Monthly Archives: July 2021
Whites Who Read News About Racial Incidents Are Less Likely to Support Black Businesses
When people are reminded of how they differ from others, they often become more inclined to identify — and side — with their own group. A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Oregon, and the University of Minnesota finds that news coverage of racial incidents lowers support for Black entrepreneurs.
A Trio of African Americans Who Have Been Appointed Deans
Karen Brown was appointed dean of the School of Education at the University of the Virgin Islands. Samuel Graham, Jr. will be the next dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland and Tamika Wordlow Williams is the new dean of students at Belmont University in Nashville.
Study Finds Higher Breast Cancer Risk for Black Women Who Were Heavy Users of Hair Relaxers
Comparing user data to incidence of breast cancer, the researchers found that Black women who were heavy users of hair relaxers (those who used hair products containing lye at least seven times a year for 15 or more years) had an approximately 30 percent increased risk of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer compared to other Black women.
LaTonia Collins Smith Has Been Chosen to Lead Historically Black Harris-Stowe State University
Dr. Collins Smith is serving as interim president of the historically Black university in St Louis. She had been serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Collins Smith began her career in higher education at Harris-Stowe State University in 2010 as a project coordinator in the Office of Counseling Services.
Five Black Women Faculty Members Who Have Been Appointed to New Posts
Taking on new roles or titles are Shannon Clowney Johnson at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, Tracy Heather Strain at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, Muriel Poston at Claremont McKenna College in California, Safiya Sinclair at Arizona State University, and Charmaine Royal at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
Accrediting Agency Places Florida Memorial University on Probation for Good Cause
In a statement, Jaffus Hardrick, president of Florida Memorial University, explained that "the issues that led to this action occurred over numerous years of dealing with financial challenges, declining enrollment, and aging infrastructure."
Eight African Americans Who Have Been Named to Administrative Positions in Higher Education
Taking on new jobs are Cynthia Evers at Howard University, R. Darrell Peterson at Caltech, Ashley Hodges at Notre Dame University of Maryland, Stacie Clayton at Wayne State, Vincent L. Young at Mississippi State, Kristen Smith at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, Don Hunt at North Carolina State, and Kelly McMurray at Florida A&M University.
Bethune-Cookman University Signs an Agreement With the University of Tampa
Historically Black Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, has entered into an agreement in an effort to provide opportunities for Bethune-Cookman graduates to pursue graduate studies in curriculum and instruction at the University of Tampa.
Vanderbilt University’s Clanitra Nejdl Honored by the American Association of Law Libraries
Clanitra Nejdl, head of professional development and research services librarian at the law school Vanderbilt University in Nashville, won the Emerging Leader Award and shared the Spectrum Article of the Year Award from the American Association of Law Libraries.
Historically Black Talladega College in Alabama to Offer an MBA Program
The MBA program will offer seven areas of concentration: accounting, management, marketing, finance, logistics, healthcare management, and entrepreneurship. The MBA program can be completed in as little as a year and will be offered online or through hybrid learning.
Five Black Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education
Taking on new roles as diversity officers are Larry P. Thomas at Pennsylvania State University, Sibby Anderson-Thompkins at Sewanee: The University of the South, Kauline Cipriani at Colorado State University, Lemuel W. Watson at Indiana University in Bloomington, and Norm Jones at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.
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.
Johnson County in Iowa Isn’t Changing Its Name, Just Who It Is Honoring
Johnson County in Iowa was originally named for Richard Mentor Johnson, a slaveowner who served as vice president under President Martin Van Buren. Henceforth, Johnson County will honor Lulu Merle Johnson, who was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Iowa and taught at several historically Black colleges and universities.
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.
A Change in Leadership at South Carolina State University
By a vote of 10 to 3, the board of trustees of South Carolina State University has voted to terminate the contract of President James E. Clark, effective immediately. Alexander Conyers, vice president for strategic alliances and initiatives at the university, was appointed acting president.
Emory University Apologizes for Failing to Consider a Black Medical School Applicant in 1959
In 1959, Marion Gerald Hood applied to the medical school at Emory University in Atlanta. After less than a week, Hood was informed that his application had been rejected. A letter from an admissions official stated "I am sorry I must write you that we are not authorized to consider for admission a member of the Negro race."
Yale School of Public Health Names a Scholarship After an African American Alumna
The executive master’s degree in public health scholarship at the Yale School of Public Health is being named in honor of Irene Trowell-Harris, the first African American woman in the history of the U.S. Air National Guard to be promoted to brigadier general and subsequently, in 1998, to two-star major general.
