Tag: University of Southern California

Three Black Women Appointed Deans of University Law Schools

The new law school deans are Marcilynn Burke at Tulane University in New Orleans, LaVonda Reed at the University of Baltimore, and Franita Tolson at the University of Southern California.

Kimberly White-Smith Honored for Outstanding Contributions to Teacher Education

“Through her leadership and scholarship, Dr. White-Smith inspires a new generation of teachers to serve students and approach their work with equity, compassion, and respect,” said Gail F. Baker, provost and senior vice president at the University of San Diego. 

The First Black Dean of Loyola Law School in California

Brietta Clark is the new Fritz B. Burns Dean of Loyola Marymount University Law School in California. Clark, who is the nineteenth dean of the law school, is the first woman to hold the position and also the first Black dean in the law school's history.

In Memoriam: John Brooks Slaughter, 1934-2023

John B. Slaughter was the former chancellor of the University of Maryland and former president of Occidental College in Los Angeles. He also served as the director of the National Science Foundation.

Six African Americans Who Have Been Assigned New Administrative Duties in Higher Education

Those appointed to new administrative post are John Blackshear at the University of Rochester in New York, Chris Allen at the University of Southern California, Steven White at Wilberforce University in Ohio, Bettina Mozie at South Carolina State University, Michael Harper at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, and Thelma Ford Sojourner at Voorhees University in Denmark, South Carolina.

Study Seeks to Fill in the Gaps in African American Ancestral History

The 1870 federal census recorded formerly enslaved African Americans by name, and though it is a vital tool for genealogical research, many African Americans are still not able to trace their family members to or beyond this document. A new study attempts to shed some light on the ancestral history of African Americans prior to 1870.

Four Black Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Assignments

Taking on new duties are Royel Johnson of the University of Southern California, Karen Keaton Jackson at North Carolina Central University, Aaron Allen at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Corcoran Holt at the Arizona State University School of Music, Dance and Theatre.

In Memoriam: Christopher Smith, 1968-2023

Dr. Smith joined the faculty of the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California in 2002. Earlier, he served as the director of primary research for Ruder Finn Public Relations in New York City.

In Memoriam: Christopher Smith, 1968-2023

Dr. Smith joined the faculty of the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California in 2002. Earlier, he served as the director of primary research for Ruder Finn Public Relations in New York City.

Record Number of Black Admits at the University of Southern California

The university reports that 13 percent of all students offered admission, identify as Black, a record for the university. In the fall of 2020, only 8.6 percent of the entering class was Black.

New Study May Help Reduce the Vast Racial Disparity in Prostate Cancer

Black men are more than twice as likely as other men to die from prostate cancer. A new study led by researchers at the University of Southern California identified nine new genetic risk factors for prostate cancer, seven of which are found either largely or exclusively in men of African ancestry. This new information can help patients understand their cancer risk and decide how early and often to get screened.

Jason King Named Dean of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California

Dr. King currently serves as chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at the Tisch School of the Arts of New York University. He is the institute’s founding full-time faculty member. He will become dean of the School of Music at the University of Southern California on July 1.

Is Their Racial Bias in the Virtual Classroom?

Overall, the study found no bias among teachers in grading or ability judgment or in recommendations for gifted education programs. But the study found that Black students were not more likely than their White peers to be recommended for extra help and support in school.

Is There Racial Bias in the Virtual Classroom?

Overall, the study found no bias among teachers in grading or ability judgment or in recommendations for gifted education programs. But the study found that Black students were not more likely than their White peers to be recommended for extra help and support in school.

A Trio of Black Americans Who Have Been Named to New Administrative Posts in Higher Education

Alyn Goodson was given the added duties of chief of staff to the chancellor of Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. Lauretta Hill will lead the Department of Public Safety at the University of Southern California and Deidra Harris-Lumpkins has been appointed associate vice chancellor for human resources at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Seven African Americans Who Have Been Named to Administrative Posts in Higher Education

The new Black administrators are Brandon Harris at the University of Southern California, Lillian Wanjagi at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, Chanel Derricott at Virginia Union University, Tiffani Dawn Sykes at Florida A&M University, Anita B. Walton at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, Kareem D. Kenney at Talladega College in Alabama, and Nicole McDonald at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina

Three African Americans Who Have Been Appointed University Diversity Officers

Shannon Bradley is the chief diversity and inclusion officer for Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California. Perry Martin Jr. is the dean of diversity, equity, inclusion, and transformation at the University of West Los Angeles, and Damon L. Williams, Jr. is the new associate vice president in the Office for Institutional Diversity at the University of Kentucky.

