The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

Derrick Scott Appointed Provost of Fort Valley State University

With an extensive background in HBCU academics and administration, Dr. Scott has served as dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences at Virginia State University and as director of the Center for Health Disparities at Delaware State University.

Claudia Schrader Appointed as the Eighth President of York College in New York

Dr. Schrader has served as York College's interim president since January. She has extensive background in higher education, including recent service as the first Black president of Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn.

Denise Whisenhunt Named President of Fresno City College

Whisenhunt is slated to assume the presidency of Fresno City College in July. She has extensive experience with California community colleges, including her current role as president of Grossmont College.

Darris Means to Lead the National Rural Education Association

Beginning in the role of president-elect designate, Dr. Means will serve as key leader of the National Rural Education Association for a five-year term. His career has been dedicated to advancing education for underrepresented students, particularly in STEM.

Research & Studies

Study Finds Upward Trends in the Share of Pell Grant Students at Top Private Colleges and Universities

"There are many barriers that limit the likelihood that lower-income students will be academically qualified to enroll in these highly selective colleges," writes the author. "But those who can succeed in that environment deserve the opportunity to ascend the economic ladder."

Research Uncovers Evidence of Inferior Nursing Care in Black-Serving Hospitals

Scholars from the University of Pennsylvania have found patient outcomes directly related to nursing care are worse at Black-serving hospitals, including those with strong nursing resources.

Study Finds Significant Lack of Research on Effective Weight Loss Plans for Black Women

Co-authors Loneke Blackman Carr and Jameta N. Barlow have uncovered a significant disparity in Black women's participation in weight loss research over the past decade. They write, "Interventions designed with Black women for Black women will be important to generate holistic solutions for weight loss."

Study Examines the Opportunities for Achieving R1 Research Classifications at HBCUs

This year, the qualifications for achieving the R1 Carnegie Classification were simplified. Now, institutions must simply award a minimum of 70 doctorates and spend at least $50 million on research per year. These updated metrics have the potential to increase the number of HBCUs with R1 status.

Statistic of the Week

12.2%
Percentage of all students at private colleges and universities that have endowments of at least $500,000 per student who were eligible for low-income Pell grants in the 2007-08 academic year
18.5%
Percentage of all students at private colleges and universities that have endowments of at least $500,000 per student who were eligible for low-income Pell grants in the 2023-24 academic year

Source: Brookings Institution (see JBHE post)

Popular Categories

Get the FREE JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Quote of the Week

“Education is not a partisan issue, and the success of HBCUs should be a national priority. When we thrive, America thrives.”

Bobbie Knight,
president of Miles College in Alabama

JBHE Archives

All Recent Posts

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.

The Gates Foundation Scholarship Eliminates Race From Eligibility Requirements

Historically, the Gates Scholarship was awarded to low-income students from historically underrepresented racial backgrounds. However, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has recently announced it is opening the scholarship program to all Pell Grant-eligible students, regardless of race.

Harvard Acquires Publicly Available Database on the Atlantic Slave Trade

“SlaveVoyages’ databases build on the curiosity of Harvard students who catalyzed the University’s ongoing reckoning with its ties to slavery. The initiative can help amplify knowledge-sharing and visibility, empower scholars and students worldwide, while also reaffirming our commitment to truth," said Sarah Bleich, head of the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative

Study Finds Upward Trends in the Share of Pell Grant Students at Top Private Colleges and Universities

"There are many barriers that limit the likelihood that lower-income students will be academically qualified to enroll in these highly selective colleges," writes the author. "But those who can succeed in that environment deserve the opportunity to ascend the economic ladder."

Derrick Scott Appointed Provost of Fort Valley State University

With an extensive background in HBCU academics and administration, Dr. Scott has served as dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences at Virginia State University and as director of the Center for Health Disparities at Delaware State University.

Research Uncovers Evidence of Inferior Nursing Care in Black-Serving Hospitals

Scholars from the University of Pennsylvania have found patient outcomes directly related to nursing care are worse at Black-serving hospitals, including those with strong nursing resources.

