NAACP Calls for DOJ Investigation into Suspicious Death of Mississippi Black Man

The NAACP sent a letter to the Department of Justice urging an investigation into the suspicious death of 37 year-old Jackson, Mississippi resident, Dau Mabil. The letter echoes previous requests from Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) urging Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Kristine Clarke, to open an investigation into Dau's mysterious disappearance.

NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson released the following statement:

"Today, the NAACP stands with the Mabil family and the broader Jackson community in mourning the loss of Dau Mabil. It is our hope that the recovery of Dau's body will allow his family to grieve while we fight for justice. Dau's life mattered, and everything must be done to ensure that his tragic death receives the investigative due diligence it deserves. It is unacceptable that for weeks, the Mississippi Capitol Police havefailed to follow the basic fact patterns while delaying the course of justice. We are disgusted, but not surprised. This is not the first time that Capitol police have neglected the Black Jacksonians they supposedly serve.

The NAACP is not backing down from this fight. We call on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to act swiftly and put us on a path toward justice for this tragic loss of life. Dau, his family, and our community deserve action, transparency, and accountability."

A copy of the letter sent to the Department of Justice can be found here. Excerpts include:

"... I write to request that the Department of Justice open an investigation into the disappearance and death of Dau Garang Mabil of Jackson, Mississippi."

"The NAACP has a longstanding commitment to holding law enforcement accountable…"

"… there appears to have been a concerning amount of irregularities associated with the Capitol Police's investigation."

"Today, our hearts are with the family of Dau Mabil as we grieve the loss of another Black life lost far too soon. Black Jacksonians are under attack from a racist political landscape while being occupied by outside forces who rule over, but fail to protect, or invest in our community,"said Nsombi Lambright, President, Jackson Branch of the NAACP. "We demand action and answers. In the wake of neglect from the Capitol police force, it is imperative that our local and federal law enforcement deliver justice for Dau. Enough is enough. The Jackson branch of the NAACP remains committed to shedding light on injustice and working to prevent tragedies like this one." 

On March 25, 2024, Dau Mabil was reported missing by his wife, Karissa Bowley, who had last seen him at noon. The case was assigned to the Capitol Police as the residence fell within their jurisdiction of Jackson, which was recently expanded by controversial legislation, HB 1020. 

Over the course of the following two weeks, the Jackson Police Department, and State Capitol Police ran two parallel investigations, with Capitol police leading on the case due to recently expanded jurisdiction as a result of anti-Democratic legislation passed in 2023. 

Throughout the course of their investigation, Capitol police repeatedly failed to follow standard operating procedures that would have supported a more expeditious progression of the case. Although a body was found in the Pearl River on Saturday, April 13, Dau Mabil's brother was not brought in for DNA testing until April 15, nor had he been allowed to view the body as of Thursday, April 18. 

On April 18, following the Sheriff's public announcement and confirmation of Dau's death, the NAACP sent a letter to the Department of Justice calling for an investigation into the disappearance and death of Dau Mabil to ensure that any failure by the Capitol Police to swiftly and thoroughly investigate this matter does not deprive Mr. Mabil's family and his community of the answers and the justice they deserve.

National Museum of African American History and Culture To Recognize 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) recognizes the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court with a daylong public event Friday, May 17. Held in collaboration with the NAACP, the day will include several panel discussions, such as one featuring participants of the Little Rock Nine, the first African American students to enter Little Rock, Arkansas’ Central High School in 1957.

On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court delivered its unanimous 9-0 decision overturning the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling as it applied to public education, stating that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” In a watershed moment for equality and democracy, racial segregation laws were declared in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, paving the way for integration and winning a major victory for the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. For more information, visit this page.

“The National Museum of African American History and Culture was founded to ensure that this story and other important chapters in the African American experience are never forgotten,” said Kevin Young, NMAAHC’s Andrew W. Mellon Director. “The road to desegregation in the United States was long and arduous. This anniversary stands as a testament to the tenacity and moral clarity of African American trailblazers who insisted on the power of education and refused to settle for the inherent injustice of ‘separate but equal.’”

“Separate but equal” remained the standard doctrine in U.S. law until the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, in which the court ruled that segregation in public education was unconstitutional. The case began in 1951 as a class action suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas that called on the city’s Board of Education to reverse its policy of racial segregation. It was initiated by the Topeka chapter of the NAACP, and the plaintiffs were 13 African American parents on behalf of their children. The named plaintiff was Oliver L. Brown, a welder and an assistant pastor at his local church, whose daughter had to walk six blocks to her school bus stop to ride to her segregated Black school one mile away, while a white school was located just seven blocks from her house.

Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future: 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education 

Friday, May 17; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 
NMAAHC’s Oprah Winfrey Theater 

This commemorative event explores the legacy of the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision to end the segregation of America’s schools and educational institutions in collaboration with the NAACP through multiple panel discussions throughout the day. The program features Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of Oliver L. Brown in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas; John Stokes of Prince Edward County, Virginia, where schools remained closed for five years rather than comply with the 1954 ruling; and the surviving members of the Little Rock Nine. Admission to this special program is free but requires registration. Registration is required and available online here.

Tracy Cook Appointed Twenty-First President of Alcorn State University

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning named Dr. Tracy M. Cook as 21st president of Alcorn State University. Cook has served as interim president of the university since July 8, 2023. He will assume the role as president on April 1, 2024.

“This decision was made in the long-term best interests of Alcorn State University and its students, faculty, staff, and alumni,” said Dr. Alfred McNair, president of the Board of Trustees. “There was an obvious desire and call from the Alcorn family for Dr. Cook to be named to this role, and we are putting our full faith and confidence behind this decision. He is the right person to lead Alcorn State University.”

A native of Fayette, Mississippi, Cook earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at Alcorn, and then earned his doctorate at William Carey University. His time as an athlete at Alcorn has been recognized with his induction in the Alcorn Sports Hall of Fame, his selection as one of the university’s Top 50 Greatest Football Athletes, and the 2023 presentation of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

He has more than 25 years of administrative experience in education, having served in the Jefferson and Claiborne County School Districts as a teacher, athletic director, principal, and superintendent. He returned to his alma mater as chief of staff in 2015, and then stepped into the role of vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

“I am honored to have the trust and support of the Board of Trustees, and excited to officially lead a university that has meant so much to me personally and professionally,” Cook said. “We have a bright future ahead of us and I am committed to leading us all toward new levels of success.”

The decision to remove the interim label from Cook’s title was applauded by Dr. Al Rankins Jr., commissioner of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.

“At this juncture in Alcorn’s history, Dr. Cook is the right choice to lead the university to greater prominence,” said Rankins. “I understand and appreciate the work that lies ahead for him. Alcorn State University is fortunate to have him at the helm.”

The choice to name Cook as president was welcomed by members of the Alcorn family.

“In my dealings with Dr. Cook, I found him to be a sincere, caring, and dedicated individual whose word is his bond,” said Col. James C. Stubbs (U.S. Army Retired), past president of the Alcorn State National Alumni Association. “I believe Dr. Cook possesses the necessary skill sets, professionalism and character to serve as president of Alcorn State. He is a welcome addition to the list of great presidents who have served Alcorn and worked to ensure it continues as an institution dedicated to the development of young minds throughout the United States and the world.”

Carla Cleveland Kirkland is a 1986 graduate of Alcorn State and serves as vice-chair of the Alcorn State University Foundation Board.

“As a member of the Alcorn Foundation Board and a fellow educator, I am elated to hear that Dr. Cook has been named president of Alcorn,” Kirkland said. “He has a wealth of experience that has prepared him for this role. I believe he will work to bring innovation to the university so our students will encounter the excellence needed for them to be successful in their future endeavors.”

Lawrence P. Ward Named President of the University of Hartford

Lawrence P. Ward, Ed.D, currently vice president for learner success and dean of campus life at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, will become UHart’s seventh president on July 1. He will succeed Stephen Mulready M’77, who has served as acting president since the retirement of the University’s sixth president, Gregory Woodward, last summer.

“Following an extensive and comprehensive search process, the University’s Board of Regents was unanimous in our decision that Larry Ward is the right leader to steward the University of Hartford’s continued evolution and success,” says Board of Regents Chair Donald Allan Jr. ’86. “The Board and I want to thank Acting President Stephen Mulready for his selfless service as our interim president in this challenging post-COVID period for higher learning institutions. He is a great example for our students in giving back throughout a successful career. He has strengthened our foundation this year, and we are ready to keep building to new heights for the benefit of our students, region, and state.”

At Babson, Ward has played a central leadership role in shaping institutional priorities and strategic plans that have driven successful undergraduate and graduate student outcomes. During his 10-year tenure, Ward’s focus has been on seamlessly integrating the academic and co-curricular student experience, providing robust support structures for an increasingly diverse student body.

“I am honored and absolutely delighted to have been selected by the Board of Regents as the next president of the University of Hartford,” Ward says. “From my first interactions with the search committee and throughout the selection process, I felt a very strong connection and enthusiasm for the University and this extraordinary academic community. I am energized by our strategic opportunities for growth and confident in our ability to navigate the challenging landscape of higher education, while maintaining a relentless commitment to student success.”

UHart’s Presidential Search Committee, in partnership with national search firm WittKieffer, was led by University Regent Michael Daglio ’91, chief operating officer at Hartford HealthCare, one of the University’s strategic partners. Daglio says as the committee aligned what they heard from campus stakeholders with the qualifications of a large and diverse candidate pool, they seamlessly connected Ward’s professional experience, personal history, and leadership strengths with the University’s academic mission, vision, values, and goals.

