Showing posts with label HBCU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HBCU. Show all posts

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr. named new president of Grambling State University

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to name Dr. Martin Lemelle as the next president of Grambling State University.

“To this illustrious Board, to our Gram Fam across the globe, to our students, current and future, to our alumni community, my family, friends, and supporters … This is our story. This is the Grambling State University story,” Lemelle said.

The Grambling Presidential Search Committee narrowed the field to three finalists, Dr. Gregory Ford, Dr. Monica Williams, and Lemelle after interviewing six semifinalists on Grambling’s campus earlier this month.

“Dr. Lemelle’s appointment as the 11th president of Grambling State University guarantees a leader well-prepared on day one,” said Rick Gallot, who left the Grambling presidency to assume the role of UL System President and CEO at the start of the year . “I am confident that under President Lemelle’s leadership, Grambling State University will continue to thrive with its best days yet to come.”

Lemelle is a 2006 graduate and former student government association president of Grambling. He has most recently served as executive vice president & chief financial officer at Maryland Institute College of Art. Prior, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at GSU from 2016-2021.

Gallot and Board Chair Dr. Jimmy Clarke are authorized to negotiate Lemelle’s start date.

[SOURCE: GRAM.EDU]

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Wilberforce University set to begin third HBCU gymnastics program in the nation

Wilberforce will launch its first women’s gymnastics team in partnership with Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG). BGDG’s mission is to provide access, coaching, training, and other forms of support to athletes.

This expansion follows the announcement of the university’s new women’s soccer and volleyball programs.

“The introduction of a gymnastics team aligns with our commitment to provide inclusive athletic programs and highlights our belief in the power of diversity in sports and empowering future generations of gymnasts,” said President Dr. Vann R. Newkirk.

This joint venture, in conjunction with the HBCU Gymnastics Alliance, signifies the expansion of athletic opportunities at HBCUs nationwide

In honoring this commitment, BGDG and Wilberforce University will host Camp Isla™ this summer. The gymnastics camp is scheduled to take place on campus June 20-23, 2024.

The new Wilberforce team will begin competing in January 2026.

Thursday, October 05, 2023

Morgan President Provides Update on Homecoming Activities and Campus Safety

Morgan State Community:

It is with great consternation that I deliver this message to our University community following the most unfortunate of events that occurred on our campus last evening. On behalf of our entire Morgan community including our Board of Regents, my administrative team, faculty and staff, we extend our thoughts and prayers to those students injured in this heinous act of violence. Their care and recovery are a top priority.

Today, we unfortunately find ourselves navigating this tragic event during a time at which we should be celebrating our National Treasure during Homecoming. Please understand that the safety of our campus is of the utmost importance and our resolve in ensuring that we have a secure campus is paramount. In response to last evening’s events, we are aggressively increasing security measures on campus, further amplifying additional security measures that have been implemented in recent years.

Regarding Homecoming, regrettably for the very first time in Morgan’s history all activities planned around Homecoming will be either cancelled or postponed until the perpetrator(s) of this atrocity have been found and brought to justice.

  • Cancelled activities include: The Homecoming Concert, Silent Headphones Party, Homecoming Pep Rally, Homecoming Parade and all other on campus events including our Lady Bear Volleyball match.
  • Activities associated with Homecoming that have been postponed include: the Homecoming Football Game, the MSU 39th Annual Homecoming Gala.

In the abundance of sensitivity for the emotional wellbeing of the campus community, we have also decided to cancel all classes and activities for the remainder of the week and will implement campus-wide programming geared towards the health and welfare of our University community. We strongly believe that this moment calls for reflection, thus allowing our students, faculty and staff the opportunity to focus on their mental wellness.

We arrived at this decision after very careful—and at times emotional—deliberation with key stakeholders within our University community including members of my administration, student leaders from SGA and our University Council.

In closing, I want to reiterate our unwavering commitment to delivering a safe campus for our entire Morgan family. We greatly appreciate the support of our larger community who have expressed their concern and support during this most trying time. As more details become available, please know that you will hear from me in the coming days.

 

Thank you. 

