HU Seniors Receive Hampton Sheriff Scholarships

HU Seniors Receive Hampton Sheriff Scholarships

Jocelyn Cannon and Edward Robinson

Two Hampton University seniors received scholarships from the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute. Sheriff B.J. Roberts, of the Hampton Sheriff’s Department, awarded the $1000 scholarships to Edward Robinson and Jocelyn Cannon on June 4.

Both Robinson and Cannon are criminal justice majors and members of the Gamma Tau chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. This was Robinson’s second year receiving the scholarship. He is a veteran of the United States Army, having served for seven years before enrolling at HU in 2012.

“It (this scholarship) means a lot to me because when I embarked on the journey to attend Hampton University, I was coming straight from my overseas deployment to Afghanistan,” Robinson said. “I was really nervous about being a 29-year-old nontraditional student surrounded by young people. However, from the moment I stepped foot on campus, students, faculty, and administration embraced me. I stood out, but in a good way.”

The Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute awards scholarships annually to Virginia college students pursuing majors in the criminal justice and law enforcement fields. Interested students must submit an application with an essay and letter of recommendation from their local sheriff.

- Tori Twine

Brett Pulley of Bloomberg News Named New Dean of the HU Journalism School

Brett Pulley of Bloomberg News Named New Dean of the HU Journalism School

Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey has announced that Brett Pulley has been named dean of the HU Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. Pulley’s appointment is effective January 1, 2012.

“The Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications has gained a national reputation of preparing students in the ever-changing media industry. Mr. Pulley’s vast knowledge and experience in the journalism and digital media makes him an ideal candidate to lead the School and prepare a new generation of communicators,” Harvey said.

Pulley, business journalist and author, currently covers the media and entertainment industries at Bloomberg L.P., the global information services, news and media company. His work appears daily on the company's terminals, its website, and inside its magazines. He is a frequent commentator on Bloomberg Television.

"I am honored to return to my alma mater and work with our dynamic president Dr. Harvey,” Pulley said. “This is an exciting time in the media business and an exciting time for the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. The faculty and administration have been doing a terrific job of training and placing students in the business. With the proliferation of digital distribution platforms now driving profound changes in the media industry, we have a terrific challenge and a unique opportunity to make Hampton University one of the premier schools for journalism, communications, and digital media innovation. I am looking forward to leading the Scripps Howard School in this effort, and I'm thrilled about returning with my family to Hampton University. ”

Formerly a senior editor at Forbes Magazine, Pulley authored many cover stories for the magazine on topics ranging from the legendary Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to the entertainment giant, The Walt Disney Co. Prior to joining Forbes in 1999, Pulley spent five years at The New York Times, as a national correspondent, and as a local reporter covering politics and economic development. His work at The Times was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Pulley also spent five years as a correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, where he was based in Chicago and New York, covering the airline industry and national urban affairs.

Pulley has served as the president and chief executive officer of NewYork.com, an internet company dedicated to tourism and entertainment. In this capacity, he was responsible for a website with over 150,000 visitors and 500,000 page views each month, providing users with hotel and restaurant reservations, transportation services, sightseeing tours, and tickets to concerts, Broadway shows and sports events.

He has received numerous journalism awards, including two first place annual prizes from the National Association of Black Journalists, one in 1994 and another in 2002. Pulley has appeared frequently as a guest on television, providing commentary and insight on media and entertainment industry issues. He has made appearances on networks such as CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC, and has been called on to discuss the finances of celebrities on Entertainment Tonight, Showbiz Tonight, Inside Edition, Access Hollywood, CBS’s “48 Hours,” and NBC’s “Dateline.”

A native of Washington, D.C., Pulley has a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He is a member of the board of trustees at Hampton University, and a member of the board of The Andre Gist Memorial Scholarship Foundation.


Pulley is the author of “The Billion Dollar BET” (John Wiley & Sons, April 2004), a book that takes an in-depth look at Black Entertainment Television and its founder, Robert L. Johnson. Pulley lives in South Orange, New Jersey, with his wife, Stacey, and their two teenage daughters, Zoe and Blake.

