The Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI) recently presented a tour and lecture to more than a dozen members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), a membership-driven organization through Hampton University which offers non-credit courses to mature adult learners 50 years and older. OLLI’s affordable adult education courses cater to lifelong students who want to improve their skills, explore new ideas, and interact with interesting peers in their community.
Executive Director MaryBeth Sullivan kicked off the visit with a presentation titled, “An Introduction to Proton Therapy,” which provided behind-the-scenes access to HUPTI operations and the proton therapy treatment process. The visit included a tour of one of the treatment rooms, an imaging suite which houses HUPTI’s MRI and PET/CT systems, and demonstration of the equipment that delivers critical care.
Retired United States Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, a native of West Palm Beach, Florida and the eighth of nine children born to the late James E. Williams and Ida Mae Williams, has been elected by the Board of Trustees of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, to serve as the institution’s 13th president and will be duly inaugurated into the position at an official investiture ceremony on the university’s campus on April 1, 2023. To mark the momentous occasion, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to declare the date as “Darrell K. Williams Day” throughout Florida’s second largest county.
As a decorated military officer, Williams successfully worked his way up the chain of command, having served as deputy director of Strategic Communications in the office of the Army Chief of Staff, and as commander of the 3rd Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He has also served as brigade commander of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade in Fort Stewart, Georgia, during which he was deployed in Northern Iraq. In 2017, Williams was promoted to lieutenant general while serving as commanding general of the Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Lee, Virginia.
Williams, affectionately known as “Choo-Choo” to his many family and friends, graduated from Twin Lakes High School (now Palm Beach Lakes High School) in 1979, where he participated in the marching band, ran track and cross-country, played basketball and was in the chess club. With an Army Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship in hand, Williams matriculated to Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), the alma mater of one of the most influential African Americans of the 20th century, Booker T. Washington, and a “home by the sea” for generations of students seeking an “education for life” at one of the nation’s premier institutions of higher learning.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Mack Bernard (District 7), who sponsored the proclamation honoring Williams, and represents the commission district from which the general hails, was not unmindful of the implications that Williams’ presidency will have on future generations. “Darrell Williams’ life of leadership and service deserves both our admiration and appreciation,” Commissioner Bernard said. “The children of Palm Beach County will be able to point to him as a symbol of what is possible—as he truly represents the best in all of us.” Echoing his sentiments are other well-known community leaders who are inspired by Williams’ accomplishments. “The General’s investiture is historic not only in terms of the fact that he is only the 13th president in the university’s 155 year history, but also because he is a native son of West Palm Beach and a product of one of the area’s first Black neighborhoods, Pleasant City,” declared fellow Hampton University alumnus Rev. Elvin J. Dowling. “We are proud to call him our own,” he continued. Dowling, also a graduate of Palm Beach Lakes High School, will be traveling to the inaugural ceremonies to present a proclamation on behalf of the citizens of Palm Beach County.
As president of Hampton University, Lt. Gen. Williams, whose personal ethos is “Lead by example, take care of those in your charge, and accomplish the mission,” brings more than four decades of proven leadership experience to the helm of his esteemed alma mater, and pride to the residents of Palm Beach County, as he continues to make our nation, and the world, a better place to live and learn.
Hampton, VA (February 8, 2023) – Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams has named Anthony D. Henderson, Sr. as the new director of athletics. Henderson is a nationally recognized leader in collegiate athletics and has 20 years of progressive athletics leadership experience. His appointment is effective February 27.
Anthony D. Henderson, Sr., HU New Director of Athletics
“We are very pleased that Anthony is joining our team,” stated President Williams. “He brings significant broad experience in critical areas necessary to elevate Hampton’s championship excellence. His reputation with the broader athletics community is second to none. We cannot wait to experience the impact of Anthony’s leadership within higher education athletics.”
Henderson comes to Hampton from Yale University where he served as deputy director of athletics, leading all revenue generation and extending the brand and messaging of Yale Athletics through private philanthropy, corporate support, ticket sales, marketing efforts, community engagement, strategic communications and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Prior to Yale, Henderson was the senior associate athletics director and executive director of athletics advancement at William & Mary, leading athletics philanthropic strategies and assisting in ensuring financial stability for The Tribe. Additionally, he was the sport administrator for the football program. Henderson also has served as the associate athletics director at the University of Akron where he was responsible for day-to-day operations of the Z-Fund, the fundraising arm of Akron Athletics and each of its 20 sports, including fundraising for capital projects, scholarships, and major gifts.