Four African Americans Who Have Stepped Down From Their Higher Education Posts
The four African Americans who have retired from their positions in the academic world are Forrester Lee at Yale University, Micheline Rice-Maximin at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, William Welburn at Marquette University in Milwaukee, and Lynn Thompson at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach Florida.
New Report Examines Residential Racial Segregation in the Twenty-First Century
A new report by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley's Othering and Belonging Institute finds that residential racial segregation is the major factor in racial inequality in the United States. The authors also conclude that residential segregation not only persists but has gotten worse over the past 30 years.
Felician University in New Jersey Appoints James W. Crawford III as Its Sixth President
Crawford has been serving as interim president of the university since last fall. He is a retired admiral and the 43rd Judge Advocate General of the United States Navy. In the U.S. Navy for more than three decades, Admiral Crawford served under six Presidents and was lead counsel for the principal military advisor to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Study Finds ‘Benevolent Sexism’ Is Not Equally Applied to Black and White Women
Benevolent sexism is a term that refers to views about women that seem positive but also exhibit a level of inferiority to men based on fragility, a lack of competence or intelligence, or a need for the guardianship of men. A new study finds that benevolent sexism may be more likely afforded to White women than it is to Black women.
Peter Grant Jordan Will Be the Next President of Dutchess Community College in New York
In 2012, Dr. Jordan was appointed president of Tarrant County College-South Campus in Texas. Prior to joining Tarrant, Dr. Jordan held positions of vice president for institutional effectiveness and vice president of enrollment management and student development at LaGuardia Community College in New York.
University of Connecticut Report Finds Increased Fast Food Marketing to Black Youth
The study from the University of Connecticut shows that disparities in racial and ethnic targeted advertising are widening. Black youth viewed 75 percent more fast food ads than their White peers in 2019, up from a 60 percent difference found in 2012.
A Quartet of Black Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to University Dean Positions
The new deans are Sharon E. Milligan at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Daryle Williams at the University of California, Riverside, Carroll Ann Trotman at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, and Estella Atekwana at the University of California, Davis.
For the Sake of Racial Justice and Equity, Time to Eliminate Standardized Testing
Racial & ethnic differences in performance on standardized exams are irrefutable. Yet, standardized exams continue to be used in admissions & scholarship decisions across every stratum of postsecondary education.
Four Black Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to New Faculty Positions
Taking on new faculty posts are Michael McElroy at the University of Michigan, Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Lamonte Aidoo at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and Julie Dash at Spelman College in Atlanta.
Edward Waters College in Jacksonville Transitions to University Status
On July 1, historically Black Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida, transitioned to university status. For the first time, the university is offering a graduate degree program - a master's degree in business administration.
Colleges and Universities Appoint Seven African Americans to Administrative Positions
Takin on new duties are Vincent L. Young at Mississippi State, Olga Osaghae at Howard University, Rolundus R. Rice at Rust College in Mississippi, Amy Johnson at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Emma Adebayo at Augustana College in Illinois, Brandon Howard at Huntingdon College in Alabama, and Jaide Hinds-Clarke at the University of Richmond in Virginia.
Prairie View A&M University Initiates Partnerships With Six Universities in Africa
Historically Black Prairie View A&M University in Texas is spearheading a new multidisciplinary effort to help improve food security, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and social welfare in Africa. Camille Gibson, interim dean of the College of Juvenile Justice, is leading the new Pacesetters Initiative that has six partner universities in Africa.
Virginia Commonwealth University’s First Novelist Award Given to Raven Leilani
Raven Leilani, who has served as an Axinn Foundation Writer-in-Residence at New York University, is the recipient of the 2021 Cabell First Novelist Award given by the creative writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. The award, now in its 20th year, honors an outstanding debut novel published during the preceding calendar year.
Saint Augustine’s University Establishes Working Agreement With a Plastic Recycling Firm
Historically Black Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina, has entered into an agreement with Braven Environmental that will provide the opportunity for both faculty and students to conduct research on plastics recycling alongside Braven’s scientists.
Four African American Appointed to Diversity Posts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The new assistant deans for diversity at MIT are Alana Anderson in the Schwarzman College of Computing, Nandi Bynoe in the School of Engineering, Tracie Jones in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and Bryan Thomas Jr. in the Sloan School of Management.
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.
Board Votes to Change Name of Dixie State University to Utah Tech University
Dixie State University was founded in an area settled by Mormons from the South. It used to have a Rebel as a mascot and in 2012 a statue of Confederate soldiers was removed from campus. Today, African Americans make up 2 percent of the 11,000-member undergraduate student body.