HU Announces 2011-2012 Musical Arts Society Season

HU Announces 2011-2012 Musical Arts Society Season The Hampton University Musical Arts Society has announced its 2011-2012 events featuring the Urban Souls Dance Company, Handel’s “Messiah” Sing-a-Long and Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes. All performances will be held in Hampton University’s historic Ogden Hall, widely known for being one of the premier acoustic settings on the East Coast. Urban Souls Dance Company, Nov. 11, 2011 at 8 p.m. Based in Houston, Texas, the Urban Souls Dance Company believes in bridging gaps between the worlds of urban life and dance theater. Dedicated to the preservation and creation of historical and contemporary dances, Urban Souls celebrates cultural themes that educate and entertain.  This dance troupe provides audiences with more than just a dance performance, but a passionate “dance experience that will inspire and energize audiences.” Admission is $30 general, $15 for students. Tickets are available online throughticketmaster.com, or call the HU Convocation Center box office at (757) 728-6800, Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Call (757) 728-6508 for more information on attending a master class with Urban Souls Dance Company. HU Choirs & Orchestra present Handel’s “Messiah” Sing-A-Long, Dec. 4, 2011 at 4 p.m Celebrate the season with a “Sing-A-Long” to George Frederic Handel’s timeless holiday classic.  This timeless musical holiday classic has become a traditional event in the Hampton Roads community.  HU’s Department of Music, University Choirs and Orchestra invite audiences to join along with featured artists Shelia J. Maye, soprano; Suzanne Oberdorfer, mezzo-soprano; Michael Myers, tenor; and Walter Swann, baritone. Admission for this annual event is free; donations are appreciated. Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes April 6, 2012, at 8 p.m. Richmond-native Lonnie Liston Smith is one of contemporary music's most versatile musicians, fusing jazz, soul and funk music together.  In a career that began in the 1970s, he has played alongside leaders such as Miles Davis and Pharoah Sanders before founding his own band, the Cosmic Echoes. Admission is $25 general, $15 students.  Tickets are available online throughticketmaster.com, or call the HU Convocation Center box office at (757) 728-6800, Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information on the Hampton University Musical Arts Society visit http://mas.hamptonu.edu.

HU Choir members perform at the Kennedy Center

HU Choir members perform at the 

Kennedy Center

Christen Wilson, a member of Hampton University’s Concert and University Choirs, was a recipient of a $5,000 scholarship sponsored by the 105 Voices of History

           Two Hampton University students were chosen to participate in the 105 Voices of History HBCU National Concert Choir. Shaun Simmons, a second-year voice major from Philadelphia, Pa., and Christen Wilson, a third-year voice major from Jacksonville, Fla., were selected from among HU students to participate. The National Concert Choir’s performance was held on Sept. 18 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.

            Wilson, a member of Hampton University’s Concert and University Choirs, was a recipient of a $5,000 scholarship sponsored by the 105 Voices of History.

            “Being a part of the 105 Voices of History was an unforgettable experience,” said Wilson. “Performing at the Kennedy Center was an honor I never thought I’d have the opportunity to experience.” He was awarded on stage during the concert choir’s performance at the Kennedy Center.

The 105 Voices of History is an HBCU national initiative managed by Partners Achieving Success, an organization created to promote diversity in America’s national venues and to link students’ skills across industries. It was established in 2008 to function as the foremost purveyor of young, emerging African-American leaders, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and resource developers in the country. Performing arts are used as platforms to showcase talent, while seminars and workshops provide rising leaders with leadership, diversity, and entrepreneurial training along with health education and financial literacy education.

            HU has had a strong presence in the 105 Voice of History since its origin. In 2008, Hampton University Director of Choirs Royzell Dillard served as a regional conductor for the 105 Voices of History, helping put together the first Kennedy Center Concert. Three HU students, Elana Moore, Paris Rutledge, and Lauren Davis-Stroud; sang in the first choir, and Elana Moore emerged as the first Voice- a representative of the entire organization. From the spring of 2009 through the current season, Dillard has served as the national choir director.

