The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

Rhonda McEwen Appointed President of the University of Victoria

Dr. McEwen comes to her new appointment following four years as president and vice chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Earlier, she served in several leadership roles at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She received some of her education in the United States.

Ian Martin to Lead the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Dr. Martin comes to his new role form the Medicine College of Wisconsin, where he has been serving as system chair of the department of emergency medicine and interim associate dean for faculty affairs and leadership development.

Mitchell Walker Named Dean of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering

Dr. Walker is a known for his advanced propulsion research, specifically his experimental and theoretical studies of plasma propulsion concepts for spacecraft. He has been serving as the William R.T. Oaks Jr. School Chair in Georgia Tech's Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.

Ayanna Howard Appointed the Twelfth President of Spelman College in Atlanta

Dr. Howard joins Spelman from Ohio State University, where she has been serving as dean of the College of Engineering. She is a nationally recognized expert in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-centered technology.
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Research & Studies

Ranking U.S. States on Racial Equality in Education

According to a new WalletHub analysis of all 50 states' education systems, Wyoming has the overall most racial equality in education, followed by West Virginia and New Mexico, In contrast, racial equality in education is the lowest in Wisconsin, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Report Outlines the Recent Gains and Persistent Disparities in Higher Education for Black Californians

“Higher education remains one of California’s most powerful equity levers for expanding economic opportunity, earning potential, and upward mobility,” the report authors write. “However, the full promise of higher education can only be achieved when Black students are equipped with the resources, support, and institutional commitment to thrive.”

New Census Statistics Show Black Enrollments at All Levels of Education

African Americans made up a larger percentage of school students at every level of education compared to the Black percentage of the U.S. population. Black Americans made up a larger percentage of students enrolled in higher education than they did in elementary or secondary education.

What’s Driving the Significantly Low Employment Rate Among Black Men?

In 2025, 79.3 percent of prime age (25 to 54 years old) Black men were employed. This is roughly 8 to 9 percentage points less than the employment rates of similarly aged Hispanic men (87.2 percent), White men (87.4 percent), and Asian men (88.8 percent).

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Quote of the Week

“Juneteenth is an important day of joy and reflection that honors the resilience and progress of Black communities. It also recognizes that the work for justice and equity is still unfinished, while inspiring hope through opportunities for education and community engagement.”

Thomas Gibson,
chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Shepherd Express, 6-10-26

Statistic of the Week

3,500,000
Number of Black students enrolled in U.S. higher education in 2011
2,907,000
Number of Black students enrolled in U.S. higher education in 2024

source: U.S. Census Bureau (see JBHE post)

Popular Categories

JBHE Archives

All Recent Posts

Ranking U.S. States on Racial Equality in Education

According to a new WalletHub analysis of all 50 states' education systems, Wyoming has the overall most racial equality in education, followed by West Virginia and New Mexico, In contrast, racial equality in education is the lowest in Wisconsin, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Rhonda McEwen Appointed President of the University of Victoria

Dr. McEwen comes to her new appointment following four years as president and vice chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Earlier, she served in several leadership roles at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She received some of her education in the United States.

Report Outlines the Recent Gains and Persistent Disparities in Higher Education for Black Californians

“Higher education remains one of California’s most powerful equity levers for expanding economic opportunity, earning potential, and upward mobility,” the report authors write. “However, the full promise of higher education can only be achieved when Black students are equipped with the resources, support, and institutional commitment to thrive.”

Ian Martin to Lead the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Dr. Martin comes to his new role form the Medicine College of Wisconsin, where he has been serving as system chair of the department of emergency medicine and interim associate dean for faculty affairs and leadership development.

New Census Statistics Show Black Enrollments at All Levels of Education

African Americans made up a larger percentage of school students at every level of education compared to the Black percentage of the U.S. population. Black Americans made up a larger percentage of students enrolled in higher education than they did in elementary or secondary education.

Mitchell Walker Named Dean of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering

Dr. Walker is a known for his advanced propulsion research, specifically his experimental and theoretical studies of plasma propulsion concepts for spacecraft. He has been serving as the William R.T. Oaks Jr. School Chair in Georgia Tech's Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.

North Carolina A&T State University to Launch a Ph.D. Program in Bioengineering

North Carolina A&T State University's forthcoming Ph.D. in bioengineering is slated to be the first stand-alone doctoral degree of its kind at a historically Black university.