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.

In Memoriam: Dorothy Louise Christel White Smith, 1939-2202

Dr. Smith taught at Long Beach City College, Grossmont Community College, San Diego City College, and San Diego State University. Dr. Smith also was appointed, then elected, to the Board of Education in 1981, becoming the first Black woman ever to be elected to public office in San Diego.

Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University Names Its Next Leader

Ange-Marie Hancock is a Dean’s Professor in the department of political science and international relations and the department of gender and sexuality studies at the University of Southern California.

Darnell Hunt Will Be the Next Provost at the University of Calfornia, Los Angeles

Dr. Hunt has been serving dean of the Division of Social Sciences and professor of sociology and African American studies at UCLA. He joined the faculty there in 2001 as a professor of sociology and director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies.

California Scholars Have Developed a School Segregation Index

The Segregation Index, developed by researchers at the University of Southern California and the Stanford Graduate School of Education shows that White-Black segregation between schools within large school districts increased 35 percent over the past 30 years.

Study Finds Racial Differences in Approvals for U.S. Citizenship

A new study led by Emily Ryo, a professor of law and sociology at the University of Southern California, finds that there are racial disparities in who is approved for citizenship during the naturalization process.

Arizona State University Scholar Is the New Head of the National Endowment for the Arts

Maria Rosario Jackson is an Institute Professor in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. Professor Jackson, who is of Mexican American and African American descent, also holds an appointment in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State.

Four African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to New Positions

Taking on new assignments are Royel M. Johnson in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California, Teresa L. Smallwood at the United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia, Charles DeSassure at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and Airea D. Matthews of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.

Black or African American? Labels Can Impact People’s Perceptions of Ideology

A new study led by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, the University of Southern California, and Columbia Business School shows that White Americans associate the label “Blacks” with being targets of racial bias more than the label “African Americans.”

Brandon Gamble to Head the Black Resource Center at San Diego State University

Before coming to San Diego State University in 2021 as the Charles Bell Faculty Scholar, Dr. Gamble was a faculty member and dean of student success at Oakwood University in Alabama. Earlier, he was the school psychology program coordinator and instructor at California State University, Long Beach.

The Next Chancellor of the North Orange County Community College District in California

Byron D. Clift Breland has been serving as chancellor of the San Jose – Evergreen Community College District located in Silicon Valley. From 2013 to 2018 he was president of San José City College. He will begin his new job on January 18.

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.

Brenda Thames Will Be the Next President of El Camino Community College in California

Dr. Thames has spent more than two decades working for community colleges throughout the state, in instruction, student services. and administration. Most recently she has been serving as president of the Coalinga campus of West Hills College.

Four African American Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Roles in Higher Education

Chanita Hughes-Halbert and Colman Domingo are joining the faculty at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Paula Hammond has been appointed an Institute Professor at MIT and Stephanie Luster-Teasley, a professor of engineering at North Carolina A&T State University, was named vice provost for undergraduate education.

The First African American Dean of the College of Law at Georgia State University

LaVonda N. Reed has been serving as associate provost for faculty affairs at Syracuse University. She joined the faculty there in 2006. Professor Reed's research and teaching are in the areas of wills and trusts, property, and communications regulatory law and policy.

Who is Doing a Better Job at Social Distancing, Blacks or Whites?

The Center for Economic and Social Research at the University of Southern California has released a new report on how Americans are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The report breaks down several survey responses by racial and ethnic group. Results show that Black Americans take social distancing far more seriously than White Americans.

Christine Johnson McPhail Is the New President of Saint Augustine’s University in North Carolina

Dr. McPhail has been serving as a professor of practice at the John E. Roueche Center for Community College Leadership at Kansas State University. Earlier, she was director of the Community College Leadership Doctoral Program at Morgan State University in Baltimore and president of Cypress College in California.

A Quartet of African Americans Who Are Taking on New Roles in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The four African Americans who have been appointed to diversity positions are Michelle Foster at Colorado State University, B. Sherrance Russell at the University of Missouri, Anita Dashiell-Sparks at the University of Southern California, and Kristina Marshall at Baker College in Michigan.

Four African Americans Taking on New Positions as Diversity Officers

Appointed to posts in diversity, equity, and inclusion are Christopher Manning at the University of Southern California, Jessica Harris at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Matthew C. Chaney at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and Roderick J. Gilbert at the University of Pennsylvania.

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