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Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Fisk University Names Nashvillian Dr. Agenia Walker Clark as Next President

The Board of Trustees of Fisk University announced the appointment of Dr. Agenia Walker Clark as its next president, effective November 6, 2023. She will be the University’s third female head and the 18th president of the 158-year-old-university, one of the nation’s highest-ranking Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

She replaces interim president Frank Sims, a member of the Board of Trustees, who has served in that position since 2021.

Dr. Clark most recently served as CEO for the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee – where, during her 19-year tenure, she increased the agency’s operational efficiencies, increased its reserves, built new facilities, and transformed the agency into one of the highest performing of the 111 councils in the Girl Scout network.

“Dr. Clark’s lifelong dedication to improving the lives of young people, along with her unique combination of fundraising and brand-building skills, are exactly what Fisk needs today,” said Juliette Pryor, chair of the Fisk Board of Trustees.

“I know that Dr. Clark’s bold ideas will positively impact our campus community today while assuring a fast-growing trajectory for the future.”

Prior to the Girl Scouts, Dr. Clark was the Vice President of Human Resources for the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation, Senior Director of Human Resources at Vanderbilt University and directed human resources for Canadian telecommunications provider Nortel Networks, where she also served as a manager of government relations.

“To serve a new generation of brilliant, socially minded students—not unlike their counterparts of decades past, like W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, John Lewis and Dr. Diane Nash—is surely the honor of my lifetime,” said Clark. “No institution of higher-ed has a richer legacy—or a richer promise for the future—than Fisk.”

Dr. Clark was named “Nashvillian of the Year” in 2021 and as one of “Nashville’s 100 Most Powerful People,” 2015–2020, by the Nashville Business Journal. An inductee into the Academy for Women of Achievement, she is also a Nashville Post Person-In-Charge (2014–2021). She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF), a member of the 2016 Class of Leadership Tennessee, and 1996 Class of Leadership Nashville.

She currently serves on the corporate board of directors for FirstBank Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK) as well as the boards of trustees for Belmont and Simmons Universities – and is a trustee emerita on the board of the Haslam School of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Dr. Clark earned a B.S. and MBA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and her Doctorate in Leadership from Vanderbilt University.

The year-long search for Fisk’s 18th president was led by Board Trustee JoLinda Herring ’85, in conjunction with executive search and leadership advisory firm, Russell Reynolds Associates.

“The Board was searching for a uniquely bold and visionary leader, and we found her in Dr. Clark,” said Pryor.

Sunday, August 27, 2023

Jacksonville gunman was turned away from HBCU Edward Waters University

The gunman who killed three people Saturday at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, had earlier been turned away from the campus of Edward Waters University, an HBCU just blocks away from the site of the shooting authorities said was a targeted attack against Black people.

The shooter, described by police as a White man in his early 20s, first went to the campus where he refused to identify himself to an on-campus security officer and was asked to leave, the university stated in a news release.

“The individual returned to their car and left campus without incident. The encounter was reported to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office by EWU security,” the school said.

The university, which is in a historically Black neighborhood, went into lockdown Saturday and students living on campus were told to stay in their residence halls.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Judge Rules That a Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Againts the state of Florida by Florida A&M University Students May Proceed

In September 2022, six students at historically Black Florida A&M University in Tallahassee filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the state of Florida. A federal judge recently ruled that the litigation can move forward. The suit claims that the state is discriminating against African Americans because Florida A&M receives less funding per student than the University of Florida.

The plaintiffs call for the state to commit to equity in its support of historically Black colleges and universities. They seek injunctive relief under various laws, including Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded programs.

According to the complaint, the University of Florida receives a larger state appropriation per student than FAMU – over 33 years, from 1987 to 2020, that shortfall amounted to approximately $1.3 billion. Moreover, the complaint alleges that the state supports programming and courses of study at Florida State University, a traditionally White university also located in Tallahassee, that unnecessarily duplicates programming at FAMU, which steers prospective students toward Florida State.

Founded more than 130 years ago, Florida A&M University is “still playing catch-up in the state of Florida, which we feel has acted with an astonishing lack of good faith, despite decades of directives from the federal government that all students in the state receive equal educational opportunities,” said Josh Dubin, the attorney representing the plaintiffs. “This deliberate indifference toward HBCUs is not unique to Florida, but FAMU is where we’re joining the fight to ensure the education is fair for everyone.”

