MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY • ALUMNI NEWS • Spring 2019 Alumni Day 2019 ....................................................................3 Chapter and Class News ...........................................................3 Necrology ..............................................................................4 Alumni on the Move .................................................................6 In the News............................................................................7
Alumni Calendar......................................................................8 Homecoming Calendar .............................................................8 Murphy Fine Arts Center Calendar ..............................................8 MSU Choir Schedule ................................................................8 Football Schedule ..................................................................8
Martin’s West 6817 Dogwood Road Baltimore, MD 21244 For more information, contact Kimberly Williams at (443) 885-3535 or kimberly.williams@morgan.edu.
Black-Tie Affair ~ Live Dancing, Live Band ~ Buffet Dinner General Admission 8 p.m.–12:30 a.m. $195 per person VIP Reception & Gala 7–8 p.m. $350 Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 Morgan State University Foundation, Inc. presents XXXV Annual Homecoming Gala
Annual Homecoming Gala
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www.alumni.morgan.edu Office of Alumni Relations Alumni House 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane Baltimore, MD 21251
CONTENTS Director’s Message..................................................................2 Alumna of the Year ..................................................................2 Special Achievement Award.......................................................2 Chapter of the Year .................................................................2
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Dear Morgan Alumni, As another reunion year is upon us, what a great pleasure and opportunity to welcome you home. Your Morgan State is still on the move. We are continuing to make great strides in many areas and in many ways. Did you hear that our nursing graduates posted a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN national licensure examination for fiscal year 2018? This is a first for the Nursing Program’s Bachelor of Science degree recipients and tops all other Maryland universities offering a four-year nursing degree. What about Morgan’s receiving an R2 Carnegie classification, a status reserved for doctoral universities with high research activity? Morgan continues to have an impact on Baltimore, with the recent ground breaking for a $50-million redevelopment of the old Northwood Plaza Shopping Center as Northwood Commons. How exciting! The project is slated to be completed in 2020, the same year the University’s new student services building is scheduled to open on the main campus. Good news about Fair Morgan abounds, and our President, Dr. David Wilson, has recently received several recognitions for his many achievements, including being named as one of the “Power 10” by the Baltimore Business Journal. In addition, he was recognized by the Baltimore Tuskegee Alumni Foundation, Inc. for his achievements at Morgan in increasing the retention rate, presiding over the #1
Alumna of the Year Mary Elaine Proctor Blackwell, ’49 Mary Elaine Proctor Blackwell, educator, civil rights activist and community advocate, earned her Bachelor of Science in science education at Morgan State College in 1949 and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her alma mater for more than 70 years. Now retired from the faculty of the University of the District of Columbia, she has exhibited leadership qualities in every facet of her life. As a student at Morgan, she was Class President, Captain of the Women’s Basketball Team and President of the campus chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She also led the planning of civil rights demonstrations by Morgan students seeking funding for academic options, housing and athletics in the 1940s. Blackwell was the main force behind the establishment of the Class of 1949 Alumni House Maintenance Endowment Fund, and she led the charge to establish the Dr. Effietee M. Payne Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Harold D. Blackwell, Sr. Endowed Scholarship Fund, which was named in honor of her late husband, a member of Morgan’s Class of 1952. Elaine Blackwell, the mother of five, is a Charter Member of the MSU Civil Rights Pioneers Alumni Chapter, a Charter Member of the RED Dynasty MSU Alumni Chapter and a member, since 2014, of the MSU Southern Maryland Alumni Chapter. She joined Morgan’s Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Alumni Chapter in 1949 and cofounded the chapter’s Scholarship Crab Feast in 1983. She has been a Life Member of the MSU Alumni Association since 1977 and a Class Agent for the Class of 1949 for more than 15 years. Blackwell is now pursuing support to recognize the accomplishments of Effietee Payne, who was a prominent coach at Morgan for more than 25 years and a pioneering activist for women’s rights. In recognition of Mary Elaine Proctor Blackwell’s personal and professional achievements noted above, and many others that reflect favorably on Morgan State University, the MSU Alumni Association is pleased to salute her as Alumna of the Year for 2019.
Special Achievement Award Dolores Louise Alston Curtis, ’60 Dolores Louise Alston Curtis, a lifelong “Jersey girl,” received her Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from Morgan State College in 1960, becoming the second Morgan graduate in her family, following her sister, Lillian Whaley, ’55. Inspired to a career in education by her high school English teacher, Curtis began building her distinguished,
The Alumni News The Alumni News is published biannually by the Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Public Relations and Communications. Any questions or concerns about this publication can be directed to: Office of Alumni Relations, Alumni House, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, (443) 885-3015.
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GIVE A GIFT TO MORGAN
We are always told, “It is better to give than receive.” So, on your birthday, anniversary, graduation, holiday or any other significant day in your life, honor your alma mater by giving a gift to Morgan State University! Visit www.givetomorgan.com, and click on “Give Now,” or make your check payable and mail it to: MSU Foundation, Inc., 201 Truth Hall, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251.
HBCU in production of Fulbright scholars and grantees, procuring the University’s largest-ever research contract, from NASA, and other notable contributions. We can all be proud of what Morgan has become. I am so proud to be a Morgan Bear. What about you? As we gather for our 79th Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon, we will celebrate all classes ending in “4” or “9” and commemorate the 50th Anniversary Class, the Class of 1969. We are hoping you are as excited as we are about this event, which will bring back many good memories of years past. Those of you who have not visited the campus for many years, perhaps since your graduation, will not recognize this place. One thing for sure is that Morgan State University has one of the most beautiful campuses around. As we recognize some of our alumni during our luncheon, gather to fellowship with classmates and friends, reminisce about our Morgan days and enjoy a fantastic meal, I promise you will be in for a real treat. Make sure that whatever you decide to do on the weekend of May 17, your reunion is at the top of the list. We look forward to welcoming you with a warm greeting, a bright smile and open arms. See you soon! Best wishes, Joyce A. Brown, ’86 and ’01 MSU Director of Alumni Relations 53-year track record in that field immediately after graduating from Morgan. She started as a classroom teacher, became a physical education teacher then, in 1988, accepted the position of District Supervisor of Health and Physical Education, overseeing all 42 schools in Jersey City. Curtis is a longtime supporter of Morgan and the public education community initiatives in Hudson and Union Counties in New Jersey. Along with her late husband, Alvin Curtis, ’60, she devoted time and financial resources to her alma mater, and she continues to maintain two MSU endowments, one which was started by her husband for students majoring in chemistry or biology and the other for students majoring in health, physical education or nursing. In addition, she funds a personal annual scholarship for students of her high school alma mater who attend Morgan. She is a charter member of the MSU Alumni Association’s New Jersey Alumni Chapter and Alpha Delta (AKA) Alumni Chapter and is a Life Member of the Association. She also serves on the Executive Board of Kean University, where she earned her M.A. in early childhood education. The Morgan State University Alumni Association honors the work of Dolores Louise Alston Curtis, as well as her commitment to Morgan, and congratulates her selection as the Special Achievement Award recipient for 2019!
Chapter of the Year New Jersey Alumni Chapter The New Jersey Alumni Chapter was founded in 2008 to provide an opportunity and avenue for alumni to support Morgan State University, recruit students to Morgan, provide support and service to the community and fellowship with other MSU alumni. Since its chartering, the chapter has stayed true to the missions
of the Alumni Association and the University. In the New Jersey region, the chapter strives to be a viable presence by representing Morgan and recruiting high school students at numerous college fairs — 15 last year alone — as well as supporting Morgan’s football and basketball teams at sporting events and attending engagements where MSU alumni are featured. The NJ Chapter is a founding member of the HBCU-NJ Consortium, a group of 20 HBCU alumni chapters in New Jersey. Providing financial assistance has been a main goal of the New Jersey Alumni Chapter, which, since its founding, has awarded scholarships totaling almost $20,000 to deserving students. That giving is made possible by numerous fundraising activities. Dedicated chapter members have participated in events such as preparation for the Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon and the “Explore Morgan Day” open house. The NJ Chapter has financially supported the
DUES RENEWAL
ADOPT-A-GAME
Dues renewal began July 1, 2019. Enjoy all of the benefits of being an alumnus on an annual basis, for $35 per year: our easiest and most convenient way to contribute to the Morgan State University Alumni Association! Membership dues cover the fiscal year July 1, 2018–June 30, 2019. We look forward to your continued support!
