The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

SherRhonda Gibbs Named the First Woman President of Texas College

Dr. Gibbs has been serving as dean of the division of business and economics at Morehouse College in Atlanta. She is slated to become the first woman president of historically Black Texas College on July 1.

Joseph Karl Grant Appointed Dean of the North Carolina Central University School of Law

Professor Grant comes to North Carolina Central University from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he most recently served as interim dean and the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Chair in Legal Education in the School of Law.

Marika Peterson Named Dean of Libraries at Virginia State University

Peterson, a two-time graduate of Virginia State University, returns to her alma mater after nearly two decades with Southside Virginia Community College, where she most recently served as the college-wide librarian.

Kymberly Pinder Reappointed Dean of the Yale School of Art

Dr. Pinder was named dean of the Yale School of Art in 2021, making her the first Black woman to serve as a dean at the Ivy League university. She has been reappointed to her role for a second five-year term.

Research & Studies

Data Shows Significant Growth in Black Employers in the United States

In 2023, the number of Black-owned employer businesses in the United States surpassed 200,000 for the first time. From 2017 to 2023, Black employer firms grew by 62 percent. However, Black-owned business are still just 3.4 percent of all U.S. employer firms.

Study Finds Diabetes is More Prevalent in Neighborhoods Impacted by Structural Racism

According to a new study from scholars at the University at Buffalo, census-tracts with historic redlining, higher scores of contemporary structural racism, and higher shares of Black residents are significantly associated with higher diabetes prevalence.

An Update on the Economic State of Black American Women

According to a new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Black women are among the most active participants in the U.S. labor force. However, there are still significant disparities in educational attainment, income, and wealth compared to White and Asian women.

Stanford Study Examines How Racialized Masculinity Impacts Black Men’s Mental Health

“While hegemonic masculinity emphasizes emotional stoicism and self-reliance, racialized masculinity intensifies these demands by portraying Black men as inherently resilient and unbreakable,” the authors write. “As a result, many participants expressed stigma around help-seeking, viewing emotional vulnerability as incompatible with being a strong Black man.”

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Quote of the Week

“Economics has a gender problem, and it has a race problem.”

Elizabeth Asiedu,
professor of economics at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Statistic of the Week

52%
Percentage of White adult women in the U.S. who have a college degree
26%
Percentage of Black adult men in the U.S. who have a college degree

Source: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (see JBHE post)

JBHE Archives

All Recent Posts

SherRhonda Gibbs Named the First Woman President of Texas College

Dr. Gibbs has been serving as dean of the division of business and economics at Morehouse College in Atlanta. She is slated to become the first woman president of historically Black Texas College on July 1.

Data Shows Significant Growth in Black Employers in the United States

In 2023, the number of Black-owned employer businesses in the United States surpassed 200,000 for the first time. From 2017 to 2023, Black employer firms grew by 62 percent. However, Black-owned business are still just 3.4 percent of all U.S. employer firms.

Joseph Karl Grant Appointed Dean of the North Carolina Central University School of Law

Professor Grant comes to North Carolina Central University from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he most recently served as interim dean and the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Chair in Legal Education in the School of Law.

Study Finds Diabetes is More Prevalent in Neighborhoods Impacted by Structural Racism

According to a new study from scholars at the University at Buffalo, census-tracts with historic redlining, higher scores of contemporary structural racism, and higher shares of Black residents are significantly associated with higher diabetes prevalence.

Marika Peterson Named Dean of Libraries at Virginia State University

Peterson, a two-time graduate of Virginia State University, returns to her alma mater after nearly two decades with Southside Virginia Community College, where she most recently served as the college-wide librarian.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund Expands Efforts to Support HBCU Faculty and Staff Growth

Led in partnership with the Association of College and University Educators, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund's CHANGE initiative aims to expand professional development opportunities for faculty and academic staff at HBCUs.

Three Black Scholars Selected for New Roles at Universities

Monica L. Baskin and Tycie Coppett are taking on interim leadership roles at Virginia Commonwealth University and Yale College, respectively. Christina Edwards Bailey was selected for an endowed faculty appointment at Vanderbilt University.