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Bethune-Cookman Releases Statement On Football Program

Bethune-Cookman University has announced that it has decided not to proceed with contract negotiations with Ed Reed to become the next head football coach at B-CU.
 
After undergoing a detailed assessment and review of the state of our football program, we have determined that it is in the best interest of our university, athletics program, and football student-athletes to reopen the search and identify the next leader of Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Football.
 
While we appreciate the initial interest in our football program displayed by Mr. Reed during the course of recent weeks, we are also mindful of the qualities and attributes that must be exhibited by our institutional personnel during what have been uniquely challenging times for our campus as we recover from the impact of two hurricanes during this past fall semester.       
 
Bethune-Cookman University was founded with core guiding principles centered around integrity, accountability, and mutual respect for others. These guiding principles have and will continue to weigh heavily on all decisions made that impact our university.
 
We remain steadfast and committed to building a championship caliber football program that excels on the field, inside the classroom and within our local community.
 
Our university community has placed the upmost trust and faith in us to continue to advance our institution and we will continue to strive to live up to the high standards that have been set for all individuals affiliated with our illustrious university.    
 
A national search to fill the football head coach position at B-CU has resumed as the university seeks to identify a permanent replacement in the coming days.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

HBCU Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health Partner to Create College of Medicine

 Xavier University of Louisiana (Xavier) and Ochsner Health (Ochsner) today announced an agreement to establish a joint College of Medicine. The two institutions will create a strong physician pipeline that addresses longstanding inequities within the nation’s health care system and builds the health care workforce of the future. By anchoring their partnership with a College of Medicine, Xavier and Ochsner affirm their legacy of advancing health care excellence and education for the next generation, bringing new opportunities to marginalized populations in Louisiana and the United States.  

To launch the College of Medicine, Ochsner and Xavier will form a nonprofit corporation, create a new curriculum and use facilities, personnel, and administrative processes of both institutions. The new College of Medicine will be governed by a board of directors nominated by Ochsner and Xavier, with each institution appointing an equal number of directors. 

 

This initiative builds on a long-standing partnership between Ochsner and Xavier that dates to the early 1980s, when Ochsner and Xavier’s College of Pharmacy came together to offer more clinical training sites for pharmacy students. Xavier’s College of Pharmacy is the oldest in Louisiana and has for years been among the top in the nation in producing African American graduates with Doctor of Pharmacy degrees.  

“Our work with Ochsner and other partners who hold close to their hearts a vision of healing a broken world is a testament to Xavier’s mission to promote a more just and humane society,” said Dr. Reynold Verret, President of Xavier University of Louisiana. “Xavier was bestowed that mission by our founders St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament almost a century ago. Our dedication to preparing more Black health care professionals in our fight against health inequity is our answer to the call of our nation’s critical need and makes their legacy proud.”  

 

XULA and Ochsner: A Legacy of Collaboration  

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world and disproportionately affected people of color, highlighting health disparities faced by historically marginalized communities. Ochsner Health and Xavier again forged partnerships to improve health equity through new graduate programs in health sciences and the establishment of the Ochsner Health and Xavier University Institute for Health Equity and Research (OXIHER)A few years before, Xavier and Ochsner also worked to improve diversity within the health sciences through a memorandum of understanding to establish a new Physician Assistant (PA) Program. In May 2022, Ochsner and Xavier celebrated the first graduating class of 37 students in the full-time graduate PA Program, which leads to a master’s degree in health sciences and trains the next generation of providers to make a meaningful impact on health care. 

“Ochsner has a long and rich history of excellence in medical education, and we are honored to continue our work with Xavier to improve the health of our state and region,” said Pete November, CEO of Ochsner Health. “The Xavier medical students will get outstanding clinical training in our integrated health care system, and this significant expansion of our partnership with Xavier demonstrates our commitment to training the next generation of health care providers to solve the critical shortage of physicians in the United States and meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve.” 

In 2022, Xavier became an integral advisory board partner for Healthy State by 2030, an ambitious plan to lift Louisiana off the bottom of national health rankings. Collectively, partners across multiple sectors and industries from across the state are committed to comprehensive public health initiatives, education, and outreach. 