“I am extremely excited about being named Hampton University’s director of athletics,” Henderson said. “Hampton is home for me. I was a student –athlete who played football here, and I am a proud Hampton graduate. To return as the leader of this department is surreal and an auspicious honor. I look forward to continuing the legacy of producing championships and creating transformational opportunities for our student –athletes, inside and outside of the classroom.”
Prior to joining the University of Akron, Henderson served as assistant director of athletic development at Old Dominion University (ODU). He managed donor relationships and helped grow the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation’s endowment to more than $16 million. Additionally, he contributed to increasing the overall donor membership to 52% during his tenure.
Preceding his employment with ODU, Henderson worked as the senior account executive at The Event Authority, LLC, in Charlotte, NC; the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in Virginia Beach, VA; Disney Sports Attractions in Orlando, FL; and the Richmond Braves baseball club in Richmond, VA.
As an outstanding athletics administrator, Henderson was selected from among 25 senior-level administrators from across the country to participate in the prestigious 2018 NCAA Pathway Program. The program is designed to elevate those currently in senior-level positions within athletics administration to the next step in reaching their goal of becoming directors of athletics.
Henderson, a Hampton 40 under 40 honoree (2016), holds professional credentials from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) in which he has served as a conference representative for two separate terms (Peach Belt Conference 2011-2013; Mid-American Conference 2013-2015), the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA), and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). He is a two –time recipient of the NAADD Diversity Award, selected for the inaugural class of 10 individuals for the NAADD Executive Committee Mentor Program, and is a graduate of the 2011 Dr. Charles Whitcomb NCAA Leadership Institute. He also has been a participant of the NACDA Senior Level Administrators Mentoring Institute, Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium, LEAD1 (Formerly D1A Athletic Directors’) Association Institute and is also a former Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of the Western Reserve in Akron.
While competing as a student-athlete on the Hampton University football team, Henderson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in marketing. He played defensive back for the Pirates and was a part of the team that won two MEAC regular-season championships and advanced to the NCAA I-AA playoffs in each of those seasons. He also holds a master of science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Sports Leadership where he graduated cum laude.
Henderson will report directly to the University President, serve as a member of the President’s Council, and oversee 17 NCAA Division I varsity athletic programs.
First-ever program will provide seeded investment accounts for every student in the freshman class to promote financial education and empower students to build wealth throughout their college career
Hampton, VA and Boston, MA – Hampton University and Stackwell, the digital investment platform designed to eliminate the racial wealth gap, today announced the launch of a new student investment program that will provide funded investment accounts and financial investment education to every member of the university’s freshman class. Hampton is donating a total of $25,000 to seed Stackwell investment accounts for each student in the Class of 2026, which will be coupled with a financial literacy program from the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development (SFEPD). SFEPD’s program will allow every student, faculty member, staff member, and parent access to an online financial literacy course valued at $3,000 – free of charge. The goal of the program is to empower students and their families’ financial futures and encourage wealth building throughout their lives.
Hampton and Stackwell hope to grow the size of the program in the future, and will provide the same program and seeded investment accounts for successive incoming classes of students, continuing with the class of 2027 and beyond. The addition of corporate partners and benefactors will be vital in expanding the program in the coming years.
“This new program is a key component to delivering the #1 student experience in America,” said University President Darrell K. Williams. “Hampton University is committed to investing in the advancement of our students as future leaders and building generational wealth on a national scale. We are proud to partner with Stackwell to bring such a unique and important program to our campus.”
This is the first program in the country to provide financial education and funded investment accounts for an entire class of students. Eligible students will sign up for their own Stackwell investment account, which will be seeded with funds from the university’s donation. Each student will also participate in a financial literacy program as part of their core curriculum, receiving a certificate upon its completion. Stackwell will engage with students throughout their time on campus to encourage the development of long-term saving and investing behaviors, highlighting the importance and impact of a lifetime commitment to investing and wealth building. The university’s goal is to graduate students who will have the benefit of a world class education, a fundamental understanding of finance and investing, and an investment portfolio that they can take with them and continue to build throughout their lives.
