said. She added that students will also likely apply to fewer law schools under this model, which means additional savings on application fees. University officials estimate the total financial benefit could reach roughly $100,000 when every cost is considered.

For students at HBCUs, where financial barriers often determine whether someone pursues an advanced degree at all, that kind of savings can be the difference between attending law school and walking away from the dream entirely.

Built-In Support From Day One

The 3+3 program is not just about speed. Walton emphasized that student success supports are built into both campuses from the very beginning.

At Southern University Law Center, undergraduates participating in the program will take part in prelaw programming, workshops, and mentoring well before they officially enroll in law school. At Grambling State, students will receive targeted advising from a designated faculty adviser, along with structured LSAT preparation built directly into their undergraduate coursework.

That LSAT preparation carries extra weight given recent changes to the exam itself. “The LSAT has two components now: the multiple-choice logical reasoning part, and the other one is the student has to be able to write and make an argument,” Walton said. “That’s going to force us at Grambling State University to make sure that the writing that we require of our students who’ve been selected for the program will develop the skills that are needed in making a good argument.”

Part of a Bigger Accelerated Pathway Strategy

The Grambling State law program is not an isolated initiative. Walton noted that the 3+3 structure is one of several accelerated pathways the university now offers across different disciplines. Grambling State also has a partnership with Logan University’s College of Chiropractic that allows biology majors to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a doctor of chiropractic in six years.

That pattern reflects a broader trend across higher education, where institutions are increasingly building accelerated pathways to address rising concerns about college affordability and student debt. For HBCUs specifically, these partnerships offer a way to compete directly with the kind of fast-track programs that wealthier institutions have offered for years.

Why This Matters for Louisiana and Beyond

Southern University Law Center has long played a critical role in producing Black attorneys in Louisiana and across the South. Pairing it directly with Grambling State’s undergraduate pipeline creates a more direct, less financially burdensome route into that profession.

For prospective students weighing whether law school is realistic for them, a guaranteed pathway with built-in mentoring, LSAT preparation, and tens of thousands of dollars in savings changes the calculation significantly. This partnership gives students at two historically Black institutions a faster, more affordable, and more supported route into a profession that desperately needs more diverse representation.

The first cohort of students will move through this new pathway with a level of structure and support that simply did not exist before. For Louisiana’s legal community, and for the students who choose this path, that could make all the difference.

Remembering Ruth Washington Christian, Hampton Institute Alumna Who Spent 40 Years in Service to Her Community

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Ruth Washington Christian lived a life that proved education and service are not separate callings — they are the same calling, lived out over decades.

Christian, a Hampton University alumna from Charles City, Virginia, passed away at the age of 97. Born April 25, 1929, to the late Plato Washington Sr. and Vivian Washington Banks, Ruth Washington Christian built a life rooted in faith, education, and an unwavering commitment to the people around her. Her story is a reminder of what generations of HBCU graduates have given back to their communities long after graduation day.

A Foundation Built on Education

Christian’s academic journey began at Ruthville High School in Charles City Public Schools, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. That early excellence carried her forward in 1946, when she enrolled at Hampton Institute, now known as Hampton University. She also attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science degrees in Education.

Christian did not stop there. She pursued further studies at the University of Virginia, building a depth of academic preparation that was rare for a Black woman of her generation in rural Virginia. Her accomplishments earned her a listing in “Who’s Who in America,” a recognition of just how far her dedication to education had carried her.

A Lifetime of Service

What stands out most about Christian’s story is not just what she achieved, but how consistently she gave back. She joined Liberty Baptist Church at an early age and later became an active member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, where she remained involved for the rest of her life.

For more than 40 years, Christian served her church community as Vacation Bible School Principal, Sunday School teacher, and musician. That kind of sustained commitment speaks to a person who understood service not as an occasional act, but as a way of life.

Her involvement extended well beyond the church. Christian was a member of the NAACP, the Civic League, the Advisory Council for the Richard M. Bowman History Center, the Heritage Library Board, the Committee on Aging, the VCU Alumni Association, the Ruthville High School Alumni Association, the Charles City/New Kent Retired Teacher’s Association, and the Young at Heart Club. Each of these organizations represents a different piece of the community she chose to invest in, from preserving local history to supporting fellow retired educators.