“Investing in education, training and workforce development is critical to building a healthier state and stronger communities. Our partnership with Xavier furthers our Healthy State mission of enhancing diversity among health care providers, which has been linked to better care for diverse communities of our region and throughout the nation,” said Dr. Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for Ochsner Health. “We must work together to solve the challenges faced in our health care workforce and ensure communities across the country have access to the highest quality of care.” 

Closing the National and Local Workforce Gap 

For decades, Xavier University of Louisiana has produced more African American students and students of color who achieve medical degrees and doctorates in the health sciences than any other higher education institution in the nation. Ochsner, the largest academic health care system in Louisiana, has a long history of training medical students, residents, and fellows. Ochsner is invested in excellent health care, workforce development and education of communities throughout the Gulf South. The institutions are uniquely positioned to co-lead efforts in closing the health care workforce gap. 

“With their historic agreement to establish a College of Medicine at one of the nation’s top HBCUs, Xavier and Ochsner have heeded the call to shape the health of the state, the country, and the world for generations to come,” said Dr. Anne McCall, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of Xavier University of Louisiana. 

Research shows an urgent need for an HBCU College of Medicine now, as demand for doctors is expected to grow. Louisiana is projected to rank third nationally for a shortage of physicians by 2030, according to a Human Resources for Health analysis. Representation of African Americans within medicine lags, as they comprise 5% of the nation’s physicians -- although Black and African American populations account for 13% of U.S. residents. A new College of Medicine with Xavier, a high-ranking HBCU, and Ochsner, a high-performing academic health system with experience in training medical students, will result in representation among medical practitioners with excellent health care training, which is critical to bettering health outcomes by increasing quality of care, access, and patient trust in their health care providers. 

To learn more, please visit www.xula.edu and www.ochsner.org 

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

NFL star Ed Reed to be next head football coach at Bethune Cookman University

Former University of Miami & NFL star Ed Reed will be next head football coach at Bethune-Cookman University.

The university athletics department made the announcement via Twitter.

Reed was a two-time All-American at Miami, helping the Hurricanes win the National Championship in 2001. He was selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Ravens, spending 11 seasons with the team and winning the 2013 Super Bowl. He split the final year of his playing career with the Houston Texans and New York Jets.

In 2016, Reed worked as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills. In 2020, he was hired by the University of Miami, his alma mater, to serve as their football team's chief of staff, an advisory role to head coach Manny Diaz.

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Missy Elliott offers encouragement and advice at Norfolk State University graduation

Missy Elliot gave the keynote speech at Norfolk State University's graduation ceremony Saturday. Elliot also offered offers encouragement and advice to the graduates.

Thursday, December 08, 2022

Ken Griffey Jr., MLB, MLBPA announce inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic

Major League Baseball (MLB), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. jointly announced Tuesday the launch of the "HBCU Swingman Classic,” an annual All-Star experience for baseball student-athletes from Division-I programs at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU). The philanthropic & educational event, which will center around an “All-Star” Game, will be held during 2023 MLB All-Star Week in July at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners, the franchise for which Griffey Jr. played for 13 seasons during his legendary career.

The HBCU Swingman Classic, which will be powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, will highlight the history and legacy of HBCU baseball programs while also providing 50 HBCU baseball players with the opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage. The student-athletes will be selected by a committee that will include Griffey Jr., representatives from MLB and MLBPA, and scouts. Additional details about the HBCU Swingman Classic will be announced in the months ahead.

Griffey Jr., who is an Ambassador for the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, said: “I am excited to help these kids get the national attention that they don’t receive compared to other college baseball programs. Over the years, we have seen the decline of African American players, not because they don’t want to play, but rather because they haven’t been seen. College scholarships for baseball are not comparative to other sports, and a lot of families cannot afford to pay the difference. So, this effort is the industry coming together to give these kids an opportunity to play the game they love on the national stage. Financial restrictions prevent them from going to schools that give more exposure. The HBCU Swingman Classic will try and close that gap.”

“Major League Baseball is thrilled to continue to work alongside Ken Griffey Jr. and the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation to bring this groundbreaking event to MLB All-Star Week,” said Tony Reagins, Chief Baseball Development Officer, MLB. “Highlighting the talent at HBCU Baseball programs is an important part of how we connect with college baseball while also improving African American representation at all levels of our game. We are excited to offer this opportunity to these players and for our fans to witness this new All-Star experience.”