The Hampton-Stackwell program takes a holistic approach to financial literacy and wellness, differentiating it from other financial education programs at colleges and universities. The partners believe it is crucial to establish good financial habits at a young age to prepare students for long-term financial stability. By normalizing wealth building and participation in the markets, the students will be empowered to stay engaged in the market, establishing generational wealth building not only for the students, but their families and communities as well.
“We are honored to launch this new program with Hampton University and support the entire Class of 2026 as they embark on the critical first steps of their long-term financial journey,” said Trevor Rozier-Byrd, Founder and CEO of Stackwell. “We share a vision and mission of investing in our community, and together, we have created a program that will have an outsize impact across the Black community. This program can set a new standard for financial wellness and wealth creation, and we look forward to extending its reach to benefit thousands of students for years to come.”
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the racial wealth gap is the largest of the economic disparities between Black and white Americans. Federal Reserve data show the racial wealth gap for the Black community grows larger with each passing generation: white households hold on average eight times more wealth than Black households, with that figure growing to 17-times for the Millennial population and Gen Z. This new program focuses on the youngest generation of Hampton students who are disproportionately affected by the wealth gap and have the greatest opportunity to eliminate it by starting wealth building at an early age.
Hampton students will be able to sign up for their investment accounts starting on December 19, 2022.
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 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. 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. Visit www.hamptonu.edu
About Stackwell
Stackwell Capital, Inc., is a fintech company that has created a digital investment platform for the Black community that is designed to eliminate the racial wealth gap in America. Stackwell provides the financial investment tools and guidance necessary to help build lasting wealth, equity, and equal opportunity. Stackwell is a member of the 2022 Financial Solutions Lab, and MassChallenge U.S. Early Stage accelerator programs. For more information, visit stackwellcapital.com.
Prudential Partnership to Provide Guest Lecture Series, Bloomberg Terminals and Fellowship Program to Enhance Student Engagement and Learning
HAMPTON, Va. (Dec. 9, 2022) – Today, Hampton University James T. George School of Business announced its continued partnership with Prudential Financial and PGIM, Prudential’s global asset management business, through renaming the school’s main lecture hall, previously known as Buckman Room 101, in honor of the late former Dean Dr. Sid Howard Credle. Hampton commemorated the dedication with a ceremony at the newly renamed Dr. Sid H. Credle Hall. These activities are part of Prudential and PGIM’s significant commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The partnership with Prudential, which began in 2010 with a $1 million pledge, paves the way for continued and deepened collaboration in the future.
“On behalf of the Hampton University community, I would like to thank Prudential for their unwavering support of our students,” said Darrell K. Williams, Hampton University President. “I am proud to see Hampton and Prudential continuing to collaborate and explore new, bold, comprehensive approaches to enabling our students to become the next generation of outstanding business professionals. I believe that Hampton’s commitment to preparing our nation’s future leaders combined with Prudential’s commitment to investing in our students will cultivate and mobilize the business leaders and community partners of the future.
Hampton University’s partnership with Prudential and PGIM will enhance the ability of both institutions to impact more than 500 students in the School of Business through networking and job opportunities, as well as provide access to real-world experiences, skill-building, and other educational resources. Prudential’s support will also include a guest lecture series featuring senior Prudential leadership and a customized fellowship program, consisting of a $10,000 college scholarship, a mentor from Prudential, and access to workshops and private events. In addition to having previously funded Bloomberg terminal licenses for students, PGIM’s partnership will leverage its investment management expertise to engage directly with students and professors to bolster their investments and finance coursework. It will support student programs to increase access and exposure to the investment management industry through the PGIM HBCU Strategic Initiatives program.
“Prudential Financial is a long-time supporter of HBCUs, and Hampton is one of our strongest partners,” said Shané Harris, president of The Prudential Foundation. “This announcement furthers support of education and career pathways of Black students to achieve financial prosperity and close the racial wealth gap.”
