Monthly Archives: August 2017

University of Iowa Names Building to Honor Alumna Elizabeth Catlett

Elizabeth Catlett is one of the most celebrated sculptors of the twentieth century. The granddaughter of slaves, she was the first African American woman to earn a master of fine arts degree at the University of Iowa.

Vanderbilt University’s Short Pipeline Program Aims to Increase Medical School Diversity

Sophomore students from three historically Black colleges and universities spend the summer at the medical school conducting research and preparing for the Medical College Admission Test. If they meet certain requirements, they will be admitted to the medical school upon graduation.

Trump Administration to Investigate University Affirmative Action Programs

An internal Justice Department memo leaked to The New York Times sought out attorneys interested in "investigations and possible litigation related to intentional race-based discrimination in college and university admissions."

University of California-Led Study Finds Noise Pollution Highest in Black Neighborhoods

The researchers found a strong correlation between noise and race. The study found that neighborhoods with at least 75 percent Black residents had median night-time noise levels 4 decibels higher than in neighborhoods without any Black residents. Traffic noise was the biggest source of noise pollution.

Howard University President Gets a Major Vote of Confidence

In 2015, Wayne A.I. Frederick became the 17th president of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Now the board of trustees of Howard University has extended his contract for five additional years after his first term is over in 2019.

Growth of Minority-Owned Employer Firms Outpaces Growth for All Firms

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs shows that the number of minority-owned firms with paid employees increased by 5 percent in 2015 compared to 2014. This growth was more than double the rate for employer firms as a whole.

Gail Baker Is the New Provost at the University of San Diego

Since 2006 Dr. Baker had been serving as dean of the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Earlier, she was a professor in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

Advanced Placement Course Provides a Huge Boost to Underrepresented Students in Computer Science

A new Advanced Placement Program for high school students is increasing the number of young students from underrepresented groups who are taking courses in computer science.

The First Black Chair of the Cardiovascular Disease Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine

Olakunle Akinboboye is an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York. Dr. Akinboboye is the first Black physician to head the board in its 81-year history.

Four African Americans Appointed to Faculty Positions

Taking on new faculty roles are Nathan Alexander at Morehouse College in Atlanta, John Robinson at South Carolina State University, Florence Lyons at Albany State University in Georgia and Esperanza Spalding at Harvard University.

Tuskegee University Seeks to Increase Diversity of Veterinary Medical Education

Historically Black Tuskegee University in Alabama has entered into a partnership agreement with the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Preference will be given to recruiting and admitting qualified students from underrepresented groups.

Indiana University Names New Leaders for Two Performing Ensembles

Stafford C. Berry Jr. was named the director of the African American Dance Company and James A. Strong Jr. will be the new leader of the Indiana University Soul Revue.

Social Work Degree Programs at Central State University in Ohio Gain Accreditation

The university's bachelor's and master's degree programs in social work will be accredited through 2021. Accredited bachelor' degree programs must offer undergraduates 400 hours of field experience.

Honors for the First Black Woman to Receive a Bachelor’s Degree at Vanderbilt University

In 1967 Dorothy J. Phillips became the first African American women to earn an undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. The university has established a fellowship program and an endowed chair in her honor.

North Carolina A&T State University Achieves Record in Research Funding

North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, announced that the university received a record $62.5 million in research contracts and grants during the 2016-17 year. Grant awards have tripled since 2001, when the university took in $18.4 million.

A Large Group of African Americans Who Are Taking on New University Administrative Roles

Here is this week’s roundup of African Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

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.

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.

First Black Woman Full Professor at the University of New Mexico Is Retiring

Sherri Burr, Regents Professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law, is retiring. She has taught at the law school since 1988.

In Memoriam: Warrick L. Carter, 1942-2017

Dr. Carter was named president of Columbia College in Chicago in 2000. He was the first African American to hold the post.

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: Frederick Isadore Scott, 1927-2017

In 1950, Frederick Scott became the first African American to be awarded an undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Ivory V. Nelson Serving as Interim Provost at Jackson State University

Dr. Nelson, now 83 years old, served as president of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania from 1999 to 2011. He has come out of retirement to serve as interim provost at Jackson State University to help an old friend who is the new president of the university.

Ernest Morrell Appointed to an Endowed Chair at the University of Notre Dame

Professor Morrell will also serve as the inaugural director of the Center for Literacy Education in the university’s Institute for Educational Initiatives. He will hold joint appointments in the Department of English and the Department of Africana Studies.

Two African American Scholars to Serve in Dean Positions

Ann Lampkin-Williams was appointed to a two-year term as an interim dean at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Craig Rhodes is the new interim dean of the College of Art, Humanities, and Social Sciences at North Carolina A&T State University.

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