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Educators and Working Journalists Explore Best Practices in Global Media and Journalism Instruction and Programs

 (HAMPTON, VA.) – As part of a global partnership with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), the Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications today hosted a 10- member Georgia (Eastern Europe) delegation of journalists and faculty to learn, evaluate and discuss higher education’s best practices in media education programs in the U.S. “We are honored to collaborate with ICFJ to support a global free press and examine world-class journalism values, ethics – and educational practices,” said Julia A. Wilson, SHSJC dean. “It is admirable that these passionate journalists and educators are demonstrating their dedication and commitment to building international journalism programs in various universities throughout the country,” she continued. “It’s our pleasure here at the SHSJC to support these educators in any way that we can. We look forward to a long-lasting exchange of ideas and information for our mutual support and growth. “Our mission at the International Center for Journalists is to build the expertise and storytelling skills of reporters worldwide,” said Sher Kasimov, program director of ICFJ, who accompanied the group and served as a language translator. “Partnerships with schools like the Scripps Howard School are vital and valuable in executing this important mission.” As part of the visit, the delegation visited select journalism and strategic communications classes, toured the school, and discussed best practices for developing curriculum in media instruction with SHSJC professors. The visit ended with an ongoing commitment from both parties to continue closely communicating and working together toward faculty and student exchange programs. The group also will visit the American University School of Communication in Wash., D.C., and Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. ### Georgian cohort with Scripps Howard School Dean and faculty 2 About The International Center for Journalists: The ICFJ works at the nexus of journalism and technology, building the expertise and storytelling skills of reporters worldwide. Through ICFJ’s work, journalists are enhancing news coverage and connecting more deeply with their audiences. This is resulting in an increased flow of reliable, trustworthy news – a cornerstone of healthy democracies. The ICFJ says: “We believe that better journalism leads to better lives.” For more information please visit: https://www.icfj.org/. About the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications: Founded in 2002, the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications emphasizes excellence and innovation, while adhering to core industry standards and ethical principles. SHSJC is equipped with a professional television studio and control room, a live, FM radio station (WHOV 88.1 MHz), with digital streaming to the Internet, high-tech classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art Promethean boards and a 150-seat stadium-style media auditorium. SHSJC students and alumni have worked in internship positions and launched media careers with top-ranked organizations such as Google, NPR, Radio One, The Washington Post, Essence Magazine, Time Magazine, ESPN, USA Today, Bloomberg News, Ogilvy, Burson-Marsteller, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and many more. For more information please visit: https://home.hamptonu.edu/shsjc/. About Hampton University: Hampton University is a comprehensive institution of higher education, dedicated to promoting learning, character building and preparing promising students for positions of leadership and service. Its curriculum emphasis is scientific and professional, with a strong liberal arts undergirding. In carrying out its mission, the university requires all that it does to be of the highest quality. A historically Black institution, Hampton University is committed to multiculturalism. The university serves students from diverse national, cultural and economic backgrounds. Research and public service are integral parts of Hampton’s mission. To enhance scholarship and discovery, the faculty is engaged in writing, research and grantsmanship. In achieving its mission, Hampton offers exemplary programs and opportunities which enable students, faculty and staff to grow, develop and contribute to society in a productive and useful manner. For more information please visit: https://home.hamptonu.edu/. ###

Global Agency Partner and Thought Leader in Branding and Business Transformation Tapped to Become Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hampton, VA (March 29, 2023):         Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams announced today the appointment of Richelle D. Payne, Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing, leading efforts to advance the institution’s national reputation for academic and community excellence.

Payne is an industry leader with more than 30 years of experience in public relations, change management, brand and reputation management, and crisis preparedness. In 2022, she was named to the Philadelphia Titan 100 and received the Top Woman in PR-Change Maker award from PR News. She is president emeritus of the National Black Public Relations Society, Inc., a member of the national board of directors for Diversity Action Alliance, strategic adviser to Public Relations Society of America, and member of the National Association of Black Journalists. 

Payne will serve on President Williams’ Senior Leadership Team and lead all marketing and communications for the academic and research enterprise, athletics, and alumni affairs. She is charged with redefining and executing on the university’s strategic communications and marketing plan, overseeing the university’s primary communications channels while identifying marketing strategies to help advance student success, strengthen alumni support, and move the brand forward.