Chapters and Classes, Support Adopt-A-Game! The Adopt-A-Game Program is entering its ninth season. The goal and the objective of the program remain the same: to get our ALUMNI CHAPTERS, CLASSES and organizations to come out and support the MSU Athletics Department at all athletic games. The program also encourages participants to bring friends, family members, classmates, alumni chapter members, kids, grandchildren, church members, sorority and fraternity members and neighbors. For details about how your group can participate in this program, please contact Milton Hawkins, Alumni Relations Officer, at milton.hawkins@ morgan.edu or (443) 885-4137. You don’t want to miss out on all the fun! REMEMBER to wear your ORANGE and BLUE to all athletic events!
Homecoming Gala, the Varsity “M” Club Banquet and Morgan Memories and made a donation to the MSU Foundation in recognition of Morgan’s Sesquicentennial, in 2017. The NJ Alumni Chapter has also supported events sponsored by the South Jersey, Delaware, Howard L. Cornish Baltimore Metropolitan and New York Metropolitan Area Alumni Chapters. The growing chapter, which has 40 members, 90 percent of whom are Life Members, always seek new and innovative ways to connect with alumni. During the year, the chapter holds alumni outreach events, such as its annual “Meet and Greet” event and “All Class Picnic.” Recognizing its exemplary dedication to Morgan and the community, the Morgan State University Alumni Association salutes the New Jersey Alumni Chapter as Chapter of the Year for 2019.
National Harbor hotel and casino. This year, the Chapter will host “An Affair to Remember…White Party,” on July 13. Recruitment of students is a special interest for the chapter, which has been involved in every Open House held on Morgan’s campus since 2011 and has developed a workshop to assist Baltimore County students in completing the college application process. The community-minded chapter also participates in the Annual Juneteenth Parade and contributes to area charities.
Chicago Alumni Chapter Remains Committed to Students and Service
Classes Ending in ‘4’ or ‘9,’ Alumni Day Is Near! Are you preparing to help celebrate the classes ending in “4” or “9” by coming out to our 79th Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon? We hope so! This special event takes place on Friday, May 17, 2019 in the Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom, beginning with a reception at 11 a.m. followed by the luncheon at 12 noon. Tickets are $70. Each year, we recognize some of our alumni and chapters for their exceptional accomplishments. There are also class check presentations from the celebrating reunion classes, which are presented to the MSU Foundation, Inc. for student scholarships. For the last few years, the luncheon has been SOLD OUT! Make your reservations EARLY, so you don’t miss all the fun. For more information, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at (443)-885-3015.
Will Your Class Be the Winner? Did your class work hard in 2018, reaching out to your classmates to encourage them to make a contribution to the MSU Foundation, Inc.? We look forward to presenting the Chairman’s Award to the class with the highest participation-in-giving rate, at the 79th Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon, on Friday, May 17, 2019, in the MSU Student Center’s Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom. The second place President’s Award and third place Dean’s Award will also be presented. We hope you are making plans to attend this year’s celebration!
Time to Book Your Hotel for Homecoming! Discounted room rates for Morgan State University alumni and friends are available for booking now at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel, this year’s official Homecoming host hotel. The hotel is located at 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204. The Homecoming rate for Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 through Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 is $129 per night, which does not include Maryland State and hotel occupancy taxes. To receive the discounted rate, you must specify that you are with the “Morgan State University Alumni Association 2019 Room Block” when you call to make reservations. This room rate is for single, double, triple or quad room accommodations. Please make your reservations by calling (410) 321-7400 or Central Reservations at 1 (888) 627-7147, or by visiting the website: https://www.marriott. com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1553791106815&key=GRP&app= resvlink. The cut-off date to make reservations at the discounted rate is Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019 by 5 p.m. EDT. PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ADD ANY EXTRA ROOMS TO OUR ROOM BLOCK THIS YEAR.
CHAPTER AND CLASS NEWS Alpha Delta Alumni Chapter Launches Fundraising Drive The Alpha Delta Alumni Chapter held its annual meeting during Homecoming Weekend last October and welcomed a large number of current members and interested Morgan alumni. The chapter kicked off a major fundraising drive combined with a concerted recruitment effort. A nominating committee was formed and is hard at work developing a slate of officers for the 2019–20 fiscal year. The chapter also will host Embrace the Chapel on April 28, 2019. The Rev. Trisch Smith, ’96, member of the Alpha Delta Chapter, will serve as guest minister. The chapter asks all Morgan alumni to come and worship with them.
Baltimore County Chapter Supports Students and the Community The Baltimore County Alumni Chapter continues to give scholarships to four Morgan students each year. To provide these grants, the chapter holds annual fundraisers, including Breakfast at Applebee’s and the annual Veteran’s Day Bus Trip to MGM
The Chicago Alumni Chapter continues to volunteer on behalf of our beloved University by staffing college fairs and recruiting students to Morgan from the Chicagoland area. Moreover, the chapter is happy to announce Chicago native Asiah Siler as the recipient of its $500 scholarship for the 2018–19 award year! The MSU Chicago Alumni Chapter remains committed to service and moves forever onward.
Greater Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter Collaborates With Other HBCU Alumni at College Fair The Greater Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter had a year of rebuilding that featured several membership drives in 2018. Chapter President Roland White led the chapter in new directions that mirror Morgan’s motto: “Growing the Future, Leading the World.” The chapter participated in the Phoebus High School College Fair in Hampton, Virginia. Chapter members on duty that day saw more than 250 students who visited the MSU table. Morgan Bears alumni pictured above with Aggies neighbors from North Carolina A&T are Sharon Russell (’74), Roland White (’68) and Earl Holmes (’69, holding the MSU football helmet).
Howard L. Cornish Chapter Continues Its Scholarship-giving Tradition The Howard L. Cornish Baltimore Metropolitan Alumni Chapter awarded $36,500 in scholarships and eight HP laptop computers to 29 Morgan students at its 34th Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast, which was held in the Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom on Jan. 12. Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh, ’73 and ’77, delivered an inspiring keynote address to the 650 guests who attended. The chapter will celebrate its 35th MLK Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020.
New Jersey Alumni Chapter Does Award-Worthy Work for Morgan The New Jersey Alumni Chapter held its annual “Membership Meet and Greet” this past December, at the Grillstone Restaurant in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. The Meet and Greet is the chapter’s primary alumni recruitment event and was attended by more than 40 MSU alumni. Also in December, the chapter solicited donations to its “Season of Giving” fundraiser, with all proceeds going to the chapter’s Scholarship Fund. During the fall semester, chapter members participated in 11 college fairs, including the Malcolm Bernard HBCU Fair, which is the largest HBCU college fair in the Northeast. The chapter also received an Alumni Recruitment award last year. Way to go, New Jersey Chapter!
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JOIN MORGAN ON THE VINEYARD
SAVE THE DATE!
Join the fun! Morgan alumni, friends and family will converge on Martha’s Vineyard on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, as President David Wilson presents the State of the University address. This is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with longtime friends, make new ones and support Fair Morgan. So bring your wallet! Should you wish to arrive early on the island, there is lots to do the entire week. Swimming, good food and tons of entertainment are always at the top of the list! Visit www. eventbrite.com to register and receive all information for a wonderful experience at Morgan on the Vineyard 2019. This event will be held at the home of Greg and Lauren Jones.
MSU Foundation, Inc. 30th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament Friday, May 3, 2019 Turf Valley Resort & Spa, 2700 Turf Valley Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21042 Registration Includes: Golfer Awards and Luncheon, 30th Anniversary Commemorative Golfer Gift, Coach and Athletic Director Networking, Automatic Entry into Football/Basketball Season Ticket Raffles, and More! Register at GiveToMorgan.org, Or call (443) 885-2103
SHOW YOUR MORGAN PRIDE!
Morgan Alumni Are “Bear” to the Bone! Show Your Morgan Pride! Wear BLUE and Orange to All Games. 3
CHAPTER AND CLASS NEWS Continued From Page 3 Jacksonville, Florida Alumni Take Road Trip to Savannah
South Atlantic Alumni Chapter Succeeds in Student Recruitment
The Jacksonville, Florida Alumni Chapter headed north to Savannah, Georgia, on Oct. 13, 2018, in support of the Bears football team as they took on the Savannah State Tigers. A great day was had by all, as the chapter members stopped to relax and enjoy a meal at Skipper’s Fish Camp along the way. Upon arrival at their final destination, they were not to be disappointed. The Bears played a hard-fought game and came away with the win: Morgan State 18, Savannah State 11. GO BEARS!!
MSUAA Charters NextGen Alumni Chapter The NextGen Morgan State University Alumni Chapter, which consists of alumni born between 1965 and 1985, was chartered at the Homecoming Business Meeting of the MSU Alumni Association in October 2018, in the MSU Student Center Theater. Khalilah Harris, J.D., Ed.D., ’98, is the founder and president of the chapter. President Wilson attended the meeting and gave his State of the University address, which included accomplishments of the University during the past year and the administration’s vision for the future. If you wish to become a member of the NextGen MSU Alumni Chapter, please email Dr. Harris at khalilaharris@gmail.com.
