Monthly Archives: March 2020

Two Black Scholars Appointed to Endowed Chairs at Vanderbilt University in Nashville

Bunmi O. Olatunji was appointed to the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in Social and Natural Sciences and Duane G. Watson was appointed to the Frank W. Mayborn Chair at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.

Maryland Legislature Looks to Step In to Resolve 14-Year HBCU Litigation

Maryland’s four historically Black state universities have been involved in drawn-out litigation that remains unresolved after 14 years. Now African American leaders in the state legislature are preparing a bill that call for nearly $600 million to settle the lawsuit.

A Trio of African American Men Receive Notable Honors and Awards

The honorees are J. Marshall Shepherd, the director of the atmospheric sciences program at the University of Georgia, H. Carl McCall, former chairman of the State University of New York Board of Trustees, and Linwood Whitten, director of diversity and international affairs at Alabama State University.

Bethune Cookman and the National Council of Negro Women to Honor Mary McLeod Bethune

The National Council of Negro Women and Bethune-Cookman University have joined forces to launch “Advancing the Legacy," an awareness and fundraising initiative to support access to higher education for African Americans students.

New Administrative Positions for Four African Americans at Colleges and Universities

Taking on new administrative duties are Maisha Williams at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, Alex Gary at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, Sara Onori at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and Haley Gingles at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.

University Recruiter Asks African American Students to Line Up by Skin Tone and Hair Style

The recruiter for Oklahoma Chrisitian University asked the African American students to line up based on the tone of their skin from lightest to darkest. He then told the students to line up in a different order with those with the straightest hair in front and those with the "nappiest hair" in back.

Georgia State Honors the Black Students Who Sued the University to Force Racial Integration

Georgia State University recently honored Myra Payne Elliott, Barbara Pace Hunt, and Iris Mae Welch, the three women who sued for their right to attend the university in the 1950s in a groundbreaking court case that eventually led to the integration of Georgia State and other universities in the South.

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.

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.

Two African American College Administrators Have Announced Their Retirements

Olivia G. White, vice president for student life and dean of students at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, and Constance M. Carroll, who has served as chancellor of the San Diego Community College District since 2004, announced they will be retiring in the near future.

In Memoriam: Ida Stephens Owens, 1939-2020

Ida Stephens Owens was one of the first African Americans to earn a Ph.D. at Duke University. Dr. Owens was the first scientist to determine genetic defects in children with Crigler-Najjar diseases, a rare disorder often causing brain damage in infants.

Three African Americans Appointed to Dean Posts at Colleges and Universities

Cherisse Jones-Branch has been named dean of the Graduate School at Arkansas State University. Justin Rose was appointed dean of faculty recruitment, retention, and diversity at Rhodes College in Memphis and Jason Geary will be the new dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Gregory Washington Will Be the First African American President of George Mason University

Dr. Washington currently serves as the dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. He joined the faculty there in 2011. Earlier, he was director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment and interim dean of the College of Engineering at Ohio State University.

Survey Finds Persisting Mistreatment of African American Medical School Students

A new study lead by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine finds that more than one third of medical students reported experiencing at least one episode of mistreatment by faculty, peers, or clinical staff. Women of color reported the highest level of mistreatment.

Erika James to Lead the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

When she takes office on July 1, Erika James will be the first woman and the first African American to lead the prestigious business school since its founding in 1881. Since 2014, Dr. James has been serving as dean of the Goizueta Business School at Emory University in Atlanta.

How the Aging of American Faculty Will Affect Racial Diversity in Academia

As older, predominantly White faculty retire and lower level academics move up the ladder, it can be expected that the percentage of Black faculty in higher education will rise. But the authors warn that this will not happen unless concerted efforts are made by colleges and universities to retain Black faculty.

Historically Black Central State University in Ohio Selects its Ninth President

Jack Thomas was named the eleventh president of Western Illinois University in 2011. He served in that role until 2019. Dr. Thomas will succeed Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, who will step down as president of Central State University in July.

Vanderbilt University Looks to Battle Hypertension at Black-Owned Barbershops

In Nashville, patrons from eight local barbershops who have uncontrolled hypertension will be invited to enroll in the study, where they will meet with a study pharmacist in the barbershop on a regular basis for six months.

The Next Dean of the School of Law at George Washington University

Dayna Bowen Matthew is currently the William L. Matheson and Robert M. Morgenthau Distinguished Professor of Law and the F. Palmer Weber Research Professor of Civil Liberties and Human Rights at the University of Virginia Law School. She will begin her new duties on July 1.

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