            Dillard, Simmons, and Wilson attended the five-day leadership conference that began on Sept. 13 and took the dynamic trio from the Kennedy Center to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The final performance on Sept. 18 included a guest appearance by world-renowned songstress and actress Jennifer Holiday.

            “The 105 Voices of History Experience was one to remember because of the constant rehearsals and workshops that made me a better person,” said Simmons. “It was a great opportunity to network with students from across the country.”  

                                                                                             - Morgan Gusby

Google representatives recruit HU students

Google representatives recruit HU students

Google representatives ask HU students trivia questions.

Representatives from Google pose with HU students who have had internships at Google.

Representatives from Google made a visit to Hampton University on the evening of Sept. 28.  With a lot of anticipation, HU students filled every seat in the auditorium in the Science and Technology building. The Google representatives opened the information session with a series of  trivia questions about what it is like to work at their company.  Students who answered the questions correctly won a series of prizes, ranging from typical give-aways to electronic tablets.

However, the fun was not over yet.  The Google representatives surprised the students by bringing in boxed meals for everyone in the room. They later collected the resumes of those who were interested in positions, and then opened the floor for questions and comments. 

                                                                                                                         

                          - Khalid Livingston

HU Players Announce 2011-2012 Theater Season

HU Players Announce 2011-2012 Theater Season

The Hampton University Players and Company proudly presents its 2011-2012 theater season.  Described as the “Season of Family,” this year’s showcase features Broadway worthy performances with guest star Aunjanue Ellis of “The Help” appearing in one of the productions. All performances are in HU’s Armstrong Hall Little Theater

DreamGirls 
Music by Henry Krieger
Lyrics and Book by Tom Eyen
Directed by Karen Turner Ward
Oct. 12-15 shows begin at 8 p.m.
Oct. 15, 16 matinees begin at 3 p.m.
Tickets: $15 General Admission, $12 Students/Seniors

Nominated for thirteen Tony Awards and the winner of six, DreamGirls is based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R & B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson and others.  A young female singing trio from Chicago, gets their break at an amateur competition, and begins singing backup vocals for James “Thunder” Early.  However, things begin to spin out of control when their agent, Curtis Taylor, Jr., makes Deena and not Effie, the star of what will become known as “The Dreams.”  This piece of engaging theatre is captivating entertainment; you will definitely want to see it more than once!

How I Learned to Drive
By Paula Vogel
Directed by Robin Jackson Boisseau
Dec. 2, 3 shows begin at 8 p.m.
Dec. 4 matinee begins at 3 p.m.
Tickets: $10 General Admission, $8 Students/Seniors

Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive gives a light look at a very dark subject.  The audience is taken for a bumpy ride as Li’l Bit recounts her deepening relationship with her Uncle Peck, a truly caring man with one major flaw.  Her “lessons” span many years and we come to understand not only the how of their relationship, but the why as well.  The overtly theatrical method of presentation—including flashbacks, non-realistic setting, and the device of the Greek chorus—both distances the audience and draws them into the world of Li’l Bit and Uncle Peck as he instructs her not only how to drive, but how to have the strength to make adult choices in life.

A World Premiere

Through the Crack

Adapted for the stage by K. T. Price, V.J. Banks, and Charrita D. Danley

Based on the Novel by Charrita D. Danley

Original Music by K.T. Price and C Major

Thursday – Saturday, March 15-17, 2012 at 8pm

Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 3pm

Tickets: $15 General Admission -$12 Students/Seniors

Through the Crack is the heart-warming story of three African American women who are bound to one another by the common blood that flows through their veins. Vickie’s single, saved and sanctified sister, Vanessa Morgan, has her middleclass lifestyle in the city disrupted when she is forced to acknowledge what she has long suspected--that her sister is entangled in a web of drug addiction and headed swiftly for destruction. This provocative play traces the women’s journey from addiction to recovery, detailing their thoughts, feelings, and actions towards their circumstances, and exposing their individual desires to avoid being smothered by family responsibilities and relationships. The characters’ faith in God sustains them through the laughter and the tears as they learn the true meaning of unconditional love on all levels.  This production will star special guest Aunjanue Ellis. She is known for her roles in The Help, The Mentalist, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Men of Honor, Undercover Brother, Ray, New York Undercover, The Practice, Third Watch, Undercover Brother, Law and Order: Criminal Intentand Numb3rs. 