Richmond/Petersburg Alumni Chapter ‘Bears Down!’
The South Atlantic Alumni Chapter (SAAC) is committed to having a South Carolina student enrollment presence at its alma mater. Toward this end, the chapter voted in October 2018 to support one college fair in fiscal year 2018–19, and it is proud to report that it has exceeded its student recruitment goal. SAAC members represented Morgan at four HBCU College Fairs in the state, met more than 2,500 high school students and have two more student recruitment fairs scheduled for April and May. Reginald Thomas, Admissions Representative from Morgan’s Office of Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment, attended SAAC’s February meeting, in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information about the chapter, please contact Chapter President Carolyn Hunter-Rogers, ’74, at carolyn.amari@yahoo. com, morgan.saac@gmail.com or (803) 240-7525.
RED Dynasty MSU Alumni Chapter Seeks Pledges for Scholarship Endowment The RED Dynasty MSU Alumni Chapter is now accepting pledges to the RED Dynasty Endowment. The endowment was established to provide financial assistance to the MSU Foundation, Inc. in awarding scholarships to students. Please make your contribution today by contacting Denise Smith at denise.smith@morgan.edu or (410) 440-0281.
South Jersey Alumni Chapter Hosts Outstanding Activities The South Jersey Alumni Chapter (SJAC) had a very successful kickoff of its 2018–19 events calendar. This past September, SJAC presented the Morgan State University Choir in concert at the First Nazarene Baptist Church, in Camden, New Jersey. The venue was excellent, the choir, as always, outstanding, and an enjoyable afternoon was had by all. Among the more than 300 guests were visiting Morgan alumni from the New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware chapters of the MSU Alumni Association. SJAC has begun planning for the choir’s return in September 2020. Other fundraising activities planned for spring 2019 are a raffle, Limos2Morgan, and the Annual Line Dance at Mid-Day on Saturday, June 1. The Richmond/Petersburg Alumni Chapter continues to “Bear Down!” The chapter began the 2018–19 year by participating in the Annual Alumni Charity Challenge on Sept. 12, collecting canned donations for FeedMore as members socialized with more than 30 other alumni chapters. Richmond/Petersburg also participated in the HBCU College Fair in September — awesome response from prospective MSU students — and is planning its scholarship dance and membership drive events for 2019 (See the “MSU Alumni Calendar” on page 8.). Chapter meetings are held on the third Sunday of each month. For more information about the chapter, please email Chapter President Lynette Banks-Lightfoot at rpac. prez17@gmail.com, or call (804) 512-4490.
Class of 1949 to Celebrate 70 Years in May The Class of 1949 will celebrate its 70th Anniversary Reunion at the 2019 Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon, on Alumni Day, Friday, May 17. We hope all members of the class will come out to the luncheon and join in all of the fun. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations for more information. The Class of 1949 received the first place Chairman’s Award in 2014 for the highest participation-in-giving percentage of any class.
NECROLOGY
Deceased MSU Alumni, Faculty, Staff & Students “Gone But Not Forgotten” Roberta Stella Adams (Former Staff)................................................................................. 2/5/2019 Lesile Allen-Scott, ’82 .................................................................................................... 11/24/2018 Peter Thomas Andersen , ’76 ........................................................................................... 10/16/2018 Andrea Hill Anderson, ’66 ............................................................................................... 8/16/2018 Dr. Norman R. Anderson,’69 ........................................................................................... 1/22/2019 Paul Hobart Armstrong, Jr., ’57 ....................................................................................... 12/7/2018 James August (Former Faculty) ........................................................................................ 9/29/2018 Eulalia H. Hinds Barber, ’56 ............................................................................................ 11/17/2018 Paul Juan Beckham, ’61 ................................................................................................. 2/8/2019 Gertrude W.H. Bolling, ’66.............................................................................................. 1/28/2019 Arthur G. Bragg ,’54 ...................................................................................................... 8/24/2018 Andrew R. Brooks, Jr.,’13 ............................................................................................... 7/20/2018 Bessie Ann Brown (Former Staff)...................................................................................... 1/16/2019 Cindy German Brown, ’93 ............................................................................................... 10/17/2018 June R. Stewart Brown, ’63 ............................................................................................. 8/18/2018 Lawrence F. Burwell, ’87................................................................................................. 11/17/2018 Richard Buster, ’85........................................................................................................ 10/1/2018 Gloria A. Day Canaday, ’70 ............................................................................................. 10/30/2018 Joseph Benedict Cardamone, ’75 ..................................................................................... 12/19/2018 Tracey Elizabeth Carrington, ’15 ...................................................................................... 9/6/2018 The Honorable James Randall Carroll, ’65 ......................................................................... 8/1/2018 Denise Regina Cephus, ’72 ............................................................................................. 9/25/2018 Rubin Lee Cottrell, Sr., ’66 and ’76.................................................................................. 8/10/2018 Darian Creary, ’88 ......................................................................................................... 8/14/2018 Dr. Thomas Robert Cripps (Former Faculty)........................................................................ 9/17/2018 The Honorable Bonita J. Dancy, ’67.................................................................................. 11/23/2018 Carl Gregory Downs, ’74................................................................................................. 10/27/2018 Betty Jean Dunlap, ’58................................................................................................... 9/25/2018 Dr. Paul Lawrence Fairley, ’62 ......................................................................................... 3/9/2019 Winton Ray Fenner, ’82 .................................................................................................. 1/22/2019 Lt. Col. Alfred Clifton Fisher (Ret.), ’58 ............................................................................ 11/17/2018 Elinor Caldwell Ford, ’49................................................................................................. 12/16/2018 Rev. Charles Matthews Franklin, Jr.,’96 ............................................................................ 2/10/2019 Dr. Francis W. Gates (Former Regent)............................................................................... 9/3/2018 Edith Virginia Silver Glass, ’75 ......................................................................................... 12/21/2018 Joy Renee Glover, ’81 .................................................................................................... 2/18/2019
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Howard Griner (Former Staff) ......................................................................................... 10/3/2018 Arthur Leo Hall, ’71 ....................................................................................................... 10/8/2018 Hattie Naomi Gaines Hamilton, ’46 .................................................................................. 3/14/2019 Samuel Aaron Harper, ’57............................................................................................... 9/15/2018 Doris Jean Harris, ’48 .................................................................................................... 3/3/2017 Joan Y. Sembly Harris, ’54 .............................................................................................. 8/21/2018 Lois Janet Staples Holman, ’53........................................................................................ 9/4/2018 Novene Thomas Howard, ’44 ........................................................................................... 7/10/2018 Judith Ann Hunter, ’94 ................................................................................................... 1/20/2019 Ronald A. James, ’75 ..................................................................................................... 2/15/2019 Dr. Anthony Lloyd Johnson, D.D.S., ’75 ............................................................................ 10/4/2018 Earl Jones, Sr., ’68 ........................................................................................................ 3/10/2019 Jean Elizabeth Walton Jones, ’55 ..................................................................................... 2/14/2019 Richard Henry Jones, ’77 ................................................................................................ 11/17/2018 Elaine Young Jones-Bland, ’51......................................................................................... 8/28/2018 Dr. Quinton K. Kargbo (Former Faculty) ............................................................................ 2/8/2019 The Rev. Lewis Irvin Keene, ’79........................................................................................ 2/13/2019 Ardella Carr Keith, ’48.................................................................................................... 10/22/2018 Lt. Col. Charles Roger Kelly(Ret.), ’55 ............................................................................ 12/17/2018 William Paul Kelly,’70 .................................................................................................... 11/6/2018 John S. Lanier, ’69 ........................................................................................................ 12/14/2018 Henietta S. McCall (Former Staff) .................................................................................... 8/23/2018 Alfreda Debra McCoy-Gwynn, ’74..................................................................................... 10/12/2018 The Rev. Dr. Lydia G. McDaniel (“Akilah Karima”), ’78 ....................................................... 3/16/2019 Delmonica Anwar Kim McFarland, ’04............................................................................... 8/7/2018 The Rev. Martin L. McKenney, ’59 .................................................................................... 11/10/2017 Sandra D. McKinney-Humphrey, ’74 ................................................................................. 12/4/2018 Carol Shelton Miller, ’64................................................................................................. 3/1/2017 Julia Neale Montgomery, ’71........................................................................................... 9/29/2018 Mr. Wendell E. Moore, ’95 .............................................................................................. 10/20/2017 Ruth Maxine Nicholas, ’78 .............................................................................................. 11/1/2018 Charles Alton Parrott, ’81 ............................................................................................... 10/31/2018 John Wendell Patterson, ’61............................................................................................ 1/1/2019 Gloria A. Pope, ’66 ........................................................................................................ 9/4/2018 Dr. Doretha Pressey (Former Faculty) ............................................................................... 9/18/2018 Ponjola Brown Priest, ’52................................................................................................ 7/29/2018