Her Legacy Lives On

Christian was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Sanford G. Christian, along with her parents, two sisters, and three brothers. She leaves behind two loving daughters, Vivian Garlene Young and Cheryl Buchanan, along with grandchildren Shafnee, Ernest, Christian, and Jordan. Her great-grandchildren C’era, Alexis, L.C., and Tristian carry her legacy forward, along with three great-great-grandchildren and a wide circle of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

An HBCU Story Worth Remembering

Christian’s path from Ruthville High School valedictorian to Hampton Institute student in 1946 reflects exactly the kind of journey that HBCUs have made possible for generations of Black students. She earned advanced degrees at a time when those opportunities were far from guaranteed, and she spent the decades that followed pouring that education directly back into her community as an educator, a church leader, and a civic advocate.

Ruth Washington Christian lived 97 years. Four decades of that life were dedicated to teaching Sunday school, leading Vacation Bible School, and serving as a musician for her congregation. Her membership across nearly a dozen community organizations shows a woman who never stopped showing up for the people around her.

That is the kind of legacy Hampton helped build. Rest well, Mrs. Christian.

Coppin State University Lowers Costs for Residential Students as Higher Education Expenses Climb Nationwide

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While colleges across the country keep raising prices, Coppin State University is doing the opposite.

Coppin State University announced on June 29, 2026, that residential students will see lower costs starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. Coppin State University lowers costs through a newly negotiated food service agreement that cuts board plan rates by approximately 12%. The university will also hold mandatory student fees flat. At a time when families across Maryland and the nation are watching higher education costs climb, Coppin is moving in a different direction entirely.

What Is Actually Changing

The math behind this announcement is simple, and that is exactly the point.

Beginning next academic year, Coppin’s annual board cost will drop to approximately $4,875. That figure is now lower than every four-year public institution in Maryland. The university is not raising mandatory student fees either, which means residential students will see real, measurable savings without any offsetting cost increase hidden somewhere else in their bill.

President Anthony L. Jenkins did not mince words about how rare this move actually is. “When was the last time you heard of a university lowering costs? This is about putting students first,” Jenkins said. He continued: “At a time when families are facing rising costs for food, housing, transportation, and other necessities, we are doing everything we can to make college more affordable. Higher education remains one of the most powerful pathways to opportunity, and we want to ensure that cost is not a barrier to our students’ success.”

Affordability That Is Already Working

This is not Coppin’s first move toward making college more accessible, and the results back up the strategy.

Coppin State recently reported a record 24,000 undergraduate applications for the upcoming academic year — the highest number in the university’s 126-year history. The school also posted a 75% retention rate, also a record high. Perhaps most striking, Coppin reported a 77% male retention rate, significantly above the national average for Black male students at a moment when HBCU male enrollment nationally has dropped 25% over the past 15 years.

Coppin is now the fastest-growing institution in Greater Baltimore and Maryland’s leading HBCU for male enrollment growth. Affordability is clearly part of why.

Dr. James Stewart, Associate Vice President for Student Development and Achievement, connected the dots directly. “Affordability is one of the most important factors influencing whether students enroll, persist, and ultimately graduate,” Stewart said. “When institutions reduce financial barriers, students are better positioned to focus on their academics, engage in campus life, and complete their degrees without the constant burden of financial stress. At Coppin, affordability is directly connected to student success.”

More Than Just Lower Costs

The board plan reduction is part of a broader package of student success initiatives designed to help students reduce the overall cost of earning a degree.

Students who complete 30 semester credit hours during the academic year can now receive up to six credit hours of free summer tuition through a program designed to accelerate progress toward graduation at little additional cost. Combined with programs like Summer SOAR, which provides academic advising and coaching support, and SASA, a summer bridge program that helps incoming students transition successfully into college life, Coppin is building a comprehensive support system rather than relying on a single fix.

