HBCU Times Spring 2024

FEATURING

Aventer Gray

CARVING A NEW WAY TO EMPOWER

Geoff Bennett

From Morehouse to PBS

Jossie Harris

Fly Girl Turned Acting Coach

Novi Brown

Not Your Average “Sister”

Ecolab

Corporate Spotlight

DIVERSE PATHWAYS TO

Post-doctoral Opportunity: Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program at the LU-RRTC on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program at the Langston University (historically Black college/university [HBCU]) Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (LU-RRTC) on Research and Capacity Building represents a collaborative effort between the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston ([ICI] Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institution [AANAPISI]), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University ([NCA&T] HBCU), South Carolina State University ([SCSU] HBCU), Jackson State University ([JSU] HBCU), and the Kessler Foundation. The Project implements a Peer-to-Peer Multiple Mentor Model to help post-doctoral Fellows navigate institutional context and cross-fertilize their independent research project and research grant proposal through exchanges with a primary mentor and a scientific panel of mentors comprised of content experts, multicultural specialists, methodologists, and statisticians. The ARRT Program works in concert with the LU-RRTC drawing upon the center’s extensive minority-serving institution research capacity building expertise, collaborative networks, resources, and interventions (e.g., methodology and grant writing web-based trainings, communities of practice, strategic planning, sponsored programs office and institutional review board technical assistance and consultation), offers courses, webinars, and implements peer mentoring as an innovative strategy to holistically address the Fellows’ research skill building needs

INVITATION TO APPLY:

We invite individuals who have earned a doctorate from a minority-serving institution (i.e., HBCU, Hispanic serving institution, Tribal college/university, AANAPIAI) or predominantly White institution (PWI) and current doctoral candidates (must graduate before beginning fellowship) at minority-serving institutions or PWIs interested in employment research to apply to participate in the post-doctoral fellowship. Minority-serving institution based faculty members who have earned doctorates are also eligible to apply (i.e., 80% research supplements through subcontract for such faculty in residence at their employing minority-serving institution are optional). We strongly encourage individuals with disabilities to apply. We are particularly interested in recruiting candidates who have a strong desire to obtain an academic faculty position or research position at a minority-serving institution upon completion of the fellowship program.

PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES:

• Salary and benefits package- Annual salary with full health benefits

• Peer-to-Peer multiple research mentorship opportunity with scientific panel mentors

• Financial research agenda start-up package- i.e., study participant honorariums/fellow research travel

• Peer reviewed publications

• Present research findings at national and/or international rehabilitation related conferences

CONTACT: If you have any questions regarding the Langston University Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program (LU-ARRT), please contact Dr. Corey L. Moore, Principal Investigator/Training Director at (405) 530-7531 or email: capacitybuildingrrtc@langston.edu.

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (LU-RRTC) on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities

The MISSION of the Langston University RRTC is to empower minority-serving institutions/minority entities (e.g., historically Black colleges/universities [HBCUs], Hispanic-serving institutions [HSIs], Tribal colleges/universities [TCUs], and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institution (ANNAPISIs]) to improve their disability and rehabilitation research capacity and infrastructure by conducting a programmatic line of research examining experiences and outcomes of persons with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations and communities and capacity-building efforts.

LU-RRTC

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

The LU-RRTC serves as a national resource center for minority-serving institutions/minority entities seeking to develop their research infrastructure (RI), and to enhance their capacity to engage in disability and rehabilitation research. To this end, the RRTC initiates dissemination, training and technical assistance (TA) activities to develop strong RIs for the conduct of research, preparation, submission, and management of NIDILRR funded research grant projects. TA services are provided as a part of LU-RRTC interventions for research project participants and to minority entities/minority-serving institutions around the country. The quality, intensity, and duration of TA vary by system and the readiness of TA recipients.

Minority-serving Institution TA Areas- • Faculty Scholar Role & Function Balance Consultation (e.g., teaching/service/research balance) • Sponsored Programs Office Operations Consultation • Research Infrastructure Strategic Planning • Institutional Review Board (IRB) Operation Consultation • NIDILRR Research Proposal Development Mentorship • NIDILRR Research Project Management Consultation • Manuscript for Peer Reviewed Publication Development Mentorship • NIDILRR Request for Comment (RFC) or Request for Proposal (RFP) Interpretation Consultation • NIDILRR Expert Panel Application Development Consultation • Data Management and Analysis Software and Related Technology Support Consultation

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (SVRA) TA Areas- • SVRA Policy Consultation to Improve Outcomes for Persons from Traditionally Underserved Communities • SVRA Rehabilitation Practitioner Consultation or Training to Improve Outcomes for Persons from Traditionally Underserved Communities

LU-RRTC PEER-TO-PEER MENTOR RESEARCH TEAM ACADEMY

The LU-RRTC Peer-to-Peer Mentor Research Team Academy represents a collaborative effort between Langston University and the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston (AANAPISI), South Carolina State University (HBCU), Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, Jackson State University (HBCU), Delaware Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Cherokee Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Kessler Foundation, and Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).

The Academy mentors Fellows to conduct research that addresses the rehabilitation needs of persons with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic backgrounds and communities. Ultimately, the program builds Fellows’ scholarly self-efficacy and research skills by providing them with state-of-the-science knowledge of scientifically valid measurement strategies and methodologies, and direct hands-on experience in the conduct of research and grant proposal development.

CONTACT: If you have any questions regarding the (LU-RRTC), please contact Dr. Corey L. Moore, Principal Investigator at (405) 530-7531 or email: capacitybuildingrrtc@langston.edu.

President Glenda Baskin Glover

Tennessee State University

President Glenda Glover ushered in a golden era for Tennessee State University when she took the helm in 2013. TSU became a beacon of academic excellence and innovation under her visionary leadership. The institution achieved unprecedented milestones, solidifying its position as a leading HBCU and a force for positive change. As TSU continues to break new ground and shape the future, President Glover’s legacy will undoubtedly inspire generations to come.

• Arts and Culture: TSU’s renowned Aristocrat of Bands marching band became the first collegiate marching band to win a Grammy Award. Additionally, TSU’s business music program has been named a Top Program by Billboard Magazine, showcasing the university’s commitment to nurturing artistic talent.

• Carnegie Classification: Moved TSU into the R2high research category, one of only 11 HBCUs, and has implemented a plan to reach R1, the highest research category offered to highlight commitment to high research activity and its growing impact on the scholarly landscape.

• Financial Strength: More than doubled TSU’s endowments from $45 million to over $100 million and $50 million in reserves, ensuring the university’s financial stability and its ability to invest in its students, faculty, and facilities.

• Healthcare Pioneering: First student-operated physical therapy and occupational therapy clinic, providing invaluable hands-on experience for students and vital services to the community.

• Innovation and Leadership: First HBCU to establish a national SMART Technology and Innovation Center, fostering cutting-edge research and development in artificial intelligence and other emerging fields.

• Master’s Program Excellence: TSU received the 2024 “Best Online Master’s in Tennessee” award from Online Masters Colleges (OMC) for providing exceptional online education, further solidifying the university’s reputation for academic excellence.

• National Spotlight: TSU was the only HBCU featured in a national, prime-time Coca-Cola (Coke Zero) commercial during the 2023 college football season.

• Record Enrollment: Reflects TSU’s commitment to providing accessible and high-quality education to a diverse student body, over 3,500 first-year students in 2022.

• Research Prowess: Significantly increased grant funding with all-time high of $100,031,082 million in 2023, demonstrating its dedication to groundbreaking discoveries and solutions.

• Student Success: #1 HBCU forensic and debate champions for three consecutive years; 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Champions; TSU Men’s Tennis Team crowned 2023 HBCU Tennis National Champions.

editor’s Message

Spring is here, and just like the season’s flowers, our Black leaders and beloved institutions are blooming! From overachieving current HBCU students to notable alumni, this issue is jampacked with a diverse group of change-makers, all contributing to our steadilyadvancing community. In this edition, we are bringing you a doublefeature with two powerful Black women, taking charge in their respective industries. First, we present a proud alumna of Spelman College and founder/ CEO of multi-million dollar human resources company, Sanquinetta Dover. San’s journey is sure to pose an untapped perspective on HR, as her company is leading the way

spring Issue 2024 WELCOME TO THE

in addressing workforce development challenges focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Impacted by her own experiences of discrimination, through her work, San sets out to prove a single opportunity can lead to immense change in one’s life. San cultivated her entrepreneurial spirit within the halls of Spelman College over 50 years ago and now supports current Spelmanites on their journeys to success.

Now, while she can preach a word, our next feature is not your typical first lady of the church. Florida A&M University alumna, Aventer Gray, went from loving to dance, to finding ministry through movement and co-pastoring alongside her husband at Love Story

Church in Greenville, SC. With one of her main goals being to empower women, Aventer is crafting space for authentic reflection, and showcasing her own vulnerability in the process. From starring on the OWN network to her hosting a hit podcast, Aventer is meeting people where they are and remaining humble through it all.

We’re not done yet, this issue also spotlights several others who are making waves, some of whom you can “tune in’’ to witness their magic. Morehouse graduate, Geoff Bennett, co-anchor of the PBS NewsHour, is making history as the first HBCU graduate to serve in the role as a national nightly news anchor. Bennett details

why he chose Morehouse and how he made his time there count. From fostering his interest in journalism to mentoring the youth, you’ll want to read how he is using the lessons he learned at Morehouse to support current students. Moving over to Hollywood, we also have an article on Fly Girl-turned notable acting coach, Jossie Harris. From “In Living Color” to dancing with musical icons such as Mary J Blige and Michael Jackson, you don’t want to miss Jossie’s story and her mission to get more Black students, specifically HBCU students, in front of the camera.

Finally, we are spotlighting several incredible women in this issue, including accomplished attorney and

Dillard University’s youngest elected Board of Trustees member, Chelsea Boselywho is working to support HBCU students interested in careers in the legal field. As you can see, this issue is filled with numerous efforts of paying it forward, a familiar and longstanding concept within the HBCU community. From individuals to programming, demonstrations of giving back with the hopes of supporting others is more than apparent. It is clear, collectively, our goal is to create opportunities for others within our community to grow and thrive. There’s no doubt that each story will be an inspiring one, so get ready and enjoy this issue of HBCU Times!

Times Winter 2024 Issue Correction: The article entitled “Spelman College: Building On A Legacy of Excellence” was written by Keith Harriston.

HBCU

Ashleigh Fields is a Howard University graduate and a freelance writer for the HBCU Times Magazine.

Zerline Hughes Spruill writes about social justice and issues impacting the Black diaspora. Her work has been featured in publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Ebony Magazine, and the Boston Globe.

Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell, Esq. is a proud 3rd generation Florida A&M University Rattler.

Khalilah Long is an accomplished communications professional, specializing in strategic internal and executive communications, digital media, public relations, and marketing. She is a proud alumni of Howard University.

Rob Knox is a freelance writer for the HBCU Times Magazine.

Dr. Marybeth Gasman is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education & a Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University.

Dr. Levon T. Esters is the Dean of the Graduate School and Vice President of Graduate Education at The Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Alice Ginsberg is a Senior Research Specialist at Rutgers University.

Dr. Dub C. Taylor is the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Allen University.

Ericka Blount is an awardwinning journalist, author, screenwriter, producer, and professor.

Whitley Teneyck is a communications professional at Ecolab, a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services.

Dr. Andrés Castro Samayoa is an Associate Professor of Higher Education at Boston College.

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TMCF: FIGHTING FOR HBCU s

BY ROB KNOX

As the leading voice of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI), the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) stands at the forefront of advocating for federal laws and regulatory policies, as well as business practices to advance equity and opportunity for our institutions and their students alike.

Indeed, this advocacy is crucial for not only the sustainability and growth of HBCU’s and PBIs, but also for the persistence, graduation, and ultimate employment of their students.

In honoring the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, TMCF continues the fight for access and inclusion in higher education. HBCUs

serve as beacons of equity, access, and excellence in education, serving predominantly, though not exclusively, students of color. Through its advocacy work, TMCF also provides its institutions with the resources to nurture the next generation of studentleaders and advocates at HBCUs and PBIs, thus affirmatively advancing TMCF’s mission of changing the world, one leader at a time.

TMCF seeks to empower its stakeholders to engage in critical discussions and advocate for issues impacting the HBCU and PBI communities. Through its government relations efforts, TMCF’s team collaborates with key Members of Congress, agency administrators and renowned higher education thought leaders to build partnerships, explore

innovative initiatives, and create pathways to success.