Lawrence Ramsey, Jr., ’74 .............................................................................................. 10/1/2018 Dorothy Rice-Harvey, ’76 ............................................................................................... 8/26/2018 Leon Richardson, ’73 ..................................................................................................... 10/2/2018 Maxine Turner Richardson, ’54 and ’72 ............................................................................ 11/15/2018 Anita Edith Richmond, ’72 .............................................................................................. 12/17/2018 Vincent Joseph Robinson, ’71 .......................................................................................... 11/26/2018 Maureen M. Rodgers, ’80 ............................................................................................... 9/28/2018 Carrie H. Scott, ’43........................................................................................................ 10/12/2018 Joseph Scott, Sr., ’74..................................................................................................... 12/26/2018 Robert L. Scott, ’73 ....................................................................................................... 4/20/2017 Alma Eileen Franze Smith, ’55 ......................................................................................... 11/11/2018 Kenneth L. Smith, ’73 .................................................................................................... 2/11/2019 William Franklin Smith, Sr., ’56 ....................................................................................... 11/18/2018 Debra Jackson Spence, ’73 ............................................................................................. 11/3/2018 Tyrone P. Stinnette, ’69 and ’75 ...................................................................................... 8/1/2017 Shirley C. Swafford, ’52 .................................................................................................. 9/24/2018 Dr. Rosalyn Terborg-Penn (Former Faculty)........................................................................ 12/25/2018 Frederick Michael Tillman, ’66 ......................................................................................... 12/25/2017 Andrew Turner (Staff) ..................................................................................................... 10/31/2018 Elnora J. Wardlow, ’75 ................................................................................................... 8/20/2018 Jacqueline Williams Ware, ’89 ......................................................................................... 10/9/2018 George F. Waters, ’62 .................................................................................................... 9/13/2018 Thompkins Weaver, Jr., ’63 ............................................................................................. 2/23/2019 Georgianna Davis Wells (Former Staff).............................................................................. 12/31/2018 Dr. Awidlda Barbara Johnson Wheeler, ’68 ........................................................................ 9/6/2018 Erin Lasandra Williams, ’93............................................................................................. 8/31/2018 Dr. Jerry McDonald Williams, ’65 ..................................................................................... 3/2/2019 Lt. Col. U.S.A. Joshua O. Williams (Ret.), ’59 .................................................................. 3/14/2019 Vicki M.C. Gardine Smith Williams, ’66 ............................................................................. 3/1/2019 Sandra M. Wilmer, ’64 ................................................................................................... 9/10/2018 Isaac Willie Anthony Wilson, Jr., ’78 ................................................................................. 2/1/2019 Dr. Richard A. Windsor, ’69............................................................................................. 1/19/2019 Elliott L. Wright, Jr., ’81 ................................................................................................. 2/2/2019 Stephanie C. Young, ’94 ................................................................................................. 11/22/2018
MSU Supporters Honored at Annual Southern Maryland Alumni Chapter Event
The Southern Maryland Alumni Chapter honored distinguished supporters of MSU at the chapter’s 13th Annual Blue & Orange Scholarship Dinner Dance and Awards Program last September, at the Waldorf Jaycees Community Center in Waldorf, Maryland. The event is the major fundraising effort of the chapter, with proceeds benefiting the chapter’s scholarships for deserving Morgan students or soon-to-be Morgan students. Funds raised by the event also support the chapter’s numerous community service projects. Honorees at the event included Rachel Jones (Calvert County), LaTasha Briscoe (Charles County), the Rev. Scott Woods (St. Mary’s County), Tanya Rush (Prince George’s County), Eva Chesley (Charles County) and Shawn Coates (Alumnus of the Year).
Centennial Class of 1967: A Call to Arms
Class of 1969 Plans 50th Anniversary Reunion
The “Happy” MSU Class of 1969 kicked off its “READY TO MARCH” Campaign with a Meet and Greet in January, in preparation for its 50th Anniversary Reunion on May 17, 2019. Classmates, please call Nellie at (301) 445-1433, Jesse at (443) 286-5355 or Erica at (410) 532-1690 for more information.
Class of 1984 Gathers 35th Anniversary Contributions Attention, all 1984 grads! Please send in your contributions of $84 or more to the class for 2019. The 35th Anniversary of the Class of 1984 is quickly approaching, and the goal of the class is to raise $35,000 by Alumni Day 2019. Please make your tax-deductible donations payable to “MSU Foundation, Inc.,” and mail them to the Foundation at 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, 201 Truth Hall, Baltimore, MD 21251. Please write “Class of 1984” in the memo section to ensure your donation is credited to the class. For those who prefer to pay online, go to www.morgan.edu; click “Give to MSU”; click the “Give” button then “Give Now” then “Add Donation”; fill out the donation form, and you will be good to go for this year! For more information, please contact Karen Lewis Wright, Class Agent, Class of 1984, at karenmsu84@yahoo.com.
Class of 1989 Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary Reunion
“You ask me essentially what the difference between Morgan Then and Morgan Now is. I say to you, there is no real difference. THEN, we were confronted by challenges, we faced them, and we prevailed. NOW, we are confronted by similar challenges, so I call upon you to help this new generation face them and prevail…. This is my call to arms to you today.” So implored recently retired MSU Dean Emeritus Burney J. Hollis, Ph.D., in what he called “My swan song for the University.” Dr. Hollis was the morning messenger for the “Embrace the University Memorial Chapel” Worship Service, sponsored by Morgan’s Centennial Class of 1967, the Soulful Centennials, on Dec. 2, 2018. Dr. Hollis was also the recipient of the Soulful Centennials’ “You Make a Difference to Morgan State University Award.” Ardent supporters of efforts to renovate and restore the historic University Chapel, the Class paid to repair the Chapel’s organ, which was played during the worship service for the first time in many years. The Class also continued its support of the Chapel’s Book and Emergency Scholarship Funds with a check for $1,967. Dr. Hollis’ complete message is available upon request.
Class of 1970 Hosts ‘Throwback Party With a Purpose’ Calling all alumni from the Class of 1970, including all those who started with the class in 1966, as well as classmates’ family and friends. The class is enthusiastically gearing up for 2020 and its 50th Class Reunion! Plan to attend the “Class of 1970’s Throwback Party With a Purpose” on Sunday, June 2, 2019. For more information, please refer to the MSU Alumni Calendar on page 8, or contact the Class Agent, Reginald Thomas, at reginald.thomas@morgan.edu.
Class of 1973 Begins ‘50 by 50’ Fundraising Drive MSU Class of 1973 “Change Makers,” your class’ “50 by 50” Fundraising Drive has begun! The goal of the campaign is to raise an additional $50,000 before Jan. 1, 2023, the class’ 50th Anniversary year, for the Class of 1973 Endowment Fund. To meet this goal, the Class of 1973 Reunion Committee is asking every member of the class to pledge a gift of $100 per year for the next five years. Donations are tax-deductible. Kudos to the classmates who have already made their first donation!!! Make checks payable to “Morgan State University Foundation, Inc.,” and mail them to the Foundation at 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, 201 Truth Hall, Baltimore, MD 21251. Write “Class of 1973 Endowment” in the memo section of the check. For additional information, please contact Denise Smith at denise.smith@morgan.edu or (410) 440-0281 or Gail Robinson-Brown, ’73, at g_robinsonbrown@msn.com or (410) 961-5916.
Class of 1974 Needs Your Help to Increase Its Endowment As the Class of ’74 celebrates its 45th year in 2019, it is asking all class members to pledge their commitment to increasing the MSU Class of ’74 Endowment. This endowment was established to provide financial assistance to the MSU Foundation, Inc. in awarding scholarships to students. Make your contribution today by contacting Denise Smith at denise.smith@morgan.edu or (410) 440-0281. Check the “Morgan State University Class of 1974” Facebook page for upcoming events and meetings.
