Monthly Archives: October 2017
Scholar Examines the Decrease in Black Teachers and What to Do About It
Valerie Hill-Jackson, clinical professor of critical teacher education at Texas A&M University, has conducted extensive research on Black teachers in the nation's public school systems. She offers recommendations on what to do to recruit and retain Black teachers.
Harry Lee Williams to Lead the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Harry Lee Williams was named the 10th president of Delaware State University in 2009. He will step down from his post on January 20 in order to take on his new role as president of the nonprofit fundraising organization representing public historically Black colleges and universities.
New York University Study Shows School Diversity Has a Positive Impact on Achievement
The researchers found that there was a modest benefit for students attending the most diverse schools. Young students at more diverse schools scored better on achievement tests in mathematics and English and high school graduation rates at more diverse schools were higher.
Michael V. Drake Elected Chair of the Association of American Universities
Dr. Drake became the 15th president of Ohio State University in June 2014. He is the first African American to hold the post. He will serve a one-year term as chair of the board of directors of the consortium of 62 leading research institutions.
Scholarly Study Finds That Racism May Negatively Impact the Health of Whites
The authors point out that health care policies that favor the mostly White upper and upper-middle classes may be impacted by racism directed against lower-class African Americans. But these policies also have a negative effect on an even larger group of poor Whites.
The New Dean of University College at Fort Valley State University in Georgia
Stevie L. Lawrence II has been serving as executive director for retention services and interim vice president for student success and enrollment management at Fort Valley State University. Earlier, he was director of college success services for the University of North Carolina System.
Tuskegee University Signs Agreement With University of Redlands in California
Under the agreement, students and faculty at Tuskegee University and the University of Redlands in California will have the opportunity to spend up to one year on the campus of the partnering institution.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Partners With Technical Universities in Ghana
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has entered into an agreement with 10 technical universities in the African nation of Ghana. The agreement calls for cooperation on scientific research and for student and faculty exchange programs.
Chemical Engineer at Arizona State Honored as Educator of the Year
Jean Andino, an associate professor of chemical engineering at Arizona State University, received the Educator of the Year Award from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Masonic Lodges Establish a Scholarship Fund at the University of the District of Columbia
The new endowed scholarship program at the University of the District of Columbia is specifically targeted to support students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and African American students from the District of Columbia.
Five African Americans Faculty Appointed to New Posts in Higher Education
Taking on new roles are Sherilynn Black at Duke University, Aaron A. Bellow Jr. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Daphne A. Bascom at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Rhoda Williams at Vanderbilt University and Rashida Atkins at Rutgers University-Camden.
In Memoriam: Gloria Johnson-Powell, 1936-2017
Dr. Gloria Johnson-Powell considered dropping out of Meharry Medical College to devote more time to civil rights activism. However, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. urged her to complete her studies. She did.
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.
Colson Whitehead Honored Once Again for His Novel The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead won the 2017 Hurston/Wright Award for fiction presented by the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation. The novel has previously won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, the 2016 National Book Award for Fiction, and the Carnegie Medal of Excellence.
The New Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion Opens at Carnegie Mellon University
The offerings of the center at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh are resources related to race, ethnicity, first in family, men and masculinity, feminism, women, gender expression and LGBTQ.
Two Incidents of Racial Hate at Framingham State University
Racial slurs were found on posters hanging in a residence hall at Framingham State University in Massachusetts. Two days later a racial slur was written in marker on the dormitory room door of two African American students.
Two New Deans at Texas Southern University in Houston
At Texas Southern University in Houston, Maurice Odine was appointed dean of the School of Education and Dianne Jemison-Pollard was named dean of the Honors College.
The First African American Woman Athletic Director at a Power 5 Conference University
The University of Virginia has named Carla Williams as director of athletics. She is the first African American woman to be named an athletics director at a Power 5 conference that make up the nation's leading football programs.
Wiley College to Form the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Speech and Debate League
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Speech and Debate League will hold tournaments and conduct a HBCU National Championship tournament. The first national championship will be held at Wiley College this coming January.
Five African Americans Taking on New Faculty Roles in Academia
Taking on new assignments are Gilbert Cornelius at St. Thomas University in Minnesota, Del Wright Jr. at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Sheri Williams at American University in Washington, D.C., Brian Boyd at the University of Kansas, and Joe M. Brown at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina.
The Arkansas Center for Innovation in Teaching Excellence Debuts at Philander Smith College
The new ACITE center launched with a two-day conference entitled "Promoting Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to Better Serve Culturally Diverse Students." More than 100 participants attended the inaugural conference.
Council of Social Work Education Honors June Gary Hopps for Lifetime Achievement
June Gary Hopps is the Thomas M. "Jim" Parham Professor of Family and Children Studies in the School of Social Work at the University of Georgia. Earlier she was dean of the Boston College School of Social Work.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Named a National Historic Site by United Methodist Church
The historically Black educational institution in Princess Anne, Maryland is the 536th historical site identified by the United Methodist Church.
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.
Eight Black Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Administrative Posts in Higher Education
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.
Study Finds Major Racial Disparities in Student Loan Default Rates
A new report from the Center for American Progress found that nearly one half of all African American students who entered college in the 2003-04 academic year and took out federal loans had defaulted on their payments over the next dozen years. For Whites, the figure was 21 percent.
Ruth J. Simmons Appointed the Eighth President of Prairie View A&M University in Texas
Dr. Simmons has been serving as interim president of the university since July. She served as the 18th president of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, from 2001 to 2012. Before becoming president of Brown University, Dr. Simmons was president of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Homicide Is the Biggest Contributor to Years of Lost Life Among African Americans
In a revealing new study conducted by researchers at the Indiana University School of Public Health in Bloomington, it was established that homicide is the largest contributor to potential years of life lost among Black Americans. For Whites, homicide was the only 12th highest contributor to potential years of lost life.
The Next Provost at Texas Southern University in Houston
Kendall T. Harris has been serving as dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering at Prairie View A&M University in Texas. He joined the faculty at Prairie View A&M University in 2005 as a professor of mechanical engineering. Earlier, Dr. Harris taught at the University of Texas at Arlington.
University of Virginia Research Expands Knowledge of Former Slaves Who Fought for the Union Army
Using military and pension records, researchers have compiled a list of 240 Black men from Albemarle County who served in the Union Army. The men included former slaves and free Blacks.
Jerryl Briggs Appointed the Eighth President of Mississippi Valley State University
This past June, Jerryl Briggs was appointed acting president of Mississippi Valley State University when the then president William B. Bynum, left to become president of Jackson State University. Now Dr. Briggs has been selected to serve in the role on a permanent basis.
Racial Incidents Lead to Student Protests on the Campus of Boston College
Two Black Lives Matter posters were defaced on the campus of Boston College. Signs were later found on campus that showed a picture of Uncle Sam with the caption, "I want you to love who you are. Don’t apologize for being white."
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.
The Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy Launches at Northwestern University
The new center, which will be housed in the department of political science, aims to foster research, dialogue and analysis regarding the ways in which democracy, diversity and politics interact in the United States and in nations around the globe.