The HBCU Swingman Classic joins the annual Hank Aaron Invitational as youth-oriented and diversity-focused programs powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, a joint initiative by MLB and MLBPA to support efforts that focus on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and internationally.

Historically, many HBCU alumni have reached Major League Baseball, including Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Lou Brock as well as Marquis Grissom, Rickie Weeks, Jr., Vince Coleman, Tommie Agee, Tom Alston, Earl Battey, Joe Black and others. Hall of Famer Larry Doby is also an HBCU alumnus, but did not play baseball at the collegiate level.

Monday, October 31, 2022

The United Negro College Fund Endorses HBCU Infrastructure Bill

UNCF has come out in full support of the revamped HBCUs IGNITE Excellence Act, H.R. 8803. This bill is the most important single piece of legislation for HBCUs before this Congress, and it must be passed by both the House and Senate prior to adjournment.

The bill would require the U.S. Department of Education to disperse grants for constructing new campus buildings, expand broadband access, and acquire research and instruction equipment specifically at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and qualifying minority-serving institutions (MSIs), such as Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions.

“Congress must act now. HBCUs are too vitally important to our nation’s success, but systemic issues have made it so that our institutions need major help with improving and updating their facilities,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF.

“The GAO has studied this issue. UNCF and all HBCUs have studied this issue. We have the data. To say that we believe the time for Congress to act to pass funding—grants, not loans—to help HBCUs would be an understatement. This bill is critical and must be passed before Congress adjourns. HBCUs are producing graduates that change the world and bolster the economy now but imagine what they could do with updated equipment, improved facilities and cutting-edge technology.”

“For the Congressional Tri-Caucus to endorse this bill is huge,” said Lodriguez V. Murray, senior vice president, Public Policy and Government Affairs, UNCF. “To reach consensus among all the groups representing African American, Hispanic and Asian members of Congress means that this bill has broad appeal and support. It also means that the time is now for Democrats and Republicans to join us and pass this bill, just as they worked together to pass the FUTURE Act in 2019.

“While we are in homecoming season, we need everyone who supports their HBCUs to go to our website UNCF.org/hbcuignite, and in less than 15 seconds write their members of Congress,” continued Murray. “This is the way we can make significant change on our campuses and improve our facilities. We must act now to ensure Congress acts now.”

The earlier version of the bill, H.R. 3294, is co-sponsored by 218 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Thursday, October 27, 2022

President Biden nominates HBCU grad/dean Dr. Derrick Scott to National Board for Education Sciences

President Biden announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to serve on the National Board for Education Sciences. Among those nominated was Dr. Derrick Scott. Scott is a Virginia State University graduate and current Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences at Virginia State University.

Originally from Varnville, South Carolina, Dr. Derrick Scott received his B.S. in Biology at Virginia State University, his M.S. in Molecular Biology from Virginia Tech, and his Ph.D. in Integrative Biology with a focus in Bioinformatics from the University of South Carolina. He is currently the Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences at Virginia State University where his goals are to help lead the University to High Research Activity status and create more opportunities for minorities and women to enter science careers. His research involves bringing down the costs of expensive medicines by using informatics to identify target genes in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines that will make the lines more stable. He recently helped to establish the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at Delaware State University that helped the university and surrounding communities stay safe via COVID-19 PCR testing. His hobbies include spending quality time with his wife and four children.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Tuskegee University receives $7.9 million for new cancer research facility

Rendering of Tuskegee University's new cancer research facility


TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Tuskegee University is one step closer to becoming a globally renowned center of excellence in cancer genomics focused on health disparities in underrepresented populations thanks to a $7.93 million grant to build a new biomedical annex to the Carver Research Center facility.

The grant proposal, authored by Dr. Clayton Yates, director of the Center for Biomedical Research, and Dr. Channapatna Prakash, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, received one of the highest scores possible of any institution that entered the national competition involving all major research universities. The competition was funded by the NIH Biomedical Research Facility for the Center for Geonomics Health Disparity Research. 