“I am thrilled to welcome Richelle back to her Home by the Sea,” said Williams. “She is a highly accomplished communications professional, with experience in reputation management, a track record of progressive responsibility in agency leadership and management, and more than a decade immersed in the issues and challenges of higher education. She has a stellar reputation as an honest and accountable leader, with a proven ability to motivate and support her teams. In many conversations during the search, Richelle impressed Hampton colleagues with her warmth, insight, and thoughtful approach to complex issues. I very much look forward to working with her in the coming years.”

She previously served as partner and senior director of brand management for Ascendant Group, a branding and book marketing agency in the Greater Philadelphia area. At Ascendant, she was instrumental in expanding the agency’s practice areas and growth across offices in four states and global teams in the Netherlands, Canada, the UAE, and Cairo, ultimately leading the firm to excel to seven-plus figures, a feat achieved by only 1.7% of Black-owned companies.

A former journalist, college English instructor, and serial entrepreneur, Payne has provided counsel and coaching on the behavioral changes that help senior business leaders grow their reputation and revenue. She has worked across a variety of industries for such clients as The Obama Foundation, T.D. Jakes Enterprises, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Pittsburgh Public Schools, actor, activist and author Dondre Whitfield, NBA athletes-turned-executives, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, LPL Financial, and Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA).

“It is an honor to be invited to join Hampton at a time of exciting growth and opportunity,” Payne said. “President Williams’ vision for delivering the #1 student experience in America along with the institution’s rich history, culture of innovation and collaboration, and strong curriculum are extraordinary. I am excited to help share the inspiring stories of Hampton students, faculty, and alumni on the world stage. And, as an alumna, I am happy to return home.”

Payne has received industry recognition from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), American Corporate Video, Dalton Pen Company, and the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals (HRBMP). She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Hampton University, a master’s degree in Corporate Communication from Duquesne University, and the CCP (certified communications professional) designation from the AWC Matrix Foundation.

ABOUT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

Hampton University is a comprehensive institution of higher education. For more than 150 years, it has been dedicated to the promotion of learning, building of character, and preparation of promising students for positions of leadership and service. It emphasizes a scientific and professional curriculum with a strong liberal arts undergirding. In carrying out its mission, the University requires that everything that it does be of highest quality. A historically Black institution, Hampton University is committed to multiculturalism. The University serves students from diverse national, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Research and public service are integral parts of Hampton’s mission. In order to enhance scholarship and discovery, the faculty is engaged in writing, research, and grantsmanship. In achieving its mission, Hampton University offers exemplary programs and opportunities which enable students, faculty and staff to grow, develop and contribute to our society in a productive and useful manner. For more information, visit: hamptonu.edu

Phillip D. Jones Named Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning, Leading Efforts to Evaluate, Engage, and Expand 
on the Institution’s Achievements and Outcomes 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Hampton, Va. (March 24, 2023) – Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams announced today the appointment of Phillip D. Jones to the position of Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning, where he will lead the execution of the college’s strategic plan and support institutional growth and efficiency goals. In this new role, Jones will coordinate both the long-term and short-term initiatives across academic and administrative disciplines and help implement best practices to enhance the experience of students, faculty, and staff.  

Jones is currently serving as the 27th Mayor of Newport News, Virginia, where he is working to improve education, invest in public safety, and modernize City Hall. He brings a well-established record of public-private sector experience.  As a Marine Corps infantry officer, he led his Marines to support peacekeeping and security cooperation missions on multiple continents. As a management consultant with a leading global firm, he advised Fortune 500 companies, municipalities, and nonprofits on strategy, marketing, organization, and operations.  

In the wake of 9/11, Jones accepted a nomination to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated with merit with a B.S. in History. He earned an M.S. in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School; and the MBA from the Harvard Business School where he served as a Tillman Scholar and Co-President of the Veterans Club.  

“We are delighted to welcome Phillip Jones to the Hampton Family,” said President Darrell K. Williams. “Today’s organizational announcement is another building block in our transformational journey. We are moving quickly to position the institution for faster growth and responsiveness. Phillip is a highly capable strategic thinker, and I look forward to using his unique set of skills towards delivering the #1 student experience in America.” 

