National

A Top HBCU Honor for FAMU President

Published

9 years ago

July 24, 2015

Holding up their awards are Dr. Brian Seymour, research director of the Edward Waters Center for the Prevention of Health Disparities, and Dr. Francis Ikeokwu, chair of the EWC Department of Business Administration (Courtesy of Edward Waters College)

Mangum, Edward Waters research director among honorees at Hampton

Special to the NNPA from the Florida Courier

Two of Florida’s Black universities were honored last week at the annual AARP HBCU Awards ceremony held at Hampton University.

Dr. Elmira Mangum, president of Florida A&M University, was named the “Female President of the Year.’’

Edward Waters College’s Department of Business Administration won “Best Business Program” and Dr. Brian Seymour, research director for the EWC Center for the Prevention of Health Disparities, was named “Best Male Faculty of the Year.

Health care study

Seymour conducted a pilot study that found major variations in allergic antibodies among the African-American populations living in Jacksonville. The results could lead to improved health care and eventually reduce the high mortality rate among Blacks with allergic disorders.

“Edward Waters College’s two 2015 HBCU Awards and the institution’s total six nominations represent the unprecedented ways our faculty, staff and students have excelled. It also demonstrates the college’s commitment to become a national leader for innovative teaching and learning to better educate the next generation oi global leaders,” said Dr. Nathaniel Glover, president of Edward Waters College (EWC), who was nominated for male president of the year.

Howard University President Wayne Frederick was named top male president.

The EWC Department of Business Administration partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to offer a free entrepreneurship certificate program to the community in an effort to increase the number of minority business entrepreneurs. The seven-week program provided a complete overview of the business skills needed to develop a full, applicable knowledge base of the start-up and business operations process.

How finalists chosen

FAMU led all HBCUs with 14 nominations, followed by host Hampton with 10. A record 430 nominations from universities, alumni and students were submitted for the 2015 edition of the awards.

Who reviewed them

Finalists were selected based on the impact of the nominees’ achievement on institutional development, and for media coverage earned for the university by way of the nominee.

According to HBCU Digest, nominees were selected based on their “… impact and achievement in the fields of leadership, arts, athletics, research and community engagement in the previous academic year.”

The nominations were submitted and reviewed by a host of individuals close to the HBCU community including students, alumni, PR officials and journalists covering historically Black colleges and universities. Votes are counted in each category via secret ballot of 13 HBCU presidents and the Center for HBCU Media Advocacy (CHMA) board members.

HBCU Digest is billed as the “national news resource of record for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).”

Mangum on honor

The honor for Mangum follows her recent selection by U.S. Secretary Tom Vilsack to serve on the USDA Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC), which is responsible for helping to shape our international agricultural trade policy.

“I accept this award on behalf of the entire FAMU community,” said Mangum at the July 10 program.

“The award represents the hard work and dedication of our staff, faculty, Board of Trustees, alumni, and supporters. Without them, I would not be here tonight receiving this award.”

Other FAMU awardees included Cecka Rose Green, who created the university’s 10 for $10 giving campaign, and three-time MEAC track and field championship-winning head coach Darlene Moore.

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.

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Commentary

Commentary: Republican Votes Are Threatening American Democracy

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We needed to know the blunt truth. The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2024

Oakland Post

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening. That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

By Emil Guillermo

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We needed to know the blunt truth.

The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

And to save it will require all hands on deck.

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening.

That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

No man is above the law? To the majority of his supporters, it seems Trump is.

It’s an anti-democracy loyalty that has spread like a political virus.

No matter what he does, Trump’s their guy. Trump received 51% of caucus-goers votes to beat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who garnered 21.2%, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who got 19.1%.

The Asian flash in the pan Vivek Ramaswamy finished way behind and dropped out. Perhaps to get in the VP line. Don’t count on it.

According to CNN’s entrance polls, when caucus-goers were asked if they were a part of the “MAGA movement,” nearly half — 46% — said yes. More revealing: “Do you think Biden legitimately won in 2020?”

Only 29% said “yes.”

That means an overwhelming 66% said “no,” thus showing the deep roots in Iowa of the “Big Lie,” the belief in a falsehood that Trump was a victim of election theft.

Even more revealing and posing a direct threat to our democracy was the question of whether Trump was fit for the presidency, even if convicted of a crime.

Sixty-five percent said “yes.”

Who says that about anyone of color indicted on 91 criminal felony counts?

Would a BIPOC executive found liable for business fraud in civil court be given a pass?

How about a BIPOC person found liable for sexual assault?

Iowans have debased the phrase, “no man is above the law.” It’s a mindset that would vote in an American dictatorship.

Compare Iowa with voters in Asia last weekend. Taiwan rejected threats from authoritarian Beijing and elected pro-democracy Taiwanese vice president Lai Ching-te as its new president.

Meanwhile, in our country, which supposedly knows a thing or two about democracy, the Iowa caucuses show how Americans feel about authoritarianism.

Some Americans actually like it even more than the Constitution allows.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a mini-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1.