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Launches New AI and Data Analytics Center

Through this new initiative, scholars will work to integrate AI and data analytics into the HBCU's curricula and expand AI literacy training for students, faculty, and staff.

University of Delaware’s Trevor Dawes Receives National Award in Academic Librarianship

Dawes is the May Morris University Librarian at the University of Delaware Library, Museums, and Press. The Association of College and Research Libraries recently named Dawes the 2026 Academic/Research Librarian of the Year.

Benedict College Establishes New Scholarship Pathway for Bahamian Students

Under a new five-year agreement with The Bahamas' Ministry of Education and Technical Vocational Training, Benedict College has created a scholarship pathway for Bahamian students to attend the HBCU and study fields aligned with The Bahamas' national priorities.

New Appointments for Four Black Administrators in Higher Education

The appointments are Marquita Graves at North Carolina A&T State University, Taylor Helton at Denmark Technical College in South Carolina, D. Anthony Everett at BSK Theological Seminary in Kentucky, and Carjie Scott at AdventHealth University in Florida.

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.

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.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

How Do Professional Schools at HBCUs Fare in *U.S. News* Rankings?

Some of the graduate and professional schools at historically Black colleges and universities were included in the U.S. News rankings, but in all cases, they were far down the list of the best schools and programs.

Congressional Black Caucus Sued for Limiting Scholarship Program to Black Students

The scholarship program in question is available to African American and Black students who reside or attend school in a congressional district represented by a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. According to the American Alliance for Equal Rights, this program violates Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

University of Nevada College of Education Dean Receives No-Confidence Vote

Dr. Easton-Brooks has led the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Education for seven years. Recently, over 85 percent of the college's faculty issued a vote of no-confidence in his leadership capabilities.

Chicago State University Establishes New Partnership With the University of Burundi

Under a new agreement, the two universities have agreed to collaborate on educational and research initiatives, leading to expanded learning opportunities for students and faculty at both institutions.

An Update on the Economic State of Black American Women

According to a new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Black women are among the most active participants in the U.S. labor force. However, there are still significant disparities in educational attainment, income, and wealth compared to White and Asian women.

Kymberly Pinder Reappointed Dean of the Yale School of Art

Dr. Pinder was named dean of the Yale School of Art in 2021, making her the first Black woman to serve as a dean at the Ivy League university. She has been reappointed to her role for a second five-year term.

Stanford Study Examines How Racialized Masculinity Impacts Black Men’s Mental Health

“While hegemonic masculinity emphasizes emotional stoicism and self-reliance, racialized masculinity intensifies these demands by portraying Black men as inherently resilient and unbreakable,” the authors write. “As a result, many participants expressed stigma around help-seeking, viewing emotional vulnerability as incompatible with being a strong Black man.”

Tiece M. Ruffin to Lead the School of Education at Fort Lewis College in Colorado

Dr. Ruffin comes to her new role from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she taught for the past 16 years. Dr. Ruffin focuses her research on learners with special needs, diverse learners, and pedagogical approaches for the diverse and inclusive classroom.

Study Finds Persistent Racial Disparities in Lung Cancer Treatment

“If you’re developing cures for cancer, but it’s not getting into the hands of everybody who needs it, then you haven’t succeeded,” said lead author Olivia Lynch, postdoctoral research fellow at the Yale School of Medicine.

American Educational Research Association Honors Six Black Americans

The awardees are Vivian Gadsden of the University of Pennsylvania, James L. Moore III of Ohio State University, Nicole Patton Terry of Florida State University, Terrell R. Morton of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chezare A. Warren of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and Sean Darling-Hammond of the University of California, Berkeley.

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Streamline Federal Grant Process for HBCUs

“HBCUs are incubators of diverse excellence and have proven their ability time and again to punch above their weight,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Despite not always having every tool at their disposal, they continue to make massive contributions to the research and development community. This bipartisan bill will make securing federal dollars for their research efforts that much easier...”