Hampton University Fashion Week
April 17-April 21
"Fashion Week" evokes thoughts of big name designers, paparazzi and flashing lights. Hampton University’s Fashion Week will be no different. The Department of Fine and Performing Arts will showcase the best student and professional designers in an intimate environment providing an experience like no other seen in this area. Workshops, seminars, lectures, and photo shoots held by industry professionals, will culminate with an exciting HU Rips the Runway Fashion Show in the Little Theatre in Armstrong Hall April 21 at 8 p.m. Contact the HU Box Office for ticket pricing and information.

For ticket information, contact the HU Box Office at (757) 727-5236 or (757) 727-5402.

HU alum inducted into National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame

Johnnie B. Booker

HU alum inducted into National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame

Atlanta, Ga.  – Hampton University Alumnus Johnnie B. Booker, Class of 1961, will be inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta located at 265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta.  

The ceremony highlights and honors deserving graduates of HBCUs for their distinguished service to their country, alma mater and excelling in their field of endeavor and/or contribution to community and society. 

The induction ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta located at 265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Ga.  

For the past 26 years, the Hall of Fame has recognized and celebrated the accomplishments of these graduates in the fields of arts and entertainment, athletics, business and industry, community service, education, faith and theology, government and law, medicine, science and lifetime achievement.

Since graduating from Hampton University with a bachelor’s of science degree in sociology, Johnnie Booker has held many prominent positions within prestigious companies, appeared in countless national publications and has received an abundant of honors and awards for her exceptional specialized contributions and accomplishments.

As the vice president of the Resolution Trust Corporation Booker created extraordinary contracting and investment opportunities for minority and women owned businesses and law firms.  She commissioned the first disparity study by a federal agency, and increased contracting fees for minority and women owned businesses from 18 percent to over 48 percent and from 3 to 26 percent for minority and women owned law firms.

She later went on to become the global director of supplier diversity at The Coca-Cola Company. Booker has exceeded the company’s goals every year. Within her first year with Coca-Cola she increased business by 50 percent with minority and women owned businesses, and exceeded the company’s goal by 27 percent.

For tickets to the ceremony and more information on the 26th Annual National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. Weekend conference, please call  404-524-1106 or visit www.nbcahof.org.

                                                                       

                           - Breana Hubbard '12

HU Students Intern at the Pentagon

HU Students Intern at the Pentagon

Dominique Waters, Raymond Nimox, and Summer Clark outside of the Pentagon.

Four Hampton University students were chosen to intern with the Department of Defense and receive hands on experience at the Pentagon this summer.  Whether it was through HU Career Center, a professor, or a flyer on the wall in their department this opportunity was presented to Summer Clark, Willie Crank Jr., Raymond Nimox, and Dominique Waters in different ways.

The students were a part of the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholars Program and the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.

“In the first few weeks of my internship, I felt I had arrived in the world of professionalism,” Waters, an applied mathematics graduate student stated. “I was not treated like an intern but rather a valued employee.”

The students took on challenging roles at the pentagon. Summer Clark served as a program analyst intern with the Building Operations Command Center of the Pentagon Building Management; Willie Crank Jr., an analyst intern; Raymond Nimox, an electrical engineer intern; and Dominique Waters, a statistical analysis intern with the Environmental Services Department of the Pentagon Building Management.

For ten weeks during the summer, these students spent 36-40 hours a week working to support building operations and configuration management staff through tasks such as; revising and reformatting operations manuals to create spreadsheets to organize data and performing statistical analysis of agency data to reveal program accomplishments, trends and activities.

“The internship gave me the opportunity to network with individuals in really high positions and helped me to expand my thinking in regards to the methods used to attain my goals,” Clark, a senior business management major attributed.