TMCF strategically navigates Capitol Hill in a bipartisan manner before policymakers and other influencers to proactively take the lead on introducing public policy recommendations and solutions on challenging issues in higher education. TMCF is committed to building alliances with members of Congress, organizations that support HBCUs and PBIs, and corporate America to influence public policy that will secure resources that support their students, faculty, and growth of the institutions.

History demonstrates that HBCUs are critical in leveling the playing field for students and families from marginalized communities. Publicly-supported HBCUs

enroll over 80% of all students attending the nation’s HBCUs. For 150 years, HBCUs have provided equity through education, moving low-income students to higher income brackets, and providing opportunities for upward mobility.

The existence today of a Black middle class is largely attributable to the substantive role that HBCUs have played in educating generations of Black Americans. Presently, 70% of public HBCU graduates enter the middle class permanently. TMCF’s advocacy efforts are specifically aimed at supporting these critical institutions and ensuring that they have all the financial support that they need to thrive and ensure upward mobility for our next generation of students.

While representing roughly of all non-profit, four-year colleges and universities, HBCUs produce upwards of 17%of all bachelor’s degrees awarded to 3% of African Americans. Additionally, HBCUs enroll a disproportionately high percentage of firstgeneration and low-income students – nearly 60% – and outperform their peers in supporting and graduating these students.

TMCF’s government relations team works continuously to forge partnerships with government and private organizations, resulting in billions of additional dollars in student and campus investments.

Advocacy wins over the past six years for the HBCU Community on Capitol Hill include increasing Title III appropriations to our schools by 62% since 2017, passing of the FUTURE Act which extended $255 million in annual funding for

FOR

150 YEARS, HBCUS HAVE PROVIDED EQUITY THROUGH EDUCATION, MOVING LOW-INCOME STUDENTS TO HIGHER INCOME BRACKETS, AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UPWARD MOBILITY.

HBCUs, TCUs and MSIs for 10 years and the discharge of $1.3 billion in HBCU Capital Finance Loans.

TMCF was proud to work with our partners in the HBCU and MSI community to advocate for additional COVID relief allocation specifically for our institutions which resulted in securing $5.5 billion in COVID relief distributed to HBCUs across the three COVID relief bills in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, TMCF was the principal advocate for the loosening of restrictions on COVID relief dollars, which paved the way for HBCUs to use $1.2 billion in previously restricted allocated dollars to address long-standing infrastructure needs on campus.

TMCF was also the principal advocate for the HBCU PARTNERS (Propelling Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for Students) Act, which requires federal

agencies that work closely with HBCUs to develop plans for increasing engagement with these critical institutions and gives Congress oversight responsibility to make sure those plans are not only being developed but honored.

One of the TMCF’s major advocacy events is the annual HBCU Presidents and Chancellors Fly-In, which was held in March in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Business Roundtable. The HBCU Fly-In provides a vital platform for HBCU leaders, Fortune 250 CEOs, and policymakers to discuss pioneering strategies to enhance educational attainment and strengthen collaborations across sectors to address the dynamic needs of the American workforce.

Recent advocacy efforts, such as TMCF pushing for the U.S. Secretaries of Education and Agriculture

to send letters to Governors of 16 states with historically underfunded HBCU Land-Grant institutions, underscores TMCF’s dedication to addressing systemic inequities and securing resources for its institutions at both a state and federal level.

TMCF believes active bipartisan engagement is crucial to achieving lasting results for the Black college community. While TMCF has achieved significant gains for HBCUs and PBIs through its advocacy efforts, more work is needed.  As society continues to confront a long history of social and economic injustice, HBCUs have proven to be engines of economic opportunity and equity, and increased financial investment in these consequential institutions will help to secure an even brighter future for our schools, their students, and our entire nation.

FROM MOREHOUSE TO PBS

BY KEITH HARRISTON

The role call of Black journalists who have anchored a nationally broadcast nightly news program is short, including the likes of Lester Holt, Carole Simpson, Max Robinson and Gwen Ifill. Now comes Geoff Bennett, who, since early 2023, is co-anchor of the PBS NewsHour.

Bennett, a 2002 graduate of Morehouse College, has a distinction, even among that tiny list. He is the first graduate of an HBCU to sit in a national nightly news anchor’s chair.

Almost three million viewers watch his news broadcast nightly, according to Nielsen ratings, a seat of power where Bennett and his coanchor Amna Nawaz play key roles in shaping the 60 minutes of news coverage five nights a week. That Bennett has evolved as a journalist to one of the most

influential positions in the industry isn’t a surprise, given his strong foundation first developed while growing up in Voorhees Township, New Jersey, with a school administrator father and an elementary school teacher mother.

“There was always an expectation that my brother and I would do well,” Bennett told HBCU Times. “They never put any pressure on us in terms of pursuing career paths or anything like that. It was always that if you’re going to do something, you’re going to do it to the best of your ability.”

Morehouse, Bennett said, strengthened the foundation his parents started.

“I applied to 11 schools. I applied to Harvard. I applied to Princeton, Yale. I applied to Rutgers because that was

the local safety net school,” Bennett said. “I applied all over the place, mainly because I knew what I didn’t want to do, but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do.

“The reason I chose Morehouse was because my brother [Gary Bennett] did so well there, and I knew that when I went to Morehouse, I would get a world-class education, but that’s not really why I went,” Bennett said. “I went for the experience. I grew up in a mostly white, it was fairly diverse, but mostly white elementary school, middle school, high school and so for me, going to Morehouse was intentional because I wanted that experience.

“I thought for a time that I would pursue medicine. In fact, I was pre-med for a little bit at Morehouse. Then took a couple of science classes with a couple of professors, who should not

be named, and thought, ‘this is not for me.’”

Instead, Bennett focused on English and journalism. In between classes, he worked as a dormitory resident assistant. He lived four years in the historic Graves Hall, the first building constructed on the campus. He edited the student newspaper, the Maroon Tiger. He started a student magazine. He pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He helped to start an afterschool mentoring and tutoring program for young boys who lived within a short walking distance from the Morehouse campus.

“There were public housing projects down the street— they’re no longer there— and there were a lot of single mothers who didn’t have care for their kids after school, but they knew that we were up the street,” Bennett remembered. “They

would send their young boys up to Morehouse, assuming that there would be people there to look after them. And so when I got hip to that, I was like, ‘Well, we should actually start something.’ So in our dorm, we started a little program, helped them with their homework, played sports on the lawn, that kind of thing. And so that was the kind of experience that you would not get anywhere else. Setting aside the education, setting aside the high expectation and the crown that we all wear, all that stuff, just the full range of experiences, it’s just unparalleled.”

During his time at Morehouse, Bennett experienced what many students at Morehouse and other HBCUs do: life-changing interactions with faculty or others associated with the college. Bennett said his first such relationship came with Jocelyn Jackson, a nowretired English professor

who directed the Morehouse Honors Program.

“Dr. Jackson was the kind of professor that you hear about who has high standards, high expectations, but is kindhearted and cares about the full person and just really invested in our lives in a way that you really want when you go to a place like Morehouse,” he recalled. “If you talk to any of us who came through the Honors Program around that time, we have just incredible stories about her. She would grade our papers and want to make sure that she got them back to us quickly, so she’d show up at Graves Hall on a Saturday morning in a sweatsuit and leather trench coat, handing papers back out to you. That was the level of her devotion.”

And then there was Bennett’s chance encounter with the late journalist, historian and Morehouse alumnus Lerone Bennett Jr., whom Bennett jokingly called “Uncle Lerone.”

“So far as I know, we’re not related, but I would joke about that because looking at his career path, I’d always say to myself, ‘That is precisely what I would want to do,’ to basically have a foot in both worlds, where you’re doing current news coverage, but you’re also steeped in history, in finding points of connection between the two,” Bennett said.

Bennett had long admired the work Lerone Bennett Jr. had done at Johnson Publishing Company and Ebony Magazine. So when he saw the older Bennett at a Morehouse Board of Trustees meeting, he didn’t waste the opportunity. Bennett was a junior then and knew he would be the next editor in chief of the Morehouse student newspaper.

“He just pulled me aside, and we had about an hourlong conversation,” Bennett said, and [he] was just giving me tips. He actually had a physical Maroon Tiger paper and was going through it and was redlining it and saying, ‘If I were you, I would do this and change this headline,’ and just walked me through his career and the trajectory of Ebony Magazine and Johnson Publishing and how it all came to be. So that, for me, was huge. That was the only time that I met him, but I’m so grateful that I had that experience.”

As a resident advisor at Morehouse’s Graves Hall dormitory, Bennett said, he, too, often found himself trying with mixed success to guide classmates who were having trouble meeting the financial demands of attending college.

“There would be just some smart brothers who did not have the finances to come back for the second semester. Some of them had to drop out the first semester,” he said.

Two such conversations still stick in his memory. The younger students viewed Bennett as a big brother, and he worried that he couldn’t help them figure

out their financial troubles. “This was around the time that Oprah Winfrey had first made a large donation to Morehouse,” he recalled. “So I would always say the same thing. Go to financial aid, tell them your story, and ask for the Oprah money because that’s all I knew to say.”

In both instances, that’s what the students did. And it worked.

“That planted a seed in my head that if I were ever in a position to provide a scholarship, clearly not at the level of Oprah, but to help in any way that I could, I would,” he said. In 2022, he followed through, starting a five-year commitment that can be renewed that provides scholarship assistance for four students each year who are English or journalism majors.

“It’s a blessing to be able to do it, but it’s also what we’re called to do as Morehouse Men to help pave a way for other people,” Bennett said.

But Bennett’s biggest lifealtering event at Morehouse came when he met Beth Perry, a 2003 graduate of Spelman College. The two met while she worked for the Spelman student newspaper and he worked at the Maroon Tiger. They married in 2010.

“Meeting Beth was the most important and significant turning point of my life,” Bennett said. “I didn’t know when we met that we would later marry, but our relationship is the foundation upon which all else rests. My family is the center of my life.”

FLY GIRL TURNED ACTING COACH

JOSSIE HARRIS WANTS HBCU STUDENTS, ALUMNI TO THRIVE IN HOLLYWOOD

BY ZERLINE HUGHES SPRUILL

Now that the actor’s strike of 2023 is behind Hollywood, networks, cable, streaming platforms and big screen talent are back doing what they do best. While fans are busy deciding on what movie to watch next, or what series to download, actors have decisions to make as well: who will help them perfect their craft?

The answer: Jossie Harris, an acting coach currently based in Los Angeles. She trains actors to perfect their characters by running lines and provides constructive criticism on diction and timing. Harris has worked with actor Ahmad Nicholas Ferguson from Showtime’s “The Chi” and “Power: Book IV,” in addition to actress and comedienne Kym Whitley, who starred in “Beauty Shop,” “Boondocks,” and “Deliver Us from Eva.”

“She sees something that you don’t see,” said Whitley,

a Fisk University alumna and star of Bounce TV’s “Act Your Age.” “When you have dialogue, you have rhythm, so she helps with the rhythm of the line of a scene, with her being a dancer. A lot of acting coaches can not provide that.”

Harris is, indeed, a dancer. She spent three seasons in the early- to mid-1990s on the Emmy Award-winning sketch comedy series, “In Living Color,” created by actor and filmmaker Keenan Ivory Wayans. Harris was one of the show’s Fly Girls who performed hiphop and contemporary dance routines. Additional Fly Girl members included Carrie Ann Inaba from “Dancing with the Stars,” and singer/dancer/actress, Jennifer Lopez, aka J-Lo. Harris was also a popular music video “it girl” who was highly sought after for her dance expertise and unique style. She danced

in videos including Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love,” and Janet Jackson’s “That’s the Way Love Goes.” She also danced in Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time,” and appeared in music videos alongside Bobby Brown, Heavy D, Guy and Color Me Badd, and accompanied Janet Jackson on the “Janet” tour in the mid 1990s.

“I have to give it up to Keenan because he was the master behind it all … he is such a pioneer,” said Harris. “He is the voice that I hear often. If I wasn’t on set watching, I was with the production team. The rest of the dancers would take off. He would always tell me, ‘you’re going to do great things Jossie’ because I was always there.”

From Dancer to Actor

Being around the comedians awakened something in Harris,

who was 25 at the time. Watching the show’s actors like Jim Carey, Damon and Marlon Wayans, Kim Coles (who briefly attended North Carolina Central University) and David Alan Grier, led Harris to pursue an acting career. She added that witnessing the beginnings of her dance partner’s acting career also kickstarted her own.

