The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

UNCF President Michael L. Lomax to Retire in 2027

“Few leaders have shaped an institution as profoundly as Dr. Lomax has shaped UNCF,” said Milton H. Jones, Jr., UNCF board chair. “For more than two decades, he has elevated HBCUs on the national stage, expanded educational opportunity for hundreds of thousands of students, strengthened our member institutions, and positioned UNCF for enduring success.”

Tatia Daniels Granger Named the First Black President of Averett University in Virginia

Most recently, Dr. Granger was a clinical associate professor of organizational behavior at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Three Black Women Who Have Been Appointed to Provost Positions

The new provosts are Preselfannie E. Whitfield McDaniels at Jackson State University in Mississippi, Tywanna Chenault Hemby at Paine College in Georgia, and LaToya Mason at Lake Michigan College.

Menah Pratt Named Chancellor of Three Pennsylvania State University Campuses

Effective August 1, Dr. Pratt will lead Penn State's campuses in Hazelton, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre. She comes to her new role from Virginia Tech, where she most recently served as vice president for strategic affairs.

Research & Studies

Joint Center Report Reveals Economic Inequalities Among Black Retirees

A new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies examines how Black-White financial disparities throughout the lifetime contribute to severe economic hardship among Black retirees, who are more than twice as likely as White retirees to live in poverty.

Study Links Racial Representation in Children’s Television Shows to Early-Childhood Biases

According to a new study, White children whose favorite media displayed a higher share of White characters relative to Black characters said they were less likely to play with a Black child and were less likely to have positive attitudes toward their Black peers.

Better Access to Local Pharmacies Lowers Racial Disparities in Medication Use

A new study led by scholars at the University of Washington has found communities that have a larger share of residents living within 10 minutes of a pharmacy have lower racial disparities in medication use. This association was strongest among Black residents.

The Compounding Effects of Black Middle Schoolers’ Limited Access to Advanced Math Courses

“Providing access to a quality math education for all Black students requires a transformation of our entire math education system, including dismantling the gatekeepers that perpetuate inequity. It must be grounded in the belief that all students are capable of math success when provided with the proper support,” writes Andrea McChristian, national policy director at Just Equations.

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Quote of the Week

“The release of NYC's specialized high school offer numbers has become its own Groundhog Day. Every year we look at the glaring disparities in these numbers, and every year nothing is done about them.”

Nyah Berg,
executive director of New York Appleseed, a nonprofit organization seeking greater equity in city schools in Gothamist, 7-21-26
(see JBHE post)

Statistic of the Week

18%
Percentage of African Americans 65 years or older who are living below the poverty level
8%
Percentage of White Americans 65 years or older who are living below the poverty level

source: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (see JBHE post)

JBHE Archives

All Recent Posts

Five Black Scholars Appointed to New Faculty Positions

Amelia Kraehe of the University of Arizona and Ashanti Jones of the University of Louisiana Monroe were appointed to academic leadership roles. Jamal Cyrus is a a new assistant professor of sculpture at the University of Houston, Grisha Coleman is a new professor in music and theater arts at MIT, and Nicholas Ball was promoted to full professor of chemistry at Pomona College.

Morgan State University Launches Undergraduate Degree in Artificial Intelligence

Morgan State's new bachelor's degree program in artificial intelligence is a reimagining of the HBCU's former undergraduate program in cloud computing. The new curriculum aims to prepare students to design, develop, and responsibly deploy intelligent systems across a wide range of industries.

Another Book Award for Yale’s Marlene Daut

Marlene Daut, professor of French and Black studies at Yale University, has received another award for her book The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe. The monograph's latest honor is the University of Edinburgh's James Tait Black Prize, the longest-running literary award in the United Kingdom.

Voorhees University Partners With the American University of Antigua College of Medicine

Under a new agreement, qualified students at Voorhees University in South Carolina will have access to a structured pathway that prepares them to pursue a medical education at the American University of Antigua College of Medicine.

New Leadership Roles for Six Black Administrators at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The administrators who have been appointed to new roles are Genesis Doubletree at Shaw University, Andrea G. Riley at Paine College, Joshua Spivey at Benedict College, Monique Sneed at Jarvis Christian University, Charlyn A. Hilliman at Tuskegee University, and Johngerlyn Young at Livingstone College.

Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers

Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants 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.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Launches African American Heritage Center

“Together, we are creating a place where history is not only preserved but shared. By connecting scholarship with community knowledge, we will ensure that the rich contributions of African Americans across Southern Illinois remain an enduring part of our region's story,” said Austin Lane, chancellor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.

