Summer 2006 - Office of Alumni Affairs

Transcription

Summer 2006 – Vol. 132 No. 10
President
Dr. William R. Harvey
Board of Trustees
I. Emerson Bryan, III
Charles I. Bunting
H. Rodgin Cohen, Esq.
Francisco Coronel
Edward E. Elson
W. Frank Fountain
Gordon L. Gentry, Jr.
Vanessa D. Gilmore
William R. Harvey
Wendell P. Holmes, Jr.
Leslie D. Jones
Andrew M. Lewis
Clarence E. Lockett
Daniel H. Mudd
Brett Pulley
Curtis E. Ransom
Rachel L. Scott
Andrea M. Weiss
National Hampton
Alumni Association, Inc.
Anthony Cheatham, ‘80 President
Patricia Larkins Hicks, Ph.D, ‘71 First Vice President
Ronald Williams, ‘76 Vice President Eastern Regions
Robert Williams, ‘68 Vice President Western Regions
Kitti Smith, ‘71 Recording Secretary
Yolanda Coleman, ‘98 Coresponding Secretary
Richard Bowden, ‘74 Treasurer
Rev. Haywood Robinson, ‘78 Chaplain
Co-Editors
Yuri Rodgers Milligan, ‘97
Director of University Relations
Mildred Swann, ‘67
Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs
Contributing Editor
Dr. Paula Barnes
University Editor
Art Direction and Design
Taylored Printing
Contributors
Reuben V. Burrell, ‘47, University Photographer
Joi Brown, ’06, Senior Public Relations Major
Jonathan Cole, Graphic Designer
Andrew J. Coyne, Senior Public Relations Specialist
Ayana P. Gibson, ‘04, Public Relations Specialist
Erica Taylor Harrod, ‘04, Public Relations Specialist
Martha P. Jarvis, Records Secretary
Janell Muhammad, ‘07, Junior Public Relations Major
Alison L. Phillips, Public Relations Specialist
Jamar Ross, Sports Information Director
H
A M MP T O N
A
L U M N I
A G A Z I N E
is published for Hampton University by the
Office of University Relations
Submit story ideas and article information to:
OFFICE OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS
Hampton University
Hampton, VA 23668
Phone: (757) 727-5425 • Fax: (757) 727-5994
[email protected] • www.hamptonu.edu
2
HU Alumni Magazine | Summer 2006
CONTENTS
HAMPTON
THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
Summer 2006
ABOUT THE COVER
Hampton University to
open a proton beam
cancer treatment center.
Features
4
Proton therapy offers hope
6
Alums deliver strong performances
4
10 AOL Vice Chairman mentors Michael Hendrickson
11 Stephanie Johnson preserves memories
12 Biff Henderson is the man behind the camera
12
16 Moses Edinborough is a rebel with a cause
18 Campus News
University helps Hurricane Katrina victims
Dillard University president speaks at convocation
HU is one of America’s top wireless colleges
New alumni affairs director is appointed
Journalism school launches top writers program
Center for Atmospheric Sciences studies Jupiter
GIFTS instrument will improve hurricane predictions
School of Pharmacy receives Alzheimer’s grant
Osher Lifelong Learning flourishes and grows
NIH grants expands chemistry program in Africa
21
23 L.A. Laker Devin Green talks
24 Pirate football scores perfect regular season
26 2005 HU Homecoming
28 Alumni Book Review
30 Class Notes
36 In Memoriam
We want to hear from you.
Please send your comments, story ideas or class notes that you would like to share with alumni and
friends of Hampton University.
Mail: Alumni Magazine, Office of Alumni Affairs, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23668
Email: [email protected]
We reserve the right to edit for clarity and space.
27
Hampton University to build cancer treatment center
Unfortunately, the word cancer often
makes people think of someone they
love. Cancer has touched many lives,
directly and indirectly. Many types of
cancers are also disproportionately
killing African Americans.
The numbers and statistics are often
disheartening. Cancer is the second
leading cause of death for all Americans.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, AfricanAmerican men have the highest cancer
incidence and death rates of all other
ethnic minorities and African-American
women have the highest cancer death
rates.
Administrators and researchers at
Hampton University are doing more
4
than analyzing the statistics about
cancer; they are proposing a treatment
modality that promises to be nothing
short of revolutionary.