Why This Matters for HBCU Affordability Nationwide

HBCUs have always operated as some of the most affordable pathways to a four-year degree, but that affordability often comes at the cost of thinner institutional budgets and fewer resources than predominantly white institutions receive. Coppin’s decision to actively lower costs, rather than simply hold the line, sends a different kind of message.

Jenkins framed the announcement as part of a much longer institutional story. “As Baltimore’s Hometown University, Coppin’s mission has always centered on transforming lives through education,” he said. “This record-breaking interest signals that more students than ever are looking to Coppin as a place where they can thrive academically, professionally, and personally.”

What This Means Going Forward

For prospective students weighing their options, a lower board plan cost combined with record retention rates and a flat fee structure makes Coppin’s pitch increasingly difficult to ignore. The university is proving that affordability and growth are not opposing goals. They can move together.

Coppin is standing on what Jenkins called a promise made 126 years ago: to nurture potential and transform lives. In 2026, that promise comes with a lower price tag attached.

Bowie State University Lands $2.3 Million to Strengthen Maryland’s Nursing Pipeline

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Bowie State University just secured one of the largest nursing investments in its history — and the timing could not be more critical.

Bowie State University was awarded more than $2.3 million in competitive grants from the State of Maryland to address the state and national nursing shortage. The Maryland Higher Education Commission, in partnership with the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission, administered the funding through the Nurse Support Program II. Bowie State nursing grants will expand the university’s program capacity, strengthen faculty development, and improve outcomes for the next generation of nurses coming through its doors.

Five Initiatives, One Mission

The funding does not come as a single lump sum. Instead, it is split across five targeted initiatives, each designed to attack a different piece of the nursing shortage problem.

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The largest award, $1,052,196 over five years, goes to the Simulation Team Staffing initiative. This funding will expand hands-on clinical training resources, giving nursing students more realistic, high-stakes practice before they ever step into a real hospital setting. The second-largest grant, $995,590 over five years, supports the Cohen Scholars Cohort Model, which provides comprehensive academic and financial support for nursing students throughout their time at Bowie State.

The remaining three grants round out the package. The Nursing Education Research Consortium received $142,701 over two years to advance research and innovation in nursing education. A Student Success Resource Grant of $90,241 will strengthen retention, advising, and academic support services over the next year. A Professional Development Resource Grant worth $49,998 will support faculty growth and instructional excellence during that same period.

A Direct Response to a National Crisis

The nursing shortage is not a Maryland-specific problem. Hospitals across the country are struggling to keep pace with patient demand, and nursing programs everywhere are under pressure to graduate more qualified nurses faster — without sacrificing the quality of clinical training that makes a nurse genuinely prepared for the job.

Dr. Monique Alston, chair and associate professor in Bowie State’s Department of Nursing, framed the funding as a turning point for the program. “These awards represent a transformative investment in Bowie State’s nursing program and our ability to prepare the next generation of highly skilled, compassionate nurses,” Alston said. “Through expanded faculty development, student support, simulation training and collaborative research, we are strengthening pathways into the profession and helping meet the urgent healthcare workforce needs facing our state and nation.”

That framing matters. This is not just about producing more graduates. It is about producing graduates who are genuinely ready for the realities of modern nursing — equipped with advanced clinical training, strong mentorship, and the kind of academic support that helps students actually finish their degrees instead of dropping out under financial or academic pressure.

Why This Investment Matters for HBCU Healthcare Pipelines

HBCUs have always played an outsized role in producing Black healthcare professionals, often with a fraction of the institutional funding available to predominantly white institutions. Investments like this one help close that gap directly.

Expanded simulation training means students get more reps in realistic clinical scenarios before they are responsible for real patients. Comprehensive scholarship support means fewer students have to choose between their education and their financial stability. Research funding means Bowie State’s nursing faculty can continue innovating on how nursing education is taught, not just delivering the same curriculum year after year.

Each of these pieces feeds into the same larger goal: more nurses, better-trained nurses, and a stronger healthcare workforce across Maryland and beyond.

What Comes Next

These investments position Bowie State to expand enrollment capacity, reduce barriers to degree completion, and enhance hands-on learning over the next several years. The grants run on different timelines, from one-year to five-year commitments, which means the university will be building out new resources and support structures well into the next decade.