Ward’s numerous accomplishments at Babson include providing vision and oversight for major capital construction projects; advancing fundraising priorities that enhance student well-being, belonging, and engagement; reimagining the student success infrastructure; building a championship intercollegiate athletics culture; developing new non-tuition revenue channels; and strengthening the College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity.

Previously, Ward served as associate dean for academic programs at American University’s Kogod School of Business in Washington, D.C. There, he led all degree programs and related student services, including enrollment management, academic advising, career services, and global learning programs. Ward previously served as managing director at PRS, Inc., an organizational development consulting firm, and as a health care account executive for Aetna.

He holds multiple leadership positions in higher education, including as a member of the NCAA Board of Governors, chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council, and trustee at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut. An engaging and popular speaker and panelist, he frequently speaks about how to help individuals and organizations reach their maximum potential for success.

“At each stage of my career, the hallmark of my leadership success has been my ability to authentically engage within and beyond my campus community,” Ward says. “In my experience, leading with personal authenticity and humility, as well as with vision and strategy, builds credibility, increases trust, and strengthens people’s willingness to work well together. That’s how I will approach my presidency at UHart.”

Ward earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut, his master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Michigan, and his doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, where he holds a faculty appointment in the Graduate School of Education.

Recipient of a host of honors and awards throughout his career, Ward has twice been recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Business Leaders of Color by the Charles River Chamber of Commerce, MetroWest, Massachusetts (2023, 2020). He is a 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award and William B. Castetter Alumni Award of Merit from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and was honored with the Pillar of the Profession Award in 2021 by the NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

Ward and his wife, Katerie, an elementary school teacher, are both from the greater Hartford area and they have two children: Aidan, who lives and works full time in New York City, and Emerson, who will begin college this fall. His extended family has been a staple in the Hartford region since the 1940s. Ward’s father is president emeritus of the Hartford Jazz Society, his mother is a retired human resources executive, and his brother is currently senior pastor of First Church Congregational in West Hartford.

“My most fundamental truth is that leadership success is about the people whom I lead and the communities that I serve,” Ward adds. “Without question, returning home to Hartford to lead this incredible institution into its next chapter is a very special and exciting opportunity for my family and me.”

UHart’s new president will enter at a time of both great momentum and tremendous opportunity for the 67-year-old institution. Currently entering the final stages of its strategic action plan, UHart Start, the University has been focused on holistic student success and growing its strategic partnerships, adding valuable support, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities for students.

Ward agrees that a sustainable and vibrant future for the University of Hartford is linked closely to playing a prominent and contributing role in the vitality of the greater Hartford region and state of Connecticut. He says he is excited by the prospects of collaborating creatively with major corporations, elected officials, civic organizations, and other local colleges to expand UHart’s educational and economic ecosystem. Ward notes that strengthening the formal connections across the greater Hartford region is also vital to expanding UHart’s enrollment model and elevating the brand to new levels of recognition beyond the region.

With recent year-over-year increases in applications and enrollment, UHart is currently benefiting from a host of recently introduced in-demand academic programs. Many of these are housed in the striking 60,000-square-foot Francis X. and Nancy Hursey Center for Advanced Engineering and Health Professions. The technology-rich facility, which opened in late 2021, has transformed the campus—both in physical appearance and in the manner that UHart can attract and serve students in multiple high-growth programs. Last month, the creation of the Allan Center for Career and Professional Development was announced, encompassing the growing number of initiatives and programs that are available to students University wide to promote career readiness.

“As an alumnus, board chair, and long-time corporate partner, I understand running a modern institution of higher learning has complex opportunities and challenges,” Allan says. “I look forward to the energy and experience Dr. Ward will infuse into the positive trajectory of priorities at UHart, and to a smooth transition of leadership with Acting President Mulready in the coming months.”

Virginia State University to Be the First HBCU to Host a 2024 Presidential Debate

Virginia State University has announced that it has been chosen by the Commission on Presidential Debates to host a 2024 Presidential Debate. Virginia State University is the first historically Black college or university ever selected to host a general election U.S. Presidential Debate. The debate, scheduled for October 1, 2024, is the second of three scheduled general election presidential debates. The debate will take place in the university’s Multipurpose Center.

“We are honored and grateful to have been chosen as a host for a 2024 Presidential Debate,” said Makola M. Abdullah, president of Virginia State University. “This is a historic moment for our university and for HBCUs nationwide. Our university mantra is ‘Greater Happens Here,’ and we look forward to welcoming the candidates, the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the entire nation.”

“We have always been committed to excellence, inclusivity, and civic engagement,” added Eldon Burton, assistant vice president for government relations. “This incredible achievement will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the campus community, the university’s reputation, and the nation as a whole. Now people will know that not only does Greater Happen at VSU, but history happens here as well.”