“Jennifer (J-Lo) was from the Bronx, I was from Harlem, so we had a lot in common. Janet [Jackson] would come visit me on set like a girlfriend and I hooked her up with Janet,” said Harris. “[Lopez] booked a pilot that went for one season. That really dropped me into the whole acting thing. It took me to the next level, because it was so close to me through her. I started studying with top coaches in L.A. who would take me under their wing.”

Today, Harris is an awardwinning actress. She received the Chicago International Film Festival’s “Outstanding Performance” honor for her role in the award-winning “Mississippi Damned.” She also appeared in “Chicago Med,” “Empire,” and “Chicago PD.” While she earned accolades, she also ran into barriers.

“I had divorced the industry, taking myself off the market for acting,” said Harris. “Being a Black woman in Hollywood, and being Afro Latina is the hardest part of being in Hollywood-and being a woman period in Hollywood. We want to be able to do all different types of roles, and be able to climb the ladder as well, along with being multihyphenated where we are not just looked at as actors.”

Harris later set her sights on producing, directing and teaching other actors.

Transitioning to training actors

“Rick Edelstein was working with top Black actors. Studying underneath him, it was really life changing,” she recalled. “I started to book more as an actor. One day, he came to me and he said, ‘I’m retiring.’ I almost fainted and had a fit because I was on this journey and improving. He was like, ‘if there’s anybody who can continue my teaching, it’s you.’”

Harris began coaching in 2011, serving as her students’ trusted advisor and “third eye.” She launched the Respect for Acting Academy for adult actors and actresses, and Kids W.A.Y (Who Are You?) Acting Academy. Her portfolio includes coaching for projects like “Shooting Stars,” produced by LeBron James and directed by Chris Robinson, “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel,” in addition to prime-time television shows, including Disney’s “Saturdays.”

Connecting with HBCU student and alumni actors, actresses

Harris is currently working with director/producer Sa’Rah Jones to train HBCU student actors. Jones, a South Carolina State University alumna, is committed to getting more Black students in front of the camera because Hollywood has increased its conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion.

“I’m excited about working with Sa’Rah because she and I have always wanted to work with students from HBCUs because those are my people,” she said. “I really love to be able to park here and be that next step as they come into the world of acting. Casting directors and agents want to know you’re trained, that you’ve gotten with somebody that knows their stuff. Training at school is very educational, and then the training they’re getting from me is more professional, which will help them get through an audition.”

Whitley said she could have benefited from a coach at Fisk, but they are not easily accessible to students.

“Acting coaches should be available in college but unfortunately, you have to seek out your own,” said Whitley, who joked that she graduated before Google existed. “I think Jossie could provide what I like to call, a second brain for actors. We pick up the choice and do it in one direction. She can open up their mind and

say ‘why don’t we do it this way?’ She sees something that you don’t see.”

Harris works with Whitley to refine her “Act Your Age” character Bernadette who lives in a penthouse with two friends played by Tisha Campbell and Yvette Nicole Brown.

Another one of Harris’ clients is the 21-year-old star from “The Chi” and “Power Book IV.”

“My role is growing rapidly and becoming a big part of the show, and she is definitely part of that process,” said Ferguson who has worked with Harris for seven years. “She was constantly telling me ‘you can grow your role.’ She said, ‘no matter if they give you one line or 10 lines, always stay locked in.’ She implemented that mindset upon me and all of her other students. Miss Jossie is the best choice because she’s really for her people. Ultimately, you’re going to be around love. And that’s something that you need.”

FEATURE

STORY

Sanquinetta Dover

SPELMAN COLLEGE ALUM. ENTREPRENUER. PHILANTHROPIST.

BY ZERLINE HUGHES SPRUILL

Working a 40-hour job while mentoring an up-andcoming business leader, volunteering for church activities, carving out time for self-care plus recreation, and conducting service for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. might be too much for a person. And when that 9-to-5 is more like a 24-7 because you’re the founder, owner, and CEO of a multi-million dollar business, one’s work-life balance can be in jeopardy. But not for Spelman College alumna Sanquinetta Dover. In 1996, she started DoverStaffing from the ground up. Over the last 28 years, the Atlantabased staffing and workforce development firm has been featured in the Business Journals, “Beginners to Bigshots” edition, recognized as one of the Nation’s Top Business Leaders by DiversityBusiness. com, and bestowed with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Regional Director’s Award. Dover’s enterprise helps people upskill, prepare for new jobs or move up the career ladder. It also supports businesses, nonprofits and government agencies with the right talent for

team building, leadership training, audit compliance, secret shoppers, training, and data analysis, in addition to convention, event, and conference planning. Over the years, Dover’s business acumen and expertise allowed her to expand her brand to include DoverSolutions and the Dover Training Institute. As a result, her company is a leader in addressing workforce development challenges. Part of her mission includes creating an all-inclusive approach to job placement, a philosophy that stems from Dover’s upbringing, having been raised in segregated Greenwood, South Carolina. “I know first hand what it means to be excluded because of my color,” said Dover, President and CEO of DoverStaffing “As a child, I was denied access to the movie theater during the early years of integration, I remember my Dad coming to rescue me, speaking with the owner of the movie theater about not selling me a ticket. After speaking with my dad, my mom and I returned that evening to see that Walt Disney movie.”

“Because I know rejection and exclusion, I wanted to create an environment of inclusion in my business with no judgments,” continued Dover. “I

believe that you need resources to be supportive. I created DoverStaffing, DoverSolutions, and Dover Training Institute as organizations that are holistic. We don’t just provide the opportunity to send you on a job. We link people to a possible transformational life change. It’s more than just a job.”

She Got it From Her College

When Dover enrolled at Spelman in 1973, the campus did not have a business program, so she majored in economics and took classes in business at Morehouse. The courses were demanding, and outright challenging, to hear her college best friend tell it. “I was in San’s room so frequently, it was as if I lived there and I was her roommate,” said Bernadette Poitier who matriculated through Spelman in just three-and-a-half years. “I remember that economics was difficult for her, but she mastered it. She stayed up until 12:00, 1:00 in the morning. San was always a very determined person. She did not let a class or anything else stop her from reaching her dreams. She came to Spelman with certain virtues,

philosophies, and disciplines that were passed down by her parents.” Dover and Poitier, friends for 51 years, have visited each other’s families in their respective cities–Dover’s smalltown of Greenwood, and Poitier’s big city of Miami–and have kept up with eachother’s careers, and maintain regular phone calls to stay in touch. “I called her ‘one-bus Dover,’” recalled Poitier, the 21-year tenured, now retired, administrative assistant to Miami-Dade County Public School’s first Black school board member. “I went home with Sanquinetta for Thanksgiving, and would often go home with her on weekends, because her home was closer. I would make fun of her because she had one bus in her city, versus my city where it seemed there were thousands of buses.” “She always had that entrepreneurial spirit,” recalled Poitier. “Spelman, and her dad and mom equipped her with the skills she needed, and she had innate faith.”

Leaning on the HBCU Network

Introduced to the glass ceiling in her first professional position with the FDIC in New York City, Dover said she

received early exposure to workplace challenges for Black people. After a job transfer to Chicago, she found a mentor in SB Fuller, founder and presdient of fuller Products Company, president of the South Side Chicago NAACP, and the National Negro Business League. Known as the “dean of Black entrepreneurs,” he laid the foundation for Dover’s entrepreneurial journey, she said.

In the DoverStaffing’s early years, Dover was able to find clients in her HBCU network, including Rep. Roger Bruce of the Georgia House of Representatives. The 1975 Morehouse College graduate formerly served as Spelman College’s vice president for human resources. In

the early 2000s, he sought DoverStaffing to build out his team. “I was told about her recruiting agency, and I contacted her to help hire people we needed on campus. We’ve remained friends,” said Rep. Bruce. “The whole nature of her company is to help people find employment opportunities and take care of themselves. It’s not just her company making money. It’s about using that money and resources to help other people. I applaud her big time for that. I did everything I could to help her be successful. Sanquinetta is an absolutely beautiful person.”

While Dover runs her successful company around the clock, she is able to mix business with pleasure–

and service. As an Atlanta resident, she maintains her connection to Spelman College, visiting for special events including her recent 50th reunion convocation.

In 2014, the late Dr. Jane Smith, who served as Spelman’s vice president for college relations and graduated from the school in 1968, invited Dover to become a founding committee member of the school’s Spelpreneur entrepreneurship educational initiative dedicated to honing students into entrepreneurs. Ten years later, Spelpreneur now offers three programs for students curious about entrepreneurship, provides resources to develop their businesses, and hosts weekly opportunities to learn tenets to start a business, or grow their side hustles, and a ten-day startup pitch competition. “I had the honor to go back and participate with some of the students,” said Dover. “It’s wonderful to engage with the students and pour into them, and they poured into me, too. It’s a wonderful experience to be on campus, sharing with the students and seeing how that program is growing and thriving. Being in Atlanta gives me an opportunity to touch base often with my alma mater.” Taking the program a step further, Dover continues to mentor Spelman alumna Ve’lesa Dunlap. They met

during a Spelpreneur networking event in 2017, during Dunlap’s junior year. Now an aspiring entrepreneur herself, the 2018 graduate said Dover’s mentorship has influenced her desire to grow her own business. “I remember meeting Ms. Dover during a speed dating type of mixer,” said Dunlap. “I just so happened to sit at the table where Ms. Dover was. I was shy, but we got acquainted with one another and we blossomed. We’re Spelman sisters, church sisters, and golf buddies.” Dunlap said the mentee mentor relationship turned into a friendship, and they now schedule time for brunches, church visits, and spa days to keep in touch. Dover offers business tips and tools, but Dunlap provides something in exchange. “I’m trying to get her to do more of that self-care. We’re very busy individuals, so we have to make free time on our calendars,” said Dunlap, an Atlanta-based life insurance producer. “I also take a lot of business direction from Ms. Dover. I’m one of the only Black women at my firm. Dealing with the microcosm of racism, she helped guide me. She said you just need to start your own agency. I would be very lost businesswise if it wasn’t for Ms. Dover. I don’t know many Black women that own their own company at that level. That inspires me.”

“I

BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED RESOURCES TO BE SUPPORTIVE. I CREATED DOVERSTAFFING AND DOVER TRAINING INSTITUTE AS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HOLISTIC. WE DON’T JUST PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND YOU ON A JOB. WE LINK PEOPLE TO A POSSIBLE TRANSFORMATIONAL LIFE CHANGE. IT’S MORE THAN JUST A JOB.”

Guiding Leaders for Today, Tomorrow

The work of inspiring and motivating is a big part of Dover’s work. As the owner of a multi-million dollar company, she sees how others, too, can create their own golden parachute, and passes on information to her team, those training in her programs, and during speaking engagements. Recently, Dover has been talking up the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, calling it a “game changer” for small businesses and people looking to earn higher incomes. The 2021 legislation offers and opportunity to invest in communities too often left behind, and aims to add 1.5 million jobs each year through 2031.

“I want people to understand that this is one of the greatest things that has happened since the New Deal to our economy. I am passionate about sharing this information because when you’re taking care of your family and living life, people may not be aware of these opportunities to make current changes that will allow a person to leave a legacy for their family,” said Dover of the federal legislation. “I am using my platform as a workforce solutions expert to encourage people to take advantage of this economic transformation that is arising from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This is an opportunity to level set and level up by taking a look at how you are positioning yourself for success whether you’re a business owner or

person in the workplace. For us as Black people, we don’t want to be on the platform and see that the train has left the station and we’re not on the train. We can’t miss this transformational opportunity to redirect one’s life,” she added.

In line with the policy’s growing opportunities, the Dover Training Institute focuses on post-secondary education, providing opportunities to use one’s digital literacy to gain skills that provide a gateway to a career in artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge careers. While Dover is team HBCU as the daughter of two educators, and has a sister, Benita Dover-Brailsford who also graduated from Spelman College, she said people don’t have to go to a four-year university to be gainfully employed. Her institute provides post-

secondary credentials and she pushes the benefits of attending a community college and earning a certificate in an effort to keep up with the evolving workplace. While there are several secrets to Dover’s success, she speaks highly of her college’s impact on her success–past, present and future. “I love my alma mater. Going to Spelman, a college for women, was very empowering,” said Dover who applied only to Spelman College. “As a Black business woman, I draw back on that experience often because women are so often silenced, not heard or seen. In Spelman’s environment, you’re always heard and seen. That’s an expectation that grew out of being a Spelman woman.”