HBCUs have played a pivotal role in advancing the economic mobility of Black Americans for more than 150 years. Prudential and PGIM’s partnership with Hampton University builds the capacity of HBCUs to support not only its students but the broader community by reducing financial burdens on students and helping to remove structural barriers to Black economic empowerment. While HBCUs represent only three percent of colleges and universities in the U.S., they confer 20 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black students. Correspondingly, 53 percent of HBCU students move into higher income brackets – while only 35 percent of peers at White institutions experience the same. HBCUs also disproportionally serve low-income students, and over 52 percent of HBCU students are first-generation college students.
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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 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. 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. Visit www.hamptonu.edu.
About Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with more than $1.3 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, 2022, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.
About PGIM
PGIM is the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a leading global investment manager with more than $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2022. With offices in 17 countries, PGIM’s businesses offer a range of investment solutions for retail and institutional investors around the world across a broad range of asset classes, including public fixed income, private fixed income, fundamental equity, quantitative equity, real estate and alternatives. For more information about PGIM, visit pgim.com.
Hampton, Va. (Nov. 29, 2022) — In an article published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, recent Hampton University graduate Dr. Debajyoti Basu Sarkar and Professor, Dr. William B. Moore from the Department of Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences report that rocky planets with a hot surface likely do not have plate tectonics like the Earth. Most of Earth’s surface features and many processes such as earthquakes and volcanism are understood to be the result of the slow motions of vast regions (the plates) over billions of years. But for some still unknown reason, Earth is the only planet that behaves this way.
Understanding other planets requires a different theory, championed by Drs. Moore and Basu Sarkar, in which planetary surfaces are dominated by volcanism, rather than surface motions. This theory is known as planetary heat pipes, named for the volcanic fissures that allow molten rock to rise to the surface and erupt. Most rocky planets seem to have gone through a period of heat pipes before shifting to a different style of planetary behavior as they cooled off – in Earth’s case, but nowhere else, the shift resulted in plate tectonics. In their recent article, this theory is used to understand how Venus’ surface temperature, maintained at almost 900°F by its greenhouse atmosphere, prevented plate tectonics from happening on a planet otherwise very similar to Earth.
VenusDr. William B. MooreDr. Debajyoti Basu Sarkar
“The atmosphere of Venus acts like a blanket, which makes it harder for Venus to lose heat from its rocky mantle,” explained Dr. Basu Sarkar.
The article describes how this insulating effect means Venus cools more slowly and takes almost twice as long to reach the end of its heat pipe phase as Earth. By that point, the energy sources driving motion inside the planet are weaker and are not able to break up the surface and drive the kind of plate motions seen on Earth.
In the paper, the authors say their results can be applied to any planet, including planets that are outside the solar system, that have a rocky surface and thick atmosphere.
“We emphasized the role of surface temperature because it can connect planetary climate with interior processes like volcanism and tectonics,” said Dr. Basu Sarkar. “This means that we can build on our current results and link climate evolution to the dynamics of rocky planets like Earth, Venus, Mars, and exoplanets.”
HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 29, 2022) — Hampton University’s Department of Computer Science has been named #2 in Best Colleges 2022 ranking of the 10 Best HBCUs for Computer Science Programs.
The Hampton University Computer Science program was recognized for its work to increase the diversity of the STEM workforce through various programs such as Student Airborne Science Activation and other computer science initiatives. Community outreach efforts help to develop interest in engineering and science in local schools. The Student Success Center also provides connections that support student health and wellness, advising services, and learning strategies. Notable faculty and/or alumni include Mary Jackson, who was an African-American mathematician and aerospace engineer at NASA, and Sylvia Trent-Adams, who served as acting surgeon general of the U.S.
“The Department of Computer Science at Hampton University is honored and proud to be considered the #2 HBCU Computer Science Program from Best Colleges,” said Dr. Dr. Jean Muhammad, Chair of the Hampton University Department of Computer Science. “All of our faculty are dedicated to the success of all of our students. Within the last 8 years we have had 100% placement of our graduates. We are proud to state that our students are placed and employed in the Top industries around the country: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, Deloitte, Lockheed Martin to name a few. In addition, our students are attending and graduating from some of the Top graduate schools as well: Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, Georgia Tech, MIT, Rochester Institute of Technology. Going forward our current and future plans are to move to number 1.”
