Florida A&M University Names a New Dean
Valencia E. Matthews was named dean of the new College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities. She has been the interim dean since the College of Arts and Science was separated into two schools: the College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities and the College of Science and Technology.
Donald Pope-Davis Named Provost at DePaul University in Chicago
Currently, Dr. Pope-Davis is professor of psychology and vice president and associate provost at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. He has served on the Notre Dame faculty for 13 years and has been associate provost since 2007.
T. Geronimo Johnson Named a Finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award in Fiction
Johnson is a lecturer in creative writing and director of the Summer Creative Writing Program at the University of California at Berkeley. He is being honored for his debut novel Hold It, 'Til It Hurts.
Oberlin College Suspends Classes After Racial Incidents
In February, Black History Month posters in the college's Science Center were defaced with the word "Nigger." In a residence hall, the words "Whites Only" were written above a water fountain and "No Niggers" was written on a bathroom door.
Charges Upgraded to Manslaughter in the 2011 Death of FAMU Drum Major Robert Champion
The 10 defendants had previously been charged with third-degree felony hazing. Two additional individuals, who had not been arrested previously, were also charged with manslaughter.
Heidi Anderson Named Provost at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
When Dr. Anderson takes office in July, the university's two highest officials, president and provost, both will be African American women. Helen F. Giles-Gee became the university's president a year ago. Only 6 percent of the undergraduate student body at the university is Black.
Gilbert Holmes Named Dean of the College of Law at the University of La...
Holmes is currently a professor of law and former dean of the University of Baltimore School of Law. Previously, he has served on the law school faculties at Texas Wesleyan University, Florida A&M University, Southern Methodist University, and Seton Hall University.
Tennessee Legislature Fails to Enact Anti-Affirmative Action Measure
The Senate Education Committee of the Tennessee legislature defeated a proposal that called for the elimination of preference "based on race, gender or ethnicity to any student or employee of the public institution of higher education."
Wayne Watson Stepping Down as President of Chicago State University
Wayne D. Watson, who was appointed president of Chicago State University in 2009, has announced his intention to step down with 18 months left to go on his five-year contract. Sandra Westbrooks, now provost at the university, will serve as acting president.
Black Participation in the AP Program Soars, But a Large Racial Scoring Gap Persists
Blacks made up 14.5 percent of the graduating Class of 2012 but were 9.2 percent of all AP test takers and only 4.4 percent of all students who successfully completed an AP examination.
The New Poet Laureate for the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Frank X Walker is an associate professor in the department of English at the University of Kentucky. He also serves as director of the university's African American and Africana studies program. Professor Walker is credited with coining the term "Affrilachia."
Emory President’s Commentary on the Three-Fifths Compromise Causes Uproar on Campus
James W. Wagner, president of Emory University, has been criticized for using the Constitution's Three-Fifths Clause regarding the counting of slaves as an example of political compromise.
Two Highly Educated Black Men Are Among the Favorites to Be the Next Pope
Bookmakers in London, now rate two highly educated Black men, Peter Turkson of Ghana and Francis Arinze of Nigeria, as the two leading candidates to succeed Pope Benedict XVI. Both men hold master's and doctoral degrees.
Xerox CEO Ursula Burns Elected to the National Academy of Engineering
It appears that Burns, who holds degrees from the Polytechnic Institute of New York University and Columbia University, is the only African American among the 69 new inductees of the academy.
Marvin Lynn Named Dean of Education at Indiana University South Bend
Dr. Lynn is currently the associate dean for teacher education at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and previously served on the faculties of the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland. He will begin his new duties on July 1.
Debra Saunders-White Will Be the Next Chancellor of North Carolina Central University
Debra Saunders-White was named the 11th chancellor of North Carolina Central University in Durham. She will take on her new role on June 1. Dr. Saunders-White has been serving as deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs at the U.S. Department of Education.
Xavier University Names Its First Provost
When he takes office on July 1, Loren Blanchard will be the first person in the newly created position of provost at the historically Black university. He is currently the senior vice president for academic affairs at Xavier.