Calling ALL members of the Class of 1989! Come out and help the class celebrate its 30th Anniversary Reunion! The event will be a great opportunity to reconnect with your classmates and friends and reminisce with one another. Make your reservations NOW for the 79th Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon, which will be held on Friday, May 17, 2019 in the University Student Center’s Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom. A reception will begin at 11 a.m. followed by the luncheon at 12 noon. Tickets are $70. Call the Office of Alumni Relations at (443) 885-3015 for more information, or visit alumni.morgan.edu online and click on “EVENTS” to purchase your ticket(s). The class wants to be proud of the check it presents at the luncheon, so please consider giving an amount from $19.89 to $198 to the MSU Foundation, Inc. by visiting http://www.givetomorgan.org.
Help Us Stay Connected! Let’s stay in touch! Please let us know of any changes to your profile, including your name, address, telephone, email, etc. You may notify us by email at alumni@morgan. edu, by telephone at (443) 885-3015 or through our Online Community (www.alumni. morgan.edu). We would also love to know of any other MSU alumni who are not receiving our mailings. Please check with your MSU family members and friends, and contact us by phone or email if you hear of any missed connections. Keeping the information in our database current will ensure that you and all of our alumni will continue to receive the Morgan Magazine, the Alumni News and other Morgan publications and important email messages. In addition to housing your profile, the Alumni Online Community provides important alumni information and updates, and we encourage you to log in there on a regular basis. If you have never accessed the Online Community before, you will need a Constituent ID Number. Just reach out to us, and we will provide it to you. The site includes great features such as an alumni Business Directory, where you can post your business online and gain support from other alumni, and a chapter map, which gives you the capability to search for an MSUAA chapter in your region. It also has other useful tools that enable you to locate your classmates and friends, post pictures and class notes, and much more. Sign up TODAY, and be informed! Of course, you may also stop by the Alumni House, if you are in the area, to make your updates! We hope to hear from you, and we would love to keep you up to date on all of the great things happening here at Morgan and throughout our alumni community.
Morgan Philanthropist Receives MEAC Distinguished Alumni Award Gregory M. Jones of Morgan’s Class of 1980 was presented with the 2019 MEAC Distinguished Alumni Award, during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, in Norfolk, Va., in March. Jones holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Morgan, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Legacy Foundation of Hartford, a venture philanthropy focused on addressing disparities in education and health, and also serves as Vice President of Strategy and Planning for the Hartford Healthcare System, where his primary interest is building programs to address the social determinants of health. He is a Life Member of the MSU Alumni Association. 5
ALUMNI ON THE MOVE Former Bears defensive lineman Micale Allen, ’15, has received the Front Office Sports Rising 25 Award, presented by the social media management company Influencer (INFLCR). The award, now in its third year, honors young professionals in the sports industry who are “making an impact, advancing the industry and providing tangible results, all while being first-rate individuals.” Allen is the Player Services Coordinator with the NFL Players Association in Washington, D.C. He earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration at Morgan. Calvin Ball, Ed.D., ’08, made history this past November with his election as County Executive of Howard County, Maryland. He is the first African American to serve in the position. In his first months in office, Dr. Ball has made substantive moves to improve government services, taken major climate action, developed plans to keep Ellicott City safe and sound, assisted those affected by the federal government shutdown, and much more. Dr. Ball previously served three terms as a Howard County Council member and became the county’s youngest Council Chairman ever, when he was elected to the position in 2006. He is also a former Howard County Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. Dr. Ball earned his doctorate in higher education/higher education administration from Morgan and was a member of MSU’s faculty from 2010 to 2014. Carolyn A. Brooks, ’78, has been inducted into the African-American Credit Union Hall of Fame. She received the honor during a ceremony at the African-American Credit Union Coalition Annual Conference, in Atlanta, Georgia, last August. Brooks, a more than 38-year employee of the Social Security Administration who retired as a Deputy Division Director, has also been a member and volunteer at SecurityPlus Federal Credit Union since its birth as SSA Baltimore Federal Credit Union in 1971. She was the first black female to serve on the credit union’s Board of Directors and was also its first black female President. Brooks earned her master’s degree in mathematics from Morgan and is a Life Member of the MSU Alumni Association. “Juug Gone Wrong,” a movie produced by film and theatrical producer Tyesha Brown, ’06, was released last fall. The film, starring Clifton Powell, chronicles the life of two cousins with similar work but different methods in the pharmaceutical field, one legal and the other illegal. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Brown first majored in computer science at Morgan before earning her bachelor’s degree in telecommunications. After graduation, she traveled to Los Angeles for the USC summer film program and has lived in the city since, working in the entertainment industry on reality TV shows, writing and producing stage plays and, now, producing feature films. When she’s not in production, Brown teaches youth and others through film workshops. She has also helped hundreds of women brand their businesses through her creative branding and design company. Joan Bruner-Timmons, Ed.D., ’66, was selected as Educator of the Year for 2018 by the Gamma Alpha Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society, an international organization for key women educators. Dr. Bruner-Timmons earned her doctorate in education from Walden University in May 2018. Her dissertation, “Mathematics Teachers and Their Use of Technology via TPACK,” was selected for delivery by the International Society of the Learning Sciences, based in London, U.K. Dr. Bruner-Timmons earned her B.A. in French from Morgan. Valencia D. Clay, ’09, a middle grades humanities teacher in Harlem, New York, has been featured in the acclaimed interview series “The ShineHard Conversation,” published on the
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website of Shine Hard Family, a nonprofit organization geared toward millennials and dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap in America. In her indepth interview, Clay discusses the challenges of her childhood, the support she received from family, her dream of becoming a teacher, her thoughts on effective education of children, the importance of social consciousness and more. Clay is cofounder of the Flourishing Blossoms Society for Girls mentoring program, the author of a book about cultural consciousness and a frequent writer on social media and in her blog, ValenciasGarden.com. She earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Morgan. Cynthia Y. Moore Cobbs, ’72, Justice on the Illinois Appellate Court since January 2015, is seeking a position on the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois. Before her appointment to the appellate court, Justice Cobbs was appointed as a Circuit Court Judge in 2011 and later was elected to that seat, in 2014. Early in her legal career, she was the first African American to serve as a senior Judicial Law Clerk on the state’s highest court, serving with Supreme Court (Chief) Justice Charles E. Freeman, the first African-American judge to serve on the Court. Earlier, she was appointed Director of the Illinois Courts, in 2002, becoming the first woman and the first African American appointed by the Supreme Court to serve alongside the Court as its statewide director. Justice Cobbs serves on numerous boards, among them Lawyers Lend A Hand, a not-for-profit organization that provides mentoring services to underprivileged youth in the Chicagoland area. Justice Cobbs received her B.A. in international studies from Morgan and holds an M.S.W. from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from IIT-Chicago-Kent College of Law. The Rev. Dr. Sandra E. Conner, ’76, has received the Woman of the Year in Religious Service Award from the Alpha Zeta Chapter of her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. The award is given to a woman who exemplifies the ideal of “Finer Womanhood” through her care and concern for and empowerment of others in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The Rev. Dr. Conner has served as the Pastor of Shepherd’s Heart Missionary Baptist Church for the past six years and is a recent graduate of the Baltimore City Police Department Chaplaincy Program. To provide holistic services to others, she founded the Shepherd’s Empowerment Center, CDC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, this past February. The Rev. Dr. Conner earned her B.A. in sociology from Morgan and is a Life Member of the MSU Alumni Association. MSU professor Shirley Basfield Dunlap, ’74, has been elected into membership of the National Theatre Conference (NTC), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1925 to bring acclaimed theatre professionals together for a “think tank” on the major issues of theatre arts in the U.S. Dr. Dunlap also received a nomination last year for a 2018 Broadway World Regional Award in the category of Best Director, for her work on the play “Red Velvet,” a “bioplay” produced by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company about African-American Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge. Dr. Dunlap is Associate Professor and Coordinator of Theatre Arts in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Morgan, where she received her bachelor’s degree in theatre arts. Writer, communications engineer and longtime film noir fan Phillip Gilliam, ’81, has authored a novel about the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. The book, “Black Leather Apron,” is based on Gilliam’s meticulous research of the 19th century English crimes, which were never solved, and the story’s creation was motivated by his desire to see justice prevail and have the Ripper caught. Gilliam holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from Morgan. His novel, published on CreateSpace, is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major booksellers.
