Tag: UNiversity of Mississippi
University of Mississippi’s Viola Acoff Honored for Her Policymaking Role in Materials Engineering
Dr. Acoff became dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Mississippi on July 1. She is the first woman and first African American to hold the position. From 2014 to 2023, she was the associate dean for undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Alabama.
Rhodes College Scholar Honored by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Shana Stoddard, associate professor of chemistry at Rhodes College in Memphis, has been selected to receive the 2024 Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award. The award honors an outstanding scientist who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to the encouragement of scientists from historically marginalized groups.
Four African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions
Newly appointed to dean positions are Gregory E. Triplett Jr. in the School of Science and Engineering at Saint Louis University, Denise Taliaferro Baszile in the College of Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Viola L. Acoff for the University of Mississippi School of Engineering, and Leon Geter for the School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences at Benedict College in South Carolina.
Calvin White Jr. Appointed Provost at Arkansas State University
Currently, Dr. White is the associate dean of humanities in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He joined the University of Arkansas in 2007 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2013.
Five African American Scholars Who Are Taking on New University Assignments
The five Black scholars in new posts or who are taking on new duties are Derrick Harriell at the University of Mississippi, Crista Johnson-Agbakwu at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Duane Watson at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Phylicia Rashad at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Misty De Berry at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
A Quartet of African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education
Taking on new diversity roles are Joshua Quinn Tucker at the University of Mississippi School of Law, Lita Little Giddins at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Steven Kniffley Jr. at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Alicia Richardson at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York.
In Memoriam: Willa Elaine Johnson, 1957-2022
Dr. Johnson taught at the University of Mississippi for 23 years. Colleagues remember her as a “renaissance woman” who was an expert in many disciplines, fluent in multiple languages, and an artist. She was only the second Black woman in the U.S. to earn a doctorate in Hebrew Bible.
A Quartet of Black Women Who Have Been Appointed to Faculty Positions
The four Black women taking on new duties are Charmaine A. Nelson at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Vene Baggett at Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen, Catina Bacote at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and Jennifer Simmons at the University of Mississippi.
Five African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions at Universities
The new deans are Ethel Scurlock at the University of Mississippi, Anthony Davis at Georgia State University, Corey Smith at Voorhees College in Denmark, North Carolina, Joi Spencer at the University of California, Riveraide, and Lisa Owens-Jackson at North Carolina A&T State University.
New Study Provides Evidence on the Effect of Race on Criminal Sentencing
The authors found that "respondents who view persistent racial inequalities as the product of both past and ongoing institutional factors prescribed lengthier sentences for White defendants; those who discount these explanations prescribed lengthier sentences for Black defendants.
Seven Black Americans in Higher Education Who Have Been Appointed to Administrative Posts
The new administrators are Zakiya Brown at Lincoln University in Missouri, Larz Roberts at the University of Mississippi, Quincy Rose-Sewell at Pueblo Community College in Colorado, Ashli Johnson at Howard University, Darrin Q. Rankin at Jarvis Christian Univerity, Deborah Mauristhene at Boston College, and Kendric D. Stewart at Southern Unversity.
Six African American Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Roles or Duties in Higher Education
Taking on new assignments are Kimberly Mayfield at Holy Names University in Oakland, Hugh Mighty at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Thelma Hurd at the University of California, Merced, Martell Teasley at the University of Utah, DeAnnah Byrd at Arizona State University, and Castel V. Sweet at the University of Mississippi.
Five African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education
Taking on new roles as diversity officers are Tacquice Wiggan Davis at the College of New Jersey, Phillip Cockrell at Cleveland Stae University in Ohio, Felysha Jenkins at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Nickey Woods at the University of Southern California School of Law, and Shawnboda Mead at the University of Mississippi.
Colleges and Universities Announce the Hiring of Six African American Administrators
Taking on new administrative roles are David Valentine at Goucher College in Maryland, Ashley Pallie at the California Institute of Technology, Veronica Creech at Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, Alfred L. Norris at Talladega College in Alabama, Charlotte Fant Pegues at the University of Mississippi, and Veronica Cohen at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida.
Patricia Coats Is the New Leader of the DeSoto Center of the University of Mississippi in Southaven
Dr. Coats, who brings more than 13 years of higher education experience to the role, has been serving as assistant director of academic support services for the campus and has been employed at the university for nearly nine years. Dr. Coats previously worked for Texas A&M University at Texarkana and the University of Central Arkansas.
In Memoriam: Marie Alexandria Malveaux, 1928-2021
Malveaux worked as a teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District and as a social worker with the San Francisco Department of Social Services. Then in 1973, she was hired as an assistant professor of social work at the University of Mississippi. She was only the second African American to teach at the university.
Four African American Women Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions
The new deans are Ashley C. Benson at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Tywana Hemby at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina, Ethel Scurlock at the University of Mississippi, and Jackie Jones at Morgan State University in Baltimore.