IT STARTS AT THE TOP

HBCU LEADERS’ STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING ALUMNI DONATIONS

BY DR. DUB C. TAYLOR

Tuition. Public Money. Private Money.

We’re all familiar with the revenue sources that sustain our HCBUs, but there is less familiarity with the strategies that HBCU leaders use to encourage alumni to be active donors. Additionally, there has been some uncertainty about the roles that HBCU leaders play in alumni engagement and solicitation. In my capstone research, I had an opportunity to interview six HBCU leaders to learn more about the strategies they used to increase alumni engagement and donations. There were five areas of focus in their answers.

Exploring Innovative New Methods

When it came to the methods that they were using to keep alumni engaged, nearly every HBCU leader discussed the ways they were using technology. With the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many of the HBCU leaders had to figure out how to expand their reach without having in-person events. In addition to sending their traditional mailers, the HBCU leaders also turned to sending mass emails and other mass messaging tools. When the pandemic halted all in-person activities, HBCU leaders had to consider new ways to host traditional, inperson engagement events to keep the money coming into the university. To do so, many turned to virtual

meeting spaces. Related to technology, HBCU leaders also mentioned that they instructed leaders to increase their institutions’ presence on social media in order to appeal to younger alumni. Social media profiles were used to communicate noteworthy information about the institution and make solicitations for alumni support.

Honoring Tradition

While the participating HBCU leaders lifted the importance of innovation, they also clearly understood the importance of valuing tradition when it came to enlisting and retaining alumni donations. This was especially true when it came to managing giving relationships. Many of the participants noted leveraging the innovative

use of technology with younger alumni and students, while honoring more traditional methods for their more seasoned alumni. Outside of direct mailers, HBCU leaders were also utilizing phone calls to enlist alumni to give. Another method for giving was to utilize in-person fundraising events. These were a very traditional approach to alumni giving. Homecoming celebrations were a major area of engagement for HBCU leaders.

Diversifying Giving Methods

The participating HBCU leaders also reported that they increased alumni giving by diversifying the ways that alumni could give to the institution. That normally happened with CashApp, Givelify,

PayPal, and other financial apps. This shift took place at the HBCUs for one of two reasons: Institutional Advancement or noting that the pandemic forced his institution to consider alternative giving platforms to keep donations coming in while event fundraising was on hold. He explained by saying, “So when we focused on, during the pandemic, people using other diverse platforms (CashApp, PayPal, mobile calls to make gifts), we had a lot of first-time donors making smaller gifts.”

Identifying and Overcoming Challenges

All the participating HBCU leaders named the challenges that they faced in enlisting alumni donations. Many of these challenges were related

to an over-reliance on a single fundraising source (event fundraising) or miscommunication that led to skewed power dynamics. The competition for power in the alumni/ institution dynamic is an important challenge to consider because it is possible for alumni chapters to siphon much-needed funds from the institution.

One HBCU leader noted that his institution established memoranda of understanding for its alumni chapters and the national association.

Leveraging Every Person

HBCUs tend to have challenges when it comes to capacity building due to high staff turnover (Burgess, 2020). The same was true for one of the HBCU leader pairs participating

in the study. However, a common theme among the participating HBCU leaders was the idea that every person on campus—from students to faculty to the executive cabinet—could play a role in fundraising. At one institution, that included empowering students to become philanthropists as well. Not only does that program reduce the workload for the advancement office, it gives students four years of being exposed to messages around philanthropy and how it helps the university thrive. At that institution, students also staff the call center that is used to keep alumni up-to-date on what is happening at the university. This is a considerable achievement, given that it keeps alumni connected to the student experience, which is something that most

alumni will be able to relate to.

As we continue to move forward past the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and focus on fiscal recovery at HBCUs, it is critical that HBCU leaders continue to play a large role in engaging alumni and encouraging them to donate to their alma maters. By implementing some or all the strategies presented by the participants, HBCU leaders could tap more deeply into new revenue sources, meaningfully increase alumni engagement, create a pipeline of alumni who give, and increase knowledge of fundraising best practices among HBCU leaders.

THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF HBCU s AS LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS

BY DR. MARYBETH

LEVON T. ESTERS A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY WELL-BEING

GASMAN &

DR.

With the passage of the Morrill Act in 1862, many public institutions of higher education underwent a significant transformation, directing attention towards non-traditional fields such as agriculture, military, and mechanical arts. Another significant milestone came with the second Morrill Act in 1890, leading to the establishment of legalized separate schools for whites and African Americans. This Act also paved the way for the development of 21 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities, commonly referred to as the 1890 institutions.

The research for our new book, HBCU: The Power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities uncovered compelling accounts illustrating the profound impact of the HBCU land-grant mission on community engagement. Leaders such as Harold Martin, chancellor at North Carolina A&T State University, emphasized the pivotal role these institutions play in understanding and addressing the needs of their regions. Martin shared, “We are fortunate to be a land grant institution. We were created with the

expectation that we would understand the needs of our region, our business needs of our state, and we would create and foster academic programs and research and outreach driven to meet those needs and serve those needs through the role of our faculty and our staff and our students as well.” Martin underscored the unique obligation that comes with being a land-grant institution – an obligation to direct attention outwardly towards the needs of local, state, and regional stakeholders. This commitment extends beyond academic programs and research, encompassing outreach initiatives that actively contribute to the betterment of the community.

HBCU land-grant institutions are key contributors to regional and state development, as they actively engage in research and outreach efforts that directly address the unique challenges and opportunities of their communities. By aligning their research and educational initiatives with the needs of the region, HBCUs play a pivotal role in fostering economic and social progress while fulfilling their mission as

institutions dedicated to public service. When we talked with Alton Thompson, executive director for the Association of 1890 Research Directors and professor at North Carolina A&T State University, he highlighted the formalized extension programs integral to the land-grant mission. Through education, outreach, and community involvement, 1890 institutions demonstrate a heightened sensitivity to the needs of residents.

Ruth Simmons, former president of Prairie View A&M University, agreed with Martin and Thompson, emphasizing the distinctive mission of land-grant institutions. She shed light on the adaptability of these institutions, noting Prairie View A&M’s shift towards urban communities.

The institution’s tailored programs, spanning agriculture, business, nursing, and criminal justice, exemplify a commitment to on-theground service, addressing issues ranging from nutrition to adolescent delinquency.

Simmons emphasized the dual nature of landgrant institutions, where

scholarly pursuits coexist with community-driven initiatives. The landgrant purpose, as she articulated, involves actively contributing to community well-being, rejecting the notion of an ivory tower mentality. This sentiment resonates across the interviews we conducted, forming a collective acknowledgment of the gratifying aspect of making a concrete difference in the communities they serve.

Comments from leaders like Martin, Thompson, and Simmons highlight the indispensable role of HBCUs as land-grant institutions. Their commitment to community engagement, manifested through outreach, research, and tailored programs, reflects a dedication to addressing real-world challenges. By balancing scholarly endeavors with handson involvement, these institutions exemplify the transformative potential of fulfilling the landgrant mission. In doing so, they not only provide intellectual power, but actively contribute to the betterment and thriving of the communities they serve.

KAREN MARSH

BY WHITLEY TENEYCK VICE PRESIDENT OF QUALITY AND PROCESS ENGINEERING

What’s your Mode of Operation or MO?

For Ecolab’s Vice President of Quality and Process Engineering Karen Marsh, it’s being firm, fair and consistent. With over 20 years of experience in plant operations, logistics, engineering and quality, she has thrived in unexpected environments throughout her career by staying true to herself while overcoming challenges in both personal and professional development due to preconceptions of her identity and capabilities.

As an alumna of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University, where she graduated with a degree in chemical engineering, the mentorships and lessons imparted by her professors left a lasting impression, especially the emphasis on self-confidence and ability to adapt and navigate challenging environments.

“My professors at A&T were nurturing; they knew me, provided resources and genuinely cared about me,” recalls Marsh.

However, early in her first post-secondary experience, she faced harsh rejection creating uncertainty in her intelligence and identity

during her tenure at another institution. She was awarded a scholarship to a prestigious school with only 2% of the demographics comprised of Black and African American students.

Marsh attended the school for a year, joined track, made friends and tried to get involved but always felt like an outsider.

“I had professors constantly questioning my work and intelligence, trying to convince me that I didn’t belong,” said Marsh. “I began to doubt myself and knew I had to make a change. That’s when I transitioned to A&T.”

While at A&T, she excelled academically and took on leadership roles, building upon the encouragement and support from her professors and a community of peers with similar objectives to navigate the world of engineering and technology. Her experiences at A&T enabled her to appreciate the significance of HBCUs and embrace the culture of support and inclusivity. She actively engaged with the student community academically and socially, assuming leadership roles with local chapters of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

and Society of Women Engineers (SWE). One of her proudest moments was leading a fundraising initiative for her class to attend the National Society of Black Engineers conference in L.A.

Though initially experiencing isolation and limitations, Marsh’s time at the initial school taught her the importance of selfawareness and the ability to stand on her own.

“My experience on the other side helped me understand the importance of A&T and HBCUs. I feel fortunate to have been part of an HBCU,” reflects Marsh. “Every experience required me to show up and be my very best. As young adults in a community where we were the majority, we differentiated ourselves, accepting each other’s

unique values we offered as a collective. We embraced the power of diversity and inclusion within a safe space that created a foundation of support and lifelong friendships as we grew into the leaders we are today.” After graduation, Marsh first served as a Naval Officer and then found her true calling in manufacturing and quality, but again faced a world where people underestimated her strength and capabilities. As a Black woman in a traditionally maledominated profession, she felt uncomfortable and at times intimidated, but she was determined to take her seat at the decision-making table.

“When I ran track, my coach would say ‘if you don’t go over the hurdle, go through it,’” Marsh shares. “In a place where people are not used

to me taking up space, I will not waver, because I know who I am. I belong in this space, and you will learn to get comfortable with me being here.”

To overcome these hurdles, she focused on building relationships and finding common ground, which led to discussions that delivered value to the business. Marsh admits that this process is easier said than done, and there are times when she must retreat and regroup. Yet, she believes that challenging environments build resiliency, forcing individuals to adapt and change their own narrative. “Everything that we need is already within us,” Marsh reflects. “We just have to choose whether or not we’re going to use it.”

Today, her belief in internal empowerment motivates

her to support others and serve as an advocate for those striving to find their voice. At Ecolab, a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, Marsh is an active member and leader of EcoEssence and the Black Leaders Forum (BLF), two employee groups dedicated to driving recruitment, development and retention of Black, African and African American employees.

“I believe in the importance of supporting each other. We are all uniquely and wonderfully made; it’s just a matter of finding your voice,” Marsh notes. “I understand what it’s like to not be seen, and I’ll do everything I can to help others gain confidence, find their voice and change the narrative.”

FEATURE STORY

AVENTER GRAY

CARVING

A NEW WAY TO EMPOWER, LEAD WITH HUMILITY

BY ZERLINE HUGHES SPRUILL

The historic image of a Black church’s first lady brings images of one wearing a large jeweled headdress, a perfectly coordinated satin skirt suit, coupled, of course, with a lace-trimmed lap cloth to ensure the knees are covered. So when Aventer Gray’s husband was called to the ministry as a pastor, she took a long pause.

“I was not trying to hear that at all, I’m not your typical first lady. I love a good dance moment,” said Gray, a Florida A&M University alumna. “ I immediately thought, ‘do I have to become anything?’ My husband calmed my spirit and said ‘just be you.’ That gave me peace and made me okay. God was already pleased with me.”

Ever since Gray received that assurance, she has been instrumental in changing the expectations of first ladies–and women overall–around church roles and daily life, assumptions, and realities. One of those assumptions includes church fashion, but Gray’s mother, Bonnie Cotton, still isn’t swayed. Cotton, who also attended FAMU, said even though she didn’t

wear hats and gloves every Sunday when she was picked up by college friends to go to church, she most definitely dressed up, and still does.

“You would never see me go in on Sunday morning with no stockings, or with tore out jeans,” laughed Cotton, a 1968 alumna. “I’m old-fashioned. You dress up to go to church. But that’s just me.”

After having gotten used to the role and responsibility of being a first lady in a megachurch, Gray’s husband offered yet another invitation.