Tracy V. Green, ’92, has joined One Brooklyn Health System, in Brooklyn, New York, as Vice President of Finance. Born in Harlem, New York, and raised in Queens, Green came to Morgan as an undergraduate and earned her bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in accounting. She then attended the John Jay College at City University of New York, where she earned an M.P.A. Two of the many highlights of her outstanding professional career include three years’ work with Fortune 500 companies as a Consultant with Accenture, service as Deputy Commissioner of the Budget Office for the New York City Human Resources Administration and service as Chief Financial Officer for the Office of School Support Services at the New York City Department of Education. Laurinda E. Harper, ’97, has been awarded the “HBCU Advocate” Award for Connecting HBCUs to Students and Students to HBCUs. She received the honor last fall in recognition of her 19 years of volunteer service to The Malcolm Bernard HBCU College Fair, Inc., during the nonprofit organization’s 20th Year Anniversary Celebration. The Malcolm Bernard HBCU College Fair is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that partners with community and state agencies to introduce students to college admissions representatives from the campuses of HBCUs. Harper earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education from Morgan and an M.Ed. from Temple University. Khalilah M. Harris, J.D., Ed.D.,’98, continues to exemplify what it means to be #MorganMade. Dr. Harris was recently appointed to serve as Managing Director of K–12 Education Policy at the Center for American Progress, a leading global think tank. In addition to leading the chartering of Morgan’s most recently formed alumni chapter during Homecoming 2018, the NextGen Alumni Chapter, which consists of alumni born between 1965 and 1985, she was also confirmed by Baltimore’s Mayor and City Council in November 2018 to serve as a Commissioner on the Baltimore City Commission for Women. Gloria E. Holmes, ’56, member of Morgan’s South Jersey Alumni Chapter (SJAC), has been recognized by the City of Woodbury, New Jersey, as a “Living Legend.” Since graduating from Morgan, Holmes has been an active and contributing Woodbury resident. A teacher in the city for more than 20 years, she founded the Black History Club at Woodbury High School. In 1999, she received a special “Community Teacher” award from the Gloucester County Freeholders. Concurrent with her teaching duties, she served three years as the Director of Parks and Recreation for Woodbury. She has also provided leadership of the city’s African-American Oral History Program since its inception and now serves as its President. Holmes earned her Bachelor of Arts in history from Morgan. Veteran educators Dyesha and Triesha McCants, ’02, have self-published their first children’s book. “The Switch” follows the fictional misadventures of identical twins Tarah and Darah as they learn important lessons about life. The authors, also twins, both earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education at Morgan and went on to earn a master’s degree in early literacy from Cambridge College, in Boston. Both are now teachers in the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Public Schools, Triesha in math and Dyesha in reading, and they host an internet radio show together, the “Twin Chronicles Radio Show.” The second book by Morgan’s Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Retention, Tiffany Beth Mfume, Dr.P.H., ’93, ’99 and ’03, has been published by Rowman & Littlefield. “The College
Completion Glass—Half-Full or Half-Empty? Exploring the Value of Postsecondary Education” is Dr. Mfume’s positive response to what she views as “a growing culture of negativity toward postsecondary education.” Under Dr. Mfume’s leadership, Morgan’s Office of Student Success and Retention has gained national recognition for the University’s increase in its graduation and retention rates and other measures of student success. She earned her Bachelor of Science in biology, Master of Science in sociology and doctorate in public health from Morgan. Lt. Col. Nadine K. Nally, U.S. Army, ’00, has been appointed Commander of the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), the Vanguards, headquartered at Fort Meade, Maryland. Lt. Col. Nally has served in numerous high-level posts since earning her B.A. in English and her ROTC commission from Morgan State University. Before her current appointment, she was Team Lead for the Cyber National Mission Force’s 01 National Cyber Protection Team and, before that, Military Assistant/ Cyber Advisor to the Under Secretary of the Army. She has received numerous military decorations and awards, among them the Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Her combat service includes tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kevin M. Simon, M.D., ’08, has been named as one of Black Enterprise magazine’s “BE Modern Man 100” honorees for 2018. BE Modern Man “honors the essence, image and accomplishments of today’s man of color” and provides “features of today’s leaders, executives, creatives, students, politicians, entrepreneurs, professionals and agents of change.” In his in-depth interview on the magazine’s website, titled “Meet ‘Mr. Engagement,’ ” Dr. Simon discusses topics such as attitudes and disparities that affect the healthcare of African Americans, his mentoring of African-American males and his advocacy for criminal justice reform. Dr. Simon earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from Morgan. The latest blog by Treca Stark, Ed.D., ’17, “Is Training the Solution?” has been published on the website of the Association for Talent Development (ATD). Dr. Stark is Training Manager for the Fairfax-Falls Church (Virginia) Community Services Board and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland University College. She specializes in identifying, training, motivating and coaching talent to high levels of performance and encouraging collaboration among diverse people to form powerful high-performance teams. She earned her Doctor of Education in higher education and community college leadership from Morgan. The debut book by Lolita E. Walker, ’99, “The Intersection of You & Change,” takes readers through self-discovery, motivation, affirmations and questions that challenge them to look within and LEAP. Says one of her longtime clients, “This book is Lolita’s signature women’s retreat in print. It is simply POWERFUL!” Walker is founder of Walker & Walker Enterprises LLC, a personal and organizational change management consultancy. She earned her Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Morgan. Emmanuellé P. Willis, ’13, received the Employee Community Service Award for Most Service Locations, during Prince George’s Community College’s College Professional Development Day, last fall. The event is part of an initiative that enables the college to capture the community service contributions of employees. Willis’ award recognized her activities that benefited the community in which the college is located or the community where she resides. She received her Bachelor of Science in hospitality management from Morgan and a master’s degree in business education from North Carolina A&T State University, and is a Life Member of the Morgan State University Alumni Association.
IN THE NEWS Bears Name Tyrone Wheatley as Head Football Coach
Varsity “M” Club Honors 2018 Hall of Fame Inductees
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Edward Scott has announced the hiring of Tyrone Wheatley as the University’s head football coach. Wheatley brings an extensive coaching résumé to Morgan and has had tremendous success both as a player and a coach at the collegiate and professional levels. He comes to the Bears after serving as the running backs coach for the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars the last two seasons. As a college assistant coach, Wheatley was one of Michigan’s best recruiters. He was the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1992 while at the University of Michigan and also earned All-America honors in the 110-meter hurdles as a track athlete in 1995. He had a 10-year career in the NFL before starting his coaching career. Wheatley earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at U-M in 2005–06 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
Maryland HBCU Equity Case Returns to Mediation A federal appeals court based in Richmond, Virginia, has ordered a fourth round of mediation in the long-running lawsuit brought by advocates for Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities against the State of Maryland Higher Education Commission. The Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education brought its case to the courts in 2006, charging that the State of Maryland had engaged in discriminatory practices against Morgan State University and Maryland’s three other Historically Black Institutions (HBIs) since before the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, through unequal funding, unfair allocation of missions to the state’s public colleges and universities, and the unnecessary duplication of HBI academic programs at traditionally white institutions. U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Blake’s court ruled in 2013 that the State of Maryland continues to operate a dual and unconstitutional system of higher education and, in 2017, ordered the State to create unique, high-demand academic programs at its HBCUs. In the latest legal action, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered the parties to “proceed in all good faith to reach a mediated settlement” to “conclude no later than April 30, 2019….”
Morgan Communications Greats Honored With ‘Garden of Fame’
April Ryan
William C. Rhoden
Rochelle Stevens
Morgan’s School of Global Journalism and Communication (SGJC) and School of Architecture and Planning (SAP) have collaborated to create a commemorative space on campus honoring three outstanding graduates of Morgan communications programs. The “Garden of Fame,” located on Morgan’s North Campus outside of the Communications Building, honors broadcast journalist April Ryan, a 1989 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications; William C. Rhoden, longtime sports journalist and columnist for The New York Times (now retired), who earned his Bachelor of Science in speech communication in 1973; and retired track and field great and current businesswoman Rochelle Stevens, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications in 1989. The garden, designed by students in the SAP’s Graduate Program in Landscape Architecture, includes bright orange Plexiglas figures inscribed with the honorees’ stories. It was unveiled during a ceremony last October. DeWayne Wickham, the Dean of the SGJC, explained that the garden should remind students to “aspire to greatness and think of (themselves) as (individuals) who can achieve their dreams.”
Donations Boost Morgan’s New Food Resource Center
Six individual athletic greats and two outstanding teams were honored with induction into the Morgan State University Varsity “M” Club, Inc. Athletic Hall of Fame last October. The athletes were inducted at the club’s 27th Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony, in the MSU Student Center’s Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom. The Class of 2018 inductees are: Elvis Franks, football (1976–1979); Guy Goodwin, track and field (1980–1984); Monica Scott Haynes, volleyball (1995–1998); Yarharbrough Roberts, basketball (1979–1983); Jakaria Stewart, Volleyball (1994–1997); and Ethlyn Tate, track and field (1986–1990). The Hall of Fame Committee also honored two teams with Team of Distinction Awards: the 1975 Morgan men’s lacrosse team, which defeated #1-ranked Washington & Lee University and was one of the first HBCU lacrosse programs in NCAA history; and the 1981 Morgan women’s 4 x 220-yard track and field relay team, which set two American records. The Varsity “M” Club serves as the representative body of more than 3,000 former Morgan scholar-athletes and is committed to providing financial support to ensure a quality athletic experience for current scholar-athletes at MSU and the entire University community.