For a field facing a documented nationwide shortage, every expanded seat in a nursing program matters. Bowie State just created room for a lot more of them.

Camden Cooper Commits to FAMU as the Highest-Rated Basketball Recruit in Program History

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Florida A&M basketball just landed its biggest recruiting win ever — and a four-star guard chose the Rattlers over multiple Power Four programs to do it.

Camden Cooper, a four-star shooting guard from the Jacksonville area, announced his commitment to Florida A&M University on social media, becoming the highest-rated recruit in program history. Cooper chose head coach Charlie Ward’s program over offers from Florida State and Texas A&M, among other Power Four schools. Camden Cooper commits to FAMU at a moment when the Rattlers’ basketball program is rebuilding fast under one of the most accomplished athletes in college sports history — and his decision signals real momentum.

A Rare Talent Who Skipped a Grade to Get Here Faster

Cooper’s path to this commitment is unconventional, and that is exactly what makes it special.

He reclassified from the Class of 2028 to the Class of 2027, allowing him to graduate high school a full year early. That decision lets him begin his collegiate career ahead of schedule, a move that reflects both his readiness and his ambition. Before reclassifying, Rivals.com ranked him No. 84 overall nationally.

Cooper’s rise through the ranks has been just as unusual. He began playing varsity basketball at St. Johns Country Day School as early as sixth grade. By seventh grade, he had already crossed the 1,000-point mark for his career. During his high school career, he has averaged 17.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game — a complete statistical profile that goes well beyond just scoring.

Scouts describe him as a versatile combo guard with the length and confidence to score over defenders and create his own offense. That kind of shot-making ability at his size is rare, and it explains why Power Four programs were chasing him before he ultimately chose an HBCU.

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Why Camden Cooper Commits to FAMU Matters

This commitment is bigger than one player. It is a direct reflection of what FAMU has built since hiring Charlie Ward.

Ward’s own story is the kind that gets told for generations. He won the Heisman Trophy at Florida State in 1993, becoming just the second college football player ever to win the Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete. He went undrafted in the NFL and pivoted to professional basketball instead. The New York Knicks selected him 26th overall in the 1994 NBA Draft, and he went on to play 12 seasons in the league with the Knicks, Spurs, and Rockets, earning a reputation as one of basketball’s most respected floor generals.

Ward’s connection to FAMU runs deep. Both of his parents attended the university, meeting on campus as undergraduates in the late 1950s. His father was a standout athlete on FAMU’s football team, and his older sister is also an alumna. When the opportunity to lead FAMU’s program came open, Ward did not go looking for it — FAMU came looking for him.

“FAMU chose me,” Ward has said about the decision. He built his coaching philosophy around what he calls P.A.C.E. — Preparation, Accountability, Competitive Spirit, Commitment and Effort — a framework he is now using to reshape the Rattlers’ culture from the ground up.

Cooper Joins an Already Strong 2026 Recruiting Class

Cooper is not walking into Tallahassee alone. Ward’s staff already secured a commitment from Jayden “JJ” Joseph, a four-star point guard who chose FAMU over offers from Ole Miss, USC, Florida State, Mississippi State, Oregon, and UCF. Joseph is set to arrive in 2026 as a versatile playmaker capable of pushing tempo and creating off the dribble.

Adding a player of Cooper’s caliber alongside Joseph gives Ward two four-star backcourt pieces heading into the same recruiting cycle — a combination that would have been almost unthinkable for FAMU basketball just a few years ago.

What This Means for HBCU Basketball Recruiting

Top-tier recruits choosing HBCUs over Power Four programs is becoming less of an exception and more of a trend. Camden Cooper commits to FAMU because of what Charlie Ward is building, not in spite of it. That distinction matters for every HBCU program watching this recruiting cycle unfold.

For HBCU basketball, this commitment is proof that elite talent will choose these programs when the right coach, the right vision, and the right culture are in place. Ward has only been on the job since spring 2025. He is already changing what recruits believe is possible at FAMU.