“Tuskegee has a long, rich history as an advocate for research and healthcare for the underserved community,” said Dr. Charlotte P. Morris, Tuskegee University president. “What this grant will do by funding a new facility to support our work around cancer research cannot be understated. Tuskegee’s efforts to understand cancer genomics will impact generations within this community and beyond.”

“This is the first time TU has received an infrastructure grant of this size in a competitive arena and only the second science building to be built in the past 30 years and a third one in the past 70 years,” said Dr. Prakash. “This building will be transformational in providing a 21st century science setting for our cancer genomics research and will help attract top talent as well.”

The 8,600-square-foot biomedical research building will house Tuskegee scientists focusing on computational and genomics related to health disparities. The proposed facility will expand the number of research faculty, students (graduate and undergrad) and post-doctoral fellows engaged in health disparities and biomedical research at Tuskegee.  Construction is expected to begin in Summer of 2023 and will be completed by Spring of 2025.

The research quality will be significantly enhanced due to the state-of-the-art laboratory and supporting spaces from a quantity and quality perspective. The open-floor lab design will allow the university to foster an intellectual environment that encourages scientists to work together in an integrative and interactive fashion that leverages various faculty strengths.

“This award is recognition for the dedicated effort of the faculty, staff and students within the Center for Biomedical Research (CBR) to eradicate health disparities, particularly in Alabama Black Belt,” said Dr. Yates. “We further envision that the new annex will facilitate increased publications, proposal submissions and partnerships and collaborations with other institutions, agencies and the private sector. Students, particularly African Americans and other underrepresented minorities, will receive training to become excellent biomedical research scientists, significantly benefitting from this state-of-the-art enhancement.”  

Monday, October 17, 2022

Watch the full Deion Sanders 60 Minutes Interview

Deion Sanders, aka Coach Prime, is altering the landscape of sports once again, this time as head football coach at Jackson State University, an HBCU looking to compete with Power Five programs. Watch his full 60 Minutes interview in which he discusses coaching at an HBCU, what he wants to do for HBCUs, and whether he would lead to take a Power 5 coaching job.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Joseph C. Phillips Joins Clark Atlanta University’s Faculty

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has announced that actor, author, columnist, commentator, and sought-after speaker Joseph C. Phillips has joined the University as a professor in Theatre and Communication Studies.

Phillips-Headshot.jpg“Joseph brings a wealth of awe-inspiring talent, meaningful engagement in the community, and a portfolio of informed, decisive commentary to the University,” said President Dr. George T. French Jr. “We anticipate that he will inspire independent thinking, civic responsibility, and a passion for interdisciplinary learning in our students—which aligns perfectly with our mantra to “lift our community by lifting our voices.”

Phillips received the BFA in acting in 1983 from the acting conservatory at New York University after transferring from the University of the Pacific as a communications major. He has served as a fellow at the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian College; the Abraham Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute; and the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, where he designed, wrote the curriculum, and taught a seven-week course titled “Black Conservatism in America.”

A prolific actor perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Martin Kendall (the husband of Lisa Bonet’s character) on the hit series “The Cosby Show,” Phillips played Col. Greg Davis in four seasons of the Netflix award-winning series “13 Reasons Why,” which concluded in 2020. He is a three-time NAACP Image Award nominee for his portrayal of Attorney Justus Ward on “General Hospital” and has had guest starring roles on several television dramas, including “How to Get Away with Murder,” “NCIS” and “Good Trouble.”

His feature film credits include starring roles in “Strictly Business,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” and “Midnight Blue.” Among his theatrical credits are starring roles in the Broadway production of “Six Degrees of Separation” and the Kennedy Center and American Playhouse productions of “A Raisin in the Sun.” He created the title role in “Dreaming Emmett,” Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison’s only theatrical play.

Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like a White Boy” and for eight years, wrote a widely syndicated weekly column titled “The Way I See It” that promoted conservative views such as traditional family, limited government, and a return to America's founding principles. He was also a regular commentator for NPR and American Urban Radio Network.

For ten years, he served as a director on the State Board of the California African American Museum, where he chaired the accessions committee, which was responsible for approving all art or artifacts for the museum’s collection.

