The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

Shawna Cooper Whitehead Appointed the First Woman President of Regis University in Colorado

Dr. Cooper Whitehead brings extensive experience in student affairs and academic leadership to her new role. She comes to Regis University from Boston College, where she has served as vice president of student affairs since 2021.

Swarthmore College President Valerie Smith to Retire in 2027

Dr. Smith was named the first Black president of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania in 2015. Before her presidency, she was dean of the college and the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Literature at Princeton University.

Marjorie Shavers to Lead the Missouri State University College of Education

Dr. Shavers has served as associate dean of the College of Education at Missouri State University for nearly three years. She is slated to serve as the college's interim dean on July 1.

Corey Wiggins Named President of Tougaloo College in Mississippi

“It is an honor to be selected as the next president of Tougaloo College, an institution with a profound legacy of academic excellence and social transformation,” said Dr. Wiggins. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the board of trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader Tougaloo community to advance the college's mission and strengthen its future.”

Research & Studies

Racial Differences in How Teens Use AI Chatbots

Six-in-ten Black and Hispanic teens say they use AI chatbots to get help with their schoolwork, compared to roughly half of their White peers. Nearly four-in-ten Black teens say AI chatbots are extremely or very helpful, and almost one-fifth say the technology helps with all or most of their homework.

New Report Documents How the Second Trump Administration Has Transformed Civil Rights Law

The analysis documents how the second Trump administration has transformed how the federal government views and enforces civil rights and discusses how those changes will impact Black Americans in the future.

Report Examines Black Students’ Experiences at For-Profit Colleges

In a focus-group study of Black alumni from undergraduate and graduate programs at for-profit colleges and universities, nearly all participants said they would not choose to attend the same school in hindsight.

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Quote of the Week

“What we’re seeing is a wholesale reversal of fundamental equations about racial equality that will change this country forever.”

David Troutt,
founding director of Center for Law inequality and Metropolitan Equity and a Distinguished Professor of Law at Rutgers University
(see JBHE post)

Statistic of the Week

6%
Percentage of White teenagers who use AI chatbots to help with all or most of their schoolwork
18%
Percentage of Black teenagers who use AI chatbots to help with all or most of their schoolwork

Source: Pew Research Center (see JBHE post)

JBHE Archives

All Recent Posts

Shawna Cooper Whitehead Appointed the First Woman President of Regis University in Colorado

Dr. Cooper Whitehead brings extensive experience in student affairs and academic leadership to her new role. She comes to Regis University from Boston College, where she has served as vice president of student affairs since 2021.

Racial Differences in How Teens Use AI Chatbots

Six-in-ten Black and Hispanic teens say they use AI chatbots to get help with their schoolwork, compared to roughly half of their White peers. Nearly four-in-ten Black teens say AI chatbots are extremely or very helpful, and almost one-fifth say the technology helps with all or most of their homework.

Swarthmore College President Valerie Smith to Retire in 2027

Dr. Smith was named the first Black president of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania in 2015. Before her presidency, she was dean of the college and the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Literature at Princeton University.

New Report Documents How the Second Trump Administration Has Transformed Civil Rights Law

The analysis documents how the second Trump administration has transformed how the federal government views and enforces civil rights and discusses how those changes will impact Black Americans in the future.

Marjorie Shavers to Lead the Missouri State University College of Education

Dr. Shavers has served as associate dean of the College of Education at Missouri State University for nearly three years. She is slated to serve as the college's interim dean on July 1.

Elizabeth City State University Receives Record-Breaking Gift From MacKenzie Scott

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a $42 million donation to Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, This is nearly triple the amount she gifted to the university in 2020, bringing her total investment in ECSU to $57 million in just six years.

