The Black Scholars Index » Undergraduate

We love the ‘Welcome to Howard’ {c/o of 2014} Episodes on Youtube

Leshell Hatley — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:47:10 +0000

Shout-Out to “The Voice of HU” Jae Murphy and “The Fresh Prince of HU” Chase B.

Thanks for taking the time to welcome all the future scholars at Howard University.

Start here, with Episode #1:

[HBCU Presidents] Dr. Michelle Howard-Vital, Cheney University

Leshell Hatley — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:29:41 +0000

Dr. Michelle R. Howard-Vital is the Pesident of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the very first HBCU (Historically Black College/University).

“Dr. Howard-Vital has had a long, distinguished career in higher education,” said Board of Governors Chairman Kenneth M. Jarin. “The experience she brings to Cheyney will be invaluable as she prepares to lead the University into the future.”

Dr. Howard-Vital was named interim chancellor at Winston-Salem in July 2006. Previously, she was associate vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She also spent two years at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, as dean of University College and associate vice president for academic programs. She began her academic career in 1975 as an English instructor at Central YMCA Community College in Chicago.

PASSHE Chancellor Dr. Judy G. Hample also cited Dr. Howard-Vital’s varied experiences as a teacher and administrator, calling her “a talented leader who will serve both Cheyney University and the Commonwealth well.”

“With 30 years in higher education, Dr. Howard-Vital is well-suited to lead America’s oldest historically black institution of higher education,” said Robert W. Bogle, chairman of Cheyney University ’s Council of Trustees. “Her academic experience and distinguished service to education make her ideal to guide Cheyney University into the future.”

Dr. Howard-Vital said she is looking forward to assuming the Cheyney presidency, promising to “roll up my sleeves and get to work ASAP.”

“I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and students to support the teaching-learning environment at Cheyney University,” she said.

As interim chancellor at Winston-Salem State, Dr. Howard-Vital is responsible for providing overall leadership to the 5,600-student public university. She also assists in economic development efforts in the region by serving as the University’s representative on numerous county and city organizations.

Education

Dr. Howard-Vital earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in English education from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Teaching & Leadership

While at Central YMCA Community College, Dr. Howard-Vital taught courses in composition, rhetoric, research writing and black literature. She also served as the college’s coordinator of prior learning and director of the College Without Walls program during her six-year tenure. She was named project coordinator of the early outreach program at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1981, a position she held for three years.

Dr. Howard-Vital was named dean of adult and continuing education of Loop College, now Harold Washington College, in Chicago in 1984, and, two years later, dean of continuing education and non-traditional programs at Chicago State University. She also served as an assistant professor of curriculum and instruction during her four years at Chicago State.

She moved to Edinboro University in 1991, spending two years there before being named vice chancellor for public service and continuing studies and associate provost at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, a position she remained in for 10 years. In that position she designed numerous non-credit, instructional programs and corporate training programs to meet specific community needs. She also led the Digital Communities Project, an experiment in international distance education with Japanese universities.

As an associate vice president at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Howard-Vital provided leadership for postsecondary, nonpublic institutions seeking licensure to offer degree programs in North Carolina. She also coordinated the review of undergraduate degree programs at 16 University of North Carolina campuses and served as the state coordinator for the Academic Common Market program. She served as the liaison for K-16 efforts as a member of the North Carolina State Board of Education and reviewed doctoral programs in appropriate disciplines.

Publications & Grants

Dr. Howard-Vital has participated in state, regional and national meetings and conferences and has published dozens of articles primarily related to teaching and learning. She served as the principal or co-principal investigator on numerous grants while at UNC-Wilmington, and, in 2001, received the Million Dollar Club award for bringing in more than $1 million in grants to the University.

Service

She is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the American Educational Research Association, Association of Black Women in Higher Education, American Association of Higher Education and the National University Continuing Education Association. She also serves on the Specialty Studies Board of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). She has served on such civic and community organizations as the Cape Fear American Red Cross.