The Rattlers’ rebuild is just getting started. With Camden Cooper and Jayden Joseph both in the fold, the foundation is starting to look like something special.

Harold Wheeler, Tony-Winning Broadway Legend and Howard University Alum, Dies at 82

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Harold Wheeler spent more than five decades shaping the sound of American entertainment — and it all started on Howard University’s campus.

Howard University alumnus Harold Wheeler, the Tony-winning Broadway orchestrator, composer, and longtime musical director of “Dancing With the Stars,” died June 24, 2026, at his home in Los Angeles following a lengthy illness. He was 82. His death was announced by longtime family friend and Broadway producer Lamar Richardson. Harold Wheeler’s Howard University roots shaped not only his career but his entire life. He met his future wife on that campus, alongside future legends who would go on to change American music forever.

The Yard That Changed Everything

Wheeler arrived at Howard in the early 1960s after graduating from Sumner High School in St. Louis. He had been playing piano since age five, performing for Sunday school at Antioch Baptist Church, where congregants once included Chuck Berry and Ike and Tina Turner. That early gift carried him all the way to Washington, D.C.

At Howard, Wheeler crossed paths with some of the most important musical talents of his generation. He met fellow students Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, both of whom would go on to become defining voices in American soul music. He also met actress Hattie Winston, a fellow student who would later become his wife. The two married in 1978 and remained together until his death, raising daughters Marian and Samantha together.

Wheeler earned his B.A. from Howard in 1964 before heading to the Manhattan School of Music for his master’s degree. The foundation Howard gave him in those formative years carried directly into a career that would touch nearly every corner of American entertainment.

After finishing his education, Wheeler worked as an assistant program director for CBS-FM Radio in New York from 1968 to 1971. He left that role to pursue composing and coaching performers full-time — a decision that changed the trajectory of his life almost immediately.

That same year, legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach hired Wheeler to conduct his new musical “Promises, Promises.” At just 25 years old, Wheeler became the youngest conductor in Broadway history. The role also made him one of the first African Americans to serve as musical director for a major pop artist. It was the beginning of a Broadway career that would span more than three decades and 31 productions.

Wheeler went on to orchestrate some of the most celebrated musicals in Broadway history, including “The Wiz,” “Dreamgirls,” “Hairspray,” “The Full Monty,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” and “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations.” He earned Tony nominations for his orchestrations on “The Life,” “Little Me,” “Swing!,” “The Full Monty,” “Hairspray,” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” In 2003, he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations for “Hairspray.” In 2019, the Broadway community honored his lifetime of work with a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater.

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A Career That Reached Every Stage

Wheeler’s influence extended far beyond Broadway. He arranged and produced music for a staggering list of legends, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and B.B. King. He played piano on Bruce Springsteen’s “Blinded by the Light” from the 1973 album “Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.”

He conducted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics alongside fellow composers John Williams and Paul Shaffer. In 2004, Wheeler became only the second African American conductor in Academy Awards history when he served as music conductor for the 76th Academy Awards. He returned three years later as music arranger for the 79th Oscars.

From 2006 to 2013, millions of television viewers knew Wheeler as the musical director for ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” His 28-piece live orchestra and vocal ensemble became a defining part of the show’s identity for 17 seasons, until producers shifted toward recorded music and Ray Chew took over the role.

A Legacy Rooted in Howard

Wheeler’s NAACP Theatre Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and his Special Tony Award in 2019 cemented his place among the most accomplished musical directors of his generation. But for the HBCU community, his story carries an even deeper resonance. He is proof of what Howard University has produced for generations: artists who walk onto that campus as students and walk off it as architects of American culture.

Wheeler is survived by his wife, Hattie Winston, the daughters they raised together, and his grandchildren. His music touched Broadway stages, Olympic ceremonies, Academy Award broadcasts, and millions of television screens every week for years. It all traces back to a young man from St. Louis who found his people, his purpose, and his future wife on Howard’s campus more than 60 years ago.

Wilberforce University Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Freshman’s Hazing-Related Death

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The Wilberforce University hazing lawsuit is forcing a painful conversation about accountability on HBCU campuses.

