Saturday, February 08, 2025

Robert J. Jones named 34th president of the University of Washington

The University of Washington Board of Regents on Monday announced that Robert J. Jones, who is currently concluding a nine-year tenure as Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been selected as the 34th President of the UW. The Board had previously authorized Chair Blaine Tamaki to enter into contract negotiations with Jones and an agreement has been reached. Jones’ five-year contract will begin on August 1.

The UW presidency will be Jones’ third time leading a public research university, as in addition to his current role he previously served as President of the University at Albany. He is a distinguished scholar, with his research focusing on crop physiology, and a leader in national academic organizations and the Big Ten Conference.

Jones will succeed President Ana Mari Cauce, who announced last year that she is stepping down from the role she will have held for 10 years at the end of the 2024-25 academic year in June. He will become the first African American to serve in the role.

“We are very happy to welcome Chancellor Jones to the UW community and excited to accelerate the UW’s public mission of accessibly, preserving, advancing and disseminating knowledge under his experienced leadership,” Tamaki said. “His inspiring and barrier-breaking personal journey, highly regarded scholarship and decades of transformative leadership convinced us that Chancellor Jones is the ideal person to build upon President Ana Mari Cauce’s legacy. I believe he will lead us into our next chapter of providing educational excellence at scale, top-quality healthcare to all, regardless of need, transformative research, and public service to the state of Washington and the world. We welcome him and his wife, Dr. Lynn Hassan Jones, to Washington and the UW.”

“I am honored to be joining the University of Washington and excited to lead this extraordinary public university in its mission serving students, families and communities across Washington and beyond,” Jones said. “The UW is globally renowned as a home of outstanding teaching, research, innovation and patient care. I look forward to working with the UW’s talented and dedicated faculty and staff to support and accelerate their work, and to partnering with the UW’s supporters to advance students’ success, economic opportunity and discovery for the public good.”

As Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign since 2016, Jones has prioritized providing a transformative learning experience to students with a focus on affordability for students of modest means. This includes making education accessible and affordable through the Illinois Commitment, a program that guarantees four years of free tuition to Illinois residents with family incomes less than $75,000. During his chancellorship, the university’s enrollment has grown, setting a record in fall 2024 with more than 59,000 students enrolled.

He has also emphasized the university’s community and public impact, launched innovative partnerships to catalyze scholarship, discovery and innovation, and prioritized fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Under Jones’ leadership, Illinois opened the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the first engineering-based medical school in the world, in partnership with Carle Health. He has launched strategic “radical collaborations” such as the Chicago Quantum Exchange initiative, which is establishing Illinois as the center of quantum sciences and information in the nation in partnership with the University of Chicago. Another collaboration is the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, a partnership with the University of Chicago and Northwestern University that is an unprecedented initiative seeking to redefine how we understand human biology.

Jones was selected by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to serve as co-vice chair of the Innovate Illinois initiative to coordinate the state’s efforts to secure critical federal research investments, which sparked support for the Illinois Fermentation and Agricultural Biomanufacturing Hub. He has built industry partnerships through the university’s Research Park and its EnterpriseWorks incubator, elevated the university’s research and technology transfer capacity through participation in initiatives such as the C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute, and expanded the university’s international reach.

In 2017, Jones and the university launched a $2.25 billion philanthropic campaign that reached its goal 15 months early, concluding in 2022 after raising $2.7 billion to support university priorities. And he launched and implemented Operational Excellence, a multi-year, comprehensive, university-wide effort to reorganize and reimagine ways to deliver the university’s missions more efficiently and with the most impact.

“In selecting Robert as the next president of the University of Washington, the Board of Regents has chosen an inspiring and transformative leader to join our academic community and to advance our mission,” UW President Ana Mari Cauce said. “Having known and worked with him within AAU, APLU and the Big Ten Conference, I know he will bring a deep and demonstrated commitment to scholarship, innovation, research and especially, access to excellence for students regardless of their means or background. His leadership is rooted in visionary and strategic thinking, informed by a deep commitment to our public mission, qualities we share as a community of educators, innovators and public servants. I am thrilled for our University to welcome him as our newest Husky.”

Prior to becoming Chancellor at Illinois, Jones was the 19th President of the University at Albany from 2013 to 2016. At UAlbany, Jones initiated the largest academic expansion in half a century, adding academic units and degree-granting programs, expanding opportunities for faculty research and student experiential learning, deepening the University’s community engagement, and raising philanthropic support for his vision.