Jones, who is a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; serves on the board of trustees for the Veterans Service Foundation; board member of Ironbound Boxing; member of Leadership Now Project; and member of 100 Black Men of Virginia Peninsula.  

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to join the President’s senior leadership team,” said Jones. “I look forward to helping the institution expand its influence and impact in the Hampton Roads area and across the global landscape.” 

ABOUT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY  

Hampton University is a comprehensive institution of higher education. For more than 150 years, it has been dedicated to the promotion of learning, building of character, and preparation of promising students for positions of leadership and service. It emphasizes a scientific and professional curriculum with a strong liberal arts undergirding. In carrying out its mission, the University requires that everything that it does be of highest quality. A historically Black institution, Hampton University is committed to multiculturalism. The University serves students from diverse national, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Research and public service are integral parts of Hampton’s mission. In order to enhance scholarship and discovery, the faculty is engaged in writing, research, and grantsmanship. In achieving its mission, Hampton University offers exemplary programs and opportunities which enable students, faculty and staff to grow, develop and contribute to our society in a productive and useful manner. For more information, visit:  hamptonu.edu 

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Hampton, Va. (March 20, 2023) – The Hampton University Board of Trustees proudly announces the investiture of President Darrell K. Williams, Lieutenant General (USA Retired), March 29 – April 1. This presidential investiture is the first in 45 years.

President Williams returned to his Home by the Sea to become the University’s 13th president on July 1, 2022. His wife and First Lady Myra Richardson Williams and he are 1983 graduates of Hampton. “I am thrilled to have been selected as the next president. I will work tirelessly with students, faculty, staff, alumni and the broader community to prepare our graduates for today and for the continuously evolving, technology-driven workforce of tomorrow,” said Williams.

The West Palm Beach, Florida native and global leader brings to Hampton over four decades of proven success in leading complex domestic and international military, government, civilian, academic institutional, and commercial business organizations. He served for over 37 years in the U.S. military, the final 11 at the executive and enterprise levels.

A grand celebration is planned to acknowledge President Williams’ inauguration, who has shared his vision to Deliver the Number One Student Experience in America for Hampton students.

On Wednesday, March 29, the Hampton University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will spotlight star athletes, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Convocation Center. This event will be live streamed. Following the induction, After Glow, a dessert reception, will take place 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

The Hampton University Museum will host An Evening at the Museum on Thursday, March 30, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. The event will feature the unveiling of the inaugural painting, a commissioned work by Preston Sampson, as well as the official ribbon cutting for the museum addition. A Touch of Spice band will perform live.

The Student Salute in Song and Dance in the historic Robert C. Ogden Auditorium will be held on Friday, March 31. The University Concert Choir will open the program at 7:00 p.m., followed by performances by the Phoebus and Bethel High School choirs, Hampton City Schools. The world-renowned Terpsichorean Dance Company will grace the stage at 7:45 p.m., after which the outstanding Hampton University Choir will perform. The choirs and Terps will combine to present a magnificent finale to close out the evening.

The investiture ceremony will take place 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., April 1 in the University Convocation Center. “This is an historic event that is celebrated to show deference and honor to our institution, so I invite all to come out to enjoy this occasion,” said Williams.

President and First Lady Williams invite guests to a Sunday morning worship on April 2 in the Hampton University Memorial Chapel. The Hampton University Alumni Band and University Alumni Choir will perform from 10:30-11 a.m. The worship service begins at 11 a.m.

Hampton, Va. – Hampton University urges its students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community to vote in the 2023 The Home Depot: Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant program. “This year, The Home Depot has doubled their investment for the Campus Improvement Grant Project to $150,000 this contest cycle,” said Pattie Bolton, MBA, Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs and Project Lead for the Retool Your School Grant Campaign. “That’s an increase from the $75,000 grand prize to the winning schools in 2022. We are really excited to be back in the running.”

The grant program is in its 14th year and will award $2M to thirty HBCUs. The vote based Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant is expected to support 30 campuses this year, with grants ranging from $40,000 to $150,000 per school. Through this program, The Home Depot provides Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) the opportunity to upgrade their campuses and gives back to our nation’s HBCUs what they have so generously given to so many. A strong foundation. Renewed purpose. Distinctive character.

