The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

Kimo Ah Yun Named First Black President of Marquette University

“My top priority is ensuring we continue to provide a transformational education for our students so that our graduates are problem-solvers and agents of change,” said Dr. Ah Yun, the first Black president of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Darrin Martin Appointed President of Bluefield State University in West Virginia

“Bluefield State is uniquely positioned to expand opportunities for its students and strengthen its impact in the region. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and the community to build on the university’s successes," said Dr. Darrin Martin.

NCA&T Chancellor Emeritus Harold Martin Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Martin served as chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University from 2009 to 2023. Throughout his long tenure, the university experienced substantial growth in enrollment, and is now the largest HBCU in the country.

Research & Studies

Study Finds Steep Decline in Black First-Year Enrollment at Highly Selective Universities

Among highly selective institutions, Black first-year student enrollment dropped by a staggering 16.9 percent this year, the sharpest drop of any major racial group. This was the first admissions cycle since the Supreme Court ended the use of race-sensitive admissions at colleges and universities.

Scholars From Sub-Saharan African Nations Teaching at U.S. Colleges and Universities

There were 3,213 scholars from sub-Saharan African nations teaching at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2022-22 academic year. This was up more than 44 percent after nearly a 50 percent increase in the prior year.

The Number of African American Doctorates Reaches an All-Time High

Some 2,725 African Americans earned doctorates from U.S. universities in 2023. This is the highest number ever recorded. African Americans earned 4.7 percent of all doctorates awarded by U.S. universities in 2023 and 7.7 percent of all doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of this country.

Huge Surge in American Students Studying Abroad in Sub-Saharan Africa

According to the latest Open Doors report from the Institute on International Education, there were 9,163 Americans studying in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2022-23 academic year, up 98.6 percent from the previous year. Nearly 39 percent of these students attended universities in the Republic of South Africa.

Young Black Women Are Significantly Outpacing Black Men in Educational Attainment

The race-gender gap in degree attainment among Black Americans is surging. Today, Black women are 14 percentage points more likely to hold an undergraduate degree than their male peers.

Statistic of the Week

26%
Percentage of Black men in the United States ages 25-34 who hold a bachelor's degree
38%
Percentage of Black women in the United States ages 25-34 who hold a bachelor's degree

Source: Pew Research Center (see JBHE post)

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Quote of the Week

“We are less interested in what somebody looks like or what their sex is, and we are far more interested in whether they’re going to execute the president’s agenda.”

May Mailman,

former White House attorney, commenting on CNN about the lack of diversity in President-elect Trump's picks for high-level jobs in his administration

JBHE Archives

All Recent Posts

Kentucky State University Creates a New Pathway to Bachelor’s Degrees for Local Nurses

Kentucky State University has created a new RN-to-BSN pathway for students who have graduated from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's nursing program. The program will provide eligible students with a tuition-free college education.

In Memoriam: Whittington Johnson, 1931-2024

In 1970, Dr. Johnson made history as the first Black tenured professor to be hired by the University of Miami, where he taught for the next three decades.

Study Finds Steep Decline in Black First-Year Enrollment at Highly Selective Universities

Among highly selective institutions, Black first-year student enrollment dropped by a staggering 16.9 percent this year, the sharpest drop of any major racial group. This was the first admissions cycle since the Supreme Court ended the use of race-sensitive admissions at colleges and universities.

Rotesha Harris Appointed President of Knoxville College in Tennessee

"I am committed to ensuring that Knoxville College continues to be a beacon of opportunity and excellence. Together, we will strengthen our foundation and work diligently to regain accreditation, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come," said Dr. Harris

Scholars From Sub-Saharan African Nations Teaching at U.S. Colleges and Universities

There were 3,213 scholars from sub-Saharan African nations teaching at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2022-22 academic year. This was up more than 44 percent after nearly a 50 percent increase in the prior year.

Dexter Wakefield to Lead College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Alcorn State University

Dr. Wakefield joined the Alcorn State University faculty in 2021 as a professor and associate dean of academic programs for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. He has served as the college's interim dean for the past two years.

