Tag: Boston University
Gene Jarrett Receives Award for His Biography of Paul Laurence Dunbar
Gene Jarrett's book, Paul Laurence Dunbar: The Life and Times of a Caged Bird, tells the story of Dunbar's life as an African American writer in the late 1800s.
More High-Ranking Colleges and Universities Report Declines in Entering Black Students
In the aftermath of the June 29, 2023 United States Supreme Court decision banning the consideration of race in college admissions decisions, more high-ranking colleges and universities have reported a drop in Black enrollments for their entering classes this fall.
Three Black Social Scientists Join the Boston University Faculty
The new Boston University Black faculty members in the social sciences are Bradley Craig, Brooke Durham, and Pamela Zabala Ortiz.
In Memoriam: Sybil Haydel Morial, 1932-2024
When pursuing her graduate education in the 1950s, Haydel Morial was denied enrollment at Tulane University and Loyola University because of her race. She went on to become an active member of the civil rights movement and advocate for voting rights in New Orleans and held administrative posts at Xavier University of Louisiana.
Vanderbilt University Launches Digital Collection of Papers From Rev. James M. Lawson
Lawson enrolled in Vanderbilt Divinity School in the 1950s, and was soon expelled for organizing peaceful protests in the downtown Nashville. Since then, Vanderbilt has recognized Lawson's contributions to the civil rights movement through several awards and university initiatives named in his honor.
Study Debunks Popular Theory that Incarceration Leads to Safer Communities for Black Americans
A new study from Boston University has challenged the assumption that incarceration leads to safer communities, finding higher rates of incarceration in Black communities results in higher gun violence in those same communities. This pattern was not found among White or Hispanic neighborhoods.
Saida Grundy Wins Race, Gender, and Class Book Award From the American Sociology Association
Dr. Grundy's book, Respectable: Politics and Paradox in Making the Morehouse Man, explores the culture and experiences of graduates from Morehouse College in Atlanta, the country's only historically Black college for men.
In Memoriam: James Morris Lawson Jr., 1928-2024
Lawson enrolled at the Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1958. While he was a student, he helped organize sit-ins at lunch counters in downtown Nashville. In 1960, he was expelled from the university for his participation in civil rights protests.
Five Black Professors Selected for New Faculty Positions
Here is this week’s roundup of African Americans who have been appointed to new faculty positions at universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to contact@jbhe.com.
Six Black Academics Appointed to New Faculty Positions
The faculty appointments are Raymond Wise at Indiana University, Kirsten Greenidge at Boston University, Karen Mainess at Loma Linda University, Donica Hadley at James Madison University, Malcolm Merriweather at Brooklyn College, and Hope Wabuke at the University of Nebraska.
Rolanda Ward Recognized by National Association of Social Workers for Service to Underserved Communities
The National Association of Social Workers honored Rolanda Ward for her service to underserved and oppressed communities. She currently serves as director of the Rose Bente Lee Ostapenko Center for Race, Equity, and Mission at Niagara University.
In Memoriam: Ramona Edelin, 1945-2024
Dr. Edelin founded the first African American studies program at Northeastern University in 1972. She is credited for introducing the term "African American" into American vernacular.
Karen Bullock Honored for Outstanding Contributions to Diversity in Palliative Medicine
As an endowed professor at Boston College and scholar at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Bullock's new award honors her dedication to improving care for underrepresented patient populations in hospice and palliative medicine.
Melissa Gilliam Will Be the First African American President of Boston University
Dr. Gilliam has been provost at Ohio State University since July 2021. Earlier, she was vice provost, the Ellen H. Block Distinguished Service Professor of Health Justice, and professor of obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics at the University of Chicago. She will become president of Boston University on July 1, 2024.
Berenecea Johnson Eanes Will Be the Next President of California State University, Los Angeles
Since 2020, Dr. Eanes has served as president of York College of the City University of New York. She served as vice president for student affairs at California State University, Fullerton from 2012 to 2019. She will begin her new job in January.
Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke Is the New Provost at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey
For the past two years, Dr. Tomlinson-Clarke has been serving as senior vice provost for academic and faculty affairs. Dr. Tomlinson-Clarke joined the faculty at the university in 1989. Her research focuses on the development of culturally responsive interventions to enhance learning.
A Trio of Black Faculty Members Taking on New Roles
Makhroufi Ousmane Traoré received tenure and was promoted to associate professor of history and Africana studies at Pomona College in California. Neil Roberts, professor of Africana studies, was named associate dean of the faculty at Williams College in Massachusetts and Saida Grundy was promoted to associate professor of sociology and African American studies at Boston University.
Three Black Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to New Positions
Kafui Dzirasa will be the inaugural holder of an endowed chair at the School of Medicine at Duke University. Paula Austin was promoted to associate professor of history and African American studies at Boston University and Lewis R. Gordon was appointed a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor at the University of Connecticut.
