Monthly Archives: September 2021
The American Political Science Association Honors the University of Chicago’s Cathy Cohen
Cathy J. Cohen, the David and Mary Winton Green Distinguished Service Professor in the department of political science at the University of Chicago, received the 2021 Hanes Walton, Jr. Career Award from the American Political Science Association. The award honors a political scientist whose lifetime of distinguished scholarship has made significant contributions to the understanding of racial and ethnic politics.
Cheyney University in Pennsylvania Debuts Its Life Sciences and Technology Hub
The LSAT Hub at historically Black Cheyney University marks the culmination of efforts to recruit private biological, chemical, and other STEM companies to campus, with an eye toward preparing students for careers through academic programs and research experiences.
Four African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education
Taking on new diversity potions are Garry Morgan at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Kendra Riley at the University of West Florida, Margo R. Freeman at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Jevon Willis at Hope College in Michigan.
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.
Salem College Develops Walking Tour on the History of Enslaved People on Campus
In conjunction with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of Salem Academy and College, the Anna Maria Samuel Project: Race, Remembrance, and Reconciliation is holding two events focusing on the history of the college’s relationship with slavery and the work of both enslaved and free African Americans in the history of the institution.
In Memoriam: Wendell Carl Baker, 1946-2021
In 1976, Dr. Baker joined the faculty at Prairie View A&M University, where he taught agricultural science. He also was the manager of the university's farm. He taught at the university until 1984 and then devoted his full time to the Baker Veterinary Clinic, which he had opened in Prairie View in 1978.
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.
In Memoriam: Harold Alonza Franklin, 1932-2021
On January 4, 1964, Harold Franklin enrolled at Auburn University as a graduate student in history. He was the first Black student to enroll at Auburn. After completing his studies, he was not allowed to defend his master's degree thesis and was not awarded his degree. This injustice was not corrected until 2020.
Racial Differences in Employment and Educational Attainment of College Graduates a Decade Later
For students who graduated from college in the 2007-8 academic year, Whites, on average, were more likely than Blacks to hold full-time jobs and worked more hours per week a decade later. The average salary for Whites who had full-time jobs was $82,170. For African American college graduates who had full-time jobs, the average salary was $65,104.
Delaware State University President to Lead White House’s HBCU Advisory Board
Dr. Tony Allen was appointed president of Delaware State University in 2020 after serving as provost for nearly three years. Before coming to Delaware State, Dr. Allen was head of the corporate reputation group for Bank of America. He is the former executive vice president of MBNA, the large banking and credit card company.
Blacks More Likely to Take Advantage of Optional Test-Score Reporting During the Pandemic
Most colleges and universities were test-optional this past year due to the pandemic but some students still reported their scores. Only 31 percent of students from underrepresented minority groups reported test scores this past year, compared to 43 percent of all students who used the Common App.
Lerone Martin Named Faculty Director of Stanford’s MLK Research and Education Institute
Dr. Martin is currently an associate professor of religion and politics in the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, as well as associate professor of African and African-American studies, and director of American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. He will join the Stanford faculty in January.
The FBI Releases New Data on Hate Crimes in the United States
There were 224 hate crimes in elementary or secondary schools that were reported to the FBI in 2020. There were only 116 reported hate crimes on college campuses. But remember that a large majority of college campuses were shut down for a good portion of the year due to the pandemic.
Yoshiko Harden Is the New Leader of Seattle Central College in Washington State
Dr. Harden has been serving as vice president for student services at the college since 2016. Earlier, she was vice president for diversity and chief diversity officer at Bellevue College in Washington state and the director of multicultural services and student development at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington.
Three African American Scholars Who Are Taking on New Faculty Assignments
James McLeod was appointed chair of the department of music at Wilberforce University in Ohio. Phillis Isabella Sheppard was appointed the inaugural director of the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements at Vanderbilt University and Kirsten T. Edwards was appointed associate professor of educational policy studies at Florida International University.
Howard University Was a Victim of a Ransomware Cyberattack
On September 3, 2021, the Howard University information technology team detected unusual activity on the university’s network. In order to give its IT team more time to address the issue, the university canceled classes on September 7 and 8, and told all non-essential workers to stay home.
A Half Dozen African Americans Taking on New Administrative Duties in Higher Education
Taking on new administrative posts are Kendall Isaac at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, Moira Poe at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Angela Graham-Williams at Xavier University in New Orleans, John Mack at Princeton University in New Jersey, Tiffany D. Tucker at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and Monique Howard at the University of Pennsylvania.