“The Home Depot Retool Your School Grant Program is a great way to galvanize members of our HBCU communities around projects that will enhance the lives and experiences of our students. At Hampton, we strive daily to provide the #1 Student Experience in America, and these personalized projects allow us to involve students, faculty, and staff in making their educational home a progressive space for learning and socializing,” says Brint M. Martin, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Affairs. “This year the request for proposal will be the expansion of our campus seating gardens and social spaces to additional locations across campus,” said Bolton.

Schools are categorized into one of three clusters depending on the student population. This year, Hampton is in cluster one.

Last year, the University won a $20,000 grant. The funds were used on a student-led project to maintain the beauty and perpetuity of Hampton’s campus.  The 2022 Retool Your School Project Reveal will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, March 24 at Marina Point.

Cast your vote to help your ‘Home by the Sea.’ Hampton’s Retool Your School internal website is: oaa.hamptonu.edu/retoolhu and for voting www.retoolyourschool.com. There are no limits so vote nonstop through March 26, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. You can also vote via social media (Twitter & Instagram) by using the hashtag #RYSHAMPTON.

For more information, please visit The Home Depot Retool Your School | Powered with Purpose

For more information, please visit https://home.hamptonu.edu/

Hampton, Va. (March 13, 2023) – Ruth E. Carter, a Hampton University alumna, has made history as the first Black woman to achieve two Oscars after winning best costume design at the 95th Academy Awards for the Marvel sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

“So VERY proud of you! You represent yourself and Our Home by the Sea so extraordinarily well. We are all standing a little taller this morning because of you and your amazing achievement. Thanks so much for being such a positive force within the industry and a shining example within our world. Go make more history and get #3!” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams.

Carter won an Oscar after receiving the 2018 Academy Award for Achievement in Costume Design for Marvel’s “Black Panther,” making her the first African American to win in this specific category. She continues to make history in the entertainment industry by winning the Best Costume Design award at the 28th annual Critics’ Choice Awards for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

With over 40 films to her credit, the acclaimed Oscar winner has mastered the look of multiple periods and genres in envisioning the clothing and overall appearance of a character or performer. Carter’s work has been featured in more than 60 television and film projects including “Do the Right Thing”, “Black Panther”, Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad”, and the television reboot of “Roots.”

The lead costume designer won the Oscar against competition from “Elvis” , “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, and “Babylon.”

“Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the super hero that is the Black woman,” said Carter in her acceptance remarks. “She endures; she loves; she overcomes; she is every woman in this film. She is my mother. This past week, Mabel Carter became an ancestor. This film prepared me for this moment. Chadwick, please take care of mom.”

Carter thanked the team saying, “Together we are reshaping how culture is represented. I share this with many dedicated artists whose hands and hearts helped manifest the costumes of Wakanda and Talokan. This is for my mother. She was 101.”

Hampton, Va. (March 14, 2023) – Hampton University Senior, Kemia Bridgewater, from Detroit, Michigan has been named a McDonalds 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leader.  McDonald’s USA has a long history of investing in Black leaders who are taking steps now to create a brighter tomorrow. 

“This program was created to provide the proper resources needed to help young Black community leaders succeed in their endeavors. These change leaders have the opportunity that we know will have a lasting impact on their communities, and we remain committed to not only celebrating but assisting change makers of the future,” said Alexea Gordon, McDonald’s Manager of Cultural Engagement.

Bridgewater is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree.  She is co-founder of First Generation Gems, an organization whose mission is to mentor and empower minority first generation college students and to provide them with additional resources to succeed during their academic tenure. 

Another goal is to pair mentors and mentees to navigate as first-generation students and to invest into every scholar by providing workshops, professional development, addressing and recognizing systemic inequalities, and promoting inclusivity. 

As a student leader in the Greer Dawson Wilson Student Leadership Training Program, Bridgewater has learned to put her best foot forward in everything she does and

how to effectively communicate her thoughts.  She is also a Student Support Services Peer Mentor and Student Support Services Vice President of Social & Cultural Affairs.  Looking towards the future, “First Generation Gems will continue to be a priority for me as we will continue to expand outreach in our communities, and elevate the resources

we provide,” said Bridgewater.