Six African Americans Taking on New Administrative Duties in Higher Education
Those appointed to new administrative roles are Nick Bates at Boston University, Reinell Thomas-Myers at South Carolina State University, Joel Munza at Xavier University in New Orleans, Alisia Kirkwood at Long Beach Community College in California, Rashad Cockrell at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, and Robert Raines at Alcorn State University in Mississippi.
Boston University Study Finds Racism Is a Factor in High Rates of Heart Disease Among Black Women
A team of researchers who followed more than 48,000 Black women over 22 years found those who reported experiencing interpersonal racism in employment, housing, and in interactions with the police had a 26 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease than those who did not.
In Memoriam: Willa Elaine Johnson, 1957-2022
Dr. Johnson taught at the University of Mississippi for 23 years. Colleagues remember her as a “renaissance woman” who was an expert in many disciplines, fluent in multiple languages, and an artist. She was only the second Black woman in the U.S. to earn a doctorate in Hebrew Bible.
Boston University Study Finds Shortcomings in Federal Data Collection on Race
The Boston University report, “Toward Evidence-Based Antiracist Policymaking: Problems and Proposals for Better Racial Data Collection and Reporting,” emphasizes the need for a robust and standardized system of racial data collection, reporting, and monitoring.
Kenneth Elmore Appointed President of Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts
Elmore has been serving as an associate provost and the dean of students at Boston University, where he has been a member of the leadership team for nearly two decades. He will be the college's fourteenth president since its founding in 1865.
Study Looks at the Mental Health and Help-Seeking of College Students of Color
Researchers found that the mental health of college students across the United States has been on a consistent decline over the past eight years. Mental health issues take a particular toll on African American and other students of color.
Boston University Students Can Now Major in African American and Black Diaspora Studies
Over the past several years, the number of students signing up for the African American studies minor each year at Boston University has grown from a handful to more than 40 at one point. Now beginning this fall, students at Boston University will be able to major in African American and Black diaspora studies.
Crystal Williams Will Be the Eighteenth President of the Rhode Island School of Design
President-elect Williams has been serving as a professor of English and vice president and associate provost for community & inclusion at Boston University. She began her academic career at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. She later served as associate vice president for strategic initiatives at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
Notre Dame’s K. Matthew Dames Is the New Leader of the Association of Research Libraries
Dr. Dames came to Notre Dame this fall after serving as Boston University Librarian since 2018. Earlier, Dr. Dames was associate university librarian for scholarly resources and services at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Study Finds Higher Breast Cancer Risk for Black Women Who Were Heavy Users of Hair Relaxers
Comparing user data to incidence of breast cancer, the researchers found that Black women who were heavy users of hair relaxers (those who used hair products containing lye at least seven times a year for 15 or more years) had an approximately 30 percent increased risk of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer compared to other Black women.
In Memoriam: Esther Arvilla Harrison Hopkins, 1926-2021
Esther A. H. Hopkins was a biophysicist, chemist, educator, and environmental attorney. She taught for several years at what is now Virginia State University before embarking on a career as a research scientist.
New Administrative Posts for Five African Americans at Colleges and Universities
The five African Americans appointed to administrative positions are Erika Jordan at Boston University, Viticus Thomas at South Carolina State University, LaWanna Gilbert-Bell at the University of Louisiana Monroe, Vareva Harris at Benedict College in South Carolina, and Josie Hoover at the University of the District of Columbia.
Bryant University in Rhode Island Appoints a New Dean of its College of Arts & Sciences
Veronica McComb currently serves as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, academic chair for the history department, and program coordinator for Africana studies at Lenoir-Rhyne University, with three campus locations in North and South Carolina.
Non-Virus Related Deaths During the Pandemic Also More Likely to Impact African Americans
As with the deaths that were directly caused by the virus, those linked to unemployment have taken a disproportionate toll on Black people, especially those with the least education. Black people make up 12 percent of the working-age population, but they comprised 19 percent of the projected excess deaths due to higher unemployment during the pandemic.
Three African Americans Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to Named Profesorships
Eric Darnell Pritchard was appointed to the Brown Chair in English Literacy at the University of Arkansas. Angela Onwuachi-Willig is the first Ryan Roth Gallo and Ernest J. Gallo Professor at the Boston University School of Law and Christopher Tounsel has been named the inaugural Catherine Shultz Rein Early Career Professor at Penn State.
In Memoriam: Samuel L. Myers Sr., 1919-2021
Dr. Myers served on the faculty at Morgan State University in Baltimore from 1950 to 1963 before going to work for the U.S. State Department. He was appointed the fourth president of Bowie State University in Maryland in 1968 and served in the post until 1977.
The New Dean of the Business School at Historically Black Benedict College in South Carolina
Tracey H. Dunn has been serving as interim dean for the past three years. She has served on the faculty at Benedict College for 18 years. Previously, she worked in the corporate sector for IBM and AT&T.
Higher Education Grants or Gifts 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.