—

Information from http://www.cheyneyfoundation.org/howardvital.html

Taylor Yarborough: Freshman Spelman Student & Tavis Smiley Foundation Honoree

Leshell Hatley — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:53:38 +0000

Taylor Yarborough, a freshman, pre-med/biology major at Spelman, was among 100 young adults honored recently by the Tavis Smiley Foundation for being an example of positive youth engagement, volunteerism, community service and leadership. The New Orleans native was presented with a $5,000 scholarship at the Foundation’s annual Salute to Youth Leadership Benefit and Auction in Los Angeles, CA.

Taylor is also currently serving a three year term as a member of the Tavis Smiley Foundation’s National Youth Advisory Council, and has received several scholarships including, but not limited to, the UNCF/NAACP Agness Jones scholarship and the NextGen Scholarship.

A talented writer and Spelman Glee Club member, Taylor graduated with honors from Lusher Charter School in New Orleans, where she also received a certificate of artistry in creative writing. She is a contributing poet for the Guernica Online Magazine of Art and Politics, and contributing author for Hope, Change and Obama (NLS Publishing).

The daughter of Courtney Nelson and Gason Nelson, a personal chef for New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, Taylor is considering a career in sports medicine, and is currently a trainer for the Morehouse College football team.

Tavis Smiley Foundation’s Youth to Leader (2008)

Information obtained from Spelman’s website.

BSI mourns Jasmin Lynn, Spelman Student who died this morning

Leshell Hatley — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:58:19 +0000

Jasmin Lynn

The Black Scholars Index mourns the death of Jasmin Lynn, a Spelman University student who was killed earlier this morning by a stray bullet. Below is a message for Spelman’s President….

“I am very sorry to inform you of the death of a Spelman student, Jasmine Lynn C’2012.Words cannot express the sadness I feel about the tragic loss of Jasmine’s life, the result of senseless violence. Jasmine was an innocent bystander struck by gunfire early this morning in the vicinity of the CAU Commons. On behalf of the entire Spelman College community, I want to express our deepest sympathy to Jasmine’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time of grief. The Spelman College flag will be flown at half-mast today in Jasmine’s honor. We will share information regarding funeral services as soon as it is available.”

With deep sorrow,
Beverly Daniel Tatum
http://speakupspelman.blogspot.com/2009/09/spelman-college-mourns-death-of.html

Jonecia Keels: Computer Science Junior @ Spelman, One to watch!

Leshell Hatley — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:54:48 +0000

Keels with the inspiration for her iPhone App

SpelBots co-captain Jonecia Keels, C’2011 at Spelman College, dreams of starting a computer software company that creates revolutionary applications for mobile and computing platforms. The dual-degree engineering major is well on her way to making that dream come true.

Keels has created the hugely popular iPhone app, iDex, for gamers of the Pokemon game franchise. According to Keels, iDex gets downloaded 1,500 times a day worldwide. Since its release, the Pokemon app remains on the Top 25 list of more than 2,600 apps in the reference category. One of 25 students chosen to participate in the Cocoa Camp at Apple to create iPhone apps, Keels is currently working on her second iPhone app while creating updates to iDex. “What started as a fun little side project for me turned into this ridiculously successful worldwide application,” she said. “The best part is receiving emails from people around the world who appreciate my creation.”

Left to right: Jonecia, Dr. Andrew Williams, Jazmin, Mimi, Tajiana

The Spelbots, the undergraduate Robotics Team at Spelman University lead by Dr. Andrew Williams (now chair of the Computer Science Department), won many awards and competitions over the last several years. They are the first all-women and African American undergraduate team to compete in the International RoboCup Four-Legged Soccer Competition in Osaka, Japan (2005) and Bremen, Germany (2006). The won 2nd place in 2007 and tied for 1st in 2009.
Watch recaps of these last two competitions below:

2009: 1st Place Tie

2007: 2nd Place ‘Passing Challenge’