Each Change Leader will receive $20,000, totaling $200,000 collectively, and will have access to elevated platforms to amplify their community missions, ranging from financial literacy to equality across the education system to mental health advocacy. 

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About McDonald’s USA 
McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.  

For more information visit:  First Generation Gems Community Organization

We aim to mentor and empower minority first generation college students during their academic tenure.      #firstgenerationgems

HAMPTON, Va. (March 3, 2023) – Hampton University Therapy Institute (HUPTI) and Leo Cancer Care have entered into a partnership to help advance research into Proton Arc Therapy (PAT).   “The collaboration will be the start of research, and ultimately a new form of delivery of proton therapy in a seated position,” said Tiffany Velez Rodgers, HUPTI marketing director. 

“At its inception, the proton therapy institute was a radical innovation here at Hampton University,” said University President Darrell K. Williams.  “Hampton University itself in 1868 was born out of an experiment and some 155 years later, we continue to innovate.”  

“Today is a great day.  A day where the HUPTI takes a step forward in cancer treatment care and simply doing a great work for humanity.  Today we move forward with like-minded organizations and with leaders that believe in HUPTI’s mission and goal,” said Rodgers.” 

Proton beam therapy (PBT) is acknowledged as a viable and effective method of noninvasively treating many forms of cancer by more precisely targeting tumors and sparing healthy tissue from unnecessary radiation.

Current PBT delivers radiation from a selected number of angles around the patient, which limits the options to conform the treatment to the tumor best. Because PAT delivers dosing from a multiplicity of angles, it permits better conformity, thus the most biologically effective dose to the tumor, which improves the prognosis of the treatment. Current gantry based delivery treatment methods pose incredible challenges for delivering PAT with sufficient precision. Upright imaging and positioning technologies remove the need for a gantry because it uses patient rotation for treatment delivery. This could prove more conducive to the PAT approach. HUPTI will analyze and assess the Leo system’s effectiveness.

HUPTI will be the first facility in the world to install the Marie™ system into an existing fixed proton beam treatment room.  “We will be the first ones that are doing something that is not done anywhere in the world.  We aim at being the first cancer center to systematically conduct proton radiography to plan and position our patients,” said Dr. Alejandro Carabe, HUPTI Chief Medical Physicist.  “So that means we are going to be able to have more patients and help more people to get their cancers resolved.”

 “We’re driving to improve the clinical effectiveness of radiation therapy”, said Stephen Towe, CEO and Co-founder, Leo Cancer Care.  “We want to drive to create global access to radiation therapy; in particular, protons.” 

Jefferson Lab and Hampton University have engaged in a long-standing partnership.     “I am personally quite excited about this,” said Dr. Cynthia Keppel, Jefferson Lab Associate Director for Experimental Nuclear Physics.  “I was a joint professor here at Hampton for many years while staffed at Jefferson Lab and got to be operative in the proton therapy up and coming.  It’s really at the forefront then and now.”

“We are so excited to be collaborating with Leo Cancer Care,” said MaryBeth Sullivan, HUPTI’s Executive Director.  “Seated treatments will make patients’ treatment much easier, especially for those unable to lie flat for treatments. HUPTI will be the first on the east coast to have this ability to deliver proton therapy.”

For more information visit:  https://www.leocancercare.com/ 

Leo Cancer Care was founded with one goal in mind, to be the more human way to deliver radiation therapy. 

For more information visit:  https://hamptonproton.org/

Hampton University’s outstanding medical physics program, strong ties to the nearby Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility and longstanding relationship with the local cancer treatment community made it uniquely suited to become home to our nation’s eighth proton therapy treatment center. Engineered to be an environment where science and compassion meet, HUPTI’s advanced technologies and incredible, passionate staff continues to work together to bring patients and their families the very best in focused cancer care.

For more information visit:  www.HUPTIGoesUp.com

For more information visit:  https://www.jlab.org/

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory. Scientists worldwide utilize the lab’s unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF), to probe the most basic building blocks of matter – helping us to better understand these particles and the forces that bind them – and ultimately our world.