Data Shows Significantly Low Black Student Admissions at Elite New York City High Schools

Black students received just 3.5 percent of all offers to New York City's eight specialized high schools ahead of the fall 2026 semester. Only one Black student received an offer to attend Staten Island Technical High School and three received an offer for Stuyvesant High School, which is considered one of the most prestigious public high schools in the country.

University of Connecticut Hit With Civil Rights Complaint Over Affinity-Based Housing

A civil rights complaint filed by the Equal Protection Project claims two housing programs dedicated to Black students and one program dedicated to Hispanic students at the University of Connecticut violate federal anti-discrimination law.

In Memoriam: Obie Clayton Jr., 1954–2026

Dr. Clayton was an administrator and professor at historically Black Morehouse College in Atlanta for more than two decades. Later in his career, he led undergraduate research at Clark Atlanta University. His scholarship centered on improving the lives of Black men and boys.

Joint Center Report Reveals Economic Inequalities Among Black Retirees

A new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies examines how Black-White financial disparities throughout the lifetime contribute to severe economic hardship among Black retirees, who are more than twice as likely as White retirees to live in poverty.

UNCF President Michael L. Lomax to Retire in 2027

“Few leaders have shaped an institution as profoundly as Dr. Lomax has shaped UNCF,” said Milton H. Jones, Jr., UNCF board chair. “For more than two decades, he has elevated HBCUs on the national stage, expanded educational opportunity for hundreds of thousands of students, strengthened our member institutions, and positioned UNCF for enduring success.”

Study Links Racial Representation in Children’s Television Shows to Early-Childhood Biases

According to a new study, White children whose favorite media displayed a higher share of White characters relative to Black characters said they were less likely to play with a Black child and were less likely to have positive attitudes toward their Black peers.

Tatia Daniels Granger Named the First Black President of Averett University in Virginia

Most recently, Dr. Granger was a clinical associate professor of organizational behavior at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Better Access to Local Pharmacies Lowers Racial Disparities in Medication Use

A new study led by scholars at the University of Washington has found communities that have a larger share of residents living within 10 minutes of a pharmacy have lower racial disparities in medication use. This association was strongest among Black residents.

Three Black Women Who Have Been Appointed to Provost Positions

The new provosts are Preselfannie E. Whitfield McDaniels at Jackson State University in Mississippi, Tywanna Chenault Hemby at Paine College in Georgia, and LaToya Mason at Lake Michigan College.

Wilberforce University Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Founded in 1865, Wilberforce University is among the country's oldest private historically Black colleges and universities. In honor of its significant institutional history, the HBCU's historic district is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Four Black Scholars Who Are Taking on New Academic Roles

Herman Bennett of the City University of New York was selected for a year-long fellowship at the Library of Congress. Mouhamédoul Niang was promoted to full professor at Colby College in Maine. Elizabeth J.A. Siwo-Okundi and Angela Lynn Tucker are new assistant professors at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the University of Houston, respectively.

Alcorn State University Offers Accelerated Pathway to Graduate Accounting Degree

Under a new agreement, students can complete a bachelor's degree in accounting from historically Black Alcorn State University and a master of accountancy degree from Mississippi Christian University in just five years.

Penn Carey Law School Professor Anita Allen Receives a Career Achievement Award

A faculty member with the University of Pennsylvania for nearly three decades, Professor Allen is an internationally renowned expert on philosophical and social justice dimensions of privacy and data protection law.

Elizabeth City State University Launches Three New Undergraduate Degree Programs

In the upcoming fall semester, historically Black Elizabeth City State University is slated to launch a new bachelor of science degree in data science. The HBCU will also offer two new online degree programs in history and social work.

New Leadership Roles for Five Black Administrators in Higher Education

The appointments are Darrius Jones at Tuskegee University in Alabama, Arthur Bradford at Northwest Arkansas Community College, Edward Raimundi at Virginia Tech, Brittany Bell at Valley City State University in North Dakota, and Jarett Gerald at La Salle University in Philadelphia.

Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers

Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

All Recent Posts

Five Black Scholars Appointed to New Faculty Positions

Amelia Kraehe of the University of Arizona and Ashanti Jones of the University of Louisiana Monroe were appointed to academic leadership roles. Jamal Cyrus is a a new assistant professor of sculpture at the University of Houston, Grisha Coleman is a new professor in music and theater arts at MIT, and Nicholas Ball was promoted to full professor of chemistry at Pomona College.

