Monthly Archives: June 2020
In Memoriam: Thomas Franklin Freeman, 1919-2020
After a short term as a visiting professor at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he taught Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Freeman began his career at what is now Texas Southern University in 1949 as a professor of philosophy. He remained affiliated with the university for more than 70 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.
Alumna Calls for University of Pittsburgh to Require Students to Take a Black Studies Course
Sydney Massenber, an alumna at the University of Pittsburgh who is starting law school this fall, has started a petition calling for the university to require all undergraduate students to take a Black studies course in order to meet graduation requirements.
In Memorim: Leedell Wallace Neyland, 1921-2020
Leedell Neyland was the former dean of Arts and Sciences, provost, and professor emeritus of history at Florida A&M University. As a member of the U.S. Navy, he participated in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day.
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 Americans Appointed to Dean of Students Posts
John Blackshear has been named dean of students and associate vice president of student affairs at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and Ophelie Rowe-Allen was appointed dean of students and chief student affairs officer at the University of New Haven in Connecticut.
Survey Reveals That Many Black Economists Feel They Are Not Welcome in the Profession
More than one quarter of Black economists in academia believe they have been discriminated against in promotion decisions.
Brian Johnson Named President at Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon
Dr. Johnson has been serving as vice president of Mercy College and senior campus administrator at the college's New York City campus in Manhattan. Before that, he was president of Tuskegee University in Alabama from 2014 to 2017.
New Study Finds a Huge Racial Wealth Gap for Families With Children
A new study finds that the historical 10-to-1 racial wealth gap is even larger for families with children, the families that eventually will have to pay for college. In 2016, the new study found that Black households with children had only one penny of wealth for every dollar held by their White counterparts.
Historically Black Bowie State University in Maryland Names Its Next Provost
Dr. Carl Goodman has been serving as associate provost for academic affairs and student services at Florida A&M University. He has more than 20 years of teaching, research, and service in the Florida A&M University's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Increasing Access and Retention for STEM Scholars From Underrepresented Groups
A new report from the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities examines best practices for increasing access to, retention in, and progress to the professoriate for STEM faculty aspirants from underrepresented groups.
Tracy Johnson Named Dean of the Division of Life Sciences at UCLA
Dr. Johnson is a professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology and holder of the Keith and Cecilia Terasaki Presidential Endowed Chair at UCLA. She joined the faculty in 2013 and has served as associate dean for inclusive excellence in the division of life sciences since January 2015.
In Memoriam: Albert Nathaniel Whiting, 1917-2020
In 1966, Dr. Whiting was named the fourth president of what is now North Carolina Central University in Durham. He served the university for more than 15 years as president and chancellor.
A Handful of African American Scholars Taking on New Assignments
Appointed to new positions are William H. Robinson at Vanderbilt University, Morgan D. Kirby at Texas Southern University, Shearon Roberts at Xavier University of Louisiana, Artel Great at San Francisco State University, and Herman Beavers at the University of Pennsylvania.
Alabama State University Seeks to Change Names of Campus Buildings That Honor Racists
Confederate monuments are being taken down and colleges and universities are considering plans to remove the names of Confederate generals and supporters of slavery from campus buildings and facilities. This process also is taking place on the campuses of several HBCUs.
Michelle Samuel-Foo Is the First African American to Win a Major Entomological Award
Michelle Samuel-Foo, an assistant professor at Alabama State University, has been selected to receive the Founders Memorial Recognition, one of the highest nationwide honors given by the Entomological Society of America.
Texas Southern University Creates a National Police Reform Advisory Group of Scholars
The expert-laden advisory group put together by the Center for Justice Reform at Texas Southern University will help chart the national response for the sustainable improvement of police-community relations.
A Major Faculty Hire for The New School in New York City
Dr. Darrick Hamilton will hold an endowed chair and serve as a University Professor and the founding director of the newly created Institute for the Study of Race, Stratification and Political Economy at The New School.
Accreditation Evaluation Team to Visit Bennett College in Late June
In February, Bennett College lost an appeal of a decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to revoke its accreditation. It filed a lawsuit and will retain its accreditation pending the result of the litigation. But now the college is seeking accreditation from another organization.
Five African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Administrative Positions
Taking on new roles are David Valentine at the Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles, Aileen Warren at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Keith Smith at Tacoma Community College in Washington, Stuart Robinson at New York University, and Franklin A. Tuitt at the University of Connecticut.
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.
University of Kentucky to Remove a Large Mural With Demeaning Racial Images
Amidst the nationwide protests in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, Eli Capilouto, president of the University of Kentucky said that the university would remove a Depression-era mural that contains demeaning images of African Americans.
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.
As Protestors Take to the Streets, the Haters Still Lurk in the Academic World
Amidst what may be the greatest wave of protests for racial justice ever seen in the United States, it is not surprising that there have been reactions from those who hold bigoted or racist views.
Three African Americans Who Are Retiring From High-Level Positions in the Academic World
The three retirees are Dowell Taylor, director of bands at Jackson State University in Mississippi. Geraldine M. Jones, president of California University of Pennsylvania, and Alfreda Brown, vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Kent State University in Ohio.
Grant Proposals Made by Black Researchers to the NIH Receive Lower Initial Evaluations From Peers
Previous research has found that only 16 percent of applications for National Institutes of Health grants by Black researchers are approved compared to 29 percent of projects led by White scholars. The current study led by researchers at the University of Washington explains the racial gap.
Lloyd A. Holmes Appointed President of De Anza College in California
In 2014, Dr. Holmes was named vice president for student services at Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. Earlier, he was dean of students at North Shore Community College in Massachusetts. Dr. Holmes will begin his presidency at De Anza College on July 1.
Some Progress Is Being Made in Racial Diversity in College Sports Administration
The Racial and Ethnic Report Card for College Sport gave a grade of B for racial diversity in college sports programs. This was up from a C+ two years ago. For the first time in history, two African Americans were named commissioners of major athletic conferences.
A Major Black Faculty Hire at Boston University
Ibram X. Kendi, one of the nation’s leading scholars and historians of racism, will join Boston University’s faculty on July 1 and launch the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. Since 2017, he has served on the faculty at American University in Washington, D.C.
STEM Career Aspirations of Black Adolescents Trail Those of Young Whites
Some 18 percent of White teens planned to pursue a career in STEM fields. Only 12 percent of young African Americans believed they would go on to a career in STEM fields. But a slightly higher percentage of Black youth said they aspired to a career in health care than was the case for White teenagers.
R. Charles Byers is the New Leader of West Virginia State University
Dr. Byers has served as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at the university since July 2019. He had retired as provost in 2014 after 41 years of service at West Virginia State University.
Three Black Scholars Appointed to Dean Positions at State Universities
BaShaun H.L. Smith was appointed associate vice chancellor and dean of students at Western Carolina University. Annice D. Yarber-Allen has been named dean of the College of Letters & Sciences at Columbus State University in Georgia and Eric Wilcots was named dean of the College of Letters & Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Prairie View A&M Will Take Steps to Further Education on Systemic Racism in America
Ruth J. Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University in Texas, issued a statement to the university community outlining her plans for the educational institution in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.
A Quartet of Black Scholars Taking on New Faculty Assignments
Taking on new teaching roles are Vanessa Williams at New York University, Bonzo Reddick at the Mercer University School of Medicine in Georgia, Miriam Merrill at Pomona College in Claremont, California, and Titichia M. Jackson at the Penn State Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
