Monthly Archives: December 2020
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.
In Memoriam: Theodore Carter DeLaney Jr., 1943-2020
In 1963, Theodore Carter DeLaney Jr. was hired as a janitor at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. He became a full-time student in 1983. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in history in 1985 at the age of 42. After earning a Ph.D., in 1995, he joined the faculty at the university.
Large Group of Black Students Admitted Early to Harvard University
Harvard University accepted 747 students who applied early from a pool of more than 10,000 early applicants. African Americans constitute 16.6 percent of those admitted early, compared to 12.7 percent last year.
The 21 Historically Black Universities That Awarded Doctoral Degrees in 2019
All told, 21 HBCUs awarded doctoral degrees in 2019. This is the same number of doctoral degree-granting institutions as five years ago in 2014. That year HBCUs awarded 448 doctoral degrees. In 2019, HBCUs gave out 437 doctorates.
Vernell Bennett-Fairs Named the Thirteenth President of LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis
Since 2016, Dr. Bennett-Fairs has been serving as vice president for student affairs at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. Earlier, she was vice president for student affairs at Kentucky State University.
Positive Identity Reinforcement at School Improves Black Students Academic Performance
A new longitudinal study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh shows that African American youth who receive positive messages about their racial group in school achieved better school grades one to two years later.
The Next Dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama
Dr. Schnavia Smith Hatcher has been serving as director of the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Earlier, Dr. Hatcher was the founding director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington from 2012 to 2016.
UCLA Study Finds Stimulus Package Widened Racial Economic Inequality
The UCLA analysis of disparities in the distribution of Paycheck Protection Program Funds, when standardized on a per-resident basis, found that the federal loans supported 5.8 jobs per 100 residents in Black neighborhoods, compared with 8.1 per 100 residents in White communities.
Johnny Moore Appointed Chancellor of Arkansas State University-Newport
Dr. Moore returns home to Arkansas after spending the last four years as president of Pierpont Community & Technical College in Fairmont, West Virginia. A native of Old Washington, Arkansas, he was president and CEO of Philander Smith College in Little Rock from 2012 to 2014.
Historically Black Claflin University in South Carolina to Start Pathway From Prison Program
Individuals incarcerated in South Carolina Department of Corrections facilities will soon be able to receive bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice, psychology, or organizational management at no cost through a historic partnership with historically Black Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
A Trio of African American Faculty Members Who Have Been Named to New Posts
Odis Johnson was named a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University. Christopher Freeburg was named University Scholar at the University of Illinois, and Professor Ronald Williams was appointed chief of staff to the president of Columbus State University in Georgia.
Meharry Medical College Joins Forces to Boost Opportunities for Black Students
Historically Black Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and the University of Memphis today announced a new multi-level collaboration to expand opportunities for education, training, and research for Black medical students and the communities they serve in West Tennessee.
Sabrina Cherry of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wins Peace Corps Award
The Franklin H. Williams Award recognizes ethnically diverse Peace Corps volunteers who have returned from their assignments and have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to civic engagement, service, diversity, inclusion, and world peace.
Central State University Enters Partnership With Missouri State University
The agreement allows for Central State students to start taking graduate course work in their program of choice during their junior or senior year. After graduation, they transfer to Missouri State to complete their accelerated master's degree program.
Three African Americans Appointed to New Administrative Posts in Higher Education
Nicoli Richardson was named a diversity coordinator at the University of Southern California. Jame’l Hodges is a new vice president at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida, and Laquitha Bonds has been named vice president of human resources at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
In Memoriam: Walter Harris Jr., 1947-2020
In 2003, Dr. Harris came to Loyola as provost and vice president for academic affairs and served in that capacity through 2008. He was provost at Loyola when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and helped students relocate to universities across the country.
In Utah “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
The board of trustees at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, voted unanimously to ask the Utah Board of Higher Education to change the name of the educational institution.
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.
In Memoriam: William E. Moore, 1941-2020
After being the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at Purdue University, Dr. Moore joined the chemistry faculty at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the late 1960s. He achieved the rank of full professor within five years.
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.
Three African Americans Who Are Stepping Down From Their Posts in Higher Education
Stepping down are Karla Broadus, director of the African American studies program at the University of Texas at San Antonio, David W. Robinson-Morris, an assistant professor of education at Xavier University in New Orleans, and Ishmell Edwards, director of athletics at Rust College in Mississippi.
Christmas Comes Early for a Large Groups of HBCUs
MacKenzie Scott, a novelist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has announced donations of nearly $4.2 billion to 384 organizations. Among those receiving funds are at least 17 historically Black colleges and universities. Prairie View A& M University received the largest donation of $50 million.
African Americans Making Slow but Steady Progress in Doctoral Degree Awards
There were 2,512 African Americans who earned doctorates in 2019. They made up 7.1 percent of all doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the United States. Women made up 64.3 percent of all African Americans earning doctorates in 2019.
Graduation Rates of Students at State-Operated Historically Black Universities
A few of the nation's private historically Black colleges and universities have achieved progress in graduating their Black students. But at most of the nation's state-operated historically Black colleges and universities, the graduation rates remain very low.
Hampton University President William R. Harvey to Step Down in 2022
During President Harvey's 43-year tenure, he has presided over immense change on campus including the initiation of 92 new academic degrees, erecting 29 new buildings, and increasing the endowment from $29 million to over $300 million.
UCLA Study Finds Persisting Racism Among the Millennial Generation
The researchers sent 4,000 responses to real “roommate wanted” ads posted by millennials. They used names that signaled the race of the room seekers. The results showed that White-sounding names received the most responses, while those that signaled Black roommates got fewer responses.
The New Dean of the Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Debora Jackson has been serving as the director of operations for All Girls Allowed, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on educating and empowering women and girls and engaging partners to realize global impact.
New Black Faculty in the University of Kentucky’s African American and African Studies Program
The University of Kentucky has announced the hiring of a new group of faculty members associated with the African American and Africana Studies interdisciplinary program in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Good News on the Accreditation Front for Bennett College in North Carolina
Recently, Bennett College in North Carolina was awarded candidate status for accreditation by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Candidacy status grants Bennett accreditation privileges as the college proceeds through the accreditation process’s final stages.
Robert Bullard of Texas Southern University Honored by the United Nations
Dr. Bullard received the 2020 Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement award from the United Nations Environment Programme. Dr. Bullard was honored for his commitment and service to environmental justice.
Historically Black Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis Partners With a Community College
The new partnership will allow St. Charles Community College and Harris-Stowe State University to jointly recruit students into a special program shared between the institutions. Student participants will have student privileges at both institutions.
A Trio of African American Scholars Taking on New Duties in Academia
The African American faculty members taking on new roles are Karsonya Whitehead at Loyola University of Maryland, Tomaz Cunningham at Jackson State University in Mississippi, and Rhamin Ligon of the University of Maryland.
Dominion Energy Launches Its $25 Million HBCU Promise Program
The six-year "HBCU Promise" program will support endowments, capital projects, operating expenses, and educational programs in clean energy at 11 historically Black colleges and universities in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio.