Three Black Scholars Promoted to New Faculty Ranks

Mercy Mumba was named a Distinguished Research Professor of Nursing at the University of Alabama. Krystle McLaughin was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor of chemistry at Vassar College in New York and Nsoki Mavinga was promoted to professor of mathematics at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

UNCF Partners With Wiley and Clark Atlanta Universities to Strengthen HBCU Leadership Stability

“These partnerships represent a deliberate investment in ensuring HBCU leaders are not only prepared to assume leadership roles, but supported through structured development, shared learning, and governance practices that promote institutional stability and long-term success,” said Aja Johnson, senior program manager for executive leadership at the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building.

Yale’s Marlene Daut and Kaiama Glover Win National Award for Co-Edited Book on Haitian Literature

Professors Marlene Daut and Kaiama Glover of Yale University have been honored by the American Comparative Literature Association for their co-edited collection of essays on Haitian literature.

Howard University Student-Athletes Restricted From Kneeling During the National Anthem

After the Howard University women's basketball team knelt before a recent game against the United States Military Academy, the HBCU's administrators implemented a new protocol requiring student-athletes to stand during the national anthem or remain in their locker rooms. Prior to the new policy, the team had knelt before every game since 2020.

New Appointments for Five Black Administrators at Universities

Here is this week’s roundup of African Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to contact@jbhe.com.

In Memoriam: Faye Gary, 1941-2026

Dr. Gary's career as a nurse, scholar, and educator spanned over five decades, including 23 years at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her work centered on child and adolescent health, health disparities, and domestic violence.

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.

In Memoriam: Beverly Caffee Glenn, 1948-2025

In the 1990s, Dr. Glenn became the first woman to serve as dean of the School of Education at Howard University. During her career, she also held leadership positions at the National Education Association and George Washington University.

Columbia University to Build National Dataset on University Governance and Health for Black Professors

The newly launched Black Professors Study at Columbia University aims to create the first integrated data set on Black faculty in the United States, providing actionable evidence for universities seeking to strengthen institutional equity and accountability.

In Memoriam: Baldwin Onuma Okezie, 1931-2026

Dr. Okezie taught food science and nutrition at historically Black Alabama A&M University for 35 years. A native of Nigeria, he frequently collaborated with international research partners on projects relating to food security and agricultural development.

An Unpublished Novel by Nineteenth-Century Black Author George Newman Is Released

A team of scholars from James Madison University have recently released a never-before-published book by George Newman, an African American educator and author who served three decades as principal of one of the earliest Black schools in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

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.

In Memoriam: Elayne Hayes-Anthony, 1952-2026

Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Hayes-Anthony had a successful career in broadcast journalism. Later in life, she taught at Belhaven College and Jackson State University, where she served as acting president in 2023.

Report Examines Black Students’ Experiences at For-Profit Colleges

In a focus-group study of Black alumni from undergraduate and graduate programs at for-profit colleges and universities, nearly all participants said they would not choose to attend the same school in hindsight.

Corey Wiggins Named President of Tougaloo College in Mississippi

“It is an honor to be selected as the next president of Tougaloo College, an institution with a profound legacy of academic excellence and social transformation,” said Dr. Wiggins. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the board of trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader Tougaloo community to advance the college's mission and strengthen its future.”

Research Shows HBCUs Improve Long-Term Economic Outcomes for Local Black Children

“This research helps to quantify HBCUs' impact on their local communities, which we think should be an important finding for policymakers, especially considering that about half of HBCUs are public universities that are highly dependent on state legislatures for their funding,” said Russell Weinstein of the University of Illinois.

Andrew Daire Appointed Provost at North Carolina A&T State University

“I am honored to join North Carolina A&T, a university with such a rich history of excellence and a clear vision for the future,” said Dr. Daire. “I look forward to working with faculty, staff, and students to build on the university’s momentum and ensure that every Aggie has the support they need to succeed.”

Multi-University Study Examines Experiences of Black Workers in the South

Using survey data on a range on industries, occupations, and unions in the South, the study discusses the challenges facing Black workers and their viewpoints on unions.

All Recent Posts

Shawna Cooper Whitehead Appointed the First Woman President of Regis University in Colorado

Dr. Cooper Whitehead brings extensive experience in student affairs and academic leadership to her new role. She comes to Regis University from Boston College, where she has served as vice president of student affairs since 2021.

