Marybeth GasmanUniversity of Pennsylvania professor Marybeth Gasman explores issues of access and retention for students and faculty of color and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, among other things.OpinionThinking About Justice in Little Rock: Philander Smith CollegeRecently I was invited to address the faculty and staff at Philander Smith College, a small Black college in Little Rock, Arkansas. The institution’s president, Walter Kimbrough, asked me to talk about the link between fundraising and academic excellence. As a result of a fantastic visit with the Philander Smith community, I wanted to write […]August 23, 2008OpinionIn the World of HBCUs, Research Must Inform PracticeQuite often students and others ask me why I do research — What’s the purpose? Does it make change? Am I doing research to fill journals and books that very few people read? The answer for me and most of my faculty colleagues is “No”! Most of us became faculty members because we wanted to […]August 5, 2008OpinionShould HBCUs take a Page from Obama’s Notebook on fundraising? Yes!Liberals and conservatives alike have raved about Barack Obama’s innovative approach to fundraising. In recent months, I have seen article after article lauding Obama’s campaign for using technology in new ways and paying attention to the small donor. After careful review of the Obama campaign’s strategies, I’m convinced that Black colleges and universities should follow […]July 29, 2008OpinionHBCUs Here and in South Africa — Common Missions, Common ChallengesI just returned from leading a study abroad program in South Africa, which focused on the country’s higher education system, history, and culture. This was my fifth visit to the country and, just as in the past, I learned immensely from the experience. What is always most interesting about taking students to South Africa is watching […]July 21, 2008OpinionAccreditation of Black Colleges: Future Success?On Thursday, June 26, 2008, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) removed Florida A & M University (FAMU) from its list of institutions on accreditation probation. The historically Black institution seems primed for success, with President James Ammons including all of the campus constituents in his plan for the future of the institution. Since Black colleges […]June 30, 2008OpinionAn HBCU Learns the Benefits of Appreciating its AlumniAccording to Diverse’s May 1 feature “A Fundraising Blueprint” and most recently Tuesday’s Chronicle of Higher Education daily update, Howard University raised $275 million in a five-year fundraising campaign. Howard’s success surpassed the institution’s expectations and solidified its role as a leader in Black college fundraising. Interestingly, Howard University trustees originally set the goal for […]June 23, 2008OpinionPh.d.’s in African American Studies at HBCUs: A Response to Where are They?This week Diverse: Issues in Higher Education ran a story entitled “Black Colleges Still Lacking Ph.D. African American Studies Program.” The article rightly told the story of the development and expansion of doctoral programs in African American studies at historically White institutions and chastised Black colleges for having no programs — none at all. According to […]June 18, 2008OpinionNew Books Related To Black CollegesRecently, there have been several new books published related to historically Black colleges and universities. I suggest that you check them out. They include: Joy Ann Williamson’s Radicalizing the Ebony Tower: Black Colleges and the Black Freedom Struggle in Mississippi (New York: Teachers Colleges Press, 2008). Joy is a dynamic professor at the University of […]June 15, 2008Opinion“Best and Brightest” Seek a Nurturing Environment at HBCUsThis past week Diverse: Issues in Higher Education ran a story about a 14-year old kid who scored a 30 on the ACT. Despite being courted by Stanford, Harvard, Yale and Princeton, Polite Stewart Jr., decided to attend a Black college – Southern University at Baton Rouge. Interestingly, when asked why he chose to […]June 15, 2008OpinionBarack Obama – On the Shoulders of the Nation’s Black Colleges?As I sat proudly with my 9-year old daughter last night and watched Barack Obama become the first Black nominee of a major political party, I couldn’t help but think about the role of our nation’s Black colleges in shaping and building the Black middle class. Even though Obama did not attend a Black college, […]June 3, 2008Previous PagePage 10 of 11Next Page