The Washington Center Program provides an integrated academic and work experience to prepare college students for lives of achievement and civic engagement and the SMART program was designed to increase the number of civilian analysts, scientists and engineers working within the Department of Defense. Student stipends ranged from $5000 to $8300.

“My advice to incoming students is to be flexible and resourceful. Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Crank, a senior mathematics major said. “Hampton prepared me well for the professional world.”

All four students have made plans to further their education with hopes of working for the government in the near future. Nimox, a senior electrical engineering major, looks forward to working directly with the pentagon after graduation.

-Breana Hubbard '12

Principal Deputy Director of NIH meets with HU researchers

Principal Deputy Director of NIH meets with HU researchers

Principal Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak met with 20 Hampton University researchers on March 23. Tabak also toured the research facilities on campus and visited the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI).

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Tabak our campus and present to him some of the significant research projects underway at Hampton University,” said HU President Dr. William R. Harvey. “We look forward to partnering with the National Institutes of Health on more of our science-driven projects.”

Tabak heard presentations from researchers and discussed opportunities and partnerships that are available at the National Institutes of Health. Several researchers including, Dr. Meena Katdare, scientific director of the Hampton University Skin of Color Institute (HUSCI), told Tabak about the ongoing research programs at HU. Currently, there is a scarcity of research that specifically addresses the structural and functional differences as well as the disparities in disease incidence and prevalence amongst individuals from various ethnic/racial groups. It is this lack of hard research data that the HUSCRI is addressing.

Tabak asked the researchers pointed questions about their research projects and discussed different funding avenues at NIH. He also commended the HU researchers for their quantitative research efforts.

Dr. Cynthia Keppel, scientific and technical director of HUPTI, spoke to Tabak about the basic and clinical cancer research being conducted at the Institute. HUPTI will host sustained forefront scientific initiatives in cancer research at many levels – including comparative trails in prostate cancer, pioneering initiatives in breast cancer, radiation biology integration, health disparities research, instrumentation and modeling and simulation. Tabak ended his Hampton University visit with a tour of HUPTI, the largest free-standing proton therapy institute in the world.

“With continued support from the NIH, Hampton University researchers will continue to make great strides in conducting scientific research and developing technologies that address major global heath issues,” Harvey said.

HU Named a Top Research Institution

Hampton University students conduct research in the genomics lab and a chemistry lab.

HU Named a Top Research Institution

Hampton University has been named a top research institution in the 2010 Washington Monthly College Guide. HU is listed in the top 10 ranking in the Research Category for master’s universities. Hampton University is also listed No. 32 in the Top 50 Master’s Universities category out of more than 500 such institutions surveyed.

“Hampton University’s faculty and students are conducting cutting-edge research that addresses major health issues and global climate change,” said HU President Dr. William R. Harvey. “The newly opened Hampton University Proton Institute, the largest of its kind in the world, demonstrates our dedication to research and treatment that will ease human suffering and save lives.”

The Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI) held its grand opening on Oct. 21, 2010. Along with state-of-the-art proton therapy treatment, cancer research will also be conducted at the $225 million innovative biomedical cancer facility. HUPTI in conjunction with Eastern Virginia Medical School and the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute is developing BioEclipse, the first biologically optimized treatment-planning system for proton therapy cancer treatment.

Hampton University has led all Virginia top-tiered research universities in winning competitive federal research contracts. Hampton University has received over $140 million in climate research funding from NASA for the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite mission. AIM is the first satellite dedicated to the study of noctilucent (NLC) or "night-shining" clouds. Hampton University is the first Historically Black College and University to have total mission responsibility for a NASA satellite mission.

Washington Monthly bases its rankings on “how well individual colleges and universities were meeting their public obligations in the areas of social mobility, research, and service.” The research score for master’s universities is based on the total amount of an institutions research spending and the number of undergraduate alumni who have gone on to receive a Ph.D. in any subject, relative to the size of the institution.