Hampton, Va. (February 28, 2023) – The newly formed Hampton University National Center for Black Family Life is designed to build Black families in our communities through innovative research, educational programming, and a wide range of support services.  Hampton University has received a $1 million, three-year grant from Communio to support these goals.

 “We are excited about this unique opportunity to advance our mission-driven work with Black families in the community. We believe that with this support from Communio, the National Center for Black Family Life is poised to make a powerful and positive impact in our community that will, in turn, support the development of Black families across this nation,” says Dr. Linda Malone-Colon, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education, primary investigator (PI), and executive director of the Center.

The Hampton University National Center for Black Family Life is rooted in research and programmatic initiatives developed over decades.  One example is the Annual Conference on the Black Family, an annual event sponsored by the University that highlights the strengths and challenges of Black families across our country. 

Hampton University’s National Center for Black Family Life will pursue its mission through strategic partnerships with churches and schools and with a commitment to highlighting the cultural attributes of Black families.  The Center has five core components and objectives: 1) Family Ministry Support for Black Churches, 2) Research, 3) Mental Health Services, 4) Family Studies, and 5) the Annual Conference on the Black Family.

“Black families today face many challenges, including financial stress, under-employment, physical and mental health, and quality of life,” said Communio Principal J.P. De Gance.  “Communio’s mission is to equip the church to renew and strengthen the family, and we are thrilled to partner with Hampton to support black churches to renew and strengthen the black family.”

 “Communio hopes to forge a long-term relationship with Hampton University where we can share what our staff and churches are learning and experiencing,” said De Gance.  Communio is a non-profit ministry that consults directly with pastors and equips churches to renew and strengthen the family. 

Malone-Colon stated, “We are delighted to have Communio as a partner in this work. We believe that working collaboratively (through churches and schools) to improve the lives of Black families in culturally constructive ways is both sustainable and edifying for our communities.

About Communio

Communio is a nonprofit that consults with churches equipping them with proven strategies and technologies to solve our nation’s family and faith crisis.

For more information, visit:  https://communio.org/

Hampton University’s SHSJC Journalism Student Morgan Norris and Dean Julia Wilson Among HBCU Attendees

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Keisha Lance Bottoms, Special Adviser on Social Engagement to President Biden hosted aspiring journalists and educators from 40 of America’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities at the White House on Feb. 23, imploring attendees to take the lead in communicating the role and achievements of Blacks in America.

“We are requiring you to lead,” Harris told the attendees.  “We are counting on you to help us educate our world about who we are as Americans.” Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta, also has emerged as a strong advocate for HBCUs in the Biden White House.

“Morgan demonstrated her innate leadership capabilities by being the first student to stand on the White House media briefing room podium – and then the other students followed her lead,” Wilson said.  “She also made sure to sit in the front row of the briefing so that the vice president and special adviser were talking directly to her She exemplified our school’s excellence and competitive spirit. At Hampton, we already are answering Vice President Harris’ clarion call.  Our students are ready to compete, ready to participate and ready to lead – nationally and globally.”

Among those attending the White House briefing were Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications sophomore journalism student Morgan Norris and Dean Julia A. Wilson.

Norris credited her participation in the White House visit as “a confirmation of Dean Wilson’s confidence and faith in the leadership of her student journalists.”

About the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications 

Founded in 2002, the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications emphasizes excellence and innovation while adhering to core industry standards and ethical principles. The Scripps Howard School is equipped with a professional television studio and control room, a live, FM radio station (WHOV 88.1 MHz) with digital streaming to the Internet, high-tech classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art Promethean boards and a 150-seat stadium-style media auditorium. Students and alumni have worked in internship positions and launched media careers with top-ranked organizations such as Google, NPR, Radio One, The Washington Post, Essence Magazine, Time Magazine, ESPN, USA Today, Bloomberg News, Ogilvy, Burson-Marsteller, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and many more. Visit: https://home.hamptonu.edu/shsjc/ for more information. Link to student Morgan Norris story:

About Hampton University 

Hampton University is a comprehensive institution of higher education, dedicated to the promotion of learning, building of character, and preparation of promising students for positions of leadership and service. Its curriculum emphasis is scientific and professional with a strong liberal arts undergirding. In carrying out its mission, the university requires that everything that it does be of the highest quality. A historically Black institution, Hampton University is committed to multiculturalism. The university serves students from diverse national, cultural and economic backgrounds. Research and public service are integral parts of Hampton’s mission. To enhance scholarship and discovery, the faculty is engaged in writing, research, and grantsmanship. In achieving its mission, Hampton  offers exemplary programs and opportunities which enable students, faculty and staff to grow, develop and contribute to our society in a productive and useful manner. Visit www.hamptonu.edu for more information.   For more information please visit: https://home.hamptonu.edu/ 

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Media contact:  Rebecca Hansen, Marketing Manager 757-315-4019 rebecca.hansen@hampton.gov

www.hamptonjazzfestival.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HAMPTON, VA — After a 3-year hiatus, the Hampton Jazz Festival is returning for an incredible

three days at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA.  The Festival is slated for June 23-24-25, and

the confirmed artists are as follows:

Friday, June 23, 2023 7:30 PM	Saturday, June 24, 2023 7:00 PM	Sunday, June 25, 2023 2:00 PM
Anthony Hamilton   Trombone Shorty   Stephanie Mills   Jonathan Butler	Charlie Wilson   Chris Botti   Avery Sunshine   The Chuck Brown Band	Fantasia   Babyface   Kenny G   Peter White

*Artists subject to change

Friday’s show features several of our most requested acts, including the Neo-Soul crooner Anthony

Hamilton and the festival favorite Stephanie Mills.  Trombone Shorty will certainly raise the roof at the

Festival, and the evening rounds out with the smooth jazz favorite Jonathan Butler.

Saturday’s show features all-time favorite Charlie Wilson.  “Uncle Charlie” will continue to thrill

Festival patrons with hits like”There Goes My Baby”and”You Are.”Making only his second appearance

at the Festival will be the incredible Chris Botti – one of the greatest jazz trumpeters alive today.  Multi-

talented Avery Sunshine will be there – along with the ever-popular “go-go” style of music brought to by

The Chuck Brown Band.

Sunday’s lineup is jam-packed with star power.  Multi-talented American Idol winner Fantasia leads off the lineup – along with Babyface – just off his Super Bowl performance. Festival favorite Kenny G will be making a return visit with his award-winning smooth jazz sax. Rounding out the Sunday afternoon concert will be smooth jazz guitarist Peter White.

Tickets to the 53^rd Annual Hampton Jazz Festival are priced at $100, $90, $85, and $75 per ticket –

per performance, plus applicable fees. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday, February 25 at 10 AM online at Ticketmaster.com and at the Hampton Coliseum Box Office. Additional festival information is available online at www.HamptonJazzFestival.com.

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Hampton, Va. (Feb. 28, 2023) – Hampton University alumna and MSNBC President Rashida Jones recently received the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications’ top honor, the Achievement of Excellence Award, during the school’s 20^th-year, all-day celebration, that included a career fair featuring some of the nation’s leading news organizations and corporate recruiters.   

The career fair highlighted prominent news and public relations firms that interviewed SHSJC 2023 upcoming graduates and continuing students for prospective employment and internship opportunities. The fair was held in the 20-year-old SHSJC building on campus and concluded with a networking gala and program honoring three of the school’s accomplished alumni at the Landing Hampton Marina hotel.

“Over the years, the Scripps Howard School has offered relevant curricula and innovative programming that have produced some of the best media professionals in the country,” said University President Darrell K. Williams.  “This great accomplishment underpins Hampton’s presence on the world stage as THE Standard of Excellence and, at the same time, supports our aim to Deliver the No. 1 Student Experience in America!  For that you are to be commended.”

Williams and Julia A. Wilson, dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, share an expanded and ambitious vision for the school.

“The good thing about both the president and my having our first year is that our ‘global vision’ is in sync.  He believes in international programs and has traveled the world,” Wilson said.   “Prior to joining Hampton University, I operated an international public relations company for the past 25 years. I’ve lived and/or worked in 13 countries and those experiences have broadened my world view and vision to ensure that our school’s students are culturally literate and globally competitive.”