Two important factors inform Best College’s rankings for the list of the best HBCUs for computer science programs: accreditation and academic outcomes. Accreditation: Each school featured on the list is certified and accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). This board works collectively with four separate commissions in applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering, and engineering technology to select schools that meet the minimum program standards for STEM education. In total, there are approximately 15 HBCUs that are accredited by ABET as of the 2021-2022 academic year. Academic Outcomes: The additional factor evaluated for this ranking is academic outcomes. There are many facets of academic quality to consider when it comes to college. But for this list, Best Colleges chose to focus specifically on the six-year graduation rate and retention rate to not only signify the rate that students choose to stay at their institutions after their first year but also how they navigate college life to complete their degree and graduate from college.
“The School of Science and I continue to be proud of the stellar works of Dr.Muhammad and her colleagues within the Computer Science department,” said Dr. Isi Ero-Tolliver, Dean of the Hampton University School of Science. “With her leadership, we continue to excel within our programs, including being designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense for the NSA-Validated Programs of Study through the academic year 2027. Any student graduating from this program will be prepared for real world experiences and matriculation to the next steps!”
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have recently increased efforts to encourage BIPOC students (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) to enroll and major in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.These efforts include everything from developing pipelines from secondary schools to providing culturally relevant support programs on campus.HBCUs contribute significantly to the economy by providing pathways of opportunity to many first-generation students. In spite of a historic lack of funding, HBCUs have produced 42% of Black engineers and 47% of Black women engineers.
The Hampton University Department of Computer Science offers coursework leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, in Computer Information Systems, and in Cyber Security – Computer Science Track. These programs are designed for students who plan to pursue in-depth training in one or more software application areas for entering the workforce. In addition, the Department prepares students for further graduate education in computer and information sciences. Coursework leading to the Master of Science degrees in Computer Science and in Cyber Security is provided.
The Hampton University Department is located in the Wilma Harper Horne Science & Technology Hall and has state-of-the-art computer resources, and an enviable record of placing its students in positions of employment or in graduate school. The Department has a freshman mentoring program, peer-tutoring program, and one on one curriculum advisement to ensure successful matriculation at Hampton University. In addition, the Department of Computer Science has a 98% placement rate (full-time employment and/or graduate school acceptance for graduating seniors.
HAMPTON, VA. (Nov. 7, 2022) – Dr. Neelam Azad, University Endowed Professor of Pharmacy, has been appointed vice president for research at Hampton University (HU). Dr. Azad joined Hampton University in 2008 as assistant professor of pharmacy and quickly rose through the ranks to chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2014. She attained full professorship in 2019. Since her arrival at the University, she has been productive in basic and translational biomedical research, particularly in areas of lung pathology and cancer cell biology.
“I am committed to developing interdisciplinary research initiatives and establishment of core resources available to our new investigators with the goal of increased productivity and grantsmanship. My focus is on the current and future health of the University’s research enterprise and my goal during the next few years is to expand and strengthen the research capacity at Hampton University,” said Dr. Azad.
Dr. Neelam Azad, Vice President for Research
Since 2011, Dr. Azad has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health, totaling more than $6 million for extramural research. For approximately $3 million of the funding, she was the principal investigator. Her additional research accomplishments include a patent, 55 scientific publications in several notable journals, presentations at various national and international conferences, and features in various publications. She serves on the editorial board for several prestigious journals and is a grant reviewer for multiple funding agencies. Her research’s influence is evident in her 12,000 citations and H-index of 27 of her published work.
Dr. Azad is the recipient of the inaugural Hampton University President’s Ambassador for Academic Excellence in recognition of her commitment and research accomplishments. In addition, she has received the Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research award from American Association for Cancer Research for three consecutive years. Notably, Dr. Azad has also received the “Professor of the Year” award from the University’s School of Pharmacy for three consecutive years, and the Provost’s Academic Excellence Faculty Award.
Dr. Azad is a Leadership Fellow with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. She was named a University Endowed Professor by the former University president in recognition of her accomplishments. She also briefly served as the director of the Cancer Research Center and the assistant vice president for research at Hampton University before assuming her current position.
