Dillard Notables of 2021: #6 Maximizing the Media
One of the goals I had when arriving at Dillard was to make sure we expanded our brand. One of the best ways to do that is to have experts in your community who can do media. Prospective students and parents want to know if your faculty is distinguished. They also want to see what your product looks like (your students). Dillard has a strong contingent of faculty, staff, students and alumni that are regulars in the media as experts.
We weren’t a regular presence on local media in 2012. But nine years later you will see Dillard folks locally, nationally and even internationally on a regular basis. It is one of the areas I hope the university continues — promoting those experts on our campus because they have insights that others can benefit from.
Here are some of the people that made the news in 2021. Make sure you follow them on social media as well.
Dr. Robert Collins, Professor, Urban Studies (Twitter: @DrRobertCollins )
Dr. Collins is our most active media personality. His commentaries can be seen locally on Fox news, on digital shows like Roland Martin Unfiltered, and internationally on A News out of Turkey.
He recently did analysis for the New Orleans elections and Fox News here in New Orleans won their time slot for election coverage, so hopefully he will do many more election nights.
Dr. Ashraf Esmail, professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for Racial Justice (Twitter: @AshrafE55197636 )
Dr. Esmail is another high-profile expert. With issues of crime prominent in major cities like New Orleans, having someone like Dr. Esmail is important for news coverage.
Attorney Michael Jones, alumnus and chair of the Board of Trustees
Mike Jones is possibly our most historic newsmaker this year. Mike was involved in a 12-year court case to provide funding for the public HBCUs in Maryland. The case was finally settled, and the schools awarded $577 million this year. It generated national news and interest from public HBCUs in other states. Here is some of the coverage. Mike made more news later (which I’ll cover in a later notable).
Dr. Ruth Simmons, president, Prairie View A&M University
There is never an instance when Dr. Simmons does not mention Dillard, and because she does a great deal of media, she generates a significant amount of press for her alma mater.
Dr. Eva Baham, professor of history
Professor Baham is a first-rate historian and awesome professor. It would be great if local news used her more to provide context for stories, especially related to New Orleans and Louisiana.
Zella Palmer, food scholar and director of the Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture (Twitter: @maisonzella & @Dillard_RAY )
Zella Palmer continues to be widely sought after on issues related to African American food culture and studies. She has really built out a strong program at Dillard.
Attorney Blair Condoll, professor of political science
In recent years, Professor Condoll has begun to emerge as a new voice to provide commentary on legal related issues.
Dr. Yolanda Page, vice president for academic affairs (Twitter: @ywpage )
The election of the first Black woman as vice president of the United States created an opportunity for Black women across the nation to provide commentary. Dr. Page was interviewed by local media as well as penned an op-ed about Vice President Harris.
Dr. Marc Barnes, vice president for institutional advancement (Twitter: @MarcABarnes )
Dr. Barnes has been able to give commentary on a number of current issues, providing perspective not only as a higher education perspective but as a New Orleanian. But he also is a trusted voice on issues related to fund raising.
Dr. Kristen Broady, Brookings Institute (Twitter: @KEBroady )
Dr. Broady was our dean of the college of business before being scooped up by Brookings, but she kept a relationship with Dillard through this calendar year. She has done a number of media appearances, both locally and nationally.
Professor Cortheal Clark, professor of theater
Professor Clark is a jack of all trades and has great mastery of the technical aspects of theater. He was key in arranging for Grammy winner PJ Morton to serve as an artist in residence at Dillard for 2021 and 2022.
Dr. Corey Hebert, medical director (Twitter: @DrCHebertWDSU )
If you want to know about COVID, listen to Corey Hebert. The hardest working doctor on TV, he can be seen locally on WDSU, and nationally on Black News Channel as well as MSNBC. Known as “the doctor for the people” he gives great analysis.
Dr. Kiki Barnes, Athletic Director (Twitter: @KikiBakerBarnes )
Dr. Barnes is always one of our top ambassadors and newsmakers. She does exceptionally well with the media. Of our administrators, Kiki generates the most media coverage.
Nick Harris, director of community and church relations (Twitter: @DillardOCR )
Nick Harris is connected to all key neighborhood associations as well as the religious community. He has played a critical role making connections during the pandemic.
David Page, vice president for enrollment management (Twitter: @ddpage03 )
David is very involved nationally with the financial aid professional associations, having served in leadership roles. Here is an article in Newsweek where he was interviewed.
Dr. Gary Clark, professor of political science (Twitter: @DrGaryClark )
Dr. Clark has a long history studying Louisiana politics and occasionally provides analysis for media outlets. He was interviewed for this piece in the New Orleans Advocate.
Rev. Herbert Brisbon, University Chaplain (Twitter: @lawlesschaplain )
Rev. Brisbon is relatively new to Dillard but starting to become established as a media source nationally. He was interviewed for this significant piece.
Malik Bartholomew, University library (Twitter: @KnowNOLATours )
Malik, a Dillard alum, owns and operates a tour company focusing on Black history in New Orleans. Fox 8 featured him in one of the ads. He has also done interviews with publications such as the New York Times.
New York Times, Black History Continued
The New York Times reached out to us to film the beginning of one of their virtual events. In addition to interviewing several theater students, the Negro National Anthem was performed by Lucky Daye and The Soul Rebels. Our theater and film students helped produced the piece.
Spencer Jones ’23 (Twitter: @spencerjones384 )
Spencer has become a media star (and having 18,000 followers on Twitter does not hurt). He has done some great interviews this year.
Traelon Rodgers, ’21 (Twitter: @traelontyler )
Traelon, a 3-year graduate and now a first-year law student at the University of California at Berkeley, did a number of interviews. His status as SGA president as well as a national leader with the NAACP prepared him to continue as an effective commentator.
As an aside, on this piece by NewsNation about HBCUs both Traelon and I participated.
Elijah Pittman, ’22 (Twitter: @Elijah_Isaiah20 )
Elijah took a chance on a program that looked for HBCU students to encourage people to vote. It was a fantastic interview.
Jada Sayles ’22 (Twitter: @JadaSayles )
Jada got national attention in 2020 for leading protests in Madison, Wisconsin. She has continued to give interviews related to justice issues.
The Prez