Jones is the child of sharecroppers from Georgia, which he says inspired him to enter the field of agronomy. Jones earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Fort Valley State College in Georgia, master’s degree in crop physiology from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in crop physiology from the University of Missouri. His first academic position was as an assistant professor on the Twin Cities campus at the University of Minnesota in 1978, where he received tenure in 1983 and a full professorship in 1988.

His journey in academic leadership started in 1986, when the president at the University of Minnesota charged him with creating a mentoring program for high-achieving students of color. Jones later became an Associate Provost and Assistant Vice President, before becoming Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Personnel from 1997 to 2002. During that time, he also served as Interim Vice President for Student Development in 2000-01 and Vice President for Campus Life in 2001-02. He later became Vice President and Executive Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Programs on the Twin Cities campus from 2002-05. And in 2004 he became Senior Vice President for Academic Administration for the University of Minnesota system – the senior academic, administrative, and operating officer reporting to the system president.

Jones is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Association of American Universities Board of Directors, the Association of Public Land Grant Universities Council of Presidents, and the Executive Committee of the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors.

Jones is married to Dr. Lynn Hassan Jones, who is a muscular skeletal diagnostic radiologist, and together they have five children and a growing number of grandchildren.

The Board of Regents began its search for a new president after Cauce announced in June 2024 that the current academic would be her last in the role. SP&A Executive Search was hired to assist in the process and a Presidential Search Advisory Committee was formed, which included faculty, student, staff and alumni representation, including from the UW’s Seattle campus, UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, UW Medicine and UW Athletics. At special meetings in early January, the Regents spoke very highly of two finalists. The Board eventually authorized Tamaki to negotiate with both, and Tamaki agreed to terms with Jones.

“I sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the rigorous search process that led to the selection of Chancellor Jones as the 34th president of the University of Washington,” said UW Regent David Zeeck, who served as Chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. “The work of our presidential search advisory committee members, as well as input from numerous faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members, was invaluable in identifying and selecting an outstanding candidate to lead the UW. We are confident that he will both continue the University’s vital work advancing education, discovery, health care and community engagement, as well as lead the UW to new heights as one of the world’s great public research universities.”

SP&A contacted more than 500 prospective candidates, including sitting and former presidents, vice presidents and deans at AAU and R1 institutions, yielding a pool of 70 applicants, who were then ranked by the advisory committee. As the pool was determined, the advisory committee conducted listening sessions with faculty, students and staff on all three campuses to develop the leadership profile upon which the next level of review would be based. The candidate pool was first narrowed to 25, and later to 13 individuals who were interviewed over Zoom by the advisory committee. A subgroup of the advisory committee interviewed six finalists in person and the Board of Regents interviewed two finalists recommended by the committee.

Friday, February 07, 2025

First African American Cardinal to Celebrate Black History Month in Newark

Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, retiring Archbishop of Washington, D.C., and the first African American Cardinal, will join Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, for the on Sunday, February 16, at 2:30 p.m. in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Cardinal Gregory will serve as the guest homilist, with the Mass livestreamed on the Cathedral Basilica’s Facebook and YouTube pages. The liturgy will also feature songs celebrating the Black Catholic experience and tradition, a procession of banners depicting Black candidates for sainthood, and — for the first time ever — a liturgical dancer performing inside the Cathedral Basilica.

All are invited to attend. Those who own African or Caribbean cultural attire are encouraged to wear it in recognition of their heritage.

“We’re honored to welcome Cardinal Gregory, who has long championed inclusivity,” said Rahsaan Garlin, associate director of the archdiocesan African American, African, and Caribbean Apostolate, which organized the Mass. “Cardinal Gregory has shown through his leadership that the Catholic faith transcends ethnicity and color. We are all equal in the Church, and his example reinforces that.”

Cardinal Gregory’s visit follows his recent retirement as Archbishop of Washington, D.C., where he has served since 2019. He previously served as Archbishop of Atlanta and Bishop of Belleville, Illinois, among other leadership roles in the U.S. Church. A long-time advocate for social justice and marginalized communities, he was also the first Black bishop president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.). During his tenure, he oversaw the 2002 implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in response to the clergy abuse crisis.

As part of Cardinal Gregory’s visit, the apostolate is sponsoring an essay contest for juniors and seniors in archdiocesan high schools who are of African American, African, and Caribbean heritage. Students are invited to write about three aspects of the Mass that stood out to them. Several winners will receive prizes.

“We hope African American, African, and Caribbean young people will find inspiration in Cardinal Gregory’s visit,” Garlin said. “Many may not realize that an African American cardinal exists. Seeing someone who looks like them in such a prominent Church role sends a powerful message that they, too, can achieve great things in the Church.”