Dr. Azad is a native of Mumbai, India where she completed her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 2001. She earned the Ph.D. in pharmaceutical and pharmacological sciences in 2007 from West Virginia University. On the personal front, Dr. Azad and her husband Dr. Anand Iyer, Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Hampton University, live in Yorktown, Virginia with their two children – daughter, Ravya and son, Viraaj.
HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 7, 2022) – The Hampton University Office of Admission provided free transportation for Hampton and Newport News high school students to attend the 20th Annual Alfred Street Baptist Church HBCU Fair on Oct. 8. The event took place on the University of the District of Columbia’s campus in Washington D.C.
Students and parents representing each Hampton and Newport News public high school participated in the one-day excursion, which was sponsored by Hampton University. This activity was President Darrell K. Williams’ plan in the effort to build stronger relationships with the local community and school systems. The President was on-site to greet students and parents as they boarded two University buses. He stated, “While we would love for each of you to attend Hampton University, it is more important to us that you continue your education at an institution of higher education. This is our effort to provide exposure to all of the many HBCUs that are available to students throughout the country.
More than 5,000 students and parents from across the country attended the fair, a recruitment program that featured on-site interviews, admission, and financial planning seminars. Alfred Street Baptist Church’s College Fair is one of the largest recruitment events in the country for HBCUs. It attracts prospective students from all across the United States. Angela Nixon Boyd, assistant vice president for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission represented the University at the fair and confirmed that Hampton University was one of the most popular schools in attendance.
“During the entire four-hour event, foot traffic never stopped. Without the support and assistance from several alumni chapters, including Northern Virginia and Prince George’s County, we would not have been able to manage the massive number of interested students.
HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 7, 2022) —Associate Professor Dr. Travonia Brown-Hughes, School of Pharmacy, received a $4.8 million grant from The National Institute of Health (NIH). The grant, entitled “The Black American United Memory & Aging Project (BA-UMAP): An examination of cognitive decline in midlife and older Black adults using remote cognitive assessments, risk factors and biomarkers” will receive funding for a five-year study designed to examine biopsychosocial factors that impact cognitive outcomes in a group of 600 middle-aged and older Black adults age 55 and older with both low and high levels of education. This award is the largest R01 received in the University’s history.
Dr. Travonia Brown-Hughes
“At Hampton University, it is a part of our DNA to be of service to others,” said Darrell K Williams, Hampton University President. “One of Hampton’s chief missions is to serve the needs of our community. The research that is being conducted by Dr. Travonia Brown-Hughes exemplifies our Standard of Excellence. I’m proud to say that Hampton University faculty and students are at the forefront of life-changing research that will make an impact on the lives of so many people within the Black Community.”
The study is being conducted in collaboration with Hampton University’s Gerontology Center for Excellence, Johns Hopkins University, the Pennsylvania State University, Michigan’s William Beaumont Hospital, and the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest School of Medicine. A unique component of the grant is that it will be conducted completely online utilizing an innovative, faceless enrollment and data collection strategy.
“It is time that we move beyond hoping for change and towards finding a way to prevent, stop, or cure Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Brown-Hughes. “We have to help ourselves by harnessing the resources and the strengths that are a part of the Black community and its history.