Proton beam therapy is a type of
radiation that can precisely target
tumors while sparing surrounding tissue
and causing far fewer side effects than
traditional radiation. Currently there are
only three other proton beam therapy
centers operating in the country, located
at Indiana University, Loma Linda
University Medical Center in Southern
California and Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston. About 5,000 treatment slots are available at these three
facilities. In May 2006, the M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center is scheduled to
begin treating patients with proton
clinical trials. The Florida Proton
Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, will be
open this summer.
“Cancer is such a devastating
disease. This project will bring state-ofthe-art cancer treatment to Virginia,”
said HU President William R. Harvey.
“The Hampton University Proton Beam
Therapy Center will ease human
suffering and save lives.”
In order to move ahead with the
project Hampton University secured
approvals from the Eastern Virginia
Health Systems Agency and the Virginia
Department of Health that led to the
Center receiving the certificate of public
need, a requirement for all major
Technology • Feature
“
I think it is
great that the
battle of this
dreaded disease
will be fought
by Hampton
University.
“
health-care projects in Virginia. The
city of Hampton, Va., has donated six
acres of land off Magruder Boulevard to
Hampton University to construct the
Proton Beam Therapy Center. Once
construction begins, the $189 million
Center will take 36 months to build.
The University will finance the Center
though fundraising and partnerships
and is actively seeking the support of
elected officials.
Traditional radiation treatments often
destroy healthy tissue; therefore doctors
have to limit the dose. The proton beam
delivers a low dose of therapy as it enters
the body and increases as it reaches the
cancerous tumor and drops as it leaves
the body. The physician can shape the
beam to match the shape of a tumor and
so deliver most of the radiation to the
targeted volume, not to the surrounding
normal tissue. The unique capability sets
proton radiation therapy apart from
other forms of external-beam radiation
therapy.
Sylvia “Candy” Sessoms, Class of
1967 and a retired high school teacher, is
Sessoms said that while she feels
wonderful today, she feels even better
knowing that a number of people will
benefit from the Hampton University
Proton Beam Center. The Center will
treat about 2,000 patients a year and will
focus primarily on prostate cancer, but
will also treat patients with breast, lung,
eye and pediatric cancers. The American
Cancer Society estimates that about
232,000 men in the United States will be
diagnosed with prostate cancer this year
and another 30,000 will die.
Members of Brotherhood of the
Balloon (BOB), an independent organization consisting of prostate cancer patients
who have chosen proton treatment, came
to Hampton University in August and
testified about the benefits of proton
beam treatment. The BOB members
shared stories about the effectiveness and
the fewer side effects of the treatment.
One member told of receiving a proton
beam treatment and playing golf in the
same day.
Donald Gothard, a member of BOB,
traveled all the way from Washington,
Mich., to share his story with the
Hampton University community.
“I feel that I was cured from proton
beam therapy,” Gothard said. “It is a
wonderful alternative to surgery with no
invasive side effects. I think more men
should be aware of it. To me it is the
best option.”
The Hampton University project has
received support from many other
organizations, medical facilities, agencies
and alumni.
Hamptonian Yvonne DuBose, ’69 is
an outspoken cancer survivor. She said
that Hampton University is helping to
prove that cancer does not have to be a
death sentence.
“I participate in awareness campaigns
including a cancer survivors’ calendar to
let people know that you can have
cancer, you can survive and you can live
a fulfilling life,” DuBose said. “And
now I can tell everyone that my alma
mater is involved in the fight.”
a cancer survivor who knows all about
traditional cancer treatments.
“I think it is great that the battle of
this dreaded disease will be fought by
Hampton University,” Sessoms said. “I
felt great pride and relief when I heard
that Hampton University was going to
build this cancer center.”
5
Curtain
Alums Deliver Strong Performances
The next time you step into
the movie rental store, take a
look around and realize that
the shelves are lined with the
works of Hampton University
graduates. HU has produced
an Emmy award-winning
casting director, an Oscarnominated costume designer,
theatre producers and
numerous actors and
actresses. A Hamptonian also
dubbed many of the voices
you hear on your kids’ video
games.
