Dec 27, 2021
Dillard Notables of 2021: #5 Distinctions and Designations
I am always excited to share the accomplishments of the Dillard community, both collectively and individually. I think of myself as the 2 Bigg MC of higher education, MC Hammer’s famous hype man. When so many people use social media to complain, attack, and express outrage at even the smallest thing, I really make an effort to use that space to spread the good news.
Wouldn’t social media be different if people congratulated as much as they condemned?
Anyway, this year we’ve had a number of very cool accomplishments. Here are some examples.
Dillard is #5 for overall social mobility (New York Times) and #7 for HBCUs for social mobility success rates (UNCF).
This article shares that “But look deeper at that oasis and you will see an engine of upward mobility.
Among nearly 600 selective private colleges, The New York Times has ranked Dillard as fifth in its overall mobility index, the likelihood that a student from a low-income family moved up two or more income quintiles as an adult.” This is #5 for all private colleges, not just HBCUs.
In the November 2021 UNCF report titled, “HBCUs Transforming Generations: Social Mobility Outcomes for HBCU Alumni,” they measured success rate
“…defined as the fraction of students from the bottom two quintiles that earn their way into the top three quintiles, which is also referred to as the top 60% of the income distribution. Institutions with high success rates are the most successful at moving students from the lowest socioeconomic
tiers to a higher tier.”
We were 7th in the group of 11 HBCUs with success rates above the national average. This may be the 3rd or 4th study in the past few years which ranks us high for social mobility.
Study.com ranked biology 9th and film 13th
These days it seems that everyone has rankings. Unlike the US News rankings which are heavily dependent on wealth and privilege, there are others that have a broader view of institutions. These two were a nice surprise this year.
Dillard is 18th among HBCUs for patents produced since 1978
Maybe doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when you look at the list you realize that every school ahead of us offer graduate programs. So, we’re first among baccalaureate degree HBCUs. This is solely due to the strength of our physics program.
Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy was named Louisiana Poet Laureate!
This is a tremendous honor. The two-year appointment will provide opportunities for Dr. Saloy to speak around the state. Definitely a great opportunity as an ambassador for Dillard. Here are several articles for more information.
Alumnus Traelon Rodgers ’21 closed out his college career unlike anyone I have ever seen.
He was one of only 10 students selected as Marshall-Motley scholars by the NAACP legal defense fund, a unique program to build the next generation of civil rights attorneys.
He won the 2 highest undergraduate awards in Kappa Alpha Psi.
He was also the youngest person to be elected a national NAACP officer.
Relatedly, the Beta Gamma chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, here at Dillard, received the Edward Giles Irvin award, the highest award available to an undergraduate chapter chartered by the Fraternity for exemplary service to the community. This means they were the best small chapter in the nation
Dillard artist in residence, R&B singer-songwriter and producer, PJ Morton, won a Grammy Award last night for his first-ever inspirational music album, Gospel According to PJ, in the category of Best Gospel Album.
Alumna and Prairie View A&M University President Dr. Ruth J. Simmons received the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston-Galveston Humanitarian of the Year award
Alumnus and Trustee Ayo Davis was named president of Disney branded television. This was a really big deal!
Alumnus and Trustee Judge Carl E. Stewart received the prestigious 2021 American Inns of Court A. Sherman Christensen Award which recognizes those who have provided exceptional leadership to the American Inns of Court movement.
Alumnus E’Jaaz Mason ’14 was named as a Gambit 40 Under 40 award recipient
Dr. Kiki Barnes was named the Nell Jackson Nike Executive of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports.
Staff member and alumnus Malik Bartholomew was featured in New Orleans City Business as one of the 25 most influential people in the profession on tourism and hospitality.
Chad Fuselier ’22 won the Alpha Phi Alpha National College Brother of the Year with the highest GPA, and the Beta Phi Chapter won the National Chapter with the highest GPA at the recent convention in Indianapolis.
This chapter was won state, regional and national awards EVERY year I have been here. It really has been a dynasty for Alpha undergraduate chapters.
Jerika Edwards ‘23 and Spencer Jones ‘23 were selected as 2021 White House Initiative on HBCU Scholars. Dillard is one of just a few HBCUs that have had scholars every year of this program.
William Shelton’s ’22 play YELLOW DANCER was accepted by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc. and received a Staged Reading in Dallas, Texas on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021.
Dr. Roland Bullard received the Southern Association of College Student Affairs (SACSA) Howard Davis Sr. Award which recognizes outstanding service rendered to SACSA by a member of the Association.
Computer science professor Dennis Sigur was named a 2021 NOLA Tech 30 Honoree!
Dr. Courtney Williams was recognized as one of Gambit’s Frontline People Awards winners.
Finally, Denzel Washington’s 2015 commencement speech was listed as the 2nd most watched commencement speech of all time.
If you’re paying attention, you should notice I omitted one person, and four teams. They get their own notable all by themselves at #4…
The Prez
