Black student journalists given more opportunities in workforce by Open Campus Media’s HBCU Student Reporting Network 

By Sheyla Fairley

According to an article, HBCU Student Reporting Network was launched by Open Campus Media, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to higher education, back in January to “give Black student journalists more training and opportunities to take into the workforce.” The program has allowed the students to “examine topics at their campuses in a broader context, such as issues facing rural HBCUs.”

“They’re much more seasoned than they were in January, and now they’re using that going out into the job market. It will help them in a way they may not have gotten working for the student newspaper… So it’s been wonderful for them to get an opportunity to address some topics in higher education that they may not have been able to broach otherwise,” said Wesley Wright, the program’s assistant director. “A lot of times, the students are the only consistent presence in their communities, so it’s better for the community if they know how to report on their institution.”

Read the full article, here.

Morehouse alum launches business to help keep Black athletes from going broke

By Sheyla Fairley

Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA, alumnus Rashaun Williams has launched Antimatter Business Partners (ABP) to help Black professional athletes manage and expand their wealth.

As stated in a release, Williams created the firm to provide athletes opportunities to “invest and increase financial literacy” in order for them to “invest like the owners.” Additionally, he noted “financial advisors could contribute to poor money management for athletes — whether intended or not.”

“The vast majority of financial advisors are not bad people, but many of them are misdiagnosing athletes and entertainers,” explained Williams. “They are giving athletes the same strategy as they give someone that works until they are 65 and spend $50K a year.”

Three N.C. A&T ROTC cadets selected for Georgetown University’s Security Studies Summer Institute

By Sheyla Fairley

North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, Air Force ROTC cadets Camryn Agee, A’Thalia Hinton and Christen Johnson were given a chance to know what it means to work in the field of security studies after spending a week at Georgetown University’s Security Studies Summer Institute in Washington, DC.

According to an article, the goal of the program is to help “expand the diversity of the national security field by increasing awareness of and access to graduate training and career opportunities in security-related fields for historically Black college and university (HBCU) students.”

“It was cool meeting so many high-ranking people in those respective fields that I could see myself in the future,” said Agee. “Not only that but being able to see other African Americans in these positions is showing us ‘Hey, you can do this, too. I’ve done it.’”

For more information, read the full article here.

Partnership between former HBCU football player Donald Driver and Delaware State University 

By Sheyla Fairley

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS, graduate Donald Driver has announced a partnership between his company, Driven Elite, and the athletic department of Delaware State University, Dover, DE.

“I am excited to bring this award-winning training experience to Delaware State University. I am especially excited because Delaware State is an HBCU, which is something I care deeply about. I’m an HBCU graduate, and I earned my way into the NFL with minimal resources available to me. I’m striving to provide a broad platform for the DESU student-athletes to have stellar collegiate experiences by providing top-notch performance training, stress and mental health management training, specialized nutrition programming, and holistic wellness.” said Driver in a statement.

GSU offers first Ph.D. criminology program in state of Louisiana  

By Sheyla Fairley

Grambling State University, Grambling, LA, has become the first HBCU in the state of Louisiana to offer a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology and Justice Administration.

The Ph.D. program will focus on the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior while examining the structure of the criminal justice system, its procedures and processes, and how they can work to provide a fair system for all. In addition, Minorities & Social Injustice Policy and Justice Policy & Administration are the two concentrations within the degree.

Applications are currently open to those who have completed their master’s degree, with the program scheduled to begin this fall semester.

For more details, read the full article here.