In addition to the Black History Month Jubilee Mass, the African American, African, and Caribbean Apostolate is planning other initiatives for the year ahead, including a March faith retreat for Black families and the annual Bishop Francis Luncheon in September. It will also continue to seek out ways of engaging African American, African, and Caribbean youth. Most recently, the apostolate held a bowling night to encourage interest in religious vocations.

To learn more about the African American, African, and Caribbean Apostolate and its mission of serving the Archdiocese of Newark’s Black Catholic community, visit www.rcan.org/aaaca/.

Monday, February 03, 2025

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell supports league's DEI efforts

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed a number of league topics on Monday including its diversity, equity and inclusion programsduring his news conference ahead of Super Bowl LIX Opening Night in New Orleans.

Goodell said he doesn't believe the NFL's policies to promote diversity are in conflict with President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government.

The NFL has rules in place that require teams to interview diverse candidates for key coaching and front office positions as part of the Rooney Rule that has been in place for more than two decades.

"Our policies have been designed to be well within the law, well within the practice," Goodell said on Monday. "There are no quotas in our system. This is about opening that funnel and bringing the best talent into the NFL.

"We also believe we are doing the right thing for the NFL and our policies are consistent with the current administration as well as the last administration."

Goodell said that the league's diversity efforts have made the NFL better and has "attracted better talent."

"We think we're better when we get different perspectives, people with different backgrounds, whether they're women or men or people of color, we make ourselves stronger and we make ourselves better when we have that," Goodell said. "It's something that I think it will have a tremendous impact on this lead for many, many years. We win on the field with the best talent and the best coaching, and I think the same's true off the field.

"We got into diversity efforts because we felt it was the right thing for the National Football League, and we're going to continue those efforts because we've not only convinced ourselves, I think we've proven ourselves that it does make the NFL better. So, we're not in this because it's a trend to get in or a trend to get out of it, our efforts are fundamental in trying to attract the best possible talent into the National Football League, both on and off the field, as I said previously. And we see that. We see how it's benefited the National Football League. And so, I think we'll continue those efforts. I think it's also clearly a reflection of our fan base and our communities and our players."

Sunday, February 02, 2025

Union County NJ to present ‘African Americans in Labor’ discussion

On Feb. 26 at noon, Union County will host a free presentation titled “African Americans in Labor” in celebration of Black History Month. The event will feature Petal Robertson, Executive Secretary of the New Jersey Education Association, as the speaker.

The presentation will take place in the Victor M. Richel Student Commons at the Cranford Campus of Union College of Union County, located at 1033 Springfield Ave. To register for the event, click here.

Attendees can register for up to four free tickets online. For any questions or additional information, interested individuals can contact the organizers via email at culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

National Civil Rights Museum hosts virtual book talk with award-winning historian Crystal R. Sanders during Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, the National Civil Rights Museum is proud to present a virtual book talk featuring award-winning historian Crystal R. Sanders, author of A Forgotten Migration: Black Southerners, Segregation Scholarships, and the Debt Owed to Public HBCUs. The event, scheduled for February 13 at 6:00 pm Central, will provide a powerful discussion on the overlooked history of segregation scholarships and their lasting impact on Black higher education.

Through A Forgotten Migration, Sanders sheds light on the little-known story of how, under the pre–Brown v. Board of Education era, Southern states circumvented integrating graduate programs by paying Black students to pursue higher education out of state. This practice not only imposed financial and emotional hardships on students but also perpetuated the systemic underfunding of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Sanders' research highlights the resilience of these students and the broader consequences of educational segregation.

This marks Sanders' second appearance in the museum’s Book Talk Series, following her 2017 discussion of A Chance for Change: Head Start and Mississippi's Black Freedom Struggle. The museum continues to foster important conversations that connect historical struggles with contemporary issues in education and civil rights.

“We are thrilled to host Dr. Sanders once again and bring attention to this crucial aspect of American history,” said Dr. Russ Wigginton, President of the National Civil Rights Museum. “Her work continues to shed light on the enduring legacy of segregation and the long fight for educational equity.”

Crystal R. Sanders, an Associate Professor of African American Studies at Emory University, is a leading historian specializing in African American history, Black women’s history, and the history of Black education. Her work has been widely recognized with numerous awards and fellowships, and her scholarship continues to shape discussions on racial equity in education.

The online event is free and open to the public. Participating educators from Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS) who attend the entire book talk will receive professional development hours in PLZ for the completed book talk.

Registration is required to receive a link, and participants can sign up or receive more information at civilrightsmuseum.org.