Monthly Archives: November 2011
Are Black Scholars on the Wrong Track?
In a recent article on his website, Dr. Boyce Watkins of Syracuse University questions whether black scholars should limit themselves to teaching at predominantly white universities.
The Papers of Artist John Biggers Have Been Donated to Emory University
Muralist John Biggers founded the art department at Texas Southern University.
African Americans Make Up Less Than 5 Percent of All U.S. Students Who Study Abroad
But the trendline shows improvement in recent years.
University of Florida Seeks to Increase Racial Diversity in Its Doctoral Programs
The HBCU-UF Master's to Ph.D. Pathway Project targets high performing master's degree students at historically black colleges and universities.
College of William and Mary Honors Its First Black Residential Students
From its founding in 1693, it would be more than 250 years before the first black student would enroll.
University of Kentucky Professor Honored for Her Poetry
Nikky Finney wins the National Book Award for her fourth volume of poems.
Harvard Has the Highest Black Student Graduation Rate in the Ivy League
All eight Ivy League colleges have an African-American student graduation rate of 85 percent or better.
Jesmyn Ward Wins National Book Award
She is an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of South Alabama.
Cornel West to Return to Union Theological Seminary
Dr. Serene Jones, president of Union Theological Seminary, called Professor West, "the leading public theologian of our age."
CIAA Commissioner Steps Down After 22 Years
Leon Kerry has led the conference for the past 22 years and has brought in millions of dollars of revenues which have benefited member institutions.
Williams College Cancels a Day of Classes After Racial Incident on Campus
More than a thousand students attended an outdoor rally that addressed this serious incident.
The JBHE Annual Survey: Black First-Year Students at the Nation’s Leading Liberal Arts Colleges
Amherst College had led the rankings for five years in a row. This year, Williams College ties Amherst for the top spot.
Four African-American Educators Honored With Awards
The honorees are Gloria Ladson-Billings, Beverly Tatum, Patty Wilson, and Alphonso Sanders.
Assessing Black Progress in Leadership Positions at the Universities With Major College Football Programs
In 2009 there were seven black head football coaches at the 120 FBS schools. In 2011 this number increased to 17.
In Memoriam: Winston C. Doby (1941-2011)
He was vice chancellor of student affairs at UCLA from 1981 to 2001.
Black Students at Tufts Mount a Campus Protest Calling for an Africana Studies Major
About 60 students participated in a protest on the Tufts campus that produced some positive results.
University Research Finds Black Teens Are Less Likely Than Their White Peers to Use Drugs or Alcohol
The study examined data from more than 72,000 youth, ages 12 to 17.
Scholar Examines Attitudes of African Immigrants on Sex and HIV/AIDS
Matthew Asare recently competed his doctorate at the University of Cincinnati and is a visiting professor at Northern Kentucky University.
University of Michigan Releases Black Enrollment Data
Official counts of black students have declined but the numbers may be a bit deceiving.
Two Notable Appointments at North Carolina A&T State University
Bonnie Newman Davis is named to an endowed chair and Linda Silver Coley was appointed head of a department.
Lock of Frederick Douglass’ Hair Discovered at Mississippi State University
The hair was apparently taken from his head in Indiana in 1876.
UCLA Publishes Livingstone’s Lost Account of an African Massacre
Livingstone has used ink he made from berries to write on the pages of an old newspaper.
Two Unique Study Abroad Opportunities in Africa
Students at Ohio University and Duke Law School will spend either winter or spring break in Africa and earn course credits.
Student Group at Cornell Seeks to Boost Black Male Graduation Rate
Students Working Ambitiously to Graduate (SWAG) pairs African-American male freshmen with upperclass mentors.
Five African Americans Named to Administrative Posts in Higher Education
Here is new of two men and three women who have assumed or will soon assume new administrative duties in higher education.
Notable Higher Education Grants Relating to African-Americans
Here is this week’s news of grants won by historically black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
A New Dean at Washington University in St. Louis
Rafia Zafar was named associate dean for diversity and inclusiveness for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Penn State Showing Progress in Black Enrollments
Blacks make up 6 percent of all students at Penn State. A decade ago the figure was 4.4 percent.
African-American Scholar Is Elected President of the Biomedical Engineering Society
Gilda Barabino is the first African American to serve as president of the society.
A Check-Up of Black Progress in U.S. Medical Schools
Applications and first-year enrollments of blacks are both up from a year ago.
Recent Books That May Be 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. Here are the latest selections.
Faculty Senate Votes “No Confidence” in President of Mississippi Valley State University
Donna H. Oliver has led the university since January 2009.
Two African Americans Share the Gittler Prize
Professors Frances Smith Foster and Clayborne Carson will share the $25,000 Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize from Brandeis University.
In Memoriam: Arthur L. Johnson (1925-2011)
Arthur Johnson, author, civil rights activist, and former senior vice president of Wayne State University, died recently from complications associated with Parkinson's disease. He was 85 years old.
Jackson State Professor Wins Role on a New Television Series
Yohance Myles will appear in at least 11 episodes in a series on the USA Network.
The National Yo-Yo Champ Is a Student at an HBCU
Harold Owens III, a native of Indiana, is a student at Jackson State University in Mississippi.
