In the News

Morgan Graduate’s Film, ‘Jingle Jangle,’ Was a Holiday Hit

Writer, director, producer and Morgan graduate David E. Talbert, Class of 1989, has added to his long list of popular, creative successes, with “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey,” a film released by Netflix last December to critical acclaim and a hugely positive audience response. Talbert worked as a talk show host for Morgan’s WEAA Radio, and wrote his first script, en route to receiving his bachelor’s degree in marketing at the University. Since his first stage production in 1991, Talbert has written and produced 14 hit plays and three feature films and has penned three novels. Set in a Victorian village and featuring a star-studded cast composed mainly of Black actors, “Jingle Jangle” is the story of a once-joyful toymaker who finds redemption through his granddaughter.

Class of ’91 Member Leads Capitol Police

Yogananda D. Pittman of Morgan’s Class of 1991 has been appointed Acting Chief of Police for the United States Capitol Police (USCP), the law enforcement agency responsible for protecting the members, employees, visitors and facilities of the United States Congress. Chief Pittman also continues to serve as the USCP Assistant Chief of Police for Protective and Intelligence Operations, a position she took in 2019. Chief Pittman joined the Capitol Police in 2001 and has achieved a number of firsts during her rise up the ranks, becoming one of the first African-American female USCP Captains, the first woman to hold the rank of Assistant Chief and, now, the first woman and first African American to head the agency. Last October, Pittman received the 2020 Women in Federal Law Enforcement’s (WIFLE’s) Outstanding Advocate for Women in Federal Law Enforcement award. She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Morgan. Morgan Entrepreneur Wins Big on ‘Shark Tank’

A company headed by Morgan “This gives us the resources that graduate Duane (“Myko”) Cheers was a allow us to position our brand against big success on the Feb. 26, 2021 episode any competitor, where I know we will win of ABC-TV’s Shark Tank. Everything on the flavor and quality,” said Cheers, Legendary, a new, plant-based meat who received his Bachelor of Science in company, netted a deal with businessman marketing from Morgan in 2009. “For me, Mark Cuban on the long-running, popular this investment is extremely personal. It is show, which gives entrepreneurs the validation of my ‘never give up’ philosophy. opportunity to pitch their products or I heard ‘no’ 1,000,001 times over the services to a panel of investors. Cuban years, but this one ‘yes’ moment changes offered $300,000 for a 22% stake in the everything.” company to Cheers, who is Everything Everything Legendary had more good Legendary’s CEO, and his partners, fortune immediately after the show’s airing, company President Danita Claytor (also an as the company sold $250,000 worth of HBCU graduate) and Chef Jumoke Jackson. burgers within 24 hours. Stanley Black & Decker Taps MSU Alumnus as Head of Diversity

Stanley Black & Decker has named Morgan graduate Joe Simms as the company’s Chief Diversity Officer, responsible for championing a broad approach to diversity, equity and inclusion to accelerate company performance, optimize organizational culture and enhance transparency. Simms is also serving as co-chair of the company’s African Ancestry Network and contributed to the company’s “10 Commitments to Racial Equity and Social Justice.” Stanley Black & Decker is a $14-billion/year industrial organization with 61,000 employees in more than 60 countries. Simms comes to his new role after 18 months as Vice President of Human Resources for the company’s $10-billion/year Global Tools & Storage business, the largest in the world. He began his career at the company in 2013 as Vice President of Human Resources for U.S. Sales & Marketing. Before joining Stanley Black & Decker, he worked in a variety of human resource leadership roles at PepsiCo. Simms earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Morgan in 1993 and holds a Master of Arts in labor and industrial relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Nontraditional Students…Opportunities for You at MSU!

The Morgan State University Center for Continuing and Professional Studies offers a program designed to assist individuals, especially parents, in obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Learn more about the Improved Opportunities for Parents (IOP) Program, and view the new video about the program, by entering “IOP” in the search field of MSU’s website, www. morgan.edu!

The Center for Continuing and Professional Studies also offers online personal enrichment and career training courses that cover a wide variety of topics. Consider using this time to gain professional or personal skills from home. Search for “Online Career Training” or “Online Personal Enrichment” on www.morgan.edu for more information.

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 Morgan Magazine, 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 on 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.

UP YOUR WORK WEAR GAME Appearance is the first impression a student makes when sitting for an interview. It tells the interviewer how serious the candidate is about the job or internship. At The Career Closet, we believe that every person should have a good suit! Buying a new suit doesn’t start in the stores. It starts with your goals. Morgan’s Center for Career Development seeks to equip students with valuable resources they can take into the future. Toward this end, Earlene Goodson, ’82, partnered with the MSU On-Campus Alumni Chapter and Target to open The Career Closet. The Closet provides professional career clothing for all current Morgan students for occasions such as interviews, career fairs, internships, networking receptions and other career-related events. The Closet is generously supported by donations from Morgan alumni, community organizations, students and local employers. Come visit us! You may also schedule an appointment at (443) 885-3110. morgan.edu/careerdevelopment