Morgan State University Launches Undergraduate Degree in Artificial Intelligence

Morgan State's new bachelor's degree program in artificial intelligence is a reimagining of the HBCU's former undergraduate program in cloud computing. The new curriculum aims to prepare students to design, develop, and responsibly deploy intelligent systems across a wide range of industries.

Another Book Award for Yale’s Marlene Daut

Marlene Daut, professor of French and Black studies at Yale University, has received another award for her book The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe. The monograph's latest honor is the University of Edinburgh's James Tait Black Prize, the longest-running literary award in the United Kingdom.

Voorhees University Partners With the American University of Antigua College of Medicine

Under a new agreement, qualified students at Voorhees University in South Carolina will have access to a structured pathway that prepares them to pursue a medical education at the American University of Antigua College of Medicine.

New Leadership Roles for Six Black Administrators at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

The administrators who have been appointed to new roles are Genesis Doubletree at Shaw University, Andrea G. Riley at Paine College, Joshua Spivey at Benedict College, Monique Sneed at Jarvis Christian University, Charlyn A. Hilliman at Tuskegee University, and Johngerlyn Young at Livingstone College.

Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers

Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants 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.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Launches African American Heritage Center

“Together, we are creating a place where history is not only preserved but shared. By connecting scholarship with community knowledge, we will ensure that the rich contributions of African Americans across Southern Illinois remain an enduring part of our region's story,” said Austin Lane, chancellor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.

Data Shows Significantly Low Black Student Admissions at Elite New York City High Schools

Black students received just 3.5 percent of all offers to New York City's eight specialized high schools ahead of the fall 2026 semester. Only one Black student received an offer to attend Staten Island Technical High School and three received an offer for Stuyvesant High School, which is considered one of the most prestigious public high schools in the country.

University of Connecticut Hit With Civil Rights Complaint Over Affinity-Based Housing

A civil rights complaint filed by the Equal Protection Project claims two housing programs dedicated to Black students and one program dedicated to Hispanic students at the University of Connecticut violate federal anti-discrimination law.

In Memoriam: Obie Clayton Jr., 1954–2026

Dr. Clayton was an administrator and professor at historically Black Morehouse College in Atlanta for more than two decades. Later in his career, he led undergraduate research at Clark Atlanta University. His scholarship centered on improving the lives of Black men and boys.

Joint Center Report Reveals Economic Inequalities Among Black Retirees

A new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies examines how Black-White financial disparities throughout the lifetime contribute to severe economic hardship among Black retirees, who are more than twice as likely as White retirees to live in poverty.

UNCF President Michael L. Lomax to Retire in 2027

“Few leaders have shaped an institution as profoundly as Dr. Lomax has shaped UNCF,” said Milton H. Jones, Jr., UNCF board chair. “For more than two decades, he has elevated HBCUs on the national stage, expanded educational opportunity for hundreds of thousands of students, strengthened our member institutions, and positioned UNCF for enduring success.”

Study Links Racial Representation in Children’s Television Shows to Early-Childhood Biases

According to a new study, White children whose favorite media displayed a higher share of White characters relative to Black characters said they were less likely to play with a Black child and were less likely to have positive attitudes toward their Black peers.

Tatia Daniels Granger Named the First Black President of Averett University in Virginia

Most recently, Dr. Granger was a clinical associate professor of organizational behavior at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Better Access to Local Pharmacies Lowers Racial Disparities in Medication Use

A new study led by scholars at the University of Washington has found communities that have a larger share of residents living within 10 minutes of a pharmacy have lower racial disparities in medication use. This association was strongest among Black residents.

Three Black Women Who Have Been Appointed to Provost Positions

The new provosts are Preselfannie E. Whitfield McDaniels at Jackson State University in Mississippi, Tywanna Chenault Hemby at Paine College in Georgia, and LaToya Mason at Lake Michigan College.

Wilberforce University Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Founded in 1865, Wilberforce University is among the country's oldest private historically Black colleges and universities. In honor of its significant institutional history, the HBCU's historic district is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Four Black Scholars Who Are Taking on New Academic Roles

Herman Bennett of the City University of New York was selected for a year-long fellowship at the Library of Congress. Mouhamédoul Niang was promoted to full professor at Colby College in Maine. Elizabeth J.A. Siwo-Okundi and Angela Lynn Tucker are new assistant professors at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the University of Houston, respectively.