Morgan Is Allocated $39M in This Year’s Governor’s Budget MSU President David Wilson brightened the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday weekend this year with some good news delivered in an email to the Morgan community. His message was about Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s fiscal year 2020 budget for Maryland. After Morgan’s convincing case to the State, he reported, the Governor had proposed an allocation of $39 million over five years for deferred maintenance at the University, $149 million for a new Health and Human Services Building, an additional $28 million to complete Tyler Hall and a 4 percent increase in Morgan’s operating budget. In addition, allocation of funds for creation of the new $250-million Science Complex was moved to an earlier date, 2022. “Please know that all of the work we undertake at Morgan is done in a team context, so I want to express my appreciation to all of the members of our team who labor so hard day after day in service to our noble mission,” Dr. Wilson wrote. “…I am thankful that we have so many hands supporting our vision and leadership at Fair Morgan.”
Alumni Represent Morgan Well at FHFA Continuing Morgan State University’s long tradition of contributing talent to the regional workforce, two 2018 MSU graduates, Kingsley Bainson and Raigan Wheeler, served as interns at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, in Washington, D.C., last summer. Bainson’s work as an FHFA intern included supporting the efforts of the Office of Housing and Community Investments’ Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program Team. Wheeler participated in the Office of Budget and Financial Management’s fiscal year 2018 internal control assessment. During a luncheon that the agency held for its summer interns, the two Morgan alumni were recognized for their outstanding work. Bainson and Wheeler joined two other graduates of Morgan who are employees of the agency: Tanya Holt, Class of 2009, and Val Baker, Class of 1986.
Embrace-the-Chapel/Adopt-A-Service
“Food insecurity” — a lack of reliable access to affordable, nutritious food — long a problem in many communities across the U.S., has become a major problem on college campuses nationwide. Addressing the issue directly, Morgan State University launched a new Food Resource Center last fall to provide students in need with a central location to receive food resources with the use of their BEARcard student I.D. The Resource Center is housed in the Morgan Business Center and overseen by the University’s Division of Student Affairs. During the announcement event for the opening of the center, Jesse Bennett and Erica Cryor of Morgan’s Class of 1969 presented a check for $29,500 from the class to support the initiative. MSU President David Wilson also continued his support of the project by making a personal donation of $500 during the ceremony.
The Friends of the Chapel (FOC) have launched an initiative, Embrace-theChapel/Adopt-A-Service, to increase alumni attendance and participation in the worship services at the Morgan State University Memorial Chapel (formerly known as the Christian Center). Major goals of the initiative are to increase the revenue collected by the chapel through its Sunday offerings and show current students that the University Chapel is a place of comfort and worship for all Morganites. The chapel uses its offering funds to finance minor repairs and provide book scholarships and other types of assistance to students who come there seeking aid. Increasing the revenue yield will enable the chapel to provide more services and activities for Morgan students. The Friends of the Chapel invite the Morgan community — i.e., alumni chapters, sororities and fraternal organizations; classes; schools and departments; athletic teams and other groups — to participate in Embrace-the-Chapel/Adopt-AService and encourage their members, family and friends to join them in worship. It is important that these events be scheduled well in advance. Organizations and service participants are encouraged to make donations to the MSU Foundation, Inc. for the University Chapel. If your chapter or organization is interested in embracing the chapel and adopting a service, contact the Embrace-the-Chapel/Adopt-A-Service Chair, Art Lawson, via email at arthemalaw@aol.com or by phone at (202) 832-3167. 7
MSU ALUMNI CALENDAR
July 13
Alumni Events, Spring–Fall 2019
10413 Beachcrest Place, Chesterfield, VA 23832. No charge. Please contact Lynette Banks-Lightfoot, Chapter President, at (804) 512-4490 or rpac.prez17@ gmail.com for more information.
April 27
Columbia/Howard County Alumni Chapter Presents A Spring Day Party, CARIBBEAN CABARET STYLE
Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia, MD 21044, 12–4 p.m. Donation: $40. Lite fare, free set-ups, door prizes and vendors. Come out styling & profiling in your Caribbean attire!! For additional information, please call (410) 465-7253.
April 28
The Philadelphia Chapter Presents: The Morgan State University Choir in Concert
Salem Baptist Church, 2741 Woodland Ave., Abington, PA 19001. Doors open at 3 p.m. Concert begins at 4 p.m. There will be a free will offering during the concert. All proceeds will fund scholarships for Morgan students. For more information, please email msuaaphilly@gmail.com or visit www.msuaaphilly.org.
MSU Alpha Delta Alumni Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. “Embrace the Chapel” Adopt-a-Service Initiative Calling all sorors to come out and worship at the University Chapel, 11 a.m. Reception at the Alumni House immediately after the service.
May 5
Annapolis/Anne Arundel County Alumni Chapter Presents the Fifth Annual Mother’s Day Scholarship Jazz Gala
The Blue Dolphin Seafood Bar & Grill, 1166 State Route 3, South Gambrills, MD 21054, 3–7 p.m. Live music, Blue Dolphin buffet, silent auction and door prizes. For more information and tickets, please contact Mike Stump at (410) 626-0111 or johnsonstump2@yahoo.com; Enid Collison-Lee at (410) 212-3316 or piecey3@ comcast.net; or Joyce M. Brown at (410) 695-0929 or Joyce21045@verizon.net.
The Class of 1970 Participates in the “Embrace the Chapel” Adopt-A-Service Initiative Calling all Class of 1970 graduates to come out and worship together at the University Chapel, 11 a.m.
May 17
Alumni Day, University Student Center • “Welcome Back” Reception, Second Floor Lobby, 11 a.m.–12 noon • 79th Annual Alumni Awards and Class Reunion Luncheon Celebrating classes ending in “4” or “9,” MSU Student Center, Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom, 12 noon.
MSU On Campus Alumni Chapter “Alumni Happy Hour”
“The Place,” 315 W. Franklin St., Baltimore, MD 21201, 5 p.m. No cover charge; just show up.
May 18
Morgan State University 143rd Spring Commencement Hughes Stadium, Baltimore, Md., 10 a.m.
Richmond/Petersburg Alumni Chapter Presents Its Annual Spring Scholarship Dance, “Denim & Bling”
CLUB 533, 700 N. 3rd St., Richmond, VA 23219, 8 p.m.–12 midnight. BYOB, heavy hors d’oeuvres and lip sync contest. Tickets: $30. Proceeds will benefit chapter scholarships. For more information, please call (804) 512-4490.
May 19
The Class of 1969 Participates in the “Embrace the Chapel” Adopt-A-Service Initiative Calling all Class of 1969 graduates to come out and worship together at the University Chapel, 11 a.m.
June 1
South Jersey Alumni Chapter, Fifth Annual Mid-Day Line Dance
Lawnside Public School, 426 Charleston Ave., Lawnside, NJ 08045, 12–3 p.m. Cost: $10, pay at the door. For more information, please call “Candy” Adkins at (856) 417-6762 or candice.adkins@yahoo.com, or Dr. Willie H. Maddox, Jr. at (856) 468-9454 or drwillandmarge@comcast.net.
June 2
“Class of 1970 Throwback Party With a Purpose”
Calling all alumni from the Class of 1970, including all those who started with the class in 1966 as well as classmates’ family and friends. University Student Center, Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom, 4–8 p.m. It will be a fun-filled afternoon connecting with old friends, eating good food, dancing and enjoying music by Old School Productions. Attire from 1966–1970 is welcomed, and there will be prizes for the best throwback outfits! Reserve your early bird tickets at $70 each on or before May 19, 2019 and $90 after May 19. No tickets will be sold at the door. Make checks payable to “Morgan Class of 1970,” and mail to Morgan Class of 1970, P.O. Box 28095, Baltimore, MD 21239. For Class of 1970 information, contact our Class Agent, Reginald Thomas, at reginald.thomas@morgan.edu. The class is gearing up for its 50th Anniversary Reunion in 2020.
June 7
Columbia/Howard County Alumni Chapter CELEBRATES 30 YEARS With an Anniversary Black-Tie Gala
The Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, Md. Cocktail hour, 7 p.m. Doors open 8 p.m.–12 midnight. Live band and full buffet. Dinner for your delight. Special keynote speaker: Morgan graduate and newly elected Howard County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball. Ticket price: $80 on Eventbrite. For additional information, please call (301) 649-4910.
