Tag: University of Massachusetts

Three African Americans in New Administrative Roles in Higher Education

Monique D’Almeida was appointed the Deknatel Curatorial Fellow in Japanese Works on Paper at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center on the campus of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Torin Moore was named assistant dean for student affairs for the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts and Christian Mills was named director of the Quality Enhancement Plan at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina.

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.

Four African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new assignments relating to diversity are Kendra Jason at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Rodmon King at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Chanelle Whittaker at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland, and Harold Wallace III at Wichita State University in Kansas.

Five African American Scholars Who Are Taking on New University Assignments

The five Black scholars in new posts or who are taking on new duties are Derrick Harriell at the University of Mississippi, Crista Johnson-Agbakwu at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Duane Watson at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Phylicia Rashad at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Misty De Berry at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

In Memoriam: Arthur E. Thomas, 1940-2023

In 1985, Dr. Thomas was appointed president of Central State University. He was the first alumnus of the school to serve as university president. Dr. Thomas served as president of the university until 1995.

In Memoriam: John H. Bracey Jr., 1941-2022

Professor Bracey was a leading figure in the fields of African American studies and U.S. history. He joined the faculty at the University of Massachusetts in 1972 and helped create one of the nation’s first doctoral programs in African American studies.

Three Black Scholars Who Have Been Given Duties Relating to Diversity

Wilmore Webley will serve as the inaugural senior vice provost for equity and inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Cornelius Gilbert was appointed chief diversity officer at the State University of New York Adirondack and Krista L. Walker was named assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion for the College of Nursing at Michigan State University.

Three African Americans Who Are Taking on Roles Relating to Diversity at Universities

Taking on diversity assignments are Sofiya Alhassan at the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Jacquez Gray for the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety, and Keona Lewis in the provost's office at the University of Notre Dame.

Six Colleges and Universities Announce the Hiring of Black Faculty Members

Here is this week’s roundup of Black faculty members who have been appointed to new positions or given new duties at colleges and universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to contact@JBHE.com.

A Quartet of Black Women Who Have Been Appointed to Faculty Positions

The four Black women taking on new duties are Charmaine A. Nelson at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Vene Baggett at Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen, Catina Bacote at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and Jennifer Simmons at the University of Mississippi.

Study Finds Teachers’ Biases and Fears Limit Needed Discussions About Race in the Classroom

Analyzing data from two large surveys, each including responses from more than 1,000 K-12 teachers, researchers at the Unversity of Massachusetts found that teachers’ implicit racial biases and their explicit fears of being perceived as racist both independently contributed to lower intentions to talk about race with their students.

Three Black Scholars Who Have Been Named to Endowed Professorships

The three Black scholars who have been appointed to named professorships are Regina Stevens-Truss at Kalamazoo College in Michigan, Fousseni Chabi-Yo in the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts  Amherst, and Evelynn Hammons at Spelman College in Atlanta.

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.

Four African Americans Who Have Been Named to New Admnistrative Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new duties are LaNiece R. Tyree at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Sonel Y. Shropshire at Delaware State University, Amikaeyla Gaston at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, and Angela B. Abraham at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Vanderbilt University Acquires the Papers of Jazz Musician Yusef Lateef

Vanderbilt’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are now home to a rich collection of research materials from the life and career of Yusef A. Lateef, a Grammy-winning musician who played a pioneering role in bringing Middle Eastern and Asian sounds to American jazz.

Five Black Scholars Taking on New University Faculty Assignments

Taking on new roles are Garrett L. Washington at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Marjuyua Lartey at the University of Southern Mississippi, Darius Young at Florida A&M University, LaTasha Barnes at Arizona State University, and Gregory K. Freeland at California Lutheran University.

Five Black Scholars Appointed to Higher Education Diversity Posts

Recently hired to diversity posts are Paul Frazier at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Sylvia R. Carey-Butler at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, LaVar Charleston at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jeanne Arnold at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, and Wilmore Webley at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

A Quartet of Black Faculty Members Taking on New Assignments in Higher Education

Taking on new assignments are Tracey Osbourne of the University of California, Merced, Alan Tita at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Dave D. Weatherspoon at Michigan State University, and Felicia Griffin-Fennell at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Study Finds That Black Women Faculty Perceive Unfairness in Workloads and Recognition

The study found that women of color are more likely to be asked to do service, especially around diversity issues. And they perceive that their departments are less likely to credit their important work through departmental rewards systems than White men.

