Monthly Archives: June 2022

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Aims to Boost Nursing Enrollments

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the historically Black educational institution in Los Angeles, is joining forces with CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States in an effort to address the severe shortage of nurses in California.

Three African Americans Who Are Taking on New Roles as University Diversity Officers

Taking on new administrative responsibilities relating to diversity are Malika Carter at James Madson University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, E. Cheryl Ponder at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Tiffany Baffour at the University of Utah.

In Memoriam: Anthony Owens Parker, 1953-2022

Dr. Parker had been president of Albany Technical College in Georgia since 1995. He was the longest-serving leader in the college's history.

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.

A $100 Million Gift to Boost Enrollments of Underrepresented Students at Loyola University

Loyola University Chicago received a $100 million gift to fund full scholarships, room and board, and an array of comprehensive support services for aspiring Black, Latino, first-generation, and other ethnically and racially diverse students who are historically underrepresented in higher education.

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.

Brian K. Mitchell Has Resigned from His Faculty Post at the University of Arkansas Little Rock

Shortly after being granted tenure last year, Brian K. Mitchell, an associate professor of history at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, filed an employment discrimination lawsuit in federal court against the university. Now Dr. Mitchell has resigned from his faculty position.

University of Michigan to Examine Its History Relating to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The University of Michigan is set to begin a multifaceted, years-long project to study, document, and better understand the university’s history with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion — with the history of race and racism as its first major focus.

How Education May Play a Role in Reparations for Black Californians

“Without accountability, there is no justice. For too long, our nation has ignored the harms that have been — and continue to be — inflicted on African Americans in California and across the country,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Purdue University Study Examines Barriers to Gifted Education for Black Students

Black students' opportunity to access gifted education programs is severely limited because they go to schools that do not offer gifted education programs. In addition, the study found that in schools that offer gifted education, many Black students are overlooked.

Colleen Simpson Appointed President of Front Range Community College in Colorado

Dr. Simpson has been serving as vice president of student services and Regional Learning Centers at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Earlier, she served as the administrator overseeing retention and student success at Bronx Community College of the City University of New York.

Student and Faculty Diversity Reduces the Black-White College Graduation Rate Gap

A study led by Nicholas A. Bowman, Mary Louise Petersen Chair in Higher Education at the University of Iowa, finds that college graduation gaps between Black and White students tend to shrink when there are more students of color or faculty of color on campus.

Three Black Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions

Kimberly White-Smith is the new dean of the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. Ngonidzashe Munemo was named dean of the faculty at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and Kimberly Griffin was appointed dean of the College of Education at the University of Maryland College Park.

Racial/Gender Differences in Qualifications for Appointment to the Federal Bench

A new study by scholars at the University of Louisville, Yale University, and Oregon State University finds that women of color appointed to the federal judiciary typically have a greater depth of professional experiences and are more likely to have previously served as a judge than their White male counterparts.

Samuel Dosumu Named Chancellor of the Valencia County Campus of the University of New Mexico

Most recently, Dr. Dosumu was executive dean at Pueblo Community College Southwest in Mancos, Colorado. Earlier, he was the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at Maricopa County Community College District in Tempe, Arizona, a position he held for six years.

Historically Black Claflin University Teams Up With London Metropolitan University

Under the partnership agreement, students from both universities will have opportunities for customized study abroad programs, international summer school, internships, and service-learning placement scholarships.

Six African American Who Have Appointed to Higher Education Administrative Posts

Taking on new duties are Jeremy Faulk at Lincoln University in Missouri, Edvige Jean-François, at Georgia State University, Wendell Philips at Fayetteville State University, Monique Michelle Dozier at the University of California, Riverside, Rodney L. Demery at Grambling State University, and Nakita Haynie at the University of Kansas.

Prudential Financial Launches Program to Train Endowment Professionals at HBCUs

The goal of the program is to provide investment management education and training for HBCU decision-makers who manage endowments in order to boost endowment performance and therefore reinforce the financial stability of HBCUs.

Professor Alena Allen Named Deputy Director of the Association of American Law Schools

Professor Allen joined the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2021 as associate dean for research and faculty development and professor of law. She was named interim dean of the law school earlier this year.

Southern University Signs a Five-Year Partnership Agreement With Georgetown University

The agreement represents a pledge by the leaders of Georgetown and the Southern University System to collaborate on activities that could include joint research and curriculum projects, the exchange of faculty and research scholars, faculty training and development, and grants and student pipeline programs. 

Four African Americans Who Have Been Assigned to University Diversity Posts

Taking on new roles relating to diversity are Rockell Brown Burton at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University in New York, Courtney Randall at the University of California, Davis, Rodney L. Parker at Loyola University Maryland, and Doris Fields at Eastern Michigan University.

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.

The First Black Woman to Graduate From Arizona State University

For many years, it was believed that Love Hatton Jordan was the first African American woman to graduate from Arizona State University in 1928. Now an earlier Black woman graduate has been discovered. Stella McHenry graduated in 1925 and became a school teacher. She died three years later.

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.

Oakton Community College in Illinois Establishes an Academy for Black Men

The Emory Williams Academy for Black Men is designed to support historically underserved and underrepresented students along their academic and career pathways, with a particular focus on Black male students.

Rochelle Ford Selected as the Next President of Dillard University in New Orleans

Since 2018, Dr. Ford has been serving as dean of School of Communications at Elon University in North Carolina. Before becoming dean at Elon, she was a professor of public relations in the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in New York.

The Devastating Effects of the Pandemic on Black Enrollments in Higher Education

This spring there were 4.2 percent more first-year students enrolled in American higher education than a year ago. But for Blacks, first-year enrollments are down 6 percent this spring compared to a year ago. This comes on top of a 13 percent decline from 2020 to 2021.

Cuyahoga Community College Appoints Michael Baston as Its Fifth President

Since 2017, Dr. Baston has been serving as president of Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. He began his career as an attorney representing various educational institutions and social justice organizations. His work with academic clients led him to pursue a second career in academia.

California Scholars Have Developed a School Segregation Index

The Segregation Index, developed by researchers at the University of Southern California and the Stanford Graduate School of Education shows that White-Black segregation between schools within large school districts increased 35 percent over the past 30 years.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Makes a Huge Commitment to Diversify Scientific Research

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the largest private funder of biomedical research in the nation, has launched the $1.5 billion Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program. HHMI expects to hire and support up to 150 early-career faculty over the next 20 years to help build a more diverse scientific workforce.

Arizona State University Study Finds Black Girls Are Often Teased and Bullied About Their Hair

The prevalence of verbal teasing or bullying was dwarfed by touching Black girls’ hair without permission. Touching of hair without permission was reported by 78 percent of 10-year-olds, 50 percent of 11-year-olds, 81 percent of 12-year-olds, 65 percent of 13-year-olds and 70 percent of 14-year-olds.

Three African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed Deans

Josef Sorett will be the next dean of Columbia College in New York. Akilah Carter-Francique was appointed dean of Education, Health, and Human Services at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, and Nathaniel Whitaker, has been named interim dean of the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts.

African American Scholar is the First Faculty Hire for the Columbia Climate School

Kristina G. Douglass was the Joyce and Doug Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute and assistant professor of anthropology and African studies at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Douglass' research focuses on investigating human-environment interaction in Madagascar.

HBCU Students to Participate in Medical Research Program at the University of Pennsylvania

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is expanding its Penn Access Summer Scholars Program to include students from five historically Black educational institutions. The selective program provides two summers of research for undergraduates with a goal of preparing them to matriculate into medical school.

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