Tag: University of Georgia

Lingering Mistrust From Tuskegee Syphilis Study Connected to COVID-19 Vaccine Reluctance

African Americans who lived within 750 miles of Tuskegee, Alabama, were more reluctant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than their White neighbors, as well as Black Americans from other United States regions. The authors attribute this finding to lingering mistrust of public health services as a result of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study which ran from the 1930s to 1972.

Study Finds Link Between Black Men’s High Rate of Suicide and Early-Childhood Exposure to Racism

Upon surveying 500 rural Black men over several years, the University of Georgia study found men who reported experiencing racial discrimination as a child had more difficulty developing healthy relationships, and subsequently were more likely to experience suicidal ideation.

Albany State University President Marion Ross Fedrick Transitioning to New Position at Georgia State University

Dr. Fedrick has been president of historically Black Albany State University since 2018. She will step down from her role on July 1 to serve as executive vice president and chief of staff to the president at Georgia State University.

Study Finds Black Patients Receive Inferior Care After Suffering a Stroke

Black patients are significantly less likely to receive the gold standard of stroke care, according to new research from the University of Georgia.

University of Georgia’s J. Marshall Shepherd Honored by the Environmental Law Institute

Dr. Shepherd is a professor of geography, the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor, and the director of the atmospheric sciences program at the University of Georgia. Before joining the faculty at the University of Georgia, he was a research meteorologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. Shepherd is an expert in the fields of weather, climate, and remote sensing.

Three African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Stephanie Akunvabey has been named associate vice president for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Pace University in New York. Alton M. Standifer was appointed vice provost for inclusive excellence director of the Office of Institutional Diversity at the University of Georgia and Ashton Murray is the inaugural chief diversity officer and vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Rockefeller University in New York City.

Seven African Americans Who Are Taking on New Administrative Positions in High Education

Taking on new roles are T. Simeon Ananou at Stony Brook University in New York, Jarrett Carter Sr. at Howard Community College in Maryland, Joy Jefferson at Hampton University in Virginia, Norris Allen Edney III at Talladega College in Alabama, Gissette Forte at Queensborough Community College in New York, Juanita W. Hicks at the University of Georgia, and Harold Ellis at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Margie Lee Wins a Prestigious Award From the American Association of Avian Pathologists

Margie Lee, associate dean for research and graduate studies at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the Phibro Animal Health Excellence in Poultry Research Award which honors a scholar who has demonstrated sustained excellence in research of poultry disease and health over a period of 20 years or more.

Fort Valley State Students Get Clear Pathway to Pharmacy Doctorate at the University of Georgia

Historically Black Fort Valley State University and the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy signed an agreement allowing undergraduate chemistry students at Fort Valley State to gain an earlier start in graduate programs in this critical healthcare field, resulting in overall cost savings.

Six African Americans Who Are Assuming New Administrative Roles in Higher Education

The six African Americans in new administrative posts are Patrice Moorer at the University of West Florida, Anton Goff at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, Joy Milfort at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland, Michael Ray Bradley, Jr. at Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins, Texas, Yolanda Pollard at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and Jeffrey L. Clark at the University of Georgia.

Tony D. Hawkins Appointed President of Broome Community College in Binghamton, New York

Dr. Hawkins has served for the past eight years as the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, continuing education, and workforce development at Frederick Community College in Maryland. Prior to this role, he was the college-wide dean of humanities at Montgomery College in Maryland.

Raphael Florestal-Kevelier Selected to Lead the American College Health Association

Raphael Florestal-Kevelie is the assistant vice chancellor for student health and wellness and a clinical assistant professor of community health sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago. The American College Health Association has 750 higher education member institutions representing nearly 10,000 members.

Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus Names Its New Provost

Jill Drake had served in the role on an interim basis for only a month when her appointment to the post on a permanent basis was made. Previously, she was associate vice president for academic affairs and a professor of education at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton.

Higher Education Grants or Gifts of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

New University Administrative Appointments for Five African Americans

Taking on new administrative duties are Michelle Garfield Cook at the University of Georgia, Tasha A. Carson at Tennessee State University, Anthony D. Henderson, Sr. at Hampton University in Virginia, Brenda Tindal at Harvard University, and Anna Ponder at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

New Titles or Roles at Universities for a Trio of Black Faculty Members

Juanita Johnson-Bailey was named the first recipient of the Centennial Professorship, an endowed professorship for a women’s studies faculty member at the University of Georgia. Siddig Fageir has been appointed chair of the department of social sciences at Alcorn State University in Mississippi and Asher Pimpleton-Gray was named chair of the department of psychology and counseling at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Study Finds Hiring a Black CEO Can Boost a Firm’s Stock Price

The study suggests that Black CEOs face a higher bar for advancement than White CEOs as they climb the corporate ladder, resulting in Black CEOs being that much more prepared to lead the firm. The analysis suggests that firms seemingly appoint Black CEOs only when they are excessively qualified.