Three Black Scholars Selected for New Faculty Positions

Quanice G. Floyd has been tasked with developing an online arts administration degree at the University of Cincinnati. Boukary Sawadogo is chair of the department of media and communication arts at the City College of New York and Richard D. Benson II is the inaugural director of the Detroit Center for Black Studies at Wayne State University.

Winston-Salem State University to Offer Two New Degrees in Public Health

New undergraduate and graduate degrees in public health are set to launch at Winston-Salem State University. Pending final accreditation approval, the new master of public health degree will be the first of its kind offered at an HBCU in North Carolina.

Boston University’s Louis Chude-Sokei Awarded for Distinguished Scholarship in Africana Studies

Dr. Chude-Sokei, an endowed professor at Boston University, is the 2026 recipient of the Teshome H. Gabriel Award from the the University of California, San Diego's Association for Advanced Research in Africana Studies.

Savannah State University Creates Free On-Campus Grocery Store for Students

A new mini market on the Savannah State University campus aims to address food insecurity among its students by offering free grocery items year-round. The store will also provide volunteering opportunities for students seeking hands-on learning experience in operations.

New Administrative Roles for Seven African Americans in Higher Education

Here is this week’s roundup of African Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to contact@jbhe.com.

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.

Ayanna Howard Appointed the Twelfth President of Spelman College in Atlanta

Dr. Howard joins Spelman from Ohio State University, where she has been serving as dean of the College of Engineering. She is a nationally recognized expert in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-centered technology.

NAACP Calls on Black Athletes and Fans to Boycott Public Universities in States Attacking Black Voting Rights

The NAACP has launched a new national campaign that calls on African Americans to withhold their athletic and financial support of public universities in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia — states that have moved to limit, weaken, or erase Black voting representation.

In Memoriam: Kimberly Baylor Bivins

Bivins taught construction science at Tuskegee University in Alabama for 10 years. During her tenure, she had stints as chair of the Faculty Senate and as interim chair of the construction science department.

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.

Fisk and Harvard Universities’ Glee Clubs Perform Together for the First Time

The Harvard Glee Club and the Fisk Jubilee Singers are two of the oldest collegiate choirs in the United States. This spring, the two groups joined together for the first time to participate in collaborative workshops and perform a joint concert in Nashville.

In Memoriam: David Henderson, 1942-2026

Henderson was a co-founder of New York City's Black Arts Movement in the 1960s. An acclaimed poet and writer, Henderson taught English, African American, and poetry workshops at colleges and universities in New York and California.

What’s Driving the Significantly Low Employment Rate Among Black Men?

In 2025, 79.3 percent of prime age (25 to 54 years old) Black men were employed. This is roughly 8 to 9 percentage points less than the employment rates of similarly aged Hispanic men (87.2 percent), White men (87.4 percent), and Asian men (88.8 percent).

Terry Lindsay Appointed President of Western Iowa Tech Community College

For the past six years, Dr. Lindsay has served as vice president for student affairs at Albany State University in Georgia. He is slated to take the helm of Western Iowa Tech Community College on July 6.

Research Highlights How Racial Bias in Pulse Oximeters Affects Black Patients

Pulse oximeter devices often give artificially high blood oxygen levels for people with darker skin because the melanin in their skin absorbs light differently than lighter skin. Thus, Black patients who need supplemental oxygen are likely missing out on crucial follow-up care.

Herman Beavers Is the New President of the Modern Language Association

Dr. Beavers has taught Africana studies and English at the University of Pennsylvania for more than 35 years. His scholarship centers on African American and American literature, including African American poetry, jazz, and southern modernism.

Report Examines the Underfunding of Boston’s Nonprofits Focused on Women and Girls of Color

Of Greater Boston's $112 billion in total nonprofit revenue in 2023, only $1 billion went to women- and girls-serving organizations. Just $25 million went to groups specifically focused on women and girls of color.

S. Marshall Perry Named Dean of the Fresno State University School of Education and Human Development

For the past year, Dr. Perry has served as interim dean of the Kalmanovitz School of Education at Saint Mary's College in California. He is slated to begin his new deanship at Fresno State University on July 20.