All Recent Posts

SherRhonda Gibbs Named the First Woman President of Texas College

Dr. Gibbs has been serving as dean of the division of business and economics at Morehouse College in Atlanta. She is slated to become the first woman president of historically Black Texas College on July 1.

Data Shows Significant Growth in Black Employers in the United States

In 2023, the number of Black-owned employer businesses in the United States surpassed 200,000 for the first time. From 2017 to 2023, Black employer firms grew by 62 percent. However, Black-owned business are still just 3.4 percent of all U.S. employer firms.

Joseph Karl Grant Appointed Dean of the North Carolina Central University School of Law

Professor Grant comes to North Carolina Central University from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he most recently served as interim dean and the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Chair in Legal Education in the School of Law.

Study Finds Diabetes is More Prevalent in Neighborhoods Impacted by Structural Racism

According to a new study from scholars at the University at Buffalo, census-tracts with historic redlining, higher scores of contemporary structural racism, and higher shares of Black residents are significantly associated with higher diabetes prevalence.

Marika Peterson Named Dean of Libraries at Virginia State University

Peterson, a two-time graduate of Virginia State University, returns to her alma mater after nearly two decades with Southside Virginia Community College, where she most recently served as the college-wide librarian.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund Expands Efforts to Support HBCU Faculty and Staff Growth

Led in partnership with the Association of College and University Educators, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund's CHANGE initiative aims to expand professional development opportunities for faculty and academic staff at HBCUs.

Three Black Scholars Selected for New Roles at Universities

Monica L. Baskin and Tycie Coppett are taking on interim leadership roles at Virginia Commonwealth University and Yale College, respectively. Christina Edwards Bailey was selected for an endowed faculty appointment at Vanderbilt University.

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Launches New AI and Data Analytics Center

Through this new initiative, scholars will work to integrate AI and data analytics into the HBCU's curricula and expand AI literacy training for students, faculty, and staff.

University of Delaware’s Trevor Dawes Receives National Award in Academic Librarianship

Dawes is the May Morris University Librarian at the University of Delaware Library, Museums, and Press. The Association of College and Research Libraries recently named Dawes the 2026 Academic/Research Librarian of the Year.

Benedict College Establishes New Scholarship Pathway for Bahamian Students

Under a new five-year agreement with The Bahamas' Ministry of Education and Technical Vocational Training, Benedict College has created a scholarship pathway for Bahamian students to attend the HBCU and study fields aligned with The Bahamas' national priorities.

New Appointments for Four Black Administrators in Higher Education

The appointments are Marquita Graves at North Carolina A&T State University, Taylor Helton at Denmark Technical College in South Carolina, D. Anthony Everett at BSK Theological Seminary in Kentucky, and Carjie Scott at AdventHealth University in Florida.

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.

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.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

How Do Professional Schools at HBCUs Fare in *U.S. News* Rankings?

Some of the graduate and professional schools at historically Black colleges and universities were included in the U.S. News rankings, but in all cases, they were far down the list of the best schools and programs.

Congressional Black Caucus Sued for Limiting Scholarship Program to Black Students

The scholarship program in question is available to African American and Black students who reside or attend school in a congressional district represented by a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. According to the American Alliance for Equal Rights, this program violates Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

University of Nevada College of Education Dean Receives No-Confidence Vote

Dr. Easton-Brooks has led the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Education for seven years. Recently, over 85 percent of the college's faculty issued a vote of no-confidence in his leadership capabilities.

Chicago State University Establishes New Partnership With the University of Burundi

Under a new agreement, the two universities have agreed to collaborate on educational and research initiatives, leading to expanded learning opportunities for students and faculty at both institutions.

An Update on the Economic State of Black American Women

According to a new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Black women are among the most active participants in the U.S. labor force. However, there are still significant disparities in educational attainment, income, and wealth compared to White and Asian women.

Kymberly Pinder Reappointed Dean of the Yale School of Art

Dr. Pinder was named dean of the Yale School of Art in 2021, making her the first Black woman to serve as a dean at the Ivy League university. She has been reappointed to her role for a second five-year term.