Monthly Archives: May 2016

Beverly Edmond to Serve as Provost at the University of Montana

Dr. Edmond will serve as provost during the 2016-17 academic year as the university searches for someone to serve in the role on a permanent basis. She has served as provost at Albany State University in Georgia and Alabama A&M University.

Black Women College Students and the Stigma of HIV

Researchers at North Carolina State University and Pennsylvania State University found that African American women college students were reluctant to use online sites related to HIV prevention in fear that they would leave an electronic trail so that their peers would think they had HIV.

Racial Incidents Reported on Three University Campuses

According to reports, a White student at Towson University in Maryland made disparaging comments to a Black employee. Racist posters were found near the entrance to the student center at Boston University and a Black student at the University of Iowa said he was beaten by three White men who used a racial slur.

New Assignments for Three African American Faculty Members

Taking on new assignments are Lamont A. Flowers of Clemson University in South Carolina, Gary Bennett Jr. of Duke University, and Monique Greenwood at Howard University.

Fayetteville State University Team Wins the Inaugural Swarmathon Robotics Competition

Students from 12 colleges and universities from across the nation were invited to the contest to develop software codes to operate innovative types of small robots called “swarmies.” NASA plans to use swarmies to locate resources when astronauts land on Mars.

Prestigious Honors for Black Scholars at Major Universities

The honorees are Adebayo A. Ogundipe, an assistant professor of engineering at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Harvey L. White, professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware.

Student-Run Record Label Established at Bethune-Cookman University

HBCU Records recently signed two university students to be the first artists associated with the new label. Both have recorded songs and have produced music videos for the new record company.

Two African Americans Named to Administrative Posts at State Universities

Charles Robinson is the new vice chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Jovoni Simmons was promoted to director of alumni engagement in the Division of Institutional Advancement at Delaware State University.

Thirty Black Colleges and Universities Receive Career Pathways Grants

The United Negro College Fund has announced the awarding of 30 grants to history Black or predominantly Black colleges and universities. The Career Pathways grant program was made possible by funding from the Lilly Foundation.

In Memoriam: Horace Taliaferro Ward, 1927-2016

Horace Ward was a long-time federal judge who was the first African American to apply to the University of Georgia. His application for admission to the university’s law school was reject due to his race.

The First African American to Earn a Ph.D. in Linguistics at the University of Pittsburgh

Adrienne Washington of Morgantown, West Virginia, is a graduate of Hampton University in Virginia. She received a master's degree in linguistics at the University of Pittsburgh.

College of William and Mary Takes Steps to Enhance the Diversity of Its Faculty

The college also announced other efforts aimed at enhancing diversity and race relations on campus. This includes a proposal to name two residence halls in honor of African Americans, one a slave who was owned by the university and the other a long-time administrator.

Higher Education Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Three African Americans Are Retiring From High-Level Posts at Major Universities

Those who have announced their retirements are Virginia Caples at Alabama A&M University, John H. Bracey Jr. at the University of Massachusetts, and Floyd Kerr at Morgan State University.

Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers

From time to time, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

University of Colorado Honors Its First Black Faculty Member and First Black Librarian

The Charles and Mildred Nilon Scholarship will be offered to students who "are committed to advancing educational opportunities in under-resourced schools, especially those that serve African American communities."

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.

Two Universities Team Up to Address Racial Health Disparities in Mississippi

Mississippi State University and the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are teaming up to combat racial healthcare disparities in the state of Mississippi.

An Old African American Cemetery Reveals a History of Racial Disparities in Life Expectancy

Students in a sociology of aging class at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond have been conducting research while participating in a community service project to spruce up an old African American cemetery.

Northwestern University Launches New Scholarship Program for Transfer Students

Under the program, students who graduate from one of the City Colleges of Chicago who are admitted to Northwestern to complete their bachelor's degree, will be eligible for up to $50,000 per year in scholarship money.

New Reports Shows Progress in African American College Enrollments and Degree Attainments

The report from the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education and the University of Pennsylvania show no relative progress in degree attainments for lower income groups. But African Americans have made gains in college enrollments and degrees earned.

The New Dean of the Graduate School at Oregon State University

Before coming to Oregon State in 2015 as associate dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Jennifer Dennis served for 11 years on the faculty of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Is Tuition at Private Black Colleges Too Low?

Two economists from Morehouse College in Atlanta argue that higher tuition for those that can afford it would provide more financial aid for those who can't afford it.

T. Ramon Stuart Named Provost at Fort Valley State University in Georgia

Dr. Stuart has been serving as associate provost and associate vice president for academic affairs at the university. He will begin serving as provost on May 16. Dr. Stuart formerly served on the faculty at West Virginia State Community and Technical College.

University Study Urges Parents and Teachers to Address Racial Issues With Young Children

The School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh has issued a new report detailing the importance of parents and teachers talking about race and racial issues with young children.

Gail Gibson Fired as President of Essex County College in New Jersey

Last month, Gale Gibson, president of Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey, was suspended with pay. Now the college's board of trustees has fired Dr. Gibson. She became president of the community college in 2013.

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