Monthly Archives: April 2019
Medgar Evers College and Michigan State Seek to Increase Racial Diversity in Forestry Studies
Through a new 3+2 program, participating students will spend three years at Medgar Evers College, followed by two years at Michigan State. At the end of the five years, students will have earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science and a master's degree in forestry.
In Memoriam: Leonard Lewis Brown, 1946-2019
Leonard Lewis Brown was an acclaimed saxophonist and associate professor emeritus of music and of African-American studies at Northeastern University in Boston. He served as co-director of the Afro-Caribbean Music Research Project and chair of the African American studies department at the university.
Columbia University School of Nursing Partners With American International University West Africa
The School of Nursing at Columbia University in New York City will send four master's degree students to Africa for six weeks of clinical training. Eventually, the new partnership will provide both institutions with exchange opportunities.
Four African Americans Who Are Leaving Their High-Level Posts at State Universities
The four African American who are stepping down from their positions are Ellen Smiley at Grambling State University in Louisiana, Neema Connor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dana Brooks at West Virginia University, and Melvin Leon Heard at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Colleges and Universities That Engage in “Authentic” Diversity Practices
There has been extensive research on organizational diversity initiatives that focus on either the number of minorities at a particular institution or the racial climate. This study evaluates these two concepts together, which helps determine if colleges and universities engage in "authentic" diversity practices.
Lesia Crumpton-Young Named Provost at Morgan State University in Baltimore
Dr. Crumpton-Young has had a successful career in higher education that spans 25 years. Currently, she serves as vice president for research and institutional advancement and as chief research officer at Tennessee State University.
Study Finds Black STEM Students Who Look “Stereotypically Black” Are Less Likely to Graduate
A recent study led by scholars at Rice University found that Asian students who looked more stereotypically Asian, were significantly more likely to finish their degree over the five-year period. However, the opposite was true for Black students.
Delaware State University Establishes the Center for Global Africa
The goal of the new center at historically Black Delaware State University is to re-educate the descendants of enslaved people on not only their African past, but also to renew and strengthen their present connection to the continent of their ethnic origin.
New Data Shows Bar Passage Rates at HBCU Law Schools Lag the National Average
Nationwide, 88.6 percent of all 2016 law school graduates passed bar exams within two years. None of the six law schools at historically Black universities had a bar passage rate that exceeded the national average. Southern University in Louisiana and Texas Southern University had the highest rates among HBCU law schools.
The National Science Foundation Pays Tribute to Physicist Dr. Walter Massey
Walter E. Massey will receive the Vannevar Bush Award from the National Science Foundation on May 14. The prestigious award honors science and technology leaders who have made substantial contributions to the welfare of the nation through public service in science, technology, and public policy.
Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick Returns to the Classroom
This semester, Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick is teaching a weekly course for Ph.D. students on the intricacies of higher education presidencies, with a particular focus on minority-serving institutions.
Five African American Men in New Faculty Roles at Colleges and Universities
Taking on new teaching assignments are Robert Moses at Mills College in Oakland, Harold Briggs at the University of Georgia, Philip Lima at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Demarre McGill at the University of Cincinnati, and Tyree Daye at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Southern University Establishes Center of Excellence for Cybersecurity Near Washington, D.C.
The new center will house state-of-the-art classrooms and conference rooms where Southern will hire faculty and select students for cybersecurity research projects and collaborate on contract proposals with X Corp Solutions and other members of the American Cyber League.
New Administrative Positions in Higher Education for Seven African Americans
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.
Indiana University Law School Establishes the Juanita Kidd Stout Endowed Professorship
Juanita Kidd Stout was the first African American woman to serve on a state supreme court in the United States. The new endowed chair honoring Justice Stout is the first professorship at Indiana University to honor an African American woman and the law school's first endowed position named for a woman of color.
Alabama State University to Expand Preschool Opportunities for the State’s Children
The agreement provides for some students in the local Head Start program to attend the university's Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center. As part of this new partnership, early childhood education students at Alabama State will have the opportunity to work with Head Start families.
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.