The family of Savanna Jones, an 18-year-old freshman at Wilberforce University in Ohio, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the university on June 23, 2026. The lawsuit alleges Jones died on April 30 after an alcohol-based initiation ritual. The ritual was tied to an unofficial student group known as “the Turtles.” Her family claims university staff failed to step in as her condition worsened. The case raises serious questions about hazing, oversight, and student safety on a campus that markets itself as alcohol-free.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

According to the complaint, Jones was a member of Wilberforce’s Hounds of Sound marching band. She was attempting to join a group called the Turtles, or Turtle Club. The initiation ritual, called “crossing,” allegedly required students to drink an entire bottle of liquor while answering questions or riddles. Students who stopped drinking, vomited, or became incapacitated were reportedly denied membership outright.

The lawsuit claims the ritual happened on the night of April 29 into the early morning of April 30. It took place in a dorm room in Henderson Hall, with more than 10 students present, including resident assistants. Jones had texted friends earlier that evening, saying she was going to “cross turtles” and that she was “lowkey scared.” The complaint alleges she became severely intoxicated and unable to stand. A photo reportedly circulated around 10:30 p.m. showing her unconscious. Students later carried her back to her dorm room, where she died hours later.

“This was a hazing death. There is no question about it,” attorney Rex Elliott said. Elliott represents the Jones family through the Cooper Elliott Law Firm. The lawsuit names Wilberforce University, the school’s director of housing and residence life, a student accused of leading the ritual, and roughly 30 unidentified individuals as defendants.

Why the Family Filed This Lawsuit

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For the Jones family, this lawsuit is about something bigger than one case. Elliott has been clear that the goal extends beyond compensatory and punitive damages.

“Savanna Jones should be preparing for her sophomore year right now, not gone forever because a university failed to protect her,” Elliott said in a statement on behalf of the family. “Hazing on Ohio college campuses is alive and well, even at schools like Wilberforce that advertise themselves as ‘dry’ to unsuspecting families.”

The complaint alleges the Turtles had operated on campus for years. It says the group was widely known among students, including band members and university-employed resident assistants who allegedly participated in or knew about the group’s annual rituals. “A reasonable university with Wilberforce’s knowledge and control over campus spaces should have investigated, monitored, and stopped the widespread alcohol-based initiation practice that was occurring on its property,” the lawsuit states.

Elliott framed the broader stakes directly. “Until universities and the people responsible for student safety face real consequences, more families will get the call no parent should ever receive,” he said.

Wilberforce University Responds to the Hazing Lawsuit

Wilberforce University President Dr. Vann R. Newkirk released a statement shortly after the lawsuit was filed. He extended condolences to the Jones family. “The death of a student is a profound tragedy that impacts not only family and friends, but the entire campus community,” Newkirk said. “We continue to keep Savanna’s family, loved ones, and all those affected by this heartbreaking loss in our thoughts and prayers.”

The university has declined to comment further on the specific allegations, citing the pending litigation. “The university prohibits hazing and takes matters involving student safety seriously,” the statement continued. “The university is cooperating with the appropriate processes and remains committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for its students.”

As of late June, the Greene County Coroner’s Office had not finalized Jones’ official cause and manner of death. The allegations in the lawsuit have not been tested or ruled on by a court.

A Pattern Among Ohio College Hazing Deaths

Jones’ death adds to a troubling pattern within Ohio higher education. She is reportedly the third Ohio college student to die in connection with hazing in less than a decade. Ohio University freshman Collin Wiant died in 2018. Bowling Green State University student Stone Foltz died in 2021. Both cases led to significant policy changes and legal consequences at their respective schools.

For the broader HBCU community, this case lands as a painful and necessary reminder. Hazing-related deaths have touched historically Black institutions and Greek organizations before. Each case reopens difficult conversations about tradition, secrecy, and the responsibility universities carry for what happens inside their residence halls.

What Happens Next in the Wilberforce Hazing Case

The lawsuit is still in its early stages. The legal process will determine what, if any, liability exists for the university and the individuals named. What is not in question is the loss itself. A daughter. A bandmate. A freshman who, as her family’s attorney put it, should be getting ready for her sophomore year right now.

