Monthly Archives: December 2017
Kentucky State University Awards its First Doctoral Degrees
Kentucky State University, the historically Black educational institution in Frankfort, recently conferred its first doctoral degrees in the 131-year history of the educational institution. Six students were awarded the doctor of nursing practice degree at the university's fall commencement.
A New Documentary Film Tells the History of Delaware State University
The film tells the story of the educational institution that started in 1891 with 12 students meeting in an old plantation to the vibrant global university it is today. The project was proposed three years ago by Marilyn Whittingham, executive director of Delaware Humanities.
The New Leader of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at UAB
Angela K. Lewis, professor of political science at the University of Alabama Birmingham, has been selected to serve as chair of the department of political science and public administration at the university.
Albany State University Signs New Agreement With Albany Technical College
The institutions have cooperated in the past, but this new agreement strengthens the partnership and allows students who complete associate's degrees at Albany Technical College to expand the number of majors they can consider at Albany State.
Four African Americans Appointed to Administrative Posts in Higher Education
Appointed to new administrative posts are Darrice Griffin at the University of Georgia, Timothy J. Dunn at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, Quentin R. Tyler at Michigan State University, and Sherryta Freeman at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
In Memoriam: Calestous Juma, 1953-2017
Calestous Juma was a professor of the practice of international development at the Kennedy School of Harvard University. A native of Kenya, Dr. Juma earned a Ph.D. in science and technology studies at the University of Sussex in England.
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.
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.
Harvard Accepts a Large Group of Black Students in Its Early Action Process
African Americans make up 13.9 percent of all students admitted in its nonbinding early action process. This is up from 12.6 percent a year ago.
University of Louisville Publishes a Diversity Report
The report outlines progress that has been made in enrolling African Americans and students from other underrepresented groups and sets goals for increasing diversity in the future. Data is also provided on faculty and staff diversity.
An Increase in the Number of Black Applicants to the University of California
The number of African Americans from California applying to the nine undergraduate campuses is up 6.2 percent from a year ago. The number of Black applicants from California is up at all nine undergraduate campuses this year.
In Memoriam: Laron J. Clark Jr., 1937-2017
During Laron Clark's tenure as director of development at Hampton University in Virginia, the university's endowment grew from $29 million to more than $260 million.
The Drake University Law School Partners With 100 Black Men of America
Under the new agreement, Drake students who are part of the nonprofit organization's Collegiate 100 program and who meet established criteria will be automatically be admitted to the law school's juris doctorate program.
In Memoriam: William M. Pender Sr., 1922-2017
Dr. Pender was hired in 1965 as director of guidance and teacher training at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He was a professor of education and later served as vice chancellor for academic affairs.
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.
Wolde-Ab Issac Appointed Chancellor of the Riverside Community College District
The district, the fifth largest in the state of California includes Riverside City College, Norco College and Moreno Valley College. Since 2015, Dr. Isaac, a native of Eritrea in East Africa, has served as president of Riverside City College.
A Checkup on African American Students Entering U.S. Medical Schools
This year 21,338 students entered medical school for the first time. Of these, 1,775 identified themselves as Black or African American. Thus, Blacks made up 8.3 percent of new entrants to U.S. medical schools.
Shakeup in the Leadership of Arkansas Baptist College
Joseph L. Jones is no longer president of Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. Dr. Jones has stated that he resigned from his position. But the board of trustees has stated that Dr. Jones was terminated for cause.
The Racial Gap in Educational Attainment in the United States
African Americans are showing steady progress in degree attainments at all levels. However, significant racial gaps persist at every level of education. Some 38 percent of non-Hispanic White adults hold a college degree compared to 24 percent of African American adults.
The New Dean of Students at Tuskegee University in Alabama
Mandrake Miller has held student affairs posts at Livingstone College in North Carolina, Bethune-Cookman University in Florida, Chowan University in North Carolina, and Virginia Union University in Richmond.
Texas Southern University Shows Improvement in Graduation and Persistence Rates
For the most recent year, 23.4 percent of first-time freshman students earned a bachelor's degree within six years. This was up from 17.2 percent in the prior year. More than 1,000 bachelor's degrees were awarded in 2017, up from 913 in 2015.
Two African American Scholars Poised to Take on New Roles
Pamela Jackson, an associate professor and dean of the College of Business and Economics at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina was appointed interim provost. And Bryan Bryson will join the faculty at MIT as an assistant professor of biological engineering.
Fort Valley State University Introduces a New Scholarship Program
Students selected for the Global Innovators Scholarship program will receive a $40,000 scholarship, awarded as $10,000 each year for four years, to be used toward tuition, room, board, books, and fees for full-time enrollment at the university.
University of Cincinnati Names a Building After an Alumna and Civil Rights Pioneer
Civil rights leader Marian Spencer is being recognized by having a dormitory on the campus of the University of Cincinnati named in her honor. Ironically, when she was a student at the university in the 1940s, she was prohibited from campus housing due to her race.
Grambling State University to Establish Louisiana’s First Undergraduate Cybersecurity Program
The Louisiana Board of Regents has approved planning for the establishment of a new bachelor's degree program in cybersecurity at historically Black Grambling State University. It will be the first such program in Louisiana.
Four African Americans Appointed to New Administrative Posts in Higher Education
Taking on new administrative duties are Thomas Easley at Yale University, Tami B. Simmons at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, Bryan Samuel at Kansas State University, and Ann Penn at North Carolina Central University.
In Memoriam: Marilou Allen, 1933-2017
Allen joined the staff at Haverford College in 1981 as director of the community outreach office. The initial appointment was for 18 months. But she remained head of the office until her retirement in 2015. She also founded and was director of the college's Women's Center for 33 years.
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.
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.
Harvard University Acquires Massive Drawing by Kara Walker
Harvard University has acquired a collage of drawings by contemporary artist Kara Walker entitled "U.S.A. Idioms." The collage is the largest work in the more than 250,000 works held by Harvard University.
In Memorian: Rudy L. Horne
Dr. Horne was an associate professor of mathematics at Morehouse College in Atlanta. He received a credit as the mathematical consultant for the Academy Award nominated film Hidden Figures.
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: Todd Jason McCallum
Todd McCallum was an associate professor in the department of psychological sciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He joined the faculty there in 2002 and was promoted to associate professor in 2007.
Alumnus Anthony Foxx Will Chair Davidson College’s Commission on Race and Slavery
The Davidson College Commission on Race and Slavery is charged with investigating how the college's own history is intertwined with the institution of slavery, the lives and work of enslaved persons, and conceptions of race that emerged from this history.
In Memoriam: Jospeh Muriuki Wahome, 1962-2017
A native of Kenya, Joseph M. Wahome was a former associate professor of biology and chair of the department of natural sciences and environmental health at Mississippi Valley State University.
Two African Americans in New Administrative Posts at Major Universities
Natasha Brown is the new associate director for the Office of Master's Programs at the Perelmen School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and David M. Fryson was named senior adviser to the president for diversity and community outreach at West Virginia University.