University of Mississippi Joins With Rust College in a Dual-Degree Program in Engineering
Under the agreement, students will spend their first three years at Rust College and then spend two years at the University of Mississippi School of Engineering. Successful students will be awarded a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Rust College and a master's degree in engineering from the University of Mississippi.
University of Mississippi Continues to Study the History of Enslaved People on Campus
The University of Mississippi Slavery Research Group was established in 2013. So far, the group has been able to name and identify only 11 enslaved people who labored on the campus.
In Memoriam: Jacqueline E. Fuller Certion, 1972-2020
Jacqueline Certion was the assistant director of the Foundations for Academic Success Track, or FASTrack, in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi. In her position, Certion served as an adviser and mentor for thousands of students over the past 19 years.
African American Student at the University of Mississippi Wins Miss USA Crown
Asya Branch, a senior at the University of Mississippi majoring in integrated marketing communications, was the winner of the Miss USA pageant recently held in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the first African American to win the title of Miss Mississippi and the first woman from Mississippi to wear the Miss USA crown.
Thomas Hudson Appointed the Twelfth President of Jackson State University In Mississippi
Thomas Hudson has been serving in the post on an interim basis since February. Before being named acting president in February, Hudson had been serving as special assistant to the president and chief diversity officer at the university.
Carlos R. Clark Selected as the Fifteenth President of Arkansas Baptist College
Dr. Clark has been serving as provost and executive vice president at Arkansas Baptist. He joined the staff at the educational institution in 2018. Earlier, he held senior-level positions at Wilberforce University in Ohio, Prairie View A&M University in Texas, and Alabama A&M University.
Four Black Scholars Appointed to Endowed Chairs at Major Universities
The four Black scholars named to endowed chairs are Barbara Ransby at the University Illinois at Chicago, Kiese Laymon at the University of Mississippi. Annette Gordon-Reed at Harvard University, and Wayne A. I. Frederick at Howard University.
Lloyd A. Holmes Appointed President of De Anza College in California
In 2014, Dr. Holmes was named vice president for student services at Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. Earlier, he was dean of students at North Shore Community College in Massachusetts. Dr. Holmes will begin his presidency at De Anza College on July 1.
Five African American Scholars Who Are Taking on New Assignments
The Black faculty members in new roles are Brenda S. Faison at North Carolina Central University, Jacquelyn Meshelemiah at Ohio State University, Colin Martin at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tera Jordan at iowa State University, and Yvette Butler at the University of Mississippi School of Law.
The Higher Education of Delaware’s First Black Supreme Court Justice
African Americans make up 21 percent of the population in the state of Delaware. Yet until now, the state has never had an African Americans on its highest court. Tamika Montgomery-Reeves recently began her tenure as a justice on the the Delaware Supreme Court.
Five Black Scholars Taking on New Faculty Roles at Colleges and Universities
Taking on new duties are LaKami Baker at Auburn University in Alabama, Ikemefuna Agbanusi at Colorado College, Sheryl Kennedy Haydel at Louisiana State University, Anthony Troy Adams at Kentucky State University, and January O'Neil at the University of Mississippi.
Three Ole Miss Students Suspended From Fraternity for Offensive Photograph
The photograph showed the three students armed with guns and smiling in front of a historical marker designating where the body of Emmett Till was found in 1955. The sign was riddled with bullet holes.
Nine African Americans Who Were Appointed to Administrative Posts in Higher Education
Here is this week’s roundup of African Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States.
The New Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Lincoln University in Missouri
Dr. Sanders has been serving as a professor of music, chair of fine arts, and director of the B.B. King Recording Studio at Mississippi Valley State University. He has studied Chinese music and visual arts as a Fulbright Scholar.
Michèle Alexandre is the First African-American Dean of the Stetson University College of Law
Currently, Professor Alexandre serves as the associate dean for faculty development and intellectual life, professor of law, and the Leonard B. Melvin Jr. Lecturer at the University of Mississippi School of Law.
The Debate Over Confederate Monuments Spreads to the University of Mississpppi
On March 5, the Associate Student Body Senate at the University of Mississippi voted unanimously on a resolution asking university administrators to move a Confederate soldier monument from its prominent spot on campus to a Confederate cemetery.
Report Finds Large Disparities in Black Student Representation at Selective Public Universities
A new brief from Demos, a nonprofit organization in Washington and New York working to promote democracy and equality, finds that most states have very far to go in making their selective institutions representative of the population of their state.
Five African Americans Who Will Be Taking on New Administrative Posts in Higher Education
Appointed to administrative posts are Audrey Tanner at Mills College in Oakland, Tyvi Small at the University of Tennessee, Anthony Heaven at the University of Mississippi, Racheal Brooks of North Carolina Central University, and Donnie Brooks at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Five African American Men Who Are Stepping Down From Their Posts in Higher Education
The African American men who are leaving their current posts are Winston B. Crisp at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Corey D.B. Walker at Virginia Union University, Donald Cole at the University of Mississippi, Cliff Thornton at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and Stanley Pritchett at Morris Brown College in Atlanta.