A Trio of African Americans Who Have Been Named to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Shirley J. Everett was named senior adviser to the provost on equity and inclusion at Stanford University. Emmanuel Adero is the new deputy chief officer for the  Office of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Torsheika Maddox was named chief of staff for the chief diversity officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Four African Americans Who Have Been Appointed Diversity Officers

Appointed to executive positions in diversity are Damita Davis at the College of Brockport of the State University of New York System, Sarah Walker at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, Bryan Samuel at the University of Texas at Arlington, and Nefertiti Walker at the University of Massachusetts.

In Memoriam: Roosevelt D. Steptoe, 1934-2020

Dr. Steptoe led the flagship campus of the Southern University System from 1975 to 1982. Later, he served as vice president for academic affairs at Alabama State University in Montgomery.

In Memoriam: Frederick Charles Tillis, 1930-2020

Frederick C. Tillis was professor emeritus of music and former director of the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His more than 100 compositions include works for piano and voice, orchestra and chorus, solo, and chamber music.

Two African American Woman Appointed to Dean Positions at Universities

Evelyn L. Ashley has been named dean of students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Henrietta Williams Pichon, an associate professor of educational leadership and administration, was appointed interim dean of the College of Education at New Mexico State University.

In Memoriam: Clara Isabel Adams, 1933-2020

Clara Adams was a member of the faculty and an administrator at Morgan State University in Baltimore for nearly 60 years. She was also the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Massachusetts.

University of Massachusetts Names Its Fine Arts Center After a Former Chancellor

Dr. Randolph Bromery first came to the University of Massachusetts as a professor of geology in 1967. At the time he was one of only seven Black faculty members out of a total faculty of about 1,000. There were only 36 African American students on campus out of a total student body of 14,000.

Barbara Krauthamer Named Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Massachusetts

Barbara Krauthamer, professor of history, dean of the graduate school and senior vice provost for interdisciplinary programs and innovation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, has been appointed as dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

Five African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Administrative Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new administrative duties are Maria Ramirez at New York University, Ryan J. Davis at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, Jamina Scippio-McFadden at the University of Massachusetts, Mary-Ann Ibeziako at Virginia Tech, and Shantay Bolton at Tulane University in New Orleans.

In Memoriam: Bill Wilson, 1940-2019

Bill Wilson was the first African American elected to the city council in St. Paul, Minnesota, founder of the Higher Ground Academy, and former administrator at the University of Minnesota.

The University of Minnesota’s Historical Ties to Slavery

In 1856, the university was struggling financially and received a loan of nearly $15,000 from William Aiken Jr., who at one time owned more than 700 slaves in South Carolina. This money helped build one of the first campus buildings, Old Main.

In Memoriam: Tracie Gibson

Dr. Gibson joined the staff at the University of Massachusetts in 2017. Before coming to Amherst, Dr. Gibson served on the faculty at the University of Texas-Permian Basin and later at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

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.

Three African Americans Appointed to Teaching Posts at Colleges and Universities

Taking on new teaching roles are LaTasha Moody-Love at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Billy R. Bennett at Bowie State University in Maryland, and Donna Hylton at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Dorcas Davis Bowles to Serve as Provost at Clark Atlanta University

Dr. Bowles served as provost at Clark Atlanta University from 2003 to 2008 and she served as dean of the university’s School of Social Work on three different occasions. Earlier in her career, Dr. Bowles was a professor and acting dean of the School of Social Work at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.

University of Massachusetts’ New Fellows Program Aims to Boost Diversity in Its Graduate School

The Spaulding-Smith STEM Fellowship Program is named for Major Franklin Spaulding, the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, and Elizabeth Hight Smith, who in 1905, was the first woman to earn a graduate degree at the university.

Scholar Looks to Improve Data Science for Analyzing the Language Used by African Americans

Su Lin Blodgett's research is focused on improving English language parsing tools relating to words, phrases, and alternate spellings used by millions of African Americans on social media.

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