Pamela Simms-Mackey Is the First Black Woman President of the American Board of Pediatrics

"The significance of this personally is to show young women of color, who are in various stages of their careers, that women can lead and be effective leaders at the highest levels," said Dr. Simms-Mackey, an HBCU alumna and volunteer professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

Study Finds Significant Lack of Research on Effective Weight Loss Plans for Black Women

Co-authors Loneke Blackman Carr and Jameta N. Barlow have uncovered a significant disparity in Black women's participation in weight loss research over the past decade. They write, "Interventions designed with Black women for Black women will be important to generate holistic solutions for weight loss."

A Change in Leadership at Arkansas Baptist College

Following a period of “extreme financial challenges,” Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon has resigned as president of Arkansas Baptist College. The HBCU's board of trustees has selected former employee George Herts to serve as interim president.

Tennessee State University Alumnus Launches HBCU$™ to Address Public Funding Gaps at HBCUs

Dorsey West, a Tennessee State University alumnus, has created a new alumni giving and wealth building network to provide consistent financial support to HBCUs and the entrepreneurs they produce.

Hampton University Wins the 2025 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge

The Honda All-Star Challenge is an annual academic competition for students and faculty at historically Black colleges and universities. This year's top finisher, Hampton University, received a $100,000 grant for their win.

Howard University Launches Three New Online Degree Programs

Howard University recently launched an online degree completion program for adult learners with some college credit to finish their bachelor's degrees. In fall 2025, the HBCU will offer two new online graduate degrees through the School of Education and the School of Divinity.

UNCF President Michael Lomax Receives the Global Silicon Valley Lifetime Achievement Award

"I accept this award not as an individual milestone, but as a celebration of the collective—of every student, every partner, every institution that dared to believe in the power of education to liberate, elevate, and transform," said Dr. Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund.

North Carolina Central University to Leverage AI-Powered Virtual Reality Clinical Training for Nursing Students

“It is impossible to teach everything a new nurse will face on the job in the classroom alone. Technologies like VR and AI help bridge that gap by providing a flexible, immersive learning experience aligned with the curriculum,” said Tina Scott, director of experiential learning at the NCCU department of nursing

Four Black Leaders Appointed to Administrative Roles at Universities

The appointments are Khalilah Doss at California State University, Fullerton, Rashad Murray at Clemson University, Lindsey Malcom-Piqueux at the California Institute of Technology, and Sonel Shropshire at Everett Community College.

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.

In Memoriam: Frank Brown, 1935-2025

An advocate for racial justice in education, Dr. Brown was the first Black dean of the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he helped to establish the university's first Black cultural center.

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.

On the Edge of Legacy: Reflections From a Tougaloo Daughter

"Tougaloo is not simply a school I once attended. It is a place I still study, still love, and still believe in. We are at the edge again. But edges are not only places of fracture. They are also places of possibility."

VCU Archaeology Project to Document Grave Markers in Richmond’s Black Cemeteries

The Virtual Curation Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University is in the midst of an ongoing project that involves 3D-scanning grave markers in historically Black cemeteries throughout Richmond.

Study Examines the Opportunities for Achieving R1 Research Classifications at HBCUs

This year, the qualifications for achieving the R1 Carnegie Classification were simplified. Now, institutions must simply award a minimum of 70 doctorates and spend at least $50 million on research per year. These updated metrics have the potential to increase the number of HBCUs with R1 status.

Claudia Schrader Appointed as the Eighth President of York College in New York

Dr. Schrader has served as York College's interim president since January. She has extensive background in higher education, including recent service as the first Black president of Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn.

Black Children Are Eight Times More Likely to Die From Firearm Homicide Than White Children

For every 100,000 children, 11.7 Black children and 2.1 White children died by firearm in 2023. Among youth homicides, 8.9 Black children and one White child died by firearm per every 100,000 children in 2023.

Denise Whisenhunt Named President of Fresno City College

Whisenhunt is slated to assume the presidency of Fresno City College in July. She has extensive experience with California community colleges, including her current role as president of Grossmont College.

All Recent Posts

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.

