Monthly Archives: May 2020

A Trio of Black Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions

Newly appointed to dean positions are Joyce Bylander at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, Kaetrena Davis Kendrick at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Ian Williamson at the University of California, Irvine.

Grambling State University Announces Five New Endowed Funds

The Louisiana Board of Regents recently approved five new endowment funds at historically Black Grambling State University that will benefit both students and faculty.

New Assignments for Five African American Scholars in Academia

The five Black scholars taking on new duties or positions are J. Luke Wood at San Diego State University, Riché J. Daniel Barnes at Mount Holyoke College, Destine Nock at Carnegie Mellon University, André L. Churchwell at Vanderbilt University, and Sampson Gholston at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

Howard University to Offer a Digital Technlogy Credential Program to Students in All Majors

A group of Howard University faculty developed a six-course curriculum for non-STEM majors, which would lead to a Digital Tech Generalist Credential to integrate digital technology skills into a higher education curriculum. Students who earn the credential would receive hiring preferences at local companies.

University of Wisconsin Historian Wins Book Prize

Jacqueline-Bethel M​ougoué, an assistant professor of African cultural studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been awarded the 2020 Frances Richardson Keller-Sierra Prize from the Western Association of Women Historians.

Alabama State University to Offer New Scholarships for Out-of-State Students

The President’s Promise Scholarships will award up to $8,300 per year to out-of-state students assist with tuition costs for the fall and spring semesters. In effect, the scholarships will allow out-of-state students to enroll at in-state tuition rates.

Six African Americans Who Have Been Named to New Administrative Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new administrative posts are Candice Storey Lee at Vanderbilt University, Amir Henry at Winston-Salem State University, Jasmin Sessoms at Fayetteville State University, Jamal J. Myrick at the University of California, Riverside, Bruce A. Lewis at Northwestern University, and Jason Brooks at the University of Kentucky.

In Memoriam: Lenwood G. Davis, 1939-2020

In 1978, Dr. Davis joined the history department faculty at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. He retired from teaching in 2015.

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.

Saint Louis University Honors a Pioneeering Black Faculty Member

Saint Louis University has announced annual scholarships in honor of longtime St. Louis community leader, civil rights pioneer, and publisher Donald M. Suggs. Dr. Suggs was the first African-American to be appointed an associate clinical professor of oral surgery at the Saint Louis University Dental School.

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.

Three African American Scholars Appointed to New Faculty Roles

Taking on new assignments are Eletra Gilchrist-Petty at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, George C. Wright at the University of Kentucky, and David Walton at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Mellon Foundation Steps in to Help Students at 16 HBCUs

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation announced $1.76 million in emergency grants distributed to 16 HBCUs to address students' technology needs, financial strain due to tuition or residential bills, supporting essential travel between home and campus, and other necessities.

Nate Bryant to Lead North Shore Community College in Massachusetts

Dr. Bryant currently serves as vice president and chief of staff to the president of Salem State University in Massachusetts. He will become interim president at North Shore Community College in July and serve through the 2020-21 academic year.

How the Racial Digital Divide Impacts Online Education During the Pandemic

A new Census survey finds that only 61.6 percent of Black households with children in K-12 education said they had the technology to allow children to do their online schoolwork at all times.  For White households, nearly 73 percent had total access to the online education offered for their children.

Howard University Appoints Two Black Scholars to Dean Positions

John M. M. Anderson is the new dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture and Anthony D. Wilbon was appointed the fourth dean of the Howard University School of Business.

Several Private HBCUs Have the Highest Average Student Loan Debt in the Nation

A new study by Student Loan Hero finds that students at historically Black colleges and universities tend to be among the students who accumulate the most debt. Four HBCUs were among the top 10 schools where parents take on the most PLUS loan debt, and eight were in the top 50.

Kevin James Named the Nineteenth President of Morris Brown College in Atlanta

Dr. James has been serving in this role on an interim basis since March 2019. The college has not been accredited since 2002 and enrolls only a few dozen students. But it is seeking to regain accreditation through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.

