Milestones

The First Woman of Color to Serve as Dean of the St. Thomas University School of Law

Tamara F. Lawson has been named dean of St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, Florida. Professor Lawson, who had been serving as interim dean since June 2018, earlier was associate dean for academic affairs from 2017 to June 2018.

The First Woman to Earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science at North Carolina A&T State University

Dr. Siobahn Day's research focused on how to determine originating sources of statements made on social media outlets. The research aimed to determine the sources of fake news that have become rampant on social media platforms.

The First Black Woman Inducted Into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame

Rene Revis Shingles, a professor in the School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences at Central Michigan University, was elected into the Hall of Fame of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. She is the first African American woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The First African American Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy

Darryl A. Williams is the 60th superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He is the first African American to serve in this role in the 216-year history of the academy.

Ernest J. Grant Will Be the First Man to Lead the American Nurses Association

Dr. Grant is an internationally recognized burn care and fire safety expert and oversees the nationally acclaimed North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill. He also teaches at the university's School of Nursing.

The First Black Woman to Lead the American Medical Association

Patrice Harris, a practicing psychiatrist and an adjunct assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University in Atlanta, was chosen as president-elect of the American Medical Association. In June 2019, she will become the first Black woman to lead the organization.

11-Year-Old Child Prodigy Receives Full Tuition Scholarship to Southern University

Since the age of 8, Elijah Precciely has taken classes at the university. Due to his previously college credits, he will start at Southern University as a sophomore. He has authored a book, hosts a radio show, and has submitted five U.S. patents.

Darrell Cain Appointed President of Pierce College-Puyallup in Washington State

Dr. Cain has been serving as vice chancellor for student affairs for Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. When he takes office, Dr. Cain will be the first African American to serve as permanent president of the Puyallup campus.

Morgan State University Signs Its First-Ever Technology Transfer License Agreement

The technology, which was developed by the research staff in the Center for Advanced Energy Systems and Environmental Control Technologies in the School of Engineering at Morgan State, is an ultra-clean mobile combustor for waste biomass and poultry litter disposal.

Miles K. Davis Will Be the First African American President of Linfield College in Oregon

Currently, Dr. Davis is dean of the Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. He joined the faculty there is 2001 and was named dean of the business school in 2012. He will become president of Linfield College on July 1.

Former Portland State University Official Named to the Oregon Supreme Court

Adrienne C. Nelson has been appointed by Governor Kate Brown to a seat on the Oregon Supreme Court. She is the first African American to serve on an appellate court in the state of Oregon.

A Record Number of Doctoral Degree Awards at Grambling State University

Last month seven students were awarded doctorates in developmental education at Grambling State University in Louisiana. This is the largest number of doctoral degrees awarded in university history. One of the seven students is a grandfather who has been serving as a lecturer in the College of Business at Grambling.

Winston-Salem State Graduate Is the First to Take Advantage of a Guaranteed Admission Program

Alexis McCrea, who graduated from Winston-Salem State University last spring, is the first student to take advantage of the university's Early Assurance Program that guarantees admission for university graduates to the doctor of physical therapy program if they have met specific requirements.

Kentucky State University Awards its First Doctoral Degrees

Kentucky State University, the historically Black educational institution in Frankfort, recently conferred its first doctoral degrees in the 131-year history of the educational institution. Six students were awarded the doctor of nursing practice degree at the university's fall commencement.

Morgan State University Set to Award its First Ph.D. in Mathematics

Next month, Candice Marshall is set to become the first person to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics at historically Black Morgan State University in Baltimore. A native of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, Marshall's research involves advanced matrix algebra and Riordan matrices.

The First African American Woman Athletic Director at a Power 5 Conference University

The University of Virginia has named Carla Williams as director of athletics. She is the first African American woman to be named an athletics director at a Power 5 conference that make up the nation's leading football programs.

Clemson University’s First African American Dean Has Retired

Frankie O. Felder, senior associate dean at the Clemson University’s graduate school, retired on August 15. Dr. Felder had served as a dean at the graduate school since 1987. She was the first African American dean at Clemson.

The First African American Woman to Lead the Corps of Cadets at West Point

Simone Askew of Fairfax, Virginia, was named First Captain of the Corps of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for the 2017-18 academic year. She is the first African American woman to hold this position since the academy's founding in 1802.

The First African American President of Eureka College in Illinois

Jamel Santa Cruze Wright has been serving as interim president of the college since July 2016. Dr. Wright first came to Eureka College in 2014 as chief diversity officer and vice president for strategic and diversity initiatives.

Tonjua Williams Will Be the First African American President of St. Petersburg College

Dr. Williams has been on the staff at the college for 30 years. Since 2013, she has served as senior vice president of student services. She holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Barry University in Miami.

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