“When my husband was pastoring at Lakewood Church, dance was my contribution to ministry,” recalled Gray of their time at Joel Osteen’s church in Houston, Texas. “About five years in, in 2018, when he was called to take over the church in South Carolina, he asked me to copastor. He said ‘I see you can help me carry my vision, you are equipped.’”

“The connotation or definition of pastor can sometimes be destroyed,” she continued. “You can be

pastor of your home, the students you teach, over certain things. I felt like I had been pastoring kids for years, through mentorship or dance, so I prayed about it and it resonated in my spirit that I could continue to be me in that role.”

Today, Gray is now co-pastor of Love Story Church in Greenville, SC, alongside her husband Co-pastor John Gray. She is also Chief Operating Officer of John Gray Ministries, and speaks regularly at Lakewood Church, and around the country.

Creating a Brand Around Transparency

Over the last few decades, faith-based community leaders have altered the formal history of the Black church and stigma associated with the Black church in an effort to bring back church members, attract younger congregations, and to align with the vision of younger clergy members appointed to provide spiritual and moral guidance to the church community.

As a co-pastor of Love Story Church, Gray’s contribution to this new movement has been ministering a recurring message of empowerment to women, and coordinating multiple praise dance companies and programs. She established the Aventer Gray Co. brand which includes Harmony Reign, a platform of H.E.I.R. for women’s healing, empowerment, inspiration, and restoration.

“It was important in my empowerment that women see themselves before adding a relationship to your role,” said Gray of her Harmony Reign program. “It’s important to know who you are–without any titles or accolades, any letters in front or in back of your name–so you won’t be picked off by the enemy. Before putting any of those letters before your name, you are a child of God.”

Part of her project includes her bi-weekly podcast called, “Ave Unfiltered” where Gray offers women listeners an opportunity to hear unfiltered content about her personal and professional life, along with current topics like women’s

health, protecting one’s peace, and systemic racism. Podcast conversations have included her friends, colleagues and special guests including author and MTV personality Devi Brown, best friend and two-time Grammy winner LeToya Luckett, and empowerment speaker and TV personality Iyanla Vanzant. A two-part podcast episode featured her husband as they delved into discussions about infidelity, healing and being candid in the church about their personal lives.

“The most important thing you can be is unfiltered as a leader. Perfection doesn’t exist,” said Gray. ”Your testimony can help people to avoid some of the missteps and mishaps by being transparent, open and honest about things you’ve walked through where you didn’t get it right. If you’re honest and speak about it without shame, and you can see the hands go up, and light bulbs go on from people that say ‘me too,’ then we’re doing something right.”

Multi-talented in the Arts and Sciences

What helps Gray keep it all together is dance. While it is part of her self care routine to breathe, move and stretch, her mother enrolled her in dance school at the age of three and the practice became part of Gray’s DNA.

“Because of her background in church, and the Lord dealing with her, she took her skills from dance school and started doing dance ministry in church, and throughout the community for Black History Month programs, Dr. King programs,” said Cotton. “That’s how it really all got started. That was her passion.”

Cheerleading and dancing from childhood to today, Gray founded a dance troupe at the age of 14, performed while a student with FAMU’s Mahogany Dance Theater, and is founder and director of The Reign Dance Company which hosts conferences, master classes, and ministry guidance classes throughout the country.

“From artistic creative dance, to healthcare, heart and lung care, and caring about neonatal care, I happen to be one of those who graduated, and took a route of healthcare to divinity, to tv, entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment,” said Gray of her multifaced background. “I went from one extreme to the next, finding the medium space to make it all work together.”

Dance was instilled in her, but the passing of her grandmother from cystic fibrosis while Gray was in

eighth grade inspired her interest in receiving her bachelor’s degree in cardiopulmonary science, followed by a master’s degree in health administration from Strayer University.

“Who knew that I would need to use my expertise for the man who I would marry and the son who I would birth,” said Gray whose husband and son struggled with sleep apnea. “It was a battle for me to be heard by doctors, but because I knew what I was talking about, I realized I could advocate for parents.”

From Broadcasting Church Services to Broadcasting on OWN

In addition to opening up abouther life on her podcast, Gray gave the world 24 reality TV episodes to see her up close and personal. The Oprah Winfrey Network approached her husband John to be featured in a dramedy docu-follow about the family called, “The Book of John Gray.” The reality show was produced when John was co-pastor of Osteen’s megachurch, and when Gray was a co-pastor in training, and mother to preschool-aged children.

Where it All Started

More than 20 members of her Gray’s family have graduated from FAMU, and some are currently there.

now as office space. Gray confesses, though, that she did attend another HBCU before making FAMU home.

“I was a [Alabama A&M] Bulldog for three minutes, but came back home to where the rattlers strike,” said Gray, who was crowned in many community and college pageants.

Because her high school graduation was scheduled in late June, she was unable to attend Alabama A&M’s summer entry program. So instead, she completed a summer session at FAMU, so as not to miss any credits before officially starting at Alabama A&M where she was offered a full scholarship to study computer science.

“I was a little skeptical at first when approached, but I found a very safe space at OWN,” said Gray, who was named after her maternal grandmother. “I think I represented well as a wife and mom as I was trying to figure it out with integrity. In one of the episodes, I wear FAMU paraphernalia. That’s my school, and I felt like I represented well. I wanted to be true to myself.”

Being on a reality show meant her parents, who lived with her, would also be on television. Cotton wasn’t excited about the fanfare, but her favorite moment was during Thanksgiving when the crew from “The Book of John Gray” participated in a large gathering, alongside the family and young people.

“I wasn’t too excited about it, but my husband enjoyed it,” laughed Cotton. “I don’t really like the limelight, but it was a good exposure. Whenever it was our time to do a scene, I was alway kind of nervous about it but we got through it. We had some good times, got close with the staff people.”

“I don’t remember not being at a homecoming, not having a baby Rattler or junior Rattler orange and green pom poms,” she said. “All that was imprinted in me as long as I have been standing. It’s a family affair when it comes to Florida A&M and me. You cut me, I bleed orange and green after the red.”

Gray said she’s most influenced by her Rattler mother who was one of the first women to be chosen to live in the University Honor House, formerly the university’s house where a select few students were chosen to live based on academia and character. The building still stands,

“The mistake my parents made was allowing me to go to summer session at FAMU. I started the fall semester at Alabama, but at that point, I had something to compare it to. My heart was in Tallahassee. After much prayer, God would have it that they had space for me. So, in the spring, I came back to Florida A&M and finished my whole collegiate career there.”

From studying so late that she got locked inside Tucker Hall having to sneak through a window to get out, collecting so many parking tickets that her parents had to help pay for in order to graduate, to becoming the chemistry class heroine by having an allergic reaction that brought the professor to release the class early, Gray’s years as a Rattler were some of the best years of her life, she said.

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In the vibrant tapestry of American education, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) stand out as nurturing grounds for Black excellence. Despite grappling with limited budgets and resources, these institutions continue to showcase outstanding results, shaping success stories across various domains.

Dennis Richmond Jr., M.S.Ed., serves as an embodiment of the transformative power of HBCUs. As an author, middle school teacher and advocate for HBCUs, Richmond’s journey reflects the essence of Black excellence. His involvement in education and scholarship initiatives, such as founding The New York New Jersey HBCU Initiative, reflects a commitment to

CULTIVATING BLACK EXCELLENCE

HBCU s , DENNIS RICHMOND, JR., AND THE UNCF K-12 EDUCATION PROGRAM

BY KHALILAH LONG

fostering a love for learning and providing valuable resources. He is also the author of “He Spoke at My School,” a memoir that not only explains the concept of using education for liberation but also illustrates the empowering act of lifting others up while striving for success.

In an engaging conversation, Richmond shared insights into his HBCU experience, emphasizing the profound impact these institutions have on shaping individuals. “HBCUs play a vital role in shaping the trajectory of Black students. They provide an environment that not only educates but nurtures and empowers individuals to become leaders and change-makers,” affirms Richmond.

Richmond’s own journey

with HBCUs began at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC. During his time on campus, he was awarded a UNCF Evening of Stars Scholarship. This transformative scholarship from the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), amounting to $25,000, opened doors for him and his possibilities.

“The UNCF scholarship was a game-changer for me. It not only provided financial support but also exposed me to opportunities and experiences that significantly shaped my educational path,” Richmond recounts.

In 2016, Richmond became a UNCF Walton K-12 Education Fellow. This fellowship immersed him in an internship with the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAO), offering

insights into charter school communities, Capitol Hill, and the broader landscape of education. Through the fellowship, Richmond gained a comprehensive understanding of education beyond the classroom. Richmond’s’ post-fellowship journey led him to pursue a Master of Science in Education from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY.

His commitment to education is reflected today in his approach to teaching, where he intertwines the HBCU culture with his classroom environment.

“As a middle school teacher, I’ve always had HBCU school banners in my classroom. It’s my way of introducing students to the rich legacy of these institutions. I teach them about HBCUs during crucial periods like during the study of reconstruction,”

explains Richmond.

In 2014, Richmond founded The New York New Jersey HBCU Initiative to bridge the gap and provide information about HBCUs to students in regions where these institutions might not be readily accessible.

“I started the initiative because I realized there was a lack of awareness about HBCUs in my city. The initiative aims to provide resources and information, creating opportunities for students to explore these institutions,” states Richmond.

Beyond his work with HBCUs, Richmond emphasizes the importance of increasing Black teachers

in classrooms. He advocates for representation, highlighting the need for educators who reflect the diverse student population.

“We need more Black teachers in classrooms, especially as the number of Black and brown students continues to rise.

It’s about preparing our students for college and providing them with role models who understand their experiences,” asserts Richmond.

In his role as an educator, Richmond challenges stereotypes and encourages his students to envision possibilities beyond traditional norms.

“When students see a Black man teaching, especially in

“I DON’T SEEK TO INSPIRE WITH MY STORY. I WANT TO INSPIRE INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR OWN STORIES. MY JOURNEY IS ONGOING, AND I HOPE IT SERVES AS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER EVERYONE HOLDS WITHIN THEIR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.”

the elementary or middle school levels, it challenges their perceptions. It’s about breaking stereotypes and showing them that education is a path for everyone,” affirms Dennis Richmond Jr.

As he continues his advocacy efforts, Richmond envisions his impact growing through his role as a classroom teacher and his dedication to promoting HBCUs.

In the spirit of promoting Black excellence, the UNCF K-12 Education Program stands as a beacon, providing paid summer internships, leadership conferences, case competitions and ongoing support for fellows. The

program’s impact is evident in the success stories of its alumni, contributing to the larger narrative of HBCUs and the relentless pursuit of educational opportunities.

As we celebrate the relentless pursuit of Black excellence and the diverse pathways to success within the HBCU community, individuals like Dennis Richmond, Jr., and programs like UNCF’s K-12 Education Program serve as inspirations, guiding lights and advocates for a brighter future.

NOVI BROWN

NOT YOUR AVERAGE “SISTA”

BY ERICKA BLOUNT DANOIS

Actress Novi Brown –best known for her role as Sabrina Hollins on Tyler Perry’s “Sistas” –was a at a crossroads when she and her mother decided to book a cruise to Rome. Novi was struggling to pay rent and was wondering if acting really was her calling. She had asked God when it would be her turn. She created a new name for herself as a result of her passion for astrology – the name Novi, an abbreviation for her November birthday. It proved to be prescient

when she found the name meant God’s gift.

On the cruise ship she got a call for an audition. She wasn’t prepared and wondered how she could do it on a raucous cruise ship. Her mother encouraged her to just do it. They found a quiet space and she completed the audition.

“It was the worst audition I’ve ever done,” Novi remembers.

“She started pouring her heart out,” her mom,

Cassandra, remembers. “She started crying and said maybe I need to do something else. It really broke my heart. I told her I felt like it was going to work out in God’s time.”

Forty-eight hours later her manager called, and said they wanted her to come to Atlanta, Georgia.

“I couldn’t sleep, Cassandra remembered. “She booked the part a month later and she just started crying.”

The part was for the Tyler Perry show “Sistas,” a show Novi likens to a Black version of “Sex and the City.” Since then, she’s appeared on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and has received great reviews for her character Sabrina.

Her work on “Sistas” is a culmination of her work and her personal growth through the years. Novi and her mom Cassandra Brown always drew attention wherever they would go.