NAACP Conducts Survey of African American Views on the COVID-19 Crisis

The NAACP, in partnership with the African American Research Collaborative and the Equity Research and Innovation Center at the Yale School of Medicine, conducted a survey on how African Americans are responding to the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Two Universities Appoint African Americans to Provost Positions

Darrell Newton was named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Winona State University in Minnesota and Saundra F. DeLauder was named provost and vice president of academic affairs at historically Black Delaware State University in Dover. She is the first woman to hold the post.

Morehouse College Deals With Budgetary Issues Brought About by the Pandemic

Morehouse College will implement a reduction in force, furloughs, and pay cuts as part of a cost-reduction plan to offset a budget deficit due to the COVID-19  the pandemic. The College has estimated a potential 25 percent decline in enrollment as a result of the pandemic.

Joe William Trotter, Jr. Is Appointed a University Professor at Carnegie Mellon University

Joe William Trotter, Jr. is the Giant Eagle Professor of History and Social Justice at Carnegie Mellon University. He is the past chair of the history department and founded and directs the university's Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy.

Dozens of Nigerian Doctoral Students and PostDocs Will Be Coming to Morgan State University

The agreement with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, a funding agency of the Nigerian government, could bring up to 50 (no less than 30) new Ph.D. students and up to 20 postdoctoral researchers to the Morgan State campus each year. Morgan State hopes to welcome the first cohort of students from Nigeria this coming fall.

Two African American Historians to Receive Lillian Smith Book Awards

Jelani M. Favors, an associate professor of history at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, and Brandon K. Winford, an associate professor of history at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, were honored for the books on social justice topics.

Alabama State University Partners With Gadsden State Community College in Alabama

Historically Black Alabama State University in Montgomery has signed an agreement with Gadsden State Community College in Alabama that will provide a pathway for qualified Gadsden State students to study and earn undergraduate degrees from Alabama State.

Five African Americans Appointed to Administrative Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new administrative roles in higher education are Demetrius Johnson at Bowie State University in Maryland, Daryl Lowe at Spelman College in Atlanta, Camille Edwards at Wright State University in Ohio, Roderick Little at Jackson State University in Mississippi and Cynthia Pickett at DePaul University in Chicago.

In Memoriam: Alyce Chenault Gullattee, 1928-2020

Dr. Gullattee was appointed to the Howard University faculty in 1970 as a psychiatrist in the department of neuropsychiatry. Over the next half-century she played a large role in the education and training of literally thousands of physicians, including a significant percentage of the African American physicians practicing in this country.

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.

Black Historian at Columbia University Stopped in Vermont and Told to Leave State

Professor Christopher Brown, who drives a car with New York State license plates, was flagged down by a White man in Hartford, Vermont, where Dr. Brown's family owns a home. He was advised that he was not wanted in Vermont and told to leave.

In Memoriam: Thomas E.H. Conway, 1949-2020

Dr. Conway had a 45-year career with the University of North Carolina System. He was named interim chancellor of Elizabeth City State University in 2016 and the position was made permanent in 2017. Dr. Conway retired at the end of the 2017-18 academic year.

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.

Two African American Women Scholars at Kent State University to Retire

Alfreda Brown, vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and Barbara Broome, dean of the College of Nursing, at Kent State University in Ohio are retiring at the end of the academic year.

Three African American Women Appointed to University Dean Positions

Brooke Berry was appointed dean of students at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. Cassandra Hill has been named the next dean of the Northern Illinois University College of Law and Stephanie Dance-Barnes will be the next dean of the College of Science and Health at DePaul University in Chicago.

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 Historically Black Collges and Universities Awarding the Most Bachelor’s Degrees

North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro awarded 1,662 bachelor's degrees, the most of any HBCU. This is not surprising since North Carolina A&T State University has the largest number of undergraduate students among HBCUs.

Latest News