The Number of African American Doctorates Reaches an All-Time High

Some 2,725 African Americans earned doctorates from U.S. universities in 2023. This is the highest number ever recorded. African Americans earned 4.7 percent of all doctorates awarded by U.S. universities in 2023 and 7.7 percent of all doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of this country.

Judge Rules That the U.S. Naval Academy Can Still Consider Race in Admissions Decisions

The U.S. Naval Academy enrolls about 4,450 students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. Blacks make up just 6 percent of the student body. A federal judge has ruled that the USNA may continue to consider race in its admissions decisions.

Howard University to Develop National Research Center for Health Disparities

The new center, located adjacent to Howard's main campus, will bring together academic scholars, industry partners, and federal agencies to study disparities in healthcare incidence, accessibility, treatment, and outcomes.

Four Black Faculty Members Appointed to New Positions

The appointments are Corey Montgomery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Talia Sanders at Jarvis Christian University, Alexis Johnson at the College of Charleston, and Hampton University's Iso Ero-Johnson for the state of Virginia's new AI Task Force

North Carolina HBCU to Launch New Bachelor’s Degree Program in Artificial Intelligence

The new bachelor's degree program in artificial intelligence at North Carolina A&T State University will be the first of its kind in the state of North Carolina.

North Carolina Supreme Court Unveils Portrait of NCCU Law Dean Patricia Timmons-Goodson

Patricia Timmons-Goodson was appointed to the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2006, making her the first Black woman to serve in the that capacity. She has served as dean of the North Carolina Central University School of Law for the past year.

Voorhees University Establishes Graduate Pathway Partnership With Des Moines University

Voorhees University students now have the opportunity for a guaranteed interview for eight graduate degree programs in various health science disciplines at Des Moines University. Each year, one seat in DMU's doctor of occupational therapy program will be reserved for a Voorhees student.

Three African Americans Appointed to Administrative Roles at Universities

The administrative appointments are Dina Thomas at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Kemberly Sistrunk Greene at South Carolina State University, and Erika Ancrum at Edward Waters University.

A Strategy for Integrating Artificial Intelligence at Historically Black Colleges & Universities

For faculty in higher education, creating a generative AI policy for usage in completing assignments is creating somewhat of a confrontation of ethics and substitutional learning.

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.

University at Buffalo Acquires Archival Collection From Historic Black Church

Founded in 1861, St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Buffalo, New York, is one of the country's oldest Black Episcopal congregations. Recently, the University at Buffalo has acquired a collection of materials documenting the church's history and impact on the Black community in Buffalo.

In Memoriam: Clifton Wharton, Jr., 1926-2024

Dr. Wharton was the first Black president of Michigan State University, the first Black chancellor of the State University of New York, and the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

Huge Surge in American Students Studying Abroad in Sub-Saharan Africa

According to the latest Open Doors report from the Institute on International Education, there were 9,163 Americans studying in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2022-23 academic year, up 98.6 percent from the previous year. Nearly 39 percent of these students attended universities in the Republic of South Africa.

Kimo Ah Yun Named First Black President of Marquette University

“My top priority is ensuring we continue to provide a transformational education for our students so that our graduates are problem-solvers and agents of change,” said Dr. Ah Yun, the first Black president of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Young Black Women Are Significantly Outpacing Black Men in Educational Attainment

The race-gender gap in degree attainment among Black Americans is surging. Today, Black women are 14 percentage points more likely to hold an undergraduate degree than their male peers.

Darrin Martin Appointed President of Bluefield State University in West Virginia

“Bluefield State is uniquely positioned to expand opportunities for its students and strengthen its impact in the region. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and the community to build on the university’s successes," said Dr. Darrin Martin.

Black Americans Are Significantly Less Likely to Receive Palliative Care for Heart Failure

According to a new study led by Saint Louis University, Black patients with heart failure are 15 percent less likely to receive palliative care than their White counterparts.

All Recent Posts

Kentucky State University Creates a New Pathway to Bachelor’s Degrees for Local Nurses

Kentucky State University has created a new RN-to-BSN pathway for students who have graduated from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's nursing program. The program will provide eligible students with a tuition-free college education.

