Bleu Notes from July 2020
- Taylor Gentry ’22 shared her coronavirus story with the news in Nashville. She offers great information for us to consider.
- In the wake of nation’s challenges around issues of race and policing, the Dillard board, with particular support by our chair Dillard alum Michael Jones ’82, is launching a Center on Racial Justice. As you may know, Attorney Jones is the lead attorney fighting for the Maryland HBCUs to receive equitable funding from the state. He has enlisted Attorney Kristen Clarke, President & Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (and frequent MSNBC commentator) to serve on the advisor board. Our own Dr. Ashraf Esmail will serve as director, who in his own right has become a local expert on issues of crime and justice. More details to come.
- The Walker’s Legacy Foundation awarded $7,000 in emergency grants to nearly 60 displaced university students. 11 of them were Dillard students. I want to thank my friend Natalie Madeira Cofield, founder, who included our students. Walker’s Legacy was founded in 2009 as a quarterly women in business lecture series designed to inspire women of all ages to walk into their professional passion and purpose.
- The Kulman Law Firm recently announced that they are starting a $10,000 annual scholarship for a Dillard graduate who pursues law school in Louisiana.
- Dillard University College of Nursing gladly announces the College of Nursing Scholarship Program (CNSP) established through a $40,000 grant from the Methodist Health System Foundation (MSHF). The grant authored by Dr. Sharon Hutchinson, Dean of Nursing, is designed to provide scholarship support for nursing majors entering the clinical component of the nursing major fall 2020. An anticipated grant outcome is an increase in the diversity of the metro New Orleans area nursing workforce. Applications for the CNSP Scholarship will be released at the August 2020 College of Nursing Assembly and White Coat Ceremony.
IN THE NEWS:
- Dr. Ashraf Esmail conducted several interviews:
- On Fox News to discuss Trump’s New Police Reform Executive Order
- On WWLTV discussing some of the social changes we’ve witnessed since the killing of George Floyd
- On WWLTV morning show breaking down US race relations on Juneteenth and discussing the opening of the Dillard University Center for Racial Justice.
- Lumina featured several Dillard students (Khaleyn Jackson, Paulina Webber and Jamaar Robinson) in this piece.
- Dr. Robert Collins discussed the potential renaming of Jeff Davis Highway for Dr. Norman Francis.
- Dr. Kristen Broady is listed as one of “19 Black economists to celebrate and know, this Juneteenth and beyond” by Fanta Traore in Fortune Magazine. She is the only HBCU scholar on the list!
- Dr. Broady was also cited in a New York Times article, “Black Families Were Hit Hard by the Pandemic. The Effects on Children May Be Lasting.”
- Dr. Eva Baham was interviewed by Fox 8 New Orleans regarding the significance of Juneteenth.
- Dr. Kristen Broady was quoted in the Washington Post story, “How the protest movement could help HBCUs through higher education’s financial crisis.”
- She was also interviewed by Fox 8: “Blackout Day 2020 sees boost for black-owned businesses”
- Dr. Robert Collins was quoted in the article “’Text me!’ Mayor’s new direct-text service is run by her campaign, raising questions about how data is being used”
- He was interviewed regarding the All Live Matter graffiti by the Metairie teacher
And he was interviewed for the article, “Trump Loyalists Dig In Heels in Louisiana Parish”
- Our board chair Michael Jones has an interesting editorial “Kirkland’s First Black Partner Garners Inspiration in the Fight for Racial Justice From the Civil War Battlefield” (note being the first Black partner of a major national law firm as well).
- His brother Hersy Jones (also an attorney) wrote a piece for the Shreveport Times about the confederate monuments there: “Generals would have opposed Confederate Monument”
- Dr. Corey Hebert has been a constant presence, including this MSNBC segment, “Doctor on COVID-19: Don’t choose BBQ and beer over your life”
- And one of his WDSU segments “Ask Dr. Hebert: Data drives decisions on New Orleans restrictions”
KUDOS:
- Amira Bell ’19 will attend the University of California Hastings School of Law this fall as a California Scholar, which includes full tuition and fees, $20,000 a year living stipend, and guaranteed housing on campus.
- Aniya Rosse’ 22 junior nursing major selected by Southeastern Region of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) and the Health Equity Committee “to become a member of the 2020–2021 Class of the AHA Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Scholars Program. The goal of the HBCU Scholars Program is to support the development of minority scientists and healthcare professionals trained to impact our understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease.”
- Dr. Katrina Kellum, Dr. Peter Fos, & Dr. Peggy Honore published the study, “Mindfulness Intervention to Decrease Post-Disaster Anxiety” in Nursing & Primary Care. 2020; 4(3), 1–6.
- Dr. Kiki Barnes published the article, “Diversity and Inclusion is Everybody’s Business” in the NACDA Athletics Administration June 2020 Issue (Page 82).
- The Law Offices of Bradford and Barthel announced that alumna Farai Alves ’02, managing partner and conflict resolution strategist at the firm’s Oakland office, became the firm’s first chief diversity officer as of June 15.
- Dr. Amy Lesen is a co-author of “Gender and resilience in Gulf Coast communities: Risk and protective factors following a technological disaster” with Estilla S. Lightfoot and Regardt J. Ferreira in an upcoming issue of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.
- Dr. Richard Igwike received funding for a 2020 PwC Digital Enablement proposal by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
- Julia Tippen ’23 was one of five North Texas students majoring in communications awarded scholarships by the Press Club of Dallas Foundation Scholarship Fund.
- Alumna Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes was named president of York College CUNY.
- Toiya Smith ’21 received an internship with Forbes/iCon which includes career-focused coaching by Rosecrans Ventures.
- Jada Sayles ’22 was accepted to the LSAC Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars program at the University of Alabama for July.
- Here is a profile of alumnus Dr. Stanley Coleman, co-founder of Minority Voices Theatre in Eugene, Oregon.
- Dr. Wen Zhang produced another virtual choir performance, “For the Beauty of the Earth”
- Dr. Jonathan Wright was a co-presenter on “Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in Career Services” at the Louisiana Association of Colleges and Employers Virtual Summer Conference
- Dr. Rona Tyger was a panelist for the HBCU Student Town Hall on Distance Learning, July 10th.
- Dr. Ashraf Esmail was invited to speak at the Peace and Police Reform Discussion to discuss The Center for Racial Justice on July 11th.
- Dr. Nazar Mustafa presented at the 2020 Academy of International Business conference which was held virtually. He serves as an associate editor of the “Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research.”
- Congratulations to Joshua Hines ’22 and Aniya Rosse ’22 who were selected as American Heart Association HBCU Scholars selected for 2020–2021.
- Dr. Kristen Broady was a panelist on “The Future of Work and Creating Wealth in Minority Communities” by the Urban League of Louisiana.