HU NASA Satellite Mission to Study ‘Night Shining’ Clouds Extended

HU NASA Satellite Mission to Study ‘Night Shining’ Clouds Extended AIM satellite has provided the first global-scale, full-season view of strange, iridescent polar clouds that form 50 miles above Earth’s surface. Hampton University graduate students who work on the AIM mission. Noctilucent (NLC) or 'night-shining'. Dr. James Russell, AIM principal investigator. Hampton, VA - Hampton University recently received a contract increase of $10.2 million from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to extend the NASA Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite mission for three more years. The HU led NASA AIM is the first satellite dedicated to the study of these noctilucent (NLC) or "night-shining" clouds. They are called "night shining" clouds by observers on the ground because their high altitude allows them to continue reflecting sunlight after the sun has set below the horizon. They form a spectacular silvery blue display visible well into the night. “Hampton University is leading the way in innovative research,” said HU president Dr. William R. Harvey. “This mission is improving scientists’ understanding of global change.” AIM has provided a global-scale view of the clouds over five complete cloud seasons covering both poles and has documented for the first time the entire complex life cycle of NLCs. The satellite is providing an unprecedented horizontal resolution of 3 miles by 3 miles. The AIM baseline mission ended May 31, 2009 but NASA has approved extending the satellite program through September 2012. The funding increase adds to the research base of the HU Center for Atmospheric Sciences, which supports 17 faculty, research professors and post-doctoral employees, 9 support staff and 10 graduate students. "The AIM mission has changed our view of noctilucent clouds,” said AIM Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the HU Center for Atmospheric Sciences Dr. James Russell. "The measurements show the brightest clouds ever observed with more variability and structure than expected, signifying a greater sensitivity to the environment in which the clouds form. They also show that the cloud season turns on and off like a “geophysical light bulb” going from no clouds to 100 percent cloud presence in a matter of days and vice versa at the end of the season." The bright "night-shining" clouds are seen by the spacecraft's instruments regularly, starting in late May and lasting until late August in the northern hemisphere and late November to late February in the southern hemisphere. The AIM satellite reports daily observations of the clouds at all longitudes and over a broad latitude range extending from 60 to 85 degrees. The clouds are made of ice crystals formed when water vapor condenses onto dust particles in the brutal cold of this region, at temperatures around minus 210 to minus 235 degrees Fahrenheit. One potential and plausible explanation for the changes observed is that temperatures where the clouds form are becoming colder with time due to carbon dioxide build-up resulting from human activities, Carbon dioxide increases near the Earth surface cause global warming, but at 50 miles altitude, the opposite occurs. Increasing methane in the atmosphere is another possible contributing factor because it reacts with oxygen to form water vapor that is needed to form the clouds. Both gases have been increasing in the atmosphere since the early 1900s. AIM is a NASA-funded SMall EXplorers (SMEX) mission managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The mission is led by Russell and the Project Data Center is managed at the HU Center for Atmospheric Sciences. HU undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of atmospheric science, computer science and engineering all work on the mission. The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), University of Colorado, Boulder, and the Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University built instruments. LASP also manages the AIM mission and controls satellite flight operations. GATS, Inc., Newport News, Va. led the ground data system development and leads the SOFIE instrument activities. Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, Va., designed, manufac tured, and tested the AIM spacecraft, and provided the Pegasus launch vehicle. For more information on the AIM mission visit aim.hamptonu.edu.

HU Professor Named Deputy Assistant Sec., Air Force

HU Professor Appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force

Hampton, VA - President Barack Obama has appointed Associate Director of the Hampton University William R. Harvey Leadership Institute and Honors College Dr. Jarris L. Taylor, Jr. as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Strategic Diversity Integration, Washington, D.C. He will begin his appointment on Dec. 14.

“Judging Dr. Taylor from his work here at Hampton University, he will do a fine job with the Department of the Air Force,” said HU President Dr. William R. Harvey. “We wish Dr. Taylor well as he transitions from service to Hampton to service to our nation.”

Taylor will be responsible for the formulation and execution of long-range, strategic plans for Strategic Diversity Integration. In addition to strategic planning, other principal duties and responsibilities will include program development and evaluation, resource planning and management, representation and liaison, and human resource management.