As a student at the Fashion Institute in New York City in the 1980s Cassandra was doing well. She was modeling in the city and studying patternmaking. But soon she got the bug to broaden her horizons and she didn’t hesitate to get out of dodge. She dropped her studies and hightailed it to Germany without knowing how to speak a lick of German. At 18, Cassandra fell in love and gave birth to her only daughter Novi. She lived the glamourous life modeling on runways in Italy and Germany. Novi was able to travel to Spain and Denmark and hear and learn different languages at a young age.

It was early on that Cassandra realized her daughter had a similar artistic temperament as herself. They would often spend all day enjoying movies at the movie theater together. “It was an event,” Novi laughs. Novi was so into movies and television that often her rewards for good behavior was being able to watch VHS tapes of Disney movies, TGIF shows or watching Saturday morning cartoons.

Her mother encouraged her interest in film and movies and pretty much everything Novi found interesting from being a veterinarian to a lawyer to an actress.

“I was a kid who tried out different things. I liked so many things I couldn’t decide on one thing. My mom put me in acting class, piano, karate…she just let

me kind of play around and see what I wanted to do,” Novi remembers.

It eventually dawned on Novi that if she was an actress, she could be anybody on any given day.

and she had a monologue to do. She was amazing.”

But when Novi grew tired of classes, her mother didn’t force her to continue.

“One day she didn’t want to

She started out as a child actor doing commercials for Black hair – for Just-For-Kids and Dark-n-Lovely products.

Her mother put her in acting classes at the Lee Strasberg theatre and film institute when she was nine years old. “She really blossomed,” her mom remembers. “Her teacher told us she was good. At the end of the session, they put on a show for the parents,

go anymore, and I said, ‘Are you sure?’ and she said, ‘yes,’ and that was that.”

“I was glad she didn’t force me. I’m very grateful now. Sometimes it’s just not the right time,” Novi recalls.

It would end up being perfect timing and the right move.

The relationship between Novi’s mom and her father

wasn’t working out. The Berlin wall fell. It was becoming increasingly difficult for them to stay in Germany. When her mother and father split, Cassandra and Novi headed back to New York. Novi – fluent in German - spent summers with her father in Germany.

Novi eventually gravitated back to acting on her own.

When she turned 17, she decided she wanted to go to college at CCNY in Harlem to study theater. There she got a start in theater performing in the play “The Vagina Monologues.” She studied Shakespeare.

“I was like Shakespeare is cold! In high school I didn’t know how to grasp the concept of Shakespeare. But I realized I’m a visual artist and a performer and that I learn through actually doing the tasks,” she said.

From there she started to take on diverse roles along with learning playwriting, performing, stage plays and directing. She acted off-Broadway; she says even though she couldn’t sing.

“I can’t sing baby, but I can hum. I can do a two-step, I can shake a tambourine,” she laughs. “Theater is a big place. You have to project; you have to be ready to go and you can’t mess up. I got good at it,” she says.

Working in theater helped in her current role in a Tyler Perry production where the actors have two weeks to film the entire season.

“Novi is a rare talent. Gorgeous, authentic and incredibly present,” said Syreeta Singleton, writer and showrunner of the show, “RAP SHIT.”

“This is a show where you only do one take,” Novi said. “TV is more on your eyes than in your body. On stage you have to throw your arms and push out your chest. I use my eyes a lot as the character Sabrina. Sometimes I have to sit on my hands because that’s theater energy. TV is more understated.”

Novi graduated magna cum laude from CCNY. But when she moved from New York to Los Angeles, hoping for more work, she found she was hustling more than acting - as a bartender, dog

walking, babysitting. At one point she ended up without a home.

“I asked myself am I doing wrong? Novi recalls.

She cut off her hair and started getting in touch with herself and developing her confidence. She started doing commercials, photography, diving deeper into film, and modeling.

Her hair journey helped her gain more confidence. She had long been a regular customer in Dominican hair salons, where hairdressers would blow out her hair until it was bone straight. After she cut off her hair, she photographed new head shots with her natural hair.

“HBCU s NEED FUNDING, THEY NEED THEIR JUST DUE. THEY NEED APPRECIATION, ADVOCACY AND RESPECT.”

“I booked mt first job with my natural hair. Before I would get auditions, but I wasn’t getting picked. But I was getting gigs with my natural hair,” she said. “I attracted a lot of carefree people. My hair is an expression of that freeness. It’s just growing naturally out of my head. “

She also learned about her birth charts from YouTube videos.

“I’m a Scorpio and everything they were saying on YouTube about Scorpios was right on,” she recalls. Now she has her own YouTube channel that focuses on astrology with plans to write a book about astrology, conduct workshops and create her own show.

While she couldn’t attend an HBCU because of finances, she’s an advocate for HBCU’s and embracing Black culture – including natural hair.

“HBCUs need funding, they need their just due. They need appreciation, advocacy, respect,” she says. “People are more triggered when Black people save spaces for themselves. Education is the art of discipline. It’s about seeing

something through until the end.”

She sees traveling as an education (she has dual citizenship in Germany and the USA) saying that education helped to build her personal philosophy and personal reasoning to be here on this Earth.

“Novi is a light force, she’s intuitive, culturally aware and artistically combustible. She’s a cultural surfer, multi-dimensional actress who swirls and taps into her experiences physically and psychically,” said fashion designer Etu Evans. “What makes her unique is how she integrates her German experiences with New York flair. Her eyes are hypnotic, her voice is memorable when she speaks to you, you think that you’re the only person present.”

“She always had the goal of being something more,” said Steven Cuttings, a Seventh Avenue designer and professor at FIT who has known Novi since she was a baby. She’s been talking about action movies, films, and producing her own content. No matter what she does she will always shine.”

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HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, AND STUDENT SUCCESS IS AT THE HEART OF HBCU s

BY LYNITA MITCHELL-BLACKWELL, ESQ.

“A

comprehensive report by Goldman Sachs found one type of college more than any other lives up to the promise of social mobility: historically Black colleges and universities.”

Home is where the heart is, and HBCUs know how to take care of its heart, i.e., their students.

For over 200 years HBCUs have been the primary educator of the descendants of Africans in America. Our description has changed several times: Negro, Colored, Black, African American, BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color); but the heart of who we are remains the same - a people committed to excellence in education and social mobility for the betterment of all in our community.

Our HBCUs understand that mission better than most. Our schools award more than 45% of bachelor’s degrees to African Americans in the entire country, yet only receive a fourth of available funding of all educational institutions. It has only been recently that legislatures around the country have begun to redress that wrong by including in their budgets amounts that had been purposefully withheld from the schools and/or diverted to PWIs. Critically needed funding will go a long way to address many of the issues that our schools face, particularly when it comes to the maintenance of our infrastructure, improvement in library resources, and reduction in student-teacher ratios.

Yet in spite of these challenges, our schools continue to produce

excellence. HBCUs continue to be the number one graduate of Black STEM based professionals. We continue to uphold the traditions of legacy, with many of our children and grandchildren attending our alma maters (and to our chagrin, sometimes our rivals). We speak positively of our schools and represent wherever we go (there is not a time or place when I am not thrilled to hear someone say, “Strike Rattler!” and I respond in kind with the fangs).

Educator Teshia Dula agrees. Ms. Dula is a twotime graduate of Hampton University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1995 and master’s degree in 1997. She is the 2020 Georgia School Counselor of the Year and top five finalist for the 2022 National Counselor of the Year, a doctoral candidate college professor,

and award-winning author of two books - STEAM for the School Counselor and More STEAM for the School Counselor for which she won the Gwinnett County Public Schools Counselor Writer of the Year. And she did this as a wife and mom of three. Talk about excellence!

“Texas Southern University is special in my family as it is where my parents met. When I was young, they would captivate me with fascinating tales about the university, its vibrant campus life, and the influential organizations known as The Divine Nine. In high school, a popular television show called ‘A Different World’ further fueled my fascination. I was under the impression that Hillman College from the show was inspired by Hampton University, and the idea of attending there

thrilled me. Despite my parents’ alma mater and other HBCUs being options, I ultimately chose Hampton University because its atmosphere, culture, and spirit resonated with my own personality. It truly felt like ‘my school’ and a place where I could call home.”

“[Hampton] gave me a top-tier education and cultivated a profound sense of purpose, character, and resilience. By prioritizing academic excellence, Hampton has nurtured my intellectual growth and equipped me with the tools necessary to confront the trials of the real world. Moreover, the university’s unwavering dedication to social responsibility has influenced my personal growth. Grounded in a legacy of pursuing social justice and equality, Hampton ignited a desire to effect positive change in my community.”

HBCU’s are also fertile ground where many “firsts” were raised, including Howard alumna US VicePresident Kamala Harris and Tennessee State University alumna Melissa Williams, the first African American vice president of human resources and the first

to serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team of New TSI Holding, Inc., a $1.3B publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Ms. Williams provides leadership and direction across all areas of human resources to meet the strategic needs of the company, and the acquisition of top talent while initiating efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, employee productivity, retention, and satisfaction.

When making the decision as to where she would matriculate, Ms. Williams stated, “I knew I wanted to attend an HBCU over a PWI primarily because the culture and experience at an HBCU are far more relatable and welcoming! The student body and faculty look like me and are far more familiar with the challenges and opportunities the Black and brown communities face. [In] attending an HBCU over a PWI, there is a higher probability that an HBCU would provide more of a specific focus with the curriculum and support I needed, smaller classes, and a sense of community to be successful in my higher learning journey

“I ULTIMATELY CHOSE HAMPTON UNIVERSITY BECAUSE ITS ATMOSPHERE, CULTURE, AND SPIRIT RESONATED WITH MY OWN PERSONALITY. IT TRULY FELT LIKE “MY SCHOOL” AND A PLACE WHERE I COULD CALL HOME.”

and preparedness for the workforce and society in general. Additionally, a PWI is far more expensive than an HBCU. It just didn’t make logical sense to me to choose a PWI over an HBCU. Not to mention the lack of diversity and representation a PWI lacks compared to an HBCU. Representation matters!”

Ms. Williams added, “I had a scholarship opportunity to attend Alabama A&M, but chose TSU. I wanted to carry the Big Blue TSU Legacy. Legacy is about history, tradition, pride, honor, and family to me. All these things resonated with me so deeply and it was in my heart and soul to attend TSU because it felt like home and a way for me to pay homage and respect to my parents who were the first to receive college degrees in their family. Both of my parents are TSU alumni and after attending all the football games with my parents as a child, it was my dream to be a majorette for the TSU Grammy Awardwinning Aristocrat of Bands! I’m even more proud that my daughter decided to carry this legacy on, and she too is a Tennessee State University Alumna. We all bleed Big Blue, including

my brother and sisters.”

These reflections are what differentiates HBCUs from other institutions of higher learning: they are our family. We are surrounded by people who are first and foremost committed to our success. More than any other group, the majority view of African Americans is that of a monolithic group - our actions reflect either positively or negatively on all of us. There is a parental firmness that our professors have with us - we are clear they are not our parents, but we know they genuinely care for us and our wellbeing. And many of us maintain relationships with our favorites throughout our lives - they attend our weddings, we visit them when we are in town, they bless us with gifts for our baby showers, we tend to their elderly parents in their absence - all reflections of family.

HBCU alumni and graduates also have a unique bond with one another. We cheer for the alumni of our fellow institutions, we wear their paraphernalia in support, we donate to assist when they face challenges because that is what you

do when it is family. That is what you do for home.

Our schools all started with one great mission and that was to educate the descendants of Black and brown people, and sometimes it was at the administrators’ personal peril of life, liberty and worldly possessions. And yet our forbearers endured, and continue to do so despite the struggle to get students to the finish line.

“Among Black students enrolled in four-year public institutions, 45.9% complete their degrees in six years. This is the lowest rate compared to other races and ethnicities.”

Factors that contribute to the extended degree completion rate include students having to work their way through school to pay their tuition and

maintain their own households (and sometimes that of their families) at a higher percentage rate than other ethnic groups. Yet despite these challenges, even organizations critical of HBCUs understand the critical place that our institutions of higher education hold. “As an essential part of America’s higher education landscape, HBCUs must continue striving for excellence while addressing their challenges to secure their vital role for future generations.”

Melissa Williams shared that essential aspects of HBCU higher education include “the importance of diplomacy and being resilient and resourceful. And how critical it is to be transparent with confidence to have courageous conversations. When I think about the toughest days in my profession it is

centered around peoplecentric decisions that are not always the most popular stance or decisions that have an impact on people’s livelihood. Because the faculty and staff at TSU took the time to pour into me during my matriculation to help me understand the business challenges and real-life work experiences, I was able to hone my skills and understanding of the business logic and emotional intelligence needed to be successful.”