6
All of these accomplished graduates tip
their hats to HU’s Department of Fine
and Performing Arts for a successful
preparation into the entertainment
industry. The secret is in the department’s
strong theatre-based foundation, visits by
guest artists, a supportive close-knit
environment, and an undeniable determination to produce a wide range of
productions.
The Department of Fine and
Performing Arts offers degrees in
performance or technical arts, providing
its students with a well rounded, overall
knowledge of the entertainment industry.
Of its graduates, nearly half go directly to
graduate programs.
The department embraces an environment of self-growth by offering more
hands-on opportunities for its students.
Students gain an overall knowledge of
theatre management, production and
organization and then are encouraged to
hone in on specific fields such as
directing, producing and make-up and
costume design. Aziza Anderson, a senior
performance theatre major from
Houston, Texas, found the benefits of
such an environment profound. “I’ve
become more self-motivated and the
department is very conducive to selfgrowth. You’re given the tools and you
use your creativity.”
The department’s roots center around
the realm of theatre. Ruth Carter ‘82
found this background in theatre provided
for an easy transition into the world of
film. Known as one of the leading
Ruth Carter designed costumes for the
student production of Thriller in ‘83.
Curtain Call • Performances
Call
Ruth Carter ’82
costume designers in the film industry,
Carter has been nominated for an Oscar
for her work in Amistad and Malcolm X.
She has designed costumes for such films
as Serenity, Four Brothers, What’s Love Got
to Do With It, and Jungle Fever.
Through a casual encounter in Los
Angeles, director Spike Lee recommended
Carter introduce herself to the arena of
film through a senior thesis project at
UCLA.
Spike Lee wearing a Zoot Suit designed
by Ruth Carter ‘82 in Malcolm X.
“My thoughts about what a costume
designer was were much more realized in
the theatre venue than it was in film…
When working on the project I thought,
‘This was easy! I’m not here painting five
yards of fabric to look like brocade;
instead, I’m buying a shirt from the Gap
and construction boots! I came from a
much stricter background from HU and
the theatre,” she explained.
Since then, Carter has mastered how
to research and develop her characters
within a film. For Daddy Day Care, she
walked through New York City’s Central
Park to research the types of clothing
children wear and what kind of shoes
children play in. With Amistad she
gathered her facts from history books and
looked at the cargo listing to consider
how the characters would have dressed
when stranded at sea.
“Everything I learned from Hampton
allowed me to do a period piece like
Malcolm X. I got it from the leadership
skills as president of the Hampton
Players. I got it from doing A Raisin in
the Sun where I learned to research. I
knew what it took to get period costumes
from the research
books,” she
explained.
Aaliyah Franks graduated in 2004
and quickly found success as a film and
television actress. She has appeared on
“Desperate Housewives,” “Las Vegas,” as
Lady in The Gospel, and in the upcoming
film I Remember. Like Carter, she too has
found that a foundation in theatre has
allowed for her to transition as an actress
into film and television.
“The difference of film and theatre is
that on film you spend four hours doing a
five-minute scene and if you mess up, you
start all over again. In theatre, when you
mess up you have an entire audience
there,” said Franks.
For her, the department’s ability to offer
insight into all aspects of the industry is the
elemental reason for her newfound success.
“I think in order for you to be a good
actor, you need to have a very healthy
knowledge of the arts. I’m a better actress
because I’m a better director. I’m a better
director because I’m a better producer.”
“The number one piece of advice I
would give would be that no matter what
field you want to enter into, definitely study
it fully because you can’t be good at
something you’re not familiar with. At
Hampton I received the
encouragement to
explore all aspects
of theatre and
given the
freedom to
actually do it,”
said Franks.
Sketches from a
HU Terpsichorean
dance and
Malcolm X by
Ruth Carter.
Aaliyah Franks ‘04
Laura Williams ’89 was
also encouraged to become
widely involved.
“The entire time I was
there I was involved in
pretty much every show,
either as a stage manager, a
house manager, an actor, or
at the box office,” said
Williams, who also participated off campus with
Colonial Williamsburg productions.
She now acts as the director of operations for Baci Management, Inc., a
theatre production company that coordinates traveling Broadway shows to venues
across North America. Baci recently
brought “The Lion King” to Chrysler
Hall in Norfolk, Va. Williams primarily
oversees the Washington, D.C. and
Baltimore, Md., markets and manages
special projects.