Rodney Bennett Appointed President of the University of Southern Mississippi
Dr. Bennett, now vice president for student affairs at the University of Georgia, will be the first African American president of any of the five predominantly White state universities in Mississippi.
Good News! More Than 5 Million African Americans Now Hold College Degrees
For Blacks over the age of 25 in 2012, 21.2 percent held a college degree. This is an increase from 19.9 percent in 2011. For Whites over the age of 25 in 2012, 34.5 percent held a college degree, up from 34.0 percent in 2011.
William Pollard Stepping Down as President of Medgar Evers College
Over the past several years, President Pollard has been widely criticized by students and faculty on a wide range of issues. On two occasions the faculty had issued a vote of no confidence in Dr. Pollard's leadership.
The Higher Education of the Newest Black U.S. Senator
William "Mo" Cowan, a graduate of Duke University and the Northeastern University School of Law, will serve in the U.S. Senate until a special election is held to determine who will fill out the term of Senator John Kerry, who left Capitol Hill to become U.S. Secretary of State.
The University of the District of Columbia Is Cutting Nearly 100 Faculty and Staff
The historically Black educational institution in our nation's capital, has announced that it has eliminated 69 faculty and staff positions and that an additional 28 staff positions would be cut over the next several days. The cuts are projected to save the university $8.5 million annually.
Lincoln University of Missouri Names Its Next President
Kevin D. Rome, currently vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management at North Carolina Central University in Durham, will become the 19th president of Lincoln University of Missouri on June 1.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund Announces Its First President-in-Residence
John W. Garland, the former president of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, has been chosen at the inaugural President-in-Residence at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Black Enrollments in Higher Education Expected to Continue to Grow
New data from the U.S. Department of Education estimates that the enrollments of African Americans in higher education will increase by 25 percent by the year 2021. For whites, only a 4 percent increase is expected.
New President at Tennessee State Starts Job by Making a $50,000 Contribution to the...
Hoping to lead by example, new Tennessee State president Glenda Baskin Glover challenged all alumni chapters to match her contribution to financially support the university.
UCLA Adds Two Jazz Greats to Its Faculty
The Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California at Los Angeles has announced that jazz greats Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter have joined the faculty of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance.
Jackson State Professor Is Among the Inaugural Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors
Ernest B. Izevbigie, professor of biology at Jackson State University in Mississippi, holds a patent for a formula used as a dietary supplement to boost the immune system and lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer patients.
Federico Talley Ousted as President of Frederick Community College
Dr. Talley assumed the presidency of the community college just six months ago. He was the first African American to hold the post.
Carolyn Hull Anderson Is the New Leader of Baltimore City Community College
Dr. Anderson was serving as an associate professor at Morgan State University but was on the faculty at Baltimore City Community College for nearly 30 years.
Sylvester James Gates to Be Awarded the National Medal of Science
He is the John S. Toll Professor of Physics and director of the Center for String and Particle Theory at the University of Maryland in College Park. He has taught at the University of Maryland since 1984.
David Wilson Is Not Done Yet at Morgan State University
In early December, the board of regents of Morgan State University voted not to renew the contract of David Wilson who has served as president of the university since 2010. After protests from students, faculty, and alumni the board has had a change of heart.
Emilie Townes Named Dean of the Vanderbilt Divinity School
Dr. Townes currently serves as the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of African American Religion and Theology at Yale Divinity School. She also is the associate dean of academic affairs. She will assume her new post in July.
Rachel Petty Now Leads the University of the District of Columbia
Dr. Petty, a professor of psychology and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as interim chief operating officer until an interim president is named sometime in January.
Harvard Student From Zimbabwe Named an International Rhodes Scholar
Dalumuzi Mhlanga, a senior at Harvard University, was named a Rhodes Scholar as part of the international contingent of Rhodes Scholars. He is a native of Zimbabwe.
Law Professor to Lead the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
At the start of the new year Sherrilyn Ifill, professor at the Francis King Carey School of Law at the University of Maryland, will become president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
