Monthly Archives: April 2023
JoAnne Epps Is the New Leader of Temple University in Philadelphia
Professor Epps joined the Temple faculty in 1985. She was named associate dean of academic affairs at the law school in 1989. She was promoted to full professor in 1994. In 2016, Epps was appointed provost at the university.
Special Education Teacher Shortage Has Huge Impact on Black Students
A new study finds that special education is the No. 1 teacher shortage area in 48 states. At the same time, a growing number of students of color have been identified as having a disability.
Xavier Cole Selected as the First African American President of Loyola University New Orleans
Dr. Cole has been serving as vice president for student affairs at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Before joining the staff at Marquette in 2016 he was vice president for student affairs at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Earlier, he was assistant vice president for student development at Loyola University of Maryland.
Anita Thomas Will Be the First African American President of North Central College in Illinois
Dr. Thomas is currently the executive vice president and provost at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to arriving at St. Catherine University in 2019, she was the founding dean of the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. Earlier in her career, Dr. Thomas taught counseling psychology and school counseling at Loyola University Chicago.
Zillow Study Finds Racial Disparities in Rental Applications and Security Deposits
The report found that on average Blacks had a $150 higher security deposit than Whites. About 93 percent of renters of color had to pay a security deposit last year, while 85 percent of white renters had to post a security deposit.
Four African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions
Newly appointed to dean positions are Gregory E. Triplett Jr. in the School of Science and Engineering at Saint Louis University, Denise Taliaferro Baszile in the College of Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Viola L. Acoff for the University of Mississippi School of Engineering, and Leon Geter for the School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences at Benedict College in South Carolina.
Nursing Staff Shortages at Some Hospitals May Impact the Black Maternal Mortality Rate
A new study found that hospitals serving more patients at risk for complications during childbirth are less likely to have enough nurses to care for patients. This may be contributing to poor maternal health outcomes in the U.S. for the most vulnerable childbearing populations, including Black mothers.
Anita Thomas Will Be the First African American President of North Central College in Illinois
Dr. Thomas is currently the executive vice president and provost at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to arriving at St. Catherine University in 2019, she was the founding dean of the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. Earlier in her career, Dr. Thomas taught counseling psychology and school counseling at Loyola University Chicago.
Morgan State University to Lead Consortium to Conduct Transportation Reseach
Morgan State University is the first historically Black college or university and the first university in Maryland to lead a U.S. Department of Transportation Regional University Transportation Center. Researchers will explore novel applications for emerging technologies, such as machine learning, automated vehicles, and electric vehicles, to strengthen the region’s transportation network.
New Administrative Duties at Universities for Four African Americans
Taking on new administrative roles are Runell J. King at Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina, Jade Packer at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, Clinton Fluker at Emory University in Atlanta, and Richelle D. Payne at Hampton University in Virginia.
Three African American Women Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Assignments
The three Black women faculty members who are taking on new assignments are Crystal Feimster at Yale University, Kia Dolby at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, and Alison Brown at Talladega College in Alabama.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore to Offer Two New Degree Programs
The historically Black university has announced the creation of an art therapy program and a music production program. The programs are expected to be launched in the fall of 2024. The new interdisciplinary academic programs will both be firsts in the University System of Maryland.
Syracuse University’s Carrie Mae Weems Is the Winner of the 2023 Hasselblad Award
The Hasselblad Award is an international photography prize that is granted annually to a photographer recognized for major achievements. The award is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize” of photography. The award includes a monetary prize of about $188,000 and a gold medal.
Colorado Community College Systems Partners With Two Historically Black Universities
The system's signature Bridge to Bachelor’s Degree Program guarantees new, first-time students admission to participating four-year institutions upon completion of an associate degree at a Colorado community college. Saint Augustine's University and Texas Southern University will become the system’s first out-of-state transfer options.
Three African Americans Appointed to Diversity Positions in Higher Education
Derek A. James was appointed dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Noura Allen was named director of diversity and inclusive excellence for the College of Professional Studies at Syracuse University and Jeanine Staples-Dixon, a professor at Pennsylvania State University. was appointed the senior faculty mentor in the Office of Educational Equity.
In Memoriam: Donald Brown
Donald Brown served as director of the Office of African, Hispanic Asian, and Native American (AHANA) Student Programs at Boston College for 27 years from 1978 to 2005.