“After I graduated it was really great to
connect the dots. Through Hampton, we
had the opportunity. We were allowed to
go and be stage managers, be behind the
scenes to gain practical applications. This
is what I now do for a living and the
foundation was laid at Hampton,” said
Williams.
While Michael Ralph ’85 focused on
acting, his time at Hampton also
prepared him with other skills.
“I learned how to build sets. I haven’t
had to build one yet, but if I did, I would
know how,” said Ralph with a chuckle.
Even so, Ralph felt that the program
could have prepared him more for the
details of life as an actor. His first major
role after graduation was as a Jamaican
gangster in Marked for Death starring
Steven Seagal. He regularly appears as
Kelly on “The Bernie Mac Show” and
stars in the upcoming National Lampoon’s
Totally Baked: A Potumentary. He has also
lent his voice to several video games
including “50 Cent: Bulletproof,” “Grand
Theft Auto: San Andreas” and “Star Wars:
Knights of the Old Republic.”
“At HU, the program was great book
wise, but I felt it focused more on theory
than actual practice. I needed to learn
that you don’t necessarily book every job
in the real world,” explained Ralph.
8
Laura Williams
Laura Williams ‘89 in the HU production of “Home.”
Since then the department has found
a way for its students to gain such knowledge while still keeping its core foundation the same. Through visits by industry
professionals, students are able to gain
additional skills and knowledge.
The department has welcomed such
professionals as actor/comedian Sinbad,
“New York Undercover’s” Malik Yoba,
Lackawanna Blues’ Lou Gossett, Jr., and
Dawnn Lewis and Charnele Brown of “A
Different World.” In March, the department welcomed actors Danny Glover
and Felix Justice to the campus for the
African American Film Festival,
sponsored by The Mellon Foundation.
“Guest speakers were influential for
me. Since theatre is very different than
TV, to have someone come in and tell
you about how to get an agent and
manager and where to go from there
made a huge difference,” said Franks.
“We’ve really tried to hone in on
raising the bar by bringing in reputable
and experienced artists. It offers students
a connection to the outside world,” said
Dr. Karen Ward, chair of the department.
Some students even get the chance to
work firsthand with the guest professional in a craft. When Gregory J.
Horton, associate professor of theatre at
St. Louis University and national president of the Black Theatre Network,
served as costume designer for this year’s
production of Tennessee Williams’ “A
Streetcar Named Desire,” Anderson acted
as Horton’s assistant. She gained firsthand knowledge on costume and makeup design from the experience.
The Department of Fine and
Performing Arts has also long been
credited for undertaking productions from
a variety of genres, but in recent years has
truly illustrated its ability to produce plays
and musicals of an even greater scale.
Michael Ralph ‘85
“We have always done different types
of genres, but I think given the current
level of faculty and students, we’ve had to
broaden that range further,” said Ward.
“Plays that others often shy away from,
we face head on.”
An example of this occurred when the
department produced “The Wiz” in
2004. As one of the department’s greatest
African Americans playing non-African
American roles, but we’re trying to fully
prepare our students for a variety of productions,” said Boisseau of the production.
Francesca Gailes, a junior performance
theatre major from New York City, sees
additional benefits for the department to
produce well-known, large productions.
“I think it’s actually very good to do
“We’ve really tried to hone in on raising
the bar by bringing in reputable and
experienced artists. It offers students a
connection to the outside world”
undertakings, “The Wiz” could have
been viewed as a logistical and financial
nightmare for a department of this size.
Instead, the department developed
unique ways to coordinate the large cast,
choreography, and elaborate costumes.
“You’re not limited to the standard
college productions here. That’s not only
good for the directors, but also for the
actors because it gives them the encouragement that they can do out-of-the-box
projects and be successful at it,” shared
Franks.
Another example of the Department of
Fine and Performing Arts’ unique ability to
showcase a broad range of productions was
William Shakespeare’s “Taming of the
Shrew” last year. Under the direction of
Dr. Robin Boisseau, assistant professor of
theatre, the performance offered the
uncommon opportunity for the local
community to see an all-black cast perform
the classic Shakespearian piece.