“To accomplish this goal, we plan to build a Global Media Center at our school in which top international journalists, thought leaders and strategic communications professionals can share various cultures and professional experiences with our students. We want to prepare our students for global competition.”

Jones, president of MSNBC and an ‘02 graduate, commended SHSJC for its commitment to excellence when receiving the coveted Achievement of Excellent Award.  

“One of the things that I always take away from my time at Hampton was this expectation of excellence,” Jones said.  “We learned that early on.  It was part of the curriculum; it was part of everything that we did and it’s the one thing that has stuck with me all this time.”

Two other SHSJC alumni were inducted into the Hall of Fame – Justin Tinsley, of the ‘08 class and Jessi Mitchell of the ‘11 class. Tinsley is a senior culture writer at Disney’s Andscape (ESPN).  

“I can’t talk about the Hampton experience and my career without linking them together,” Tinsley said.  “I am not where I am right now without Hampton.  I am not where I am right now without Scripps Howard, and I thank God every day that He led me in the direction to come to this University.” 

Mitchell, a multi-skilled journalist at WCBS-TV New York, recently won an Emmy for her work covering the COVID pandemic. 

“Allowing people to tell their stories through my lens was really impactful and I knew the importance of my work. So being honored through the CBS Morning Show for my contributions was really incredible,” Mitchell said. It’s a national award; that means we’re the best of the best. That really means a lot.”

Liz Carter, the current president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Fund introduced Judy Clabes, her predecessor who presented the $20 million gift 20 years ago to build and establish the school.

“It was a long, drawn-out process to select the right place,” Clabes said.  “Part of that selection was we were looking for a place that would take this gift, grow it, expand it and send journalists out into the world to do good work. And I am saying to you, young people here tonight, go save Democracy.” 

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About The Scripps Howard Fund 

The Scripps Howard Fund is a public charity that supports philanthropic causes important to The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) and the communities it serves, with a special emphasis on journalism education, excellence in journalism and childhood literacy. At the crossroads of the classroom and the newsroom, the Fund is a leader in supporting journalism through scholarships, internships, minority recruitment and development and First Amendment causes. The Scripps Howard Awards stand as one of the industry’s top honors for outstanding journalism, and the Fund’s annual “If You Give a Child a Book …” childhood literacy campaign has distributed thousands of new books to children in need across the nation. In support of its mission to create a better-informed world, the Fund also partners with Scripps brands to create awareness of local issues and support organizations that help build thriving communities. The Scripps Howard Foundation, an affiliated organization with the Scripps Howard Fund, supports Scripps’ charitable efforts through its endowment, key assets and major donations.  For more information please visit:   https://scripps.com/fund/ 

About the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications 

Founded in 2002, the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications emphasizes excellence and innovation while adhering to core industry standards and ethical principles. The Scripps Howard School is equipped with a professional television studio and control room, a live, FM radio station (WHOV 88.1 MHz) with digital streaming to the Internet, high-tech classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art Promethean boards and a 150-seat stadium-style media auditorium. Students and alumni have worked in internship positions and launched media careers with top-ranked organizations such as Google, NPR, Radio One, The Washington Post, Essence Magazine, Time Magazine, ESPN, USA Today, Bloomberg News, Ogilvy, Burson-Marsteller, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and many more. Visit: https://home.hamptonu.edu/shsjc/ for more information.

About Hampton University 

Hampton University is a comprehensive institution of higher education, dedicated to the promotion of learning, building of character, and preparation of promising students for positions of leadership and service. Its curriculum emphasis is scientific and professional with a strong liberal arts undergirding. In carrying out its mission, the university requires that everything that it does be of the highest quality. A historically Black institution, Hampton University is committed to multiculturalism. The university serves students from diverse national, cultural and economic backgrounds. Research and public service are integral parts of Hampton’s mission. To enhance scholarship and discovery, the faculty is engaged in writing, research, and grantsmanship. In achieving its mission, Hampton  offers exemplary programs and opportunities which enable students, faculty and staff to grow, develop and contribute to our society in a productive and useful manner. Visit www.hamptonu.edu for more information.   For more information please visit: https://home.hamptonu.edu/ 

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