Racial Differences in How Teens Use AI Chatbots

Six-in-ten Black and Hispanic teens say they use AI chatbots to get help with their schoolwork, compared to roughly half of their White peers. Nearly four-in-ten Black teens say AI chatbots are extremely or very helpful, and almost one-fifth say the technology helps with all or most of their homework.

Swarthmore College President Valerie Smith to Retire in 2027

Dr. Smith was named the first Black president of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania in 2015. Before her presidency, she was dean of the college and the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Literature at Princeton University.

New Report Documents How the Second Trump Administration Has Transformed Civil Rights Law

The analysis documents how the second Trump administration has transformed how the federal government views and enforces civil rights and discusses how those changes will impact Black Americans in the future.

Marjorie Shavers to Lead the Missouri State University College of Education

Dr. Shavers has served as associate dean of the College of Education at Missouri State University for nearly three years. She is slated to serve as the college's interim dean on July 1.

Elizabeth City State University Receives Record-Breaking Gift From MacKenzie Scott

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a $42 million donation to Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, This is nearly triple the amount she gifted to the university in 2020, bringing her total investment in ECSU to $57 million in just six years.

Three Black Scholars Promoted to New Faculty Ranks

Mercy Mumba was named a Distinguished Research Professor of Nursing at the University of Alabama. Krystle McLaughin was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor of chemistry at Vassar College in New York and Nsoki Mavinga was promoted to professor of mathematics at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

UNCF Partners With Wiley and Clark Atlanta Universities to Strengthen HBCU Leadership Stability

“These partnerships represent a deliberate investment in ensuring HBCU leaders are not only prepared to assume leadership roles, but supported through structured development, shared learning, and governance practices that promote institutional stability and long-term success,” said Aja Johnson, senior program manager for executive leadership at the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building.

Yale’s Marlene Daut and Kaiama Glover Win National Award for Co-Edited Book on Haitian Literature

Professors Marlene Daut and Kaiama Glover of Yale University have been honored by the American Comparative Literature Association for their co-edited collection of essays on Haitian literature.

Howard University Student-Athletes Restricted From Kneeling During the National Anthem

After the Howard University women's basketball team knelt before a recent game against the United States Military Academy, the HBCU's administrators implemented a new protocol requiring student-athletes to stand during the national anthem or remain in their locker rooms. Prior to the new policy, the team had knelt before every game since 2020.

New Appointments for Five Black Administrators at Universities

Here is this week’s roundup of African Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to contact@jbhe.com.

In Memoriam: Faye Gary, 1941-2026

Dr. Gary's career as a nurse, scholar, and educator spanned over five decades, including 23 years at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her work centered on child and adolescent health, health disparities, and domestic violence.

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.

In Memoriam: Beverly Caffee Glenn, 1948-2025

In the 1990s, Dr. Glenn became the first woman to serve as dean of the School of Education at Howard University. During her career, she also held leadership positions at the National Education Association and George Washington University.

Columbia University to Build National Dataset on University Governance and Health for Black Professors

The newly launched Black Professors Study at Columbia University aims to create the first integrated data set on Black faculty in the United States, providing actionable evidence for universities seeking to strengthen institutional equity and accountability.

In Memoriam: Baldwin Onuma Okezie, 1931-2026

Dr. Okezie taught food science and nutrition at historically Black Alabama A&M University for 35 years. A native of Nigeria, he frequently collaborated with international research partners on projects relating to food security and agricultural development.

An Unpublished Novel by Nineteenth-Century Black Author George Newman Is Released

A team of scholars from James Madison University have recently released a never-before-published book by George Newman, an African American educator and author who served three decades as principal of one of the earliest Black schools in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

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.

In Memoriam: Elayne Hayes-Anthony, 1952-2026

Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Hayes-Anthony had a successful career in broadcast journalism. Later in life, she taught at Belhaven College and Jackson State University, where she served as acting president in 2023.