In Memoriam: Whittington Johnson, 1931-2024

In 1970, Dr. Johnson made history as the first Black tenured professor to be hired by the University of Miami, where he taught for the next three decades.

Study Finds Steep Decline in Black First-Year Enrollment at Highly Selective Universities

Among highly selective institutions, Black first-year student enrollment dropped by a staggering 16.9 percent this year, the sharpest drop of any major racial group. This was the first admissions cycle since the Supreme Court ended the use of race-sensitive admissions at colleges and universities.

Rotesha Harris Appointed President of Knoxville College in Tennessee

"I am committed to ensuring that Knoxville College continues to be a beacon of opportunity and excellence. Together, we will strengthen our foundation and work diligently to regain accreditation, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come," said Dr. Harris

Scholars From Sub-Saharan African Nations Teaching at U.S. Colleges and Universities

There were 3,213 scholars from sub-Saharan African nations teaching at U.S. colleges and universities in the 2022-22 academic year. This was up more than 44 percent after nearly a 50 percent increase in the prior year.

Dexter Wakefield to Lead College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Alcorn State University

Dr. Wakefield joined the Alcorn State University faculty in 2021 as a professor and associate dean of academic programs for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. He has served as the college's interim dean for the past two years.

The Number of African American Doctorates Reaches an All-Time High

Some 2,725 African Americans earned doctorates from U.S. universities in 2023. This is the highest number ever recorded. African Americans earned 4.7 percent of all doctorates awarded by U.S. universities in 2023 and 7.7 percent of all doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of this country.

Judge Rules That the U.S. Naval Academy Can Still Consider Race in Admissions Decisions

The U.S. Naval Academy enrolls about 4,450 students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. Blacks make up just 6 percent of the student body. A federal judge has ruled that the USNA may continue to consider race in its admissions decisions.

Howard University to Develop National Research Center for Health Disparities

The new center, located adjacent to Howard's main campus, will bring together academic scholars, industry partners, and federal agencies to study disparities in healthcare incidence, accessibility, treatment, and outcomes.

Four Black Faculty Members Appointed to New Positions

The appointments are Corey Montgomery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Talia Sanders at Jarvis Christian University, Alexis Johnson at the College of Charleston, and Hampton University's Iso Ero-Johnson for the state of Virginia's new AI Task Force

North Carolina HBCU to Launch New Bachelor’s Degree Program in Artificial Intelligence

The new bachelor's degree program in artificial intelligence at North Carolina A&T State University will be the first of its kind in the state of North Carolina.

North Carolina Supreme Court Unveils Portrait of NCCU Law Dean Patricia Timmons-Goodson

Patricia Timmons-Goodson was appointed to the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2006, making her the first Black woman to serve in the that capacity. She has served as dean of the North Carolina Central University School of Law for the past year.

Voorhees University Establishes Graduate Pathway Partnership With Des Moines University

Voorhees University students now have the opportunity for a guaranteed interview for eight graduate degree programs in various health science disciplines at Des Moines University. Each year, one seat in DMU's doctor of occupational therapy program will be reserved for a Voorhees student.

Three African Americans Appointed to Administrative Roles at Universities

The administrative appointments are Dina Thomas at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Kemberly Sistrunk Greene at South Carolina State University, and Erika Ancrum at Edward Waters University.

A Strategy for Integrating Artificial Intelligence at Historically Black Colleges & Universities

For faculty in higher education, creating a generative AI policy for usage in completing assignments is creating somewhat of a confrontation of ethics and substitutional learning.

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.

University at Buffalo Acquires Archival Collection From Historic Black Church

Founded in 1861, St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Buffalo, New York, is one of the country's oldest Black Episcopal congregations. Recently, the University at Buffalo has acquired a collection of materials documenting the church's history and impact on the Black community in Buffalo.

In Memoriam: Clifton Wharton, Jr., 1926-2024

Dr. Wharton was the first Black president of Michigan State University, the first Black chancellor of the State University of New York, and the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company.