The Jones family says their fight is about making sure no other family receives the same call they did.

Nathan Haymer Returns to HBCU Band Culture as Alabama A&M Hires Former Southern University Director

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Nathan Haymer is back in a college band room — and this time, it’s at Alabama A&M University.

Alabama A&M University added Nathan B. Haymer, the former Southern University Human Jukebox director, to its band staff this week. Haymer announced the move himself in a Facebook post, calling it the start of “a new chapter” and thanking Alabama A&M Director of Bands William J. Young for the opportunity. Nathan Haymer’s hiring marks a significant return to HBCU band culture for one of its most recognizable — and most controversial — names.

Who Is Nathan Haymer

Haymer built his reputation as the leader of one of the most decorated and visible marching bands in the country. A Baton Rouge native, he taught himself trombone and rose through Southern University’s band program, eventually becoming Interim Director of Bands in 2014 after the retirement of longtime director Lawrence Jackson. At the time, Haymer called it the realization of a dream he had carried since middle school: leading the Human Jukebox, one of the most influential band brands in the nation.

That tenure came to an abrupt end in 2018.

Nathan Haymer SU

What Happened at Southern University

Southern University terminated Haymer in April 2018 following an internal audit that found approximately $300,000 in band camp and other fees had ended up in his personal bank accounts. The investigation began after complaints that Haymer had sought kickbacks for the band’s appearances at events, including Mardi Gras parades, where he allegedly received more than $43,900 in payments from Mardi Gras krewes between 2015 and 2018.

In 2020, Haymer pleaded guilty to a federal embezzlement charge, admitting that he submitted at least 15 fraudulent invoices to Southern University for band expenses and kept the money for personal use. Federal probation officials estimated the actual loss to the university at $112,000, though Haymer pleaded guilty specifically to theft of approximately $30,000. In 2021, U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson sentenced Haymer to 13 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $78,690 in restitution, on top of more than $34,000 he had already repaid the university after his termination.

Judge Jackson, a Southern Law Center alumnus himself, did not hold back at sentencing. “You took advantage of Southern University and saw it as an opportunity to enrich yourself,” Jackson told Haymer. “Southern trusted you, but you betrayed Southern.”

A New Chapter at Alabama A&M

Haymer’s arrival in Huntsville comes during a broader transition for Alabama A&M’s Marching Maroon and White. The university announced in April that William J. Young would take over as Director of Bands following a national search. Young came to Alabama A&M from Southern University, where he served as Associate Director of Bands — and like Haymer, he is also a Southern alumnus and former member of the Human Jukebox. That gives the program two prominent staff members with direct ties to Southern’s band tradition, a connection that is difficult for SWAC band programs to ignore.

In his statement, Haymer leaned heavily on themes of accountability and gratitude rather than addressing the specifics of his federal case directly. “Today, I begin a new chapter,” Haymer wrote. “This opportunity means more than a new position. It’s a second chance to serve, to lead, to create, and to leave people better than I found them.”

He continued: “Life has a way of reminding us that every season has a purpose. Some seasons stretch you. Some humble you. And some prepare you for blessings you never saw coming.”

Haymer also thanked Young directly for the opportunity. “I’m incredibly humbled and grateful for the opportunity to join the Alabama A&M University family,” he wrote. “My sincere thanks to Director William Young for believing in me and trusting me with the chance to help build something special alongside an outstanding staff and talented students.”

A Story That Will Continue to Draw Attention

Haymer did not shy away from acknowledging that his path back into HBCU band culture comes with scrutiny attached. “I’m not coming with all the answers,” he said. “I’m coming with gratitude, humility, and a renewed commitment to pour into young people and honor the legacy of this program every single day.”

For a band community that takes deep pride in its traditions and the public trust placed in its leaders, Haymer’s hiring is the kind of story that will generate strong reactions on both sides. His musicianship and his impact on the Human Jukebox’s national reputation are well documented. So is the federal case that ended his time at Southern.

Both parts of that story now travel with him to Alabama A&M.