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.
The Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University Named After Ruth Simmons
Ten years ago, the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice opened its doors at Brown University. The center’s creation inspired universities and other organizations around the world to take up the work of investigating their own ties to slavery. Now, the university has named the center in honor of President Emerita Ruth J. Simmons.
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.
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.
Highly Selective Colleges Become Even More Selective
In an era when college enrollments are generally down, a large number of selective educational institutions recorded a record number of applications, and therefore a record low admissions rate. But very few of them revealed data on the percentage of Blacks in their admitted classes.
How to Maintain Racial Diversity If the Supreme Court Prohibits Race-Sensitive Admissions
A new report from the Center on Education and the Workforce in the School of Public Policy at Georgetown University finds that the racial and ethnic diversity of students at the nation's most selective colleges and universities will decrease significantly unless these colleges fundamentally altered their admissions practices.
Alec Gallimore Will Be the Next Provost at Duke University
Since 2016, he has been the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. He previously served the college as associate dean for research and graduate education and associate dean for academic affairs. Dr. Gallimore founded and directs the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Michigan
Faculty From Underrepresented Groups Come Up Short in Tenure Appointments
Half of all faculty from underrepresented groups were part-time in 2021 compared to 44 percent of White faculty and 26 percent of Asian faculty. Some 37 percent of all faculty from underrepresented groups held tenure, compared to 45 percent of White faculty and 47 percent of Asian faculty.
Four African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions
Yolanda Pierce was appointed dean of the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University and John W. Miller Jr. will be the next dean of the School of Social Work and Family Science at the University of Louisville. Kristina K. Bethea Odejimi was named dean of students at Emory University and Kelechi C. Ogbonna is the new dean of the School of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University.
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Black Church Attendance
Black Protestants remain the U.S. religious group most likely to be viewing services virtually. At the height of the pandemic, two-thirds of Black Protestants reported they participated in virtual services over the past month. In the most recent survey, 54 percent of Black Protestants say they participated in services online or on TV in the last month.
Aubra Gantt Appointed Chancellor of Southern University Shreveport
Dr. Gantt currently serves as a clinician at various hospitals in Phoenix, Arizona. She began her professional educational career at Southern University Shreveport as an educational counselor. She later served as dean of enrollment management at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona and vice president for academic outreach and student success at the Tarrant County College campus in Fort Worth, Texas.
Calvin White Jr. Appointed Provost at Arkansas State University
Currently, Dr. White is the associate dean of humanities in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He joined the University of Arkansas in 2007 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2013.
Columbia University Teams Up With Southern University for Faculty Development
The new partnership that will facilitate faculty research collaborations; exchange and experiential learning programs for students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty; and innovation and economic development initiatives.
Five Black Scholars Honored With Endowed Professorships at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University in Nashville held a ceremony honoring the 41 faculty members who have recently been appointed to endowed chairs. Several of these appointments went to Black scholars, including three who teach chemistry.
Saint Augustine’s University Enhances Its Partnership With Wake Tech Community College
Since 2012, the two institutions have offered transfer options for Wake graduates in business administration and criminal justice technology. According to the new agreement, graduates of any associate degree program at Wake Tech can now transfer up to 64 credits toward a four-year degree in an applicable degree program at the private historically Black university.
Cal Poly Pomona President Soraya M. Coley Honored by the American Council on Education
Dr. Coley is the first woman and first African American scholar to serve as president of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She will receive the 2023 Donna Shavlik Award from the American Council on Education at the Women’s Leadership Dinner at the American Council on Education's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Morris Brown College Graduates Now Have A Clear Path to Law School
Under the agreement, Morris Brown students will be able to seek application guidance from the Office of Admissions at John Marshall Law School and eligible applicants who meet the standard admissions criteria will receive priority law school admission.
Five African Americans Who Have Been Assigned New University Administrative Duties
Taking on new administrative roles are Phillip D. Jones at Hampton University in Virginia, Karla C. Lewis at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Andrea Simpson at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Camacia Smith-Ross at Southern University New Orleans, and Zenobia Lane at Santa Clara University in California.
In Memoriam: Randall Robinson, 1941-2023
Randall Robinson was a lawyer, civil rights activist, and educator. He was one of America's leading voices in opposition to South African apartheid. He taught at Pennsylvania State University from 2008 to 2016.
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.