African Americans Accepted Into the Class of 2023 at High-Ranking Colleges and Universities
Recently, most of the nation’s highest-ranked colleges and universities informed applicants if they had been accepted for admission into the Class of 2023. Some revealed the racial/ethnic breakdown of their admitted students.
University of Florida Acquires the Archives of African-American Musician Bo Diddley
The acquired items that will make up the Elias B. McDaniel (Bo Diddley) Collection include musical instruments, stage costumes, posters, photographs, documents, and memorabilia.
In Memoriam: Leonard “Chief” Tramiel, 1944-2019
In 1973, Tramiel became director of university bands at Mississippi Valley State University. He retired from the university in 2013.
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.
University of North Carolina Coach Who Allegedly Made Racist Comments, Resigns
Reportedly, Coach Sylvia Hatchell had told her players that they would be hung "from trees with nooses" if there on-the-court performance did not improve.
Harvard University Making Strides In Faculty Diversity
Since 2004, tenured-track appointments at Harvard University are up 54 percent for underrepresented minorities, which is particularly striking since the overall number of tenure-track faculty has decreased by 18 percent over the same time period.
In Memoriam: Albert L. Walker, 1945-2019
Dr. Walker was appointed president of Harris-Stowe State University in August 2011 and served in that role until his retirement in 2013. Earlier in his career, he served as president of Bluefield College in West Virginia.
Compounded Privilege in White Neighborhoods Is the Real Driver for Economic Inequality
The results of a study conducted by a sociologist at the University pf Pittsburgh show that public policies need to address how opportunities for success are hoarded in privileged spaces, allowing advantaged, predominantly White communities to thrive.
Larissa Littleton-Steib Named Chancellor of Delgado Community College in New Orleans
Since 2016, Dr. Littleton-Steib has served as chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College in Louisiana. Earlier in her career, she served in various roles at Delgado Community College including vice chancellor of workforce development and dean of technical education.
Study Finds Severe Racial Gap Between Who Causes Air Pollution and Who Breathes It
The researchers found that air pollution is disproportionately caused by the consumption of goods and services by White Americans, but disproportionately inhaled by Black and Hispanic Americans.
Jeffrey C. Stewart Wins 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Biography
Dr. Stewart is a professor of Black studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was honored for his book on Alain Locke, the first African American Rhodes Scholar and later a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance.
New York University Study Finds Proactive Policing of Black Youth May Be Counterproductive
According to a new study led by scholars New York University, Black adolescent boys who are stopped by police report more frequent engagement in delinquent behavior thereafter. The research also demonstrates that police stops have a negative impact on these adolescents’ psychological well-being.
Five African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions
The new deans are Claire Garcia at Colorado College, Malik S. Henfield at Loyola University in Chicago, Wendi S. Williams at Mills College in Oakland, California, Nicola Boothe Perry at Florida A&M University, and John M.M. Anderson at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Norman C. Francis Receives the 2019 Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame
Established at the University of Notre Dame in 1883, the Laetare Medal was conceived as an American counterpart of the Golden Rose, a papal honor that dates from the 11th century. The award honors an individual who "has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church, and enriched the heritage of humanity.”
Spelman College Wins the 30th Annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge
Teams from 48 historically Black colleges and universities competed in an academic quiz contest for the national championship title. This was the first time in the history of the competition that Spelman took home the top prize, a $75,000 grant.
Five African Americans Who Will Be Taking on New Administrative Roles in Higher Education
Named to new administrative posts are Michelle L. Webb at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah, Courtney J. Martin at Yale University, Deus Bazira at Georgetown University, Tandra Taylor at Lewis and Clark Community College in Illinois, and Jake Tanksley at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.
Syracuse University College of Law Partners With Three HBCUs in Atlanta
Under the agreement students at Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College will spend three years at their undergraduate institution in Atlanta. They will then transfer to the College of Law at Syracuse University for three additional years of study, earning bachelor's and law degrees in six years.
Honors and Awards in Higher Education for Five African Americans
The honorees are Andrea Porter of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Howard Henderson at Texas Southern University in Houston, Jackie Sibblies Drury of the Yale School of Drama, Mary Frances Early of the University of Georgia, and Robert J. Rivers Jr. of Princeton University in New Jersey.