And Teshia Dula conquered, “[Being a Hampton graduate] requires a life dedicated to service, echoing its great spirit through the ages. Hampton is like a kind mother, and I will eternally be grateful for the happy days I spent there in preparation for life. At Hampton, I pledged to live my life on purpose with courage and to serve God

and my community.”

A recent Washington Post opinion article stated, “HBCU’s do more with less”. As our schools work through the legal system to close the more than $12.8 billion dollar funding gap, HBCUs will be able to “do more with more” - more scholarships, fellowships, work study programs, grants, achievements, and firsts. Melissa Williams sums this up nicely: “My preparedness and readiness because of my matriculation and life experiences from attending TSU, prepared me to be a top contender with the best of them!”

I will add that TSU is one of many HBCU’s that does this exceptionally well, and the legacy of excellence will continue - onward and upward!

“YOU

CAN’T SIT BEHIND A DESK”

VISIBILITY AND BLACK ROLE MODELS AT JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY

BY DR. ALICE GINSBERG, DR. MARYBETH GASMAN & DR. ANDRES CASTRO SAMAYOA

Many of us picture professors as either standing in front of a classroom or sitting behind a desk. Yet, one of the hallmarks of HBCUs is a strong commitment to being visible in the community, including building partnerships with local schools and other community-based organizations. This is partially because the majority of HBCU students are drawn from in-state and/or nearby communities and plan to stay and work in those same communities after graduation. Almost half of Jackson State University’s (JSU) students

are local to Mississippi. All aspects of JSU’s teacher education program reflect this dedication to working with and improving the local community and public schools, from the hiring of its professors to candidate recruitment to service-learning mandates to providing induction support for their graduates to offering on-going professional development for in-service teachers.

JSU puts a strong emphasis on recruiting future teacher candidates from schools in the local community. Under the auspices of programs such as Teach for

Mississippi, representatives from the JSU teacher education program are creating organizations in local middle and high schools that aim to inspire students to become teachers. Through joining these organizations, local high school students get to live on JSU’s campus over the summer and experience first-hand the culture of higher education and teacher education.

JSU’s commitment to connect with the local schools is also reflected in the teacher education program’s early and repeated opportunities

for candidates to work in local K-12 classrooms. For example, when asked how professors challenge teacher candidates, one professor responded: “Real life situations, letting the students see that, yes, you have this textbook in front of you and all this theory that’s in it, but let’s see what’s practical. Let’s go out into the field and see what really is taking place.” Early exposure to realtime classroom teaching provides an opportunity for candidates to see what teaching feels like. It also provides them with a chance to experience what it feels like to serve

as a positive role model for Black students and to go beyond the textbook to teach students about cultural pride and resilience, something many of them never experienced in their own education. As one candidate shared with us: “My opinion of an effective teacher is someone that students can look up to. They understand what you must learn in the classroom, but you want to teach them other things outside of the things in the book.  You want to teach them like lifelong lessons and things they should know in the future.”

Teacher candidates at JSU are aware that they are role models for students and have a responsibility to create a safe and respectful environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and active learning. Candidates we interviewed spoke about the importance of being a positive role model, including the importance of recognizing Black students’ assets, supporting their goals and dreams, while holding them to high expectations. These commitments stand in the face of centuries of educational denial, inequality, and marginalization of Black students. Research has found that having even one Black teacher in elementary school not only makes children more likely to graduate from high school

“YOU CAN’T SIT BEHIND A DESK. YOU HAVE TO BE VISIBLE AND BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.”

--JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHER EDUCATION PROFESSOR

it makes them much more likely to enroll in college as well, and yet, Black people are still only about 7% of the teaching profession (Rosen, 2018). Black men make up just 2% of the teaching profession (Koenig, 2021). National estimates indicate that state public school teachers are “on average 27 percentage points more likely to be white than their students” (Schaeffer, 2021). These statistics – grim under any circumstances –are particularly distressing given that there was a time – before the Brown v. Board of Education decision –when Black students were taught almost exclusively by Black teachers who were advocates and active members of their own communities. While we are certainly not arguing against desegregation – as schools with large numbers of Black children were and continue to be under-resourced in comparison to schools with a majority white population – it is important to understand the Black student experience in the United States within a larger historical context to understand teacher education at JSU.

JSU is one of many HBCUs that is trying to reclaim its roots in teacher education and help teacher candidates to strategically dismantle barriers to Black students’ academic achievement, including challenging racist practices in schools,

providing holistic support for students who are struggling, and making sure that all students feel respected and welcome in the classroom. In short, candidates at JSU are faced with undoing centuries of racist practices that framed Black students (and Black families) as culturally deficient and academically inferior.

So, while having Black teachers is not a cure-all for Black students, there is ample evidence to support that it can make a huge difference. Indeed, the most common motivation for these candidates to teach was so that they could be effective role models and mentors for Black students – especially Black male students – as these students were not accustomed to seeing Black men in intellectual or leadership positions. One candidate told us: “When I was growing up it was only two males in my elementary school. I didn’t have one male that actually taught me. So, I felt there was a need for African American teachers, especially since I was one that was raised in a single parent home.” Candidates shared that just seeing a Black man standing in front of the classroom can be a profoundly motivational experience for many Black students. For example, one candidate reflected: “I feel like I can never say that I’m a teacher and

walk into a classroom. This is what generally has happened: I can walk into a classroom, and everything could just shift like everything will just shift to myself or to me.  All the students will look, look, and wonder.  Like their eyes are sparkling, like who is this person?  It’s amazing because I’ve never said a word.  All I did was just walk into the classroom. They’ll take notice of you in almost every aspect they can manage to think of. They’ll ask you questions. How old are you? Where are you from? What are you doing? They’ll also consider your body language. The different things that you display to them is what you will be to them.”

JSU teacher candidates also recognized that they have a responsibility to empower students to be future leaders, as best expressed by one candidate: “I’m interested in teaching because I’m in a spot to develop America’s future. Children are always going to be our future and if we get them and teach them while they’re young they will be taking over this country eventually and they’re getting into the mindset of, ‘I can be a better me if I’m better I could better my country.’ So just to be in that position to put them in that mindset and to open their eyes to see that they can change the world is why I want to be a teacher.”

Aware of the fact that Black students are disproportionately disciplined when they often just need help or attention, another candidate shared his belief that teachers must have a loving heart:  “You’ve got to have a loving heart when you’re teaching peoples’ children. Some of them come from a bad background and school is the only place where they can get someone to show them some attention.  So that’s why some of them act badly. I want to be a teacher that loves my kids and when I’m teaching them as well help them learn and not one of those teachers that I’m just here for the paycheck.”

As a result of this transparency, JSU Teacher Candidates are less likely to experience what has become known as “praxis shock,” where new teachers are not fully prepared to deal with many of the complex and less-thanideal realities of teaching in underserved and under resourced schools. Praxis shock is a major reason why

many new teachers end up leaving the profession, but it is particularly poignant for teachers of color who are not prepared for the systemic racism they are about to encounter. This racism – which is built into all aspects of schooling from unfair discipline policies to unfair tracking policies to culturally biased testing and assessment policies – not only prevents teachers of color from being a strong advocate for their students, but it can also remind them of their own traumatic experiences in school, leaving them feeling frustrated and powerless.

JSU candidates shared multiple stories about how they came into the classroom with one set of lesson plans and had to shift midway to truly engage their students and teach their strengths rather than their weaknesses. As one candidate recalled:

“I had a student who had ADHD and so he couldn’t just sit still. I was up there teaching them the ABCs.  So, I had to incorporate dance moves. We did the

musical chairs ABCs and when it stopped everybody sat down.  He had a problem, and he couldn’t just sit down so I tried to put words to the music to differentiate instruction to help this child out.”

JSU’s candidates typically give their students more attention by spending more time with them outside of the formal classroom. In fact, JSU teacher candidates are required to do community service during their preparation. What is important to underscore here is that teacher preparation programs at JSU start with the assumption that teachers can have a profound impact on students’ lives and, as such, must be committed to nurturing all aspects of their students’ education by teaching both inside and outside the book, and getting out from behind the desk. As one professor at JSU shared with us, this work is urgent: “We’re at the point in our lives now [where] we know we don’t have time to play games because we know it is

crucial that we prepare our students. It’s not about us. It’s a generational thing. We must teach them. It’s important. You think it’s important because you are going to impact the lives of others.” A candidate in the program echoed this sentiment sharing with us: “I’m interested in teaching because I’m in a spot to develop America’s future. Children are always going to be our future and if we can get to them and teach them while they’re young that they all will be taking over this country eventually and they’re getting into the mindset of I can be a better me and if I’m better I could better my country.  So just to be in that position to put them in that mindset and to open their eyes to see that they can be the change in the world is why I want to be a teacher.”

Excerpt from Alice Ginsberg, Marybeth Gasman, and Andrés Castro Samayoa, For the Love of Teaching: How Minority Serving Institutions are Diversifying and Transforming Teacher Education (Teachers College Press, 2023).

HARVARD UNIVERSITY INSTATES HBCU DIGITAL LIBRARY TRUST

BY ASHLEIGH FIELDS

Harvard University is aiming to rectify its stark history and dark past as an innate beneficiary of the enslaved through the Harvard and the Legacy of Slave trade initiative announced by former president Larry Bacow in November of 2019. The school has pledged to support a wide range of projects that aim to research, report and repair racial injustices both past and present.

One of their newest programs divulges $6 million in support of the HBCU Library Alliance, a membership organization which serves a consortium of 105 HBCUs collaborating to preserve the collective legacy of each respective

institution. The Alliance has worked to digitize archives which features the early history of school’s like Alabama State University, Meharry Medical College and Miles College among many more on their website.

However, in partnership with Harvard they are working to propel the online collection through the joint project entitled the HBCU Digital Library Trust which will help fund and curate the digitization of HBCU archives across the country.

“The HBCU libraries have deep connections to African American history and expertise in records that are incredibly important,” said Martha Whitehead,

Harvard Vice President for the Library and University Librarian. “This partnership will open and preserve access to many significant research collections held in HBCU libraries, while ensuring they retain ownership of the collections. Students, scholars and researchers around the world will benefit from the preservation and digitization of these materials. Harvard Library aspires to expand world knowledge and intellectual exploration, and we’re grateful that we can partner with the HBCU Library Alliance as they share and preserve their cultural resources and research.”

Harvard recently selected Andrea Jackson Gavin as

the inaugural program director of the HBCU Digital Library Trust, effective October 11, 2023. She has a distinct background as an archivist, formerly working as executive director of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium based at the University of Chicago Libraries, Head of Archives Research Center and Library Curator of Manuscripts and Archives at the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library.

As a graduate of Spelman College and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gavin is ecstatic to step into this new role and help chronicle the success of HBCUs.

“Historically Black College and University archives document and preserve the histories and accomplishments of African Americans. Their archives are rich with artifacts for scholars to understand the past in preparing for the future,” said Tiwanna Nevels, HBCU Library Alliance Board Chair. “The HBCU Library Alliance is delighted to be in partnership with Harvard University as we advance our mission to preserve and make accessible the historical legacies of these institutions. This multi-year project will center itself on deepening the capacity of these historical collections through digitization. This is an exciting time for HBCU libraries as the Alliance continues to further our overall mission.”

The project will span across four years with the hopes of discovering and preserving documents that are crucial to each institution’s journey to becoming a beaming beacon of light for Black individuals seeking a form of higher education. Harvard’s intent is to provide resources, stimulated

services and training for the HBCU Library Alliance efforts which are based in the Atlanta University Center at the Robert W. Woodruff Library.

“The existing collection, ‘Celebrating the Collections of Historically Black Colleges and Universities,’ is already rich with photos and documents of several HBCUs. I am thrilled beyond measure about this commitment from Harvard Library and its partnership with the Alliance that will expand upon the collaborative work begun in 2007 to make our materials digitally accessible,” said Loretta Parham, CEO and Library Director at the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library, and a co-founder of the HBCU Library Alliance. “Students, faculty, scholars, and others will benefit greatly from this project.”

The public will have access to the virtual archives as a trusted source of information for insight into the harsh realities faced by the founding fathers of beloved HBCU institutions.