Tuskegee University Partners With Auburn University for Undergraduate STEM Research
Historically Black Tuskegee University in Alabama has entered into an agreement with Auburn University in Alabama to provide opportunities for Tuskegee students to explore new educational and career paths in research mentorships in STEM fields with Auburn graduate students and faculty.
Tenille Gaines Honored by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors
Tenille Gaines is the associate director for counseling in Michigan State University’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services department. She will receive the Harriet Copher Haynes Diversity Leadership Mentoring Award. The award honors “talented mental health professionals of diverse identities who aspire to become counseling center directors.”
The Nation’s Largest HBCU Continues to Exhibit Impressive Enrollment Growth
North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro reports that there are 13,322 students on campus this fall. This is the highest enrollment in the university's 120-year history. It is also the eighth consecutive year of enrollment increases. A total of 2,930 first-year students are enrolled this fall, an increase of more than 37 percent from a year ago
Alabama A&M University Names Three Finalists for President
The three finalists are Colette Pierce Burnette, president of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, Roderick Smothers, president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Daniel K. Wims, provost and vice president for academic affairs and research and a professor of agricultural sciences at Alabama A&M University.
Five African Americans Who Are Taking on New Roles as University Diversity Officers
The five African Americans who have been named to diversity positions are Sherrae Mack at Xavier University in Cincinnati, James Huguley at the University of Pittsburgh, Margie Gill at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, Renee Madison at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, and Katrina Rugless at the University of Pikeville in Kentucky.
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 Arkansas Little Rock Creates New Center Focusing on Racial Justice
The Center for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform's stated mission is to advance legal equity, access to justice, and fairness in Arkansas and the region. In addition, the Center will focus on specific criminal justice research projects while offering workshops and educational events for the legal community and the community as a whole.
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.
In Memoriam: Patricia V. Richie
Patricia Richie began working at then Palm Beach Community College in 1994 as director of continuing studies and was promoted three years later to dean of Career and Technical Education, becoming the college’s first African American female dean.
Four African Americans Appointed to New Executive Posts at Martin University in Indianapolis
Davyd Hall was appointed executive director for the National Center for Racial Equity and Inclusion and Michael A. Couch II was named associate vice president for enrollment management. John E. Girton. Jr was promoted to vice president for the new marketing and communications division and Carol Branson was appointed vice president of information technology.
Professor Wins $375,000 Jury Verdict in Unlawful Retaliation Lawsuit
In 2014, Dr. Nicholas Alozie claims he was passed over for promotion as dean of the College of Letters and Sciences at Arizona State University due to the fact that he criticized the university's hiring process and record on faculty diversity during his initial interview. A jury has awarded him $375,000, agreeing that Dr. Alozie was a victim of illegal retaliation. The university has vowed to fight the verdict.
Report Examines Racial and Gender Differences in California Higher Educational Attainments
The Campaign for College Opportunity found improvements in degree completions for Black Californias at all levels of the state higher education system. But the data also shows there are major gaps between not only Blacks and Whites but also Black men and Black women.
The First Woman to Chair the Surgery Department at the Howard University College of Medicine
Andrea A. Hayes has been serving as the surgeon-in-chief and division chief of pediatric surgery at the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital, where she also served as a professor of pediatric surgery and surgical oncology. A native of Los Angeles, she earned her bachelor's degree and medical doctorate at Dartmouth College.
African American College Students Subjected to Racial Discrimination at Risk for Alcohol Abuse
Studies have shown that African American college students are less likely than their White peers to participate in binge drinking. But a new study has found that for those African American college students who are subjected to racial discrimination, they are more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms and engage in problem alcohol consumption.
Spelman College President Mary Schmidt Campbell Will Step Down at the End of the Academic Year
Dr. Campbell became president of Spelman College in Atlanta on August 1, 2015. She is dean emerita of the Tisch School of the Arts and University Professor of art and public policy at New York University. Early in her career she was the director of the Studio Museum in Harlem and was cultural affairs commissioner for the City of New York. She joined the faculty at New York University in 1991 and served as dean for two decades.
Census Report Examines Racial Gap in Episodic and Chronic Poverty Rates
Chronic poverty is defined as being below the poverty income threshold for the entire four years that were surveyed. Some 5.6 percent of the U.S. Black population was poor for the entire four-year period. This was true for only 1.7 percent of the non-Hispanic White population.
Three African American Women Who Have Been Appointed to University Dean Positions
Catherine R. Squires was named interim dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Denelle Wallace-Alexander has been appointed dean of the School of Education at Norfolk State University in Virginia and Carmen Renee’ Green is the new dean of the City University of New York School of Medicine