Fort Valley State University Students Eligible for Summer Research at the University of Georgia

The Rising Scholars Internship is an opportunity for students from FVSU to conduct research with scientists from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and reside on the UGA campus in Athens from May 23 through July 23.

In Memoriam: Valerie Jean Boyd, 1963-2022

Valerie Boyd was an award-winning author and served as the Charlayne Hunter-Gault Distinguished Writer in Residence and director of the master of fine arts in narrative nonfiction program at the University of Georgia.

Rodney Bennett Announces He Will Step Down as President of the University of Southern Mississippi

Rodney Bennett, who has served as president of the University of Southern Mississippi since 2013, announced that he will step down from his post at the end of his contract in 2023. He is the first African American to serve as president of one of the state's five predominantly White public universities.

Lonnie T. Brown Jr. Will Be the New Leader of the College of Law at the University of Tennessee

Lonnie Brown is currently the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor and holds the A. Gus Cleveland Distinguished Chair of Legal Ethics and Professionalism at the University of Georgia School of Law. He will begin his new duties on July 1.

Three African Americans Who Are Taking on New University Administrative Duties

Erick Harper is the new director of athletics at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Demetrius D. Smith will be associate vice president for student affairs at the University of Georgia and Joanne L. Smiklewill will manage the Professional Leadership Program for Women at Towson University in Maryland.

In Memoriam: Shirley Ann Mathis McBay, 1935-2021

After attending segregated public schools, Dr. McBay enrolled in college at the age of 15. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Georgia. Dr. McBay had a long career in academia at Spelman College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

University of Georgia School of Law Names Harold Melton to an Endowed Professorship

Harold D. Melton, who previously served as the chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, has been named the holder of the Carl E. Sanders Chair in Political Leadership at the University of Georgia School of Law.

Kimberly Ballard-Washington Is the New President of Savannah State University in Georgia

Kimberly Ballard-Washington has served as interim president since July 2019. Earlier, she was associate vice chancellor for legal affairs for the University System of Georgia and is the former associate director of legal affairs for the flagship campus of the University of Georgia in Athens.

Four Black Men Who Are Taking on New Administrative Roles in Higher Education

Taking on new administrative duties are Jack Eaddy Jr. at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, Barkley Barton II at the University of Georgia, Blake K. Gaines at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and Ikhide Imumorin at the California State University system.

University of Georgia Program Aims to Boost Black Male Retention and Graduate Rates

The Georgia African American Male Experience (GAAME) started in 2014 as a two-day transition program for Black males accepted into the University of Georgia. The program has grown into a multifaceted initiative that centers on the needs of Black male students, supporting and improving retention and graduation rates.

Five African American Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Roles

The five Black scholars taking on new roles at Ijeoma Opara at the Yale School of Public Health, Walter Greason at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, John Brooks Slaughter at the University of Southern California, Crystal Wilkerson, of the University of Kentucky, and Timothy Adams Jr. at the University of Georgia.

New Administrative Duties Have Been Assigned to Five African Americans in Higher Education

Taking on new roles are Barkley Barton II at the University of Georgia, Krista L. Cortes at the University of Pennsylvania, Dee Frazier at Clinton College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Ollie Green III at the University of Pittsburgh, and Kerry Stevenson at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama.

Loren Blanchard Appointed the Seventh President of the University of Houston-Downtown

Dr. Blanchard has been serving as executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the California State University System. Earlier, he was provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Xavier University in New Orleans.

Antoinette Landor of the University of Missouri Honored for Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers

Antoinette Landor, associate professor in the department of human development and family science in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Missouri, was recently named the 2020 Undergraduate Research Mentor by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

New University Administrative Positions for Three African Americans

The three African Americans who have been appointed to administrative posts are Micah Griffin at Pennsylvania State University, Nontalie Morrow at the University of Georgia, and Keith Miles at Florida A&M University.

The Next Dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama

Dr. Schnavia Smith Hatcher has been serving as director of the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Earlier, Dr. Hatcher was the founding director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington from 2012 to 2016.

Sabrina Cherry of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wins Peace Corps Award

The Franklin H. Williams Award recognizes ethnically diverse Peace Corps volunteers who have returned from their assignments and have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to civic engagement, service, diversity, inclusion, and world peace.

Louisiana State’s Tina Harris Honored by the National Communication Association

Tina M. Harris, who holds the Douglas L. Manship Sr.-Dori Maynard Race, Media, and Cultural Literacy Endowed Chair at the Manship School of Mass Communication, won the Francine Merritt Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Lives of Women in Communication.

Five African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to New Administrative Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new administrative roles are April R. Clark at Talladega College in Alabama, Gerald L. Hector at the University of Central Florida, Maurice A. Tyler at Bowie State University in Maryland, Qiana N. Wilson at the University of Georgia, and Donell D. Maxie at Mississippi Valley State University.

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