The Gates Foundation Scholarship Eliminates Race From Eligibility Requirements

Historically, the Gates Scholarship was awarded to low-income students from historically underrepresented racial backgrounds. However, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has recently announced it is opening the scholarship program to all Pell Grant-eligible students, regardless of race.

Harvard Acquires Publicly Available Database on the Atlantic Slave Trade

“SlaveVoyages’ databases build on the curiosity of Harvard students who catalyzed the University’s ongoing reckoning with its ties to slavery. The initiative can help amplify knowledge-sharing and visibility, empower scholars and students worldwide, while also reaffirming our commitment to truth," said Sarah Bleich, head of the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative

Study Finds Upward Trends in the Share of Pell Grant Students at Top Private Colleges and Universities

"There are many barriers that limit the likelihood that lower-income students will be academically qualified to enroll in these highly selective colleges," writes the author. "But those who can succeed in that environment deserve the opportunity to ascend the economic ladder."

Derrick Scott Appointed Provost of Fort Valley State University

With an extensive background in HBCU academics and administration, Dr. Scott has served as dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences at Virginia State University and as director of the Center for Health Disparities at Delaware State University.

Research Uncovers Evidence of Inferior Nursing Care in Black-Serving Hospitals

Scholars from the University of Pennsylvania have found patient outcomes directly related to nursing care are worse at Black-serving hospitals, including those with strong nursing resources.

Pamela Simms-Mackey Is the First Black Woman President of the American Board of Pediatrics

"The significance of this personally is to show young women of color, who are in various stages of their careers, that women can lead and be effective leaders at the highest levels," said Dr. Simms-Mackey, an HBCU alumna and volunteer professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

Study Finds Significant Lack of Research on Effective Weight Loss Plans for Black Women

Co-authors Loneke Blackman Carr and Jameta N. Barlow have uncovered a significant disparity in Black women's participation in weight loss research over the past decade. They write, "Interventions designed with Black women for Black women will be important to generate holistic solutions for weight loss."

A Change in Leadership at Arkansas Baptist College

Following a period of “extreme financial challenges,” Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon has resigned as president of Arkansas Baptist College. The HBCU's board of trustees has selected former employee George Herts to serve as interim president.

Tennessee State University Alumnus Launches HBCU$™ to Address Public Funding Gaps at HBCUs

Dorsey West, a Tennessee State University alumnus, has created a new alumni giving and wealth building network to provide consistent financial support to HBCUs and the entrepreneurs they produce.

Hampton University Wins the 2025 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge

The Honda All-Star Challenge is an annual academic competition for students and faculty at historically Black colleges and universities. This year's top finisher, Hampton University, received a $100,000 grant for their win.

Howard University Launches Three New Online Degree Programs

Howard University recently launched an online degree completion program for adult learners with some college credit to finish their bachelor's degrees. In fall 2025, the HBCU will offer two new online graduate degrees through the School of Education and the School of Divinity.

UNCF President Michael Lomax Receives the Global Silicon Valley Lifetime Achievement Award

"I accept this award not as an individual milestone, but as a celebration of the collective—of every student, every partner, every institution that dared to believe in the power of education to liberate, elevate, and transform," said Dr. Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund.

North Carolina Central University to Leverage AI-Powered Virtual Reality Clinical Training for Nursing Students

“It is impossible to teach everything a new nurse will face on the job in the classroom alone. Technologies like VR and AI help bridge that gap by providing a flexible, immersive learning experience aligned with the curriculum,” said Tina Scott, director of experiential learning at the NCCU department of nursing

Four Black Leaders Appointed to Administrative Roles at Universities

The appointments are Khalilah Doss at California State University, Fullerton, Rashad Murray at Clemson University, Lindsey Malcom-Piqueux at the California Institute of Technology, and Sonel Shropshire at Everett Community College.

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.

In Memoriam: Frank Brown, 1935-2025

An advocate for racial justice in education, Dr. Brown was the first Black dean of the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he helped to establish the university's first Black cultural center.

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.

On the Edge of Legacy: Reflections From a Tougaloo Daughter

"Tougaloo is not simply a school I once attended. It is a place I still study, still love, and still believe in. We are at the edge again. But edges are not only places of fracture. They are also places of possibility."