Hampton, Va. (October 28, 2022) — Six Hampton University students have recently earned official university endorsements for the prestigious U.S. Rhodes Scholarship. Under the direction of Hampton University’s new President Darrell K. Williams, Hampton University deans were encouraged to nominate their strongest possible undergraduate contenders for the extraordinary post-graduate scholarship to Oxford University. The result was that the following six Hampton University graduating seniors, all with “A” academic averages, were encouraged to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship:
(Pictured left to right) Myles Ragins; Kamaria Horton; Dr. Carlton Long; Zyen Smoot; Niara Chaney; Imani Porter; and Mariah Smith
– Ms. Niara Chaney, an electrical engineering major, mentor to TRIO Program students, and member of the Society of Women in Engineering
– Ms. Kamaria Horton, a computer science major and a track-and-field scholar-athlete
– Mr. Myles Ragins, an electrical engineering major and mathematics minor, who is also a percussionist in the Hampton University band
– Ms. Imani Porter, a biochemistry major, member of the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute, and the lead author of a recently published manuscript based on experiments conducted by HU undergraduates in a Hampton University laboratory
– Mariah Smith, a pre-law member of the Freddye T. Davy Honors College, Greer Dawson Wilson Student Leadership Program, and the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute. Ms. Smith is an economics major with a minor in leadership studies
– Ms. Zyen Smoot, an English (Creative Writing) major at Hampton University, poet, literary magazine editor, and aspiring publisher/professor with a perfect 4.0 GPA
“These fine Hampton University candidates – one young man and five young women — are absolutely exceptional,” said Dr. Carlton Long, the Director of the Freddye T. Davy Honors College at Hampton University, and a former U.S. Rhodes Scholar himself. “They are certainly destined to achieve great things, to solve big problems and forge important pathways forward for their generation, our society, and indeed the world. Hampton University is extremely proud to endorse these humble and brilliant people for Rhodes Scholarships. They stand on the shoulders of persons who make up the proud legacy of Hampton University and they also represent, simply put, the ‘best and brightest’ of their generation.”
“Hampton University takes great pride in nurturing and developing leaders who excel and achieve above and beyond our expectations,” said Dr. JoAnn Haysbert, Hampton University’s Chancellor and Provost. “These young scholars are perfect examples of the ‘best and the brightest’ students here at Hampton University. We are confident that they will continue to demonstrate character and excellence in all that they do.”
HAMPTON, Va. (Oct. 14, 2022) – Sentara has provided funding to Hampton University for a program entitled: Diversifying the Healthcare Workforce to Create Healthier Communities. The gift is $850,000 and is designed to increase and grow the number of diverse healthcare professionals in Hampton Roads and to combat challenges in the delivery of healthcare to underserved populations.
The funded program elements include:
Sentara Healthcare – Current Use Scholarship for Nursing Students
Provides academic support to students in four-year Nursing degree programs in Health Sciences and Community Health Promotion, as well as the RN to BSN degree programs, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Information Management, Physical Therapy, Pre-Medical, Occupational Therapy and other similar health professions.
Sentara Healthcare – Endowed Scholarship for Nursing Students
Provides academic support to students in four-year Nursing degree programs in Health Sciences and Community Health Promotion, as well as the RN to BSN degree programs. Recipients may be of sophomore, junior, or senior classification, hold a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average, and demonstrate financial need, as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Sentara Healthcare – Community Engagement Program
The Community Health & Wellness Mobile Clinic will serve targeted areas of healthcare education needs in Hampton Roads. It is an outreach and health initiative to build stronger and healthier communities in the region. The focus is to provide healthcare education services for those in underserved urban communities as well as those in rural areas. The activities to be managed by HU faculty and students will include screenings to help in the identification of chronic diseases. Screenings will include those for vision, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar/capillary tests, risk-for-fall screenings, body mass indices, and COVID-19.
Following are among the organizations that are invited to be part of the outreach program.
Hampton University COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Station
Newport News Public City Schools
Hampton Public City Schools
Somerset at Town Center
Sinclair Commons
Olde Towne Medical & Dental Clinic
The Woodlands
Western Tidewater Free Clinic (Suffolk)
Surry High School
Newport News Department of Social Services & Department of Health
For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at 757.727.5253.
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 under girding. In carrying out its mission, the University requires that everything that it does be of the highest quality. Research and public service are integral parts of Hampton’s mission. In achieving its mission, Hampton University offers exemplary programs and opportunities that enable students, faculty and staff to grow, develop and contribute to our society in a productive and useful manner.
About Sentara Healthcare
Sentara Healthcare has a long history of innovation, compassion and community benefit. Sentara Healthcare is a not-for-profit healthcare organization serving Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Sentara Healthcare is comprised of 12 acute care hospitals with more than 300 sites of care all throughout Virginia and northeastern North Carolina and beyond. Sentara Healthcare celebrates more than 130 years in pursuit of its mission – “we improve health every day.” Sentara is an integrated, not-for-profit health care delivery system with more than 29,000 employees, including 1,375 physicians and advanced practice providers.