June 22
New Jersey Alumni Chapter Presents Its Annual Bus Ride to Atlantic City
A day of sun, shopping and games of chance. For more information, please contact Emma Pioche Williams at piochewiliams@yahoo.com or (862) 703-0723.
June 26
Class of 1950 Crab Feast & Shopping Trip to Queenstown, Maryland
From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $75. Make checks payable and mail to MSU Class of 1950, P.O. Box 29763, Baltimore, MD 21216-0363, or call for reservations: Helena Johnson, (410) 945-5506 or Virginia Coleman, (302) 798-1114. Deadline for reservations is Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Proceeds benefit the Class of ’50’s Endowed Scholarship Fund. The bus will leave from the Murphy Fine Arts Center, Parking Lot Y, promptly at 9 a.m.
June 29
Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Alumni Chapter at the Seventh Annual 5K Run/2K Walk, Health & Wellness, Hunger Awareness and Higher Education Community Fair The chapter is participating in partnership with the event sponsor, the Washington D.C. Metro HBCU Alumni Alliance, Inc., at Howard University, to support the chapter’s Scholarship Fund. For detailed information, please contact Morgan State Alumni Team Leader Nellie Maskal at orblue6947@gmail.com.
8
Richmond/Petersburg Alumni Chapter Presents Its Annual Bear Potluck Cookout and Membership Drive
Baltimore County Alumni Chapter Presents An Affair to Remember…A White Party
Beaumont Banquet Hall, 1010 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228, 5–9 p.m. Cost: $40. For more information, please contact Jolene Harris at (410) 624-8613.
Aug. 4
Washington D.C. Alumni Chapter 36th Annual Scholarship Crab Feast
Martin’s West, 6817 Dogwood Rd., Baltimore, MD 21244, 2–6 p.m. All you can eat steamed crabs, hot buffet, cold buffet and more. Donation is $65 per person. For ticket information, please contact Nellie Maskal at (301) 445-1433 or Charles Pollard at (202) 269-3466.
Sept. 11
Cut-Off Date for Discounted Homecoming Host Hotel Room Rates Specifically for Morgan Alumni and Friends
Sheraton Baltimore North, Towson, Md., 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Reservations may be made by calling (410) 321-7400 or Central Reservations at 1 (888) 627-7147.
Sept. 14
Southern Maryland Alumni Chapter Blue and Orange Scholarship Dinner Dance and Program
Jaycees Community Center, 3090 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601. For more information, please contact Denise-Chapman Barnes, Chapter President, at (301) 870-4787 or somerscounselor@aol.com.
Sept. 21
Class Agents Meeting Alumni House, 10 a.m. MSUAA Board of Directors Meeting Alumni House, 12 noon
Nov. 3
Columbia/Howard County Alumni Chapter Annual Scholarship Dinner Show Fundraiser, “The BodyGuard, The Musical”
Oct. 13
Annual Homecoming Candlelight Memorial Service
University Chapel, 11 a.m. Honoring recently deceased alumni, faculty, staff and students. For more information, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at (443) 885-3015.
Carl Murphy Fine Arts Center Spring—Fall 2019 Events
Visit http://www.murphyfineartscenter.org for the most current event schedule, or call (443) 885-4440.
April 26 Theatre Morgan Presents “Anne & Emmett,” a Play by Janet Cohen
Through May 4, various times
April 28 MSU Symphonic Band Concert
Gilliam Concert Hall, 6 p.m. Conducted by Melvin N. Miles, Jr.
May 11 MSU Jazz Ensemble Annual Concert Gilliam Concert Hall, 7 p.m. Directed by Melvin N. Miles, Jr.
June 15 “The Come Up Girl,” a Play by Que Jacobs Turpin-Lamb Theatre, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
June 22 Maysa in Concert – Featuring Winners of the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition
Gilliam Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 Coronation of Mr. and Miss Morgan State University Gilliam Concert Hall, 7 p.m.
Nov. 9 Dance Theatre of Harlem Gilliam Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 17 AΦA Centennial Celebration, Featuring Community Concert Choir of Baltimore, Inc.
Gilliam Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 7
The Marching Band Show Gilliam Concert Hall, 4 p.m.
Featuring the greatest hits of Whitney Houston. An evening delight at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods, Columbia, MD 21044. Doors open at 5 p.m. Buffet opens at 5:15 p.m. and closes at 6:30 p.m., sharp. Show begins at 7 p.m. Cost: $70. For ticket information, please call (410) 465-7253.
Schedule is subject to change.
Nov. 11
MSU Choir Schedule
A day of fun. Cost is $45. Bus will depart Home Depot parking lot, 8729 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133. The bus departs at 10 a.m. and returns at 8 p.m. Parking is free. To reserve your seat, please contact Jolene Harris at (410) 6248613 or Jackie Smith at (410) 917-6283.
Spring–Fall 2019
Baltimore County Alumni Chapter Presents A Veterans Day Bus Trip to MGM Grand Hotel and Casino at National Harbor
Concert with the MSUAA Philadelphia Chapter April 28, 2019, 4 p.m.
Annual Spring Concert
HOMECOMING CALENDAR Oct.11
Annual Homecoming Business Meeting
University Student Center Theatre, 11 a.m. Repast immediately after the meeting, in the ballroom.
May 5, 2019, 4 p.m., Gilliam Concert Hall, Morgan State University
International Tour of Great Britain May 19–30, 2019
Annual Christmas Concert
Dec. 15, 2019, 4 p.m., Gilliam Concert Hall, Morgan State University
Homecoming Gala
Martin’s West, 6817 Dogwood Rd., Baltimore, MD 21244. Pre-Gala Reception, 7 p.m.; General Admission, 8 p.m. For more information, please call (443) 8853535.
Oct.12
Life Members Reception
University Student Center, Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom B, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Admission is free with a Life Membership Gold Card.
Class of 1966 Annual Homecoming Breakfast
University Student Center, Room AD, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. $25 per person. For more information, please contact Jackie Rone at (410) 602-8691.
Class of 1970 Annual Homecoming Celebration
Bears 2019 Football Schedule Aug. 29
at Bowling Green University • Time TBD • Bowling Green, Ohio
Sept. 14
at James Madison University • Time TBD • Harrisonburg, Va.
Sept. 21
at Army • Time TBD • West Point, N.Y.
University Student Center, Room 210A, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. For additional information, please contact Reginald Thomas at (443) 885-3977 (office) or (410) 428-6139.
Sept. 28
School of Education and Urban Studies, Family and Consumer Science Annual Homecoming Brunch
Oct. 5
University Student Center, Room 316, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. For more information, contact Pamela Fraling at (443) 885-3355.
School of Global Journalism and Communication Annual Homecoming Brunch
North Carolina Central University* • Time TBD • Hughes Stadium at Bethune-Cookman University* • Time TBD • Daytona Beach, Fla.
Oct. 12
Delaware State University* • 1 p.m. • Hughes Stadium • Homecoming
University Student Center, Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom C., 9 a.m.–1 p.m. For more information, please contact Ruth Murray at (443) 885-3330.
Oct. 19
Class of 1969 Annual Homecoming Brunch Celebration
Oct. 26
University Student Center, Room 212, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. $30 per person. Make checks payable to “Jesse Bennett Class of 1969,” and mail before Sept. 14, 2019 to Jessie Bennett, 9811 Tollworth Circle, Baltimore, MD 21133. Memo line: “1969 Brunch.” Limited seating. Contact Jessie Bennett at (443) 286-5355 or jessejamesmm@ yahoo.com.
at South Carolina State University* • Time TBD • Orangeburg, S.C. Florida A&M University* • Time TBD • Hughes Stadium
Nov. 2
at Norfolk State University* • Time TBD • Norfolk, Va.
Office of Student Life and Development Royal Court Reception
Nov. 9
Homecoming Game
Nov. 23
12–2 p.m., Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom AE/AF.
Morgan State University Bears vs. Delaware State University Hornets, Hughes Stadium, 1 p.m.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., Alpha Delta Chapter Annual Homecoming Reception
North Carolina A&T State University* • Time TBD • Hughes Stadium at Howard University* • Time TBD • Washington, D.C.
Home games are in blue. *MEAC Opponent
University Student Center, Room 316, 1:30–7 p.m. For more information, please contact JaVale McBride at (412) 304-8513.
Calling All Morganites!!! This Homecoming Will Be the 25th Anniversary of Morgan Memories Stay tuned for additional information, as this will be the OFFICIAL ALUMNI HOMECOMING EVENT/PARTY on HOMECOMING NIGHT.
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