All Recent Posts

Ranking U.S. States on Racial Equality in Education

According to a new WalletHub analysis of all 50 states' education systems, Wyoming has the overall most racial equality in education, followed by West Virginia and New Mexico, In contrast, racial equality in education is the lowest in Wisconsin, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Rhonda McEwen Appointed President of the University of Victoria

Dr. McEwen comes to her new appointment following four years as president and vice chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Earlier, she served in several leadership roles at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She received some of her education in the United States.

Report Outlines the Recent Gains and Persistent Disparities in Higher Education for Black Californians

“Higher education remains one of California’s most powerful equity levers for expanding economic opportunity, earning potential, and upward mobility,” the report authors write. “However, the full promise of higher education can only be achieved when Black students are equipped with the resources, support, and institutional commitment to thrive.”

Ian Martin to Lead the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Dr. Martin comes to his new role form the Medicine College of Wisconsin, where he has been serving as system chair of the department of emergency medicine and interim associate dean for faculty affairs and leadership development.

New Census Statistics Show Black Enrollments at All Levels of Education

African Americans made up a larger percentage of school students at every level of education compared to the Black percentage of the U.S. population. Black Americans made up a larger percentage of students enrolled in higher education than they did in elementary or secondary education.

Mitchell Walker Named Dean of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering

Dr. Walker is a known for his advanced propulsion research, specifically his experimental and theoretical studies of plasma propulsion concepts for spacecraft. He has been serving as the William R.T. Oaks Jr. School Chair in Georgia Tech's Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.

North Carolina A&T State University to Launch a Ph.D. Program in Bioengineering

North Carolina A&T State University's forthcoming Ph.D. in bioengineering is slated to be the first stand-alone doctoral degree of its kind at a historically Black university.

Three Black Scholars Selected for New Faculty Positions

Quanice G. Floyd has been tasked with developing an online arts administration degree at the University of Cincinnati. Boukary Sawadogo is chair of the department of media and communication arts at the City College of New York and Richard D. Benson II is the inaugural director of the Detroit Center for Black Studies at Wayne State University.

Winston-Salem State University to Offer Two New Degrees in Public Health

New undergraduate and graduate degrees in public health are set to launch at Winston-Salem State University. Pending final accreditation approval, the new master of public health degree will be the first of its kind offered at an HBCU in North Carolina.

Boston University’s Louis Chude-Sokei Awarded for Distinguished Scholarship in Africana Studies

Dr. Chude-Sokei, an endowed professor at Boston University, is the 2026 recipient of the Teshome H. Gabriel Award from the the University of California, San Diego's Association for Advanced Research in Africana Studies.

Savannah State University Creates Free On-Campus Grocery Store for Students

A new mini market on the Savannah State University campus aims to address food insecurity among its students by offering free grocery items year-round. The store will also provide volunteering opportunities for students seeking hands-on learning experience in operations.

New Administrative Roles for Seven African Americans in Higher Education

Here is this week’s roundup of African Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to contact@jbhe.com.

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.

Ayanna Howard Appointed the Twelfth President of Spelman College in Atlanta

Dr. Howard joins Spelman from Ohio State University, where she has been serving as dean of the College of Engineering. She is a nationally recognized expert in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-centered technology.

NAACP Calls on Black Athletes and Fans to Boycott Public Universities in States Attacking Black Voting Rights

The NAACP has launched a new national campaign that calls on African Americans to withhold their athletic and financial support of public universities in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia — states that have moved to limit, weaken, or erase Black voting representation.

In Memoriam: Kimberly Baylor Bivins

Bivins taught construction science at Tuskegee University in Alabama for 10 years. During her tenure, she had stints as chair of the Faculty Senate and as interim chair of the construction science department.

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.

Fisk and Harvard Universities’ Glee Clubs Perform Together for the First Time

The Harvard Glee Club and the Fisk Jubilee Singers are two of the oldest collegiate choirs in the United States. This spring, the two groups joined together for the first time to participate in collaborative workshops and perform a joint concert in Nashville.

In Memoriam: David Henderson, 1942-2026

Henderson was a co-founder of New York City's Black Arts Movement in the 1960s. An acclaimed poet and writer, Henderson taught English, African American, and poetry workshops at colleges and universities in New York and California.

What’s Driving the Significantly Low Employment Rate Among Black Men?

In 2025, 79.3 percent of prime age (25 to 54 years old) Black men were employed. This is roughly 8 to 9 percentage points less than the employment rates of similarly aged Hispanic men (87.2 percent), White men (87.4 percent), and Asian men (88.8 percent).