Campus News - Page 32

JSU partners with Getty Images and Ancestry to preserve archives digitally

By Therese Apel JACKSON – Jackson State UniversitY is partnering with Getty Images, a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace, and Ancestry, the global leader in family history, to preserve its archival materials dating back to 1877, the university’s founding year. The new initiative looks to preserve the records, documents, and photographic archives of Historically Black Colleges and Universities as part of Getty Images’ HBCU Grants Program, making the materials widely available and accessible on the Ancestry platform. Through physical media such as yearbooks, student records, newsletters, photographs, and school catalogs, JSU’s rich history has been carefully preserved over the

Howard University Engineering Professors Recognized as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the World’s Largest Scientific Society

Written by Hayya Shah The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recently announced its distinguished 2025 Class of AAAS fellows. Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture professors Danda B. Rawat, Ph.D. and Sonya Smith, Ph.D. are honored as fellows among 449 scientists, engineers, and innovators from around the world. The fellowship is a lifetime recognition that honors a distinct cadre of high achievers across disciplines, including research, teaching, and technology; administration in academia, industry, and government; and excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public. In a tradition stretching back to 1874, these individuals are elected annually by the AAAS Council and

South Carolina State funding targeted by Republican lawmakers over Pamela Evette decision

  South Carolina State students made their voices heard regarding Lt. Governor Pamela Evette’s intention to serve as commencement speaker. Now, Republican lawmakers are threatening to punish the university for exercising their right to free speech. Columbia TV station WIS 10 reported on a letter circulating from a group of Republican lawmakers demanding that $5 million dollars in funding for a potential SCSU convocation center be removed from the state budget. Rep. Melissa Oremus, R-Aiken, and other lawmakers said the money should be excluded after SC State canceled Evette’s commencement speech following student protests. “This issue is not about whether South Carolina

HBCU president touts fundraising boom on Bloomberg

Grambling State University is getting national recognition once again. President Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr. recently took the spotlight on Bloomberg Businessweek, bringing the voice of HBCUs to one of the nation’s most influential business platforms. During the appearance, Lemelle discussed the transformative power of higher education, the value of investing in HBCUs, and how Grambling State continues to prepare students to lead in business, technology, public service, and beyond. The national feature serves as another milestone for the university as it continues to elevate its profile under Lemelle’s leadership. With enrollment growth, innovative partnerships, and a renewed focus on student outcomes, Grambling State

The Continuing Sad Saga of Saint Augustine’s University

Following several years of declining enrollment, accreditation turmoil, and financial challenges, Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) in Raleigh, North Carolina, filed for bankruptcy in April. At that time, the HBCU also decided to end its ongoing legal battle regarding its status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The university’s recent May 2026 graduates were the last students to receive accredited degrees from the institution. In a recent bankruptcy meeting, SAU’s board members were questioned on the university’s current financial state, which includes more than $8 million in outstanding funds to various federal agencies, according to a report

Lil Baby Pays Off Spelman Grad’s Student Loans

A Spelman College graduate just went viral for the best reason — and Lil Baby deserves every bit of the praise coming his way. Janay Lesley, also known as Nay Speaks, is a first-generation college graduate, aspiring rapper, and sickle cell disease advocate who recently revealed that Atlanta rap superstar Lil Baby paid off her student loan balance of $24,074.97 in full. The moment sent the internet into a frenzy — but what made the story truly special was the timeline behind it. Lesley first sent Lil Baby a direct message asking for help on April 8, 2022 — when

Spelman College Names Dr. Ayanna Howard Its New President — and the Future Looks Bright

Spelman College just made a move that the entire HBCU world is talking about. On Friday June 5, 2026, the Spelman College Board of Trustees announced Dr. Ayanna Howard as the new Spelman College president — the 12th person to lead the nation’s top-ranked HBCU. A world-renowned roboticist, AI pioneer, entrepreneur, and former NASA engineer, Howard will officially step into the role on August 1, 2026. She succeeds Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, a Spelman alumna who has led the college for the past 18 months following the departure of President Helene Gayle in late 2024. A Résumé Built for This

HBCU Funding Fight Puts First-Generation Students at Risk

 With a 2.0 high school GPA, Xavier Hickman thought college was unattainable. But mentors in the TRIO Upward Bound Program challenged him to not limit himself. A low GPA didn’t have to block him from going to the next level. Hickman’s family didn’t have much, and the program was designed for students in exactly that situation, helping them prepare for college and, in his case, introducing him to Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis’ only historically Black college. Yet, that chance at a higher education was nearly ripped away earlier this spring. The 19-year-old, now a rising junior at Harris-Stowe, was

Howard University Commencement Draws Attention

A proud Howard moment meets a public reaction Howard University commencement became one of the most talked-about HBCU moments of the week after Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser received a mixed reaction during her keynote address at the university’s 158th Commencement Convocation. The ceremony took place Saturday, May 9, on The Yard, where Howard University celebrated the Class of 2026 and conferred more than 3,100 degrees during Mother’s Day weekend. The day included Howard’s historic Long Walk, proud families, university leaders, and a graduating class stepping into the next phase of its journey. But the national conversation quickly shifted after parts of the crowd

Grambling State President Martin Lemelle, One Of The Youngest HBCU Presidents Ever, Is Reimagining What An HBCU Can Be

Grambling State University is a long-standing institution with a young leader. When Martin Lemelle took office as Grambling’s 11th president in 2024, he was the second-youngest president in the school’s history and the youngest head of any HBCU at the time. As Grambling celebrates a milestone in its history, Lemelle, who holds a doctorate in business administration, sat down with Blavity to discuss the university’s academic and economic achievements, the school’s reaction to new technology and opportunities, and the roles that Grambling and other HBCUs play in their communities. Embracing technology, expanding financial security “I think ‘inflection point’ needs a broader term now,

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