Monthly Archives: January 2020
Major Utility Makes a Commitment to Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Southern Company, a major provider of power in the southeastern United States, and its subsidiaries announced a $50 million multi-year initiative to provide students attending HBCUs with scholarships, internships, leadership development, and access to technology and innovation to support career readiness.
Five African American Scholars Who Are Taking on New Assignments
The Black faculty members in new roles are Brenda S. Faison at North Carolina Central University, Jacquelyn Meshelemiah at Ohio State University, Colin Martin at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tera Jordan at iowa State University, and Yvette Butler at the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Florida Legislature Looking to Help Out Students at the State’ s Four HBCUs
Bills moving through both houses of the Florida legislature would create a scholarship fund for students attending any of the state's four historically Black colleges and universities: Bethune Cookman University, Edward Waters College. Florida A&M University, and Florida Memorial University.
Duke University School of Medicine Honors the Late Brenda Armstrong
Duke University commissioned a portrait of Dr. Brenda Armstrong, who was the second Black woman in the United States to become a board-certified pediatric cardiologist. She served as a professor of pediatrics, associate dean for admissions, and senior associate dean for student diversity, recruitment, and retention at the university's medical school.
Alabama State University Enters Into a Partnership With Miami Dade College
The agreement allows any Miami Dade College student who receives an associate's degree in majors that align with Alabama State's curriculum to be accepted into the historically Black university's degree programs.
Nine Black Americans Who Have Been Appointed to New Administrative Positions
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.
Syracuse University Taking Further Efforts to Improve Campus Climate for Black Students
After a series of racial incidents occurred on campus during the fall semester, Syracuse University announced that it would take steps to improve the campus climate for African American students who make up 6 percent of the student body and students from other underrepresented groups.
Yale Medical School Looks to Boost Mental Health Services in Nigeria
In 2018, the HAPPINESS (Health Action for Psychiatric Problems in Nigeria including Epilepsy and Substances) Project was established to train primary care workers in Imo State to screen for, assess, and treat mental health conditions like depression, psychosis, and anxiety.
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.
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.
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 Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights Seems to Have Found a New Role
The United States Department of Education announced that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the department will launch the Outreach, Prevention, Education and Non-discrimination (OPEN) Center to focus on proactive compliance with federal civil rights laws.
Cornell University Seeks to Boost Retention of Black Students in Computer Science
Two seniors have formed Underrepresented Minorities in Computing at Cornell, a club that seeks to support and inspire students of color in computer and information science. Faculty have received grants to offer a four-week summer program to rising sophomores in computer science.
New Bowdoin College Courses Examines the Role of Black Women in U.S. Intellectual History
Established in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Africana studies at Bowdoin, the course, "Black Women’s Lives as the History of Africana Studies" addresses the diversity of social and political thought by Black women.
Report Examines Recruitment and Retention of Black Students in Physics and Astronomy
According to the report from the American Institute of Physics, "The persistent underrepresentation of African Americans in physics and astronomy is due to the lack of a supportive environment for these students in many departments, and the enormous financial challenges facing them."
The First African American President of Rutgers University in New Jersey
Jonathan Holloway has served as provost at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois since 2017. Earlier, he was was dean of Yale College and the Edmund S. Morgan Professor of African American Studies, History and American Studies.
Study Finds Persisting Racial Discrimination in Mortgage Lending
A new study led by a sociologist at Northwestern University, finds that discrimination in the housing market has decreased significantly. However, researchers also found that discrimination in loan denial and cost has not declined much over the previous 30 to 40 years.
Shaw University in North Carolina Appoints Two Women to Dean Positions
At historically Black Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, Valerie A. Johnson is serving as dean of the School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities and Lynette I. Wood is the new dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies.
Exposure to Racism May Lead to Premature Aging Among African Americans
A new study led by a scientist at Auburn University in Alabama, presents evidence that not only is racism a pressing social and moral dilemma, it is also a public health issue.
Katrina VanderWoude Appointed President of Los Angeles Trade Technical College
In 2018, Dr. Vanderwoude was named the 12th permanent president of Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California, north of Oakland. Previously, she was vice president for academic affairs at Grossmont College in El Cajon, California. Earlier, she was vice provost at Rochester College in Michigan.
Allen University Begins Renovation of Jim Crow-Era Hospital to Provide Classroom Space
The renovated building will include classroom space for the university's education and new theology programs and a studio that will be used to host televised debates sponsored by the university's new Institute for Civility.
Three African American Scholars to Assume Department Chairs at College and Universities
Tonya Butler was appointed chair of music business and management at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Samuel Johnson was named interim chair of the department of radiology at Wayne State University in Detroit and Tracy Dunbar will head the agriculture department at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Historically Black Morris Brown College Teams Up With Point University
Under the agreement, graduates of Morris Brown College will be able to enroll in graduate programs at Point University and receive a tuition discount. At this point, the agreement will have a small impact as only 35 students are enrolled at Morris Brown College.
Carrie Mae Weems Appointed Artist-in-Residence at Syracuse University
Carrie Mae Weems is a photographer and video artist whose works have been exhibited at some of the premier art museums in the United States. A former MacArthur Fellow, she was the first African American woman to have a retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
Howard University Enters a New Partnership With the U.S. Army
Howard University faculty will utilize U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command assets to provide training and research opportunities to students in areas such as artificial intelligence, electronic devices, and unmanned machinery.
New Administrative Appointments 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.
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.
Fisk University Forms Partnership With Meharry Medical College
The partnership gives Fisk University students focused on a career as a physician or dentist a clearly specified pathway. Under the agreement, Fisk University undergraduate students who meet strict criteria will be admitted directly into medical or dental school at Meharry.
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.
New CUNY Program to Help Minority Entrepreneurs Learn Emerging Technologies
The City University of New York has announced the creation of an emerging technology mentorship program that targets 250 small businesses owned by veterans, minorities, and women throughout New York City.
Syracuse University Announces New Efforts to Boost Faculty Diversity
The new initiatives will provide academic departments with funds from the central administration to share a greater proportion of the costs of new hires from underrepresented groups.
In Memoriam: Josephine McCann Posey
In 1984 Dr. Posey became the first woman to serve as the dean of the School of Education and Psychology at Alcorn State University. In addition to her duties as university historian, she also served as interim vice president for academic affairs, special assistant to the president at Alcorn, and department chair.
The Next Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa
Currently, Dr. Harriet Nembhard is the Eric R. Smith Professor of Engineering and head of the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University. Earlier, Dr. Nembhard was a professor at Pennsylvania State University.
The Racial Gap in High School Completion Rates No Longer Exists
The status completion rate is the percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds who have left high school and who hold a high school credential. For the first time in 40 years, the status high school completion rate for Black 18- to 24-year-olds was not measurably different from that of White 18- to 24-year-olds.
Connie Walton Appointed Provost at Grambling State University in Louisiana
Dr. Walton is a professor of chemistry at the university. Her research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of molecules that exhibit liquid crystalline behavior and polymer synthesis. She holds two U.S. patents. Dr. Walton has served as interim provost since May 2019.