On Phillips’s extensive roster of civic engagements are his work as a motivational speaker with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s “VIDA” program designed to redirect the lives of at-risk youth; the Special Olympics, and The Green Chimneys Foundation, of which he was an advisory board member; The Red Cross; Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles; the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America; the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission; and Project Alpha, a partnership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the March of Dimes designed to address teenage pregnancy, sexual and physical abuse, and sexually transmitted disease.

Bus driving HBCU students to conference was targeted when pulled over, university president alleges

A bus driving students from Shaw University, a historically Black college to an economic conference was likely targeted when it was pulled over and searched, Dr. Paulette Dillard the university's president alleges

Wednesday, October 05, 2022

HBCU Homecoming Experience Highlighted at National Museum of African American History and Culture Throughout October

This month the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is going back to the yard to celebrate the history, impact and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Across NMAAHC’s media platforms, stories focusing on critical aspects of the development of the HBCU experience and their foundation and origins will be amplified. The museum will uplift the culture and the traditions passed down between generations of those who have and will attend HBCUs on its newly created HBCU webpage, including stories from scholars, community members and alums of HBCUs with unique experiences.  

 October programming also features celebrating LGBT History Month Throughout the month, the museum will highlight stories of LGBTQIA+ African Americans. The museum will host its annual Speakeasy Evening, featuring a panel discussion about Ballroom and Beyond with icons Tracey “Africa” Norman, Rayceen Pendarvis and Kevin Aviance. There will also be an evening dance party featuring award-winning DJ MIM with commentary and comedy by trailblazing entertainer Sampson McCormick. 

Highlights of October In-Person and Virtual Programs  

A Speakeasy Evening: Tell Your Story! (program is designed for participants ages 13–24)    
Friday, Oct. 14; 6 p.m.  

This live in-person program invites visitors to participate in a lively discussion with staff from Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders, an organization designed to empower LGBTQ+ youth, and special guest Twiggy Pucci Garçon chief program officer at True Colors United and choreographer for POSE. Museum staff from The Community Curation Program will be available to record visitors’ stories to include in the museum’s online community collection. This program is for participants ages 13 through 24. Admission is free; however, registration is required  

A Speakeasy Evening: Welcome Home!  
Friday, Oct. 14; 7:30 p.m. (in person in the museum’s Heritage Hall) 

The museum will host its annual Speakeasy Evening, which will be in person for the first time in three years. Inspired by the Speakeasy clubs of the Harlem Renaissance, which were welcoming and inclusive places for the African American LGBTQ+ community, the event invites all gender identities and orientations to attend an evening of camaraderie, comedy, dance, music and art making. Highlights of the evening include music by DJ MIM, an award-winning multi-genre DJ who spins an eclectic mix. Commentary and comedy will be provided by Sampson McCormick, an award-winning comedian, trailblazer, actor, writer and film producer. There will be a moderated panel discussion about Ballroom and Beyond with icons Tracey “Africa” Norman, Rayceen Pendarvis and Kevin Aviance. The program is intended for ages 17 and up. Admission is free; however, registration is required

Digital Treasures: Daufuskie Island and Beyond!  
Thursday, Oct. 20; 2 p.m.–5 p.m. (virtual) 

The public is invited to join the latest installment of Digital Treasures and explore the resiliency and preservation of Gullah Geechee heritage. The culturally rich program explores the beauty of Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, and surrounding Gullah communities. Attendees will be able to experience a Ring Shout performance, a quilting circle, historic tours, a virtual Expo Hall and a traditional Gullah meal all from the comfort of their homes. Registration is available beginning Oct. 6 through the museum website.    

Historically Speaking: Exploring Diversity in the Fields of Genomics and Biomedical Sciences
Thursday, Oct. 20; 7 p.m. (In person in the Oprah Winfrey Theater and streaming)  

In the latest installment of the Historically Speaking series, the museum in collaboration with the National Human Genome Research Institute, will explore the experiences of renowned African American biomedical researchers and physicians. Shaniqua McClendon of Crooked Media will moderate a panel with senior researchers affiliated with the National Institutes of Health. Neil Hanchard, April Adams and Shawneequa Callier will discuss why they chose a career in medicine, recount their experiences with mentors, discuss the barriers they overcame in their career and share how they promote more diversity in the field of medicine. Admission is free; however, registration is required