“There are those opposed to seeing
Michael Ralph ‘85 and his kids with
actor Bernie Mac.
productions on that kind of a scale. The
fact that we can pull off a production like
that and be successful at it attracts people
versus if we produced small plays that
people don’t know anything about. It
becomes a good way for people to
become involved with the school and
hopefully donate,” she explained.
A unique sense of family also resides
among the Department of Fine and
Performing Arts’ faculty, staff and
students. The small size of the department
allows for students to receive individualized attention from the teachers.
Several of HU’s successful alumni can
recall specific instances with faculty
members that made them into the accomplished persons they are today. For Carter,
that sense of family helped to keep her on
the right track towards earning her degree
from HU. Feeling overwhelmed from
school and trying to pay for an apartment, Carter had packed her Volkswagen
Rabbit to return home.
“Linda Bolton Smith was a professor
in the department and my mentor. I had
just stopped by her house to say goodbye
and she said, ‘No, come stay at my house.
Here’s a room so you can finish your
education.’ She saved my life,” said
Carter. “If it were not for her, I
would not be doing what I’m
doing now.”
In Williams’ case, the
close-knit environment
prepared her with advice
she still applies today.
Before beginning every
show, she and fellow students would
stand in a circle to hold hands and “bring
the energy together.”
Dr. Alex Marshall, former chair of the
Department of Fine and Performing Arts,
would stand with them sharing words of
advice. One particular phrase of his has
always stood out for Williams —“Act well
your part, therein all honor lies.”
“You can apply that everywhere
because it’s what you bring to the job.
You have to bring the best to get the
best,” she said.
As one of today’s top casting directors,
Robi Reed ’82 now passes on words given
to her by a former HU faculty member.
Reed has won an Emmy for casting HBO
Pictures’ The Tuskegee Airmen and was
nominated on two other occasions. She
has served as the casting director for such
films as Their Eyes Were Watching God and
Soul Food and such television shows as “A
Different World” and “Girlfriends.”
Robi Reed ‘82 with the Hampton Players.
“Peter Long was clearly my mentor
and he had a lot of advice. He’s the one
who asked me what field I wanted to
pursue when I was questioning myself.
He asked me, ‘There’s people who just
want it and then there’s the people who
can’t live without it. Which are you?’ I
use that decision to this day when giving
people advice when they come to a crossroads,” she shared.
As long as the Department of Fine and
Performing Arts continues to build a firm
foundation in its students, they will
continue to gain more than just a basic
knowledge of the arts. They will find
success.
— Alison L. Phillips
9
Alumni Profile • Michael Hendrickson ’05
Millionaire mentor helps D.C.
student transform into HU alum
MICHAEL HENDRICKSON knows the importance of mentors.
The story of his struggles in school, friendship with the vice
chairman of America Online and eventual graduation from HU was
told in the May 20, 2005, issue of The Washington Post.
Hendrickson, the youngest of four brothers, grew up in a rough
part of Washington, D.C. and his mother was worried about his
future. Although her son wanted to go to HU, Hendrickson didn’t
know how to go about it. Enter Ted Leonsis, vice chairman of AOL,
owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics, and
part-owner of the Washington Wizards.
Hendrickson met Leonsis after the multimillionaire businessman
agreed to mentor a student through “Hoop Dreams,” a not-forprofit organization committed to expanding the academic and career
horizons of public school students in D.C.
Although he is now a successful businessman, Leonsis’ youth
wasn’t much different than Hendrickson’s, and he could relate to the
high schooler’s situation.
The son of a Greek
immigrant, Leonsis’ parents
never went to college and he
grew up in “the toughest neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y.”
“Most of my friends were into
drugs, many have died, and my
neighborhood was a high crime rate area,” Leonsis recalled. “It was a
tough place to grow up.”
“I had great empathy for Michael and his background,” he added.
“I related to his situation and to his desire to excel and work at it but
not knowing what it took to be successful in today’s economy.”
So the busy CEO took Hendrickson under his wing, helping
him with his HU application and with his application for federal
financial aid. After he was wait-listed at HU, Leonsis even made a
phone call to Dr. William R. Harvey, the HU president. Leonsis
convinced him to let Hendrickson attend summer school. If he did
well, Harvey agreed to let Hendrickson enroll in the fall.
Hendrickson did well in his summer classes and enrolled at HU in
the fall of 2001