“It was truly a honor and humbling experience to be nominated for such a prestigious position,” said Taylor. “As a 20-year retiree of the United States Air Force, to be called to duty once again to serve our country is a blessing and privilege.”

As associate director of the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute and Honors College Taylor’s duties include the following: teaching honors and leadership courses and seminars, program management, coordinating and planning events, fundraising, grant writing, and assisting students to obtain employment, fellowships, grants, internships, scholarships, and prepare them for graduate school and life after HU.

“My past four years at my ‘Home by the Sea’ have been a wonderful experience, mentoring and teaching our leaders of the 21st century,” said Taylor. “I immensely thank Dr. William Harvey and Dr. Freddye Davy, director of Honors College, for giving me the opportunity to serve my alma mater.”

In March 1985, Taylor joined the United States Air Force to serve his country. His assignments included: Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Miss.; Camp O’Donnell, Republic of the Philippines; Pil Sung Range, Korea; Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colo.; Grissom Air Force Base, Bunker Hill, Ind.; and Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, Va. Taylor received the bachelor’s of arts degree from Hampton University in 1995 and the master’s degree in education and human development, 1997, and the Ed.D. in higher education administration from the George Washington University in 2005.

Taylor retired from the United States Air Force in May 2005. Upon retirement he immediately pursued his career goal of working in academia and served as an adjunct professor at Regent University and at Norfolk State University. He was appointed associate director at Hampton University in 2006.

HU President Issues Statement Regarding Miss HU

To:The Hampton University Community From:William R. Harvey President Date:October 20, 2009 Re:Miss Hampton University Miss Nikole Churchill, a beautiful, talented, articulate, and personable young lady, was elected by a panel of judges to reign as Miss Hampton University for the 2009-10 academic year. Miss Churchill was born in Hawaii, the same state as our founder, General Samuel Chapman Armstrong, and President Barack Obama. She is of mixed heritage with her mother being Italian and her father from the island of Guam. With her being the first non-African American to hold the title of Miss Hampton University, it drew a lot of attention to the University, some of which was negative. Just two days after being named Miss Hampton, Nikole, feeling unaccepted by some of her peers, wrote a letter to President Barack Obama to share her dismay. The letter was posted on the internet, and it quickly circulated nationally and internationally. She later issued a statement to the campus community informing them that she "took the comments of a few and blew it out of proportion.” After explaining what prompted her letter to President Obama and apologizing for doing so in a meeting with over 100 of the student leaders, they not only accepted her apology, but gave her an ovation and pledged to work with her. Even though it turned out not to be as major an issue as some tried to make it, the media has continued the controversy. As President of Hampton University, I firmly disagree with any who believe that Miss Hampton should only be an African American. Many of us have fought white racism all of our lives, and therefore will not allow black racism (even from a few) to rear its ugly head at Hampton. It is very clear to me that the vast majority of our students, including the SGA President and other elected leaders are very supportive of Miss Churchill and her selection as Miss Hampton University. At the Homecoming Week Fashion Show, the students in attendance also gave her a standing ovation. Throughout our history, Hampton has been a beacon of light for equality, freedom, and tolerance. Starting with our founder, who was white, the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students, and administration have prompted and promoted diversity. General Armstrong opened a school for black recently freed slaves. Some ten years later, he pioneered Native-American education in this country. Additionally, he traveled widely inviting students from many, many countries to be a part of the Hampton family. General Armstrong used to say often that Hampton students "girdled the world." Therefore, we have always had people of all races and colors associated with us as students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Currently, Hampton University has 29 countries represented in the student body and 45 countries represented among the faculty. Having embraced diversity as part of our history and legacy, Hampton University has been able to establish itself not only as an historically black university of exceptional note, but also welcomes and embraces students and their cultures from around the world. That is our history, legacy, and mission. And we shall continue to be true to those ideals. Miss Nikole Churchill will make a wonderful Miss Hampton University. She will represent the students and the University in an exemplary fashion. I urge all Hamptonians to support her enthusiastically and not participate in any media sensationalism regarding this issue.

# HU #