“THE EXISTING COLLECTION, ‘CELEBRATING THE COLLECTIONS OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,’ IS ALREADY RICH WITH PHOTOS AND DOCUMENTS OF SEVERAL HBCUS. I AM THRILLED BEYOND MEASURE ABOUT THIS COMMITMENT FROM HARVARD LIBRARY AND ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ALLIANCE THAT WILL EXPAND UPON THE COLLABORATIVE WORK BEGUN IN 2007 TO MAKE OUR MATERIALS DIGITALLY ACCESSIBLE.”

-LORETTA PARHAM

CHELSEA B. ROBINSON

Chelsea B. Robinson was born and raised in Plaquemine, Louisiana.  She attended Dillard University in New Orleans, where she currently serves as the youngest elected Board of Trustees member.

Robinson’s affinity for her alma mater and advocacy makes her the ideal candidate to represent past and present Dillard students.  At Dillard, Robinson served as Miss Freshman, Miss Sophomore, and Miss Junior before receiving the ultimate honor of being elected as the 81st Miss Dillard University.  Robinson was subsequently voted as a Top Ten HBCU Queen and featured in Ebony Magazine.

Today, as a civil litigation attorney, Robinson represents Fortune 500 corporations as national trial counsel.  Her primary focuses are to provide valued experiences for corporate clients and to create a guided pathway to the legal profession for HBCU graduates.

She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and an advocate for social justice.

“For every door that’s been opened to me, I’ve tried to open my door to others.” -Michelle Obama

DR. KIERRA ALEXIS CARTER

Dr. Kierra Alexis Carter is a native of Florence, South Carolina. She enjoys the arts, traveling, and outdoor activities. She is an alumnus of Wilson High School, Claflin University, South Carolina State University, and North Carolina A&T State University. Dr. Kierra Carter has made her journey at Claflin worthwhile. She was Miss Freshman, Miss Student Support Services, and a cheerleader for 3 years (co-captain). Her sophomore year she became a member of the Alice Carson Tisdale’s Honors College, the first African American Miss Florence 2015, and a Miss South Carolina Pageant participant. She is also the founder of Helping Everyone Avoid Loneliness which is a support group for college students who are facing internal obstacles in school. Her junior year, she became a member of 3 National Honors Societies. Finally, during her senior year she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and served as Miss Claflin University 2016-2017. In graduate school, she was a doctoral fellow at Langston University.

Upon many other accolades, Dr. Carter graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology with a double minor in Mass Communications and Theatre and pursued an M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling. She then received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. All degrees were debt free. She recorded two commercials for BET, was honored with a Girls Rock Award from Palmetto Youth Academy, a trailblazer award from the Isaac Wilson Project, and was honored at New Ebenezer Baptist Church and by Hopkins Middle School for her community service. She is the author of It Had to Happen and Life Happens (available on amazon) and serves in her graduate chapter and church. She is currently a licensed therapist in NC and SC, Life Coach, CEO of Karter Water, and model for HBCU Times Magazine. Her favorite scripture is 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

MARIA D. JAMES

Maria D. James was born and raised in the historic neighborhood of Seatack, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She grew up living next door to her family’s church and as a preacher’s daughter in the Church of God in Christ. That legacy of strength, perseverance, faith, a focus on impactful leadership and strong desire for community service was deeply rooted into her at a young age.

After graduating from Ocean Lakes High School with academic honors and advanced studies diploma, Maria received an academic scholarship to study mass communications at Virginia Union University (VUU). On campus she served as Panther News editor for the campus newspaper, The VUU Informer, and as a woodwinds section leader for the marching and pep bands. Upon graduating from VUU in 2004, she began her journalism career working for The Daily Advance in Elizabeth City, NC. In 2009, she completed a master’s degree in strategic public relations from Virginia Commonwealth University, and relocated to Washington, DC for a six-month internship with global research + analytics consultancy, Edelman Intelligence where she worked on client accounts for brands such as Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, and Whirlpool.

Over the years she has developed a strong reputation as a reliable and savvy communicator with a specialty in partnership development, media relations, integrated marketing and events management. Her work has received industry-recognized PR awards, including the PRNews Platinum award, the PRSA Thoth award and the PRSA Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation.

POWER ALUMNI

Today, Maria is external communications manager for Magellan Health and the founder and CEO of MDJ Media Company, a boutique strategic communications firm. At Magellan, Maria was recognized for her media relations work that led to a drastic increase in media coverage for the company.

Maria is an active member of her community as well. Her professional memberships include the Public Relations Society of America, National Association of Black Journalists and ACES Society for Copy Editing. Maria has also become a rising star politically in Prince George’s County, Maryland where she serves as a moderator for candidate’s forums on both city and county-government level. She is also a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden, MD, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, the Prince George’s County Women’s Bureau Toastmasters Club, the Junior League of Prince George’s County and maintains membership in both the VUU National Alumni Association and VUU’s Maryland Alumni Chapter.

She received her Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Union University and a Master of Science in strategic public relations from Virginia Commonwealth University, both in Richmond, VA.

Notable Recognitions

In 2007, she was selected by the VUU National Alumni Association as Youth Alumni of the Year for outstanding commitment and distinguished service to the university. At the time, she was the youngest alumna to receive this honor. In 2016, Maria became the first African American managing editor for the award-winning local community newspaper, The Hyattsville Life & Times where she served as the longest managing editor in the history of the publication. She is recognized for spearheading the creation of the first community newspaper in College Park, MD entitled, College Park Here & Now.

In 2018, Maria was honored for her 10 years of dedication to re-instating the band program on campus with the rare designation of honorary membership to Tau Beta Sigma National Band Sorority by VUU’s Eta Psi chapter.

In 2019, Maria advocated for efforts to establish a food pantry on campus of Virginia Union University to serve the food insecurity issues of the student and campus community. The Panther Pantry was officially opened on campus in 2021, during the height of the pandemic.

DDR. TONEYCE S. RANDOLPH

r. Toneyce S. Randolph is an esteemed academic leader and visionary in the field of education, renowned for her commitment to fostering excellence in teaching and learning. As the Chief Academic Officer (CAO), she plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic landscape and driving strategic initiatives to advance the institution’s educational mission.

With a solid educational background and a passion for lifelong learning, Dr. Randolph holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Northcentral University, where she specialized in the viability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Her research focused on why HBCUs are relevant and how they foster a sense of belonging amongst those populations whose access has been limited or denied. Dr. Randolph’s career trajectory has been marked by a series of achievements in academia. She began her journey as a registrar and admissions representative, and then migrated over to academic affairs in Teaching and Learning, serving as faculty and then becoming Chief Academic Officer.

Her empathetic and supportive approach to teaching and learning earned her recognition and numerous accolades from students and peers alike. Dr. Randolph has received awards ranging from Excellence in Crisis Management to Faculty Member of the Year.

Recognizing her potential for transformative and servant leadership, she transitioned to administrative roles across multiple institutions before ascending to the position of Chief Academic Officer. In these leadership roles, Dr. Randolph championed interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting a holistic approach to higher education that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and practical application of knowledge.

Dr. Randolph is entrusted with driving academic excellence, ensuring the curriculum remains dynamic, relevant, and aligned with emerging trends and industry demands. She collaborates closely with faculty members to create an inclusive, empowering, and intellectually stimulating learning environment that fosters the holistic development of students.

A firm believer in continuous improvement, Dr. Randolph spearheads ongoing faculty development programs, empowering educators to implement innovative teaching methodologies and integrate cutting-edge technologies in the classroom. Her commitment to research-based pedagogy enhances the overall learning experience and equips students with the skills needed to excel in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Beyond her institutional contributions, Dr. Randolph actively engages with educational associations, presenting her research findings and sharing insights at conferences and symposiums. She is a sought-after speaker, known for her inspiring talks on hip-hop pedagogy, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the future of higher education. Dr. Randolph’s most recent presentation was at the International Conference on Urban Education in Cancun, Mexico where she presented on first-generation college students’ traumatic experiences and the impact had on those who live in poverty-stricken urban communities. Her research on this topic showed sparse information, especially on understanding the lyrical messages in hip-hop and how

POWER ALUMNI

these lyrics explore the truths of many first-generation college students and the impact of community trauma. Outside of academia, Dr. Randolph maintains a keen interest in the community, advocating for the promotion of resources through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Under the organization, Dr. Toneyce Randolph focuses on service to all mankind, including community service projects that empower families, building economic wealth, and enhancing the environment by uplifting the local community. Dr. Randolph is a current and active member of the Rock Hill Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Eta Alpha Omega and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee. Dr. Randolph is a Board Member for Stars Academy in Charlotte, NC. Just recently Dr. Randolph received an award for the Top Twenty Most Influential in Memphis, TN, her hometown.

Dr. Randolph remains steadfast in her commitment to shaping the next generation of learners and leaders. Her strategic vision, combined with a passion for excellence, continues to elevate the institution’s academic standing and empower students to become catalysts for positive change in the world.

D’JARIS ‘DJ’ JAMES

D’Jaris ‘DJ’ James, a seasoned global talent aquistion leader, currently serving as a senior consultant at Georgia Tech Research Institute Office of the COO. A proud alumna of Johnson C. Smith University, DJ cofounded the university’s “Forty Under 40” alumni initiative and was honored with the 2020 UNCF Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Passionate about empowerment, I lead “Secrets of a Southern Belle,” a women’s group offering mentoring/coaching on breaking barriers, career transitions, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing networking, personal branding, and talent nurturing. Committed to youth development, DJ spearheads the M.A.R.I.E. Project, guiding students toward post-graduation paths, be it college or entrepreneurship, and conducting free interview skill workshops to enhance employability. Hailing from Charleston, SC, and now based in Atlanta, GA, DJ is driven to narrow the gap between minorities and opportunities, echoing Shirley Chisholm’s words: “I didn’t ask for a seat at the table, I took the table!”

BRAYANNA JONES

Brayanna “Sunshine” Jones, proudly represents the vibrant community of New Roads, Louisiana. She is a senior biology major with a double minor in Chemistry and Spanish at Xavier University of Louisiana and will graduate in May of 2024. Currently, Sunshine aspires to pursue a career in family medicine as a physician. At Xavier, she has held numerous leadership positions such as: serving as a Resident Assistant, MAX 2.0 Site Leader, Vanguard Student Tour Guide Ambassador, Peer Health Educator, Office of Inclusion & Social Justice Fellow, American Heart Association HBCU Research Scholar, National Institute of Health BUILD Scholar, Junior Class Vice President, the Minority Association of Pre Med Students Vice President, American Public Health Association Fellow, and currently reigns as the 88th Miss Xavier University of Louisiana. Sunshine is also a Fall 2023 initiate of the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Sunshine’s favorite verse, which she lives by, is Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.” She believes the best is yet to come!

VICTORIA RENEE MCCRAE

Victoria Renee McCrae was born November 30th 2002, and is a native of Memphis, TN. She majors in biological sciences, and has aspirations of impacting and influencing the field of medicine and health care. She currently serves as the nostalgic 94th Miss Tennessee State University where she wishes to inspire students on campus and in the community, highlight the legacy, and encourage students to excel in their personal excellence by being their biggest cheerleader. She lives by the quote, “You are not your circumstances, you are your possibilities, if you know that, you can do anything.” - Oprah Winfrey

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) was founded on April 25, 1944.

For eight decades, UNCF has been the nation’s largest provider of scholarships to minority students and the guiding light in propelling our nation’s HBCUs forward.

Throughout 2024 we will recognize and pay tribute to UNCF’s founders, supporters and beneficiaries, while inspiring a new generation to continue our mission of transforming the future of our nation through educational excellence.

Together, let’s celebrate. And let’s continue to make a difference and empower dreams for the next 80 years and beyond.

Visit our website and donate to UNCF today!

Black students entering the job market are at a disadvantage.

Even with credentials that make them top job candidates. EVEN TODAY.

TAKING EDUCATION AND CORPORATE AMERICA HIGHER Connect with us: tmcf.org THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND IS AMERICA’S LARGEST ORGANIZATION THAT EXCLUSIVELY REPRESENTS THE BLACK COLLEGE COMMUNITY.

WE PUT BRIGHT MINDS TO WORK BY GIVING BLACK STUDENTS AN EQUAL CHANCE.

We’ve awarded $500 million in scholarships to date. We prepare high-performing, top-tier students for lifechanging employment opportunities. And we maintain strong partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, making TMCF today’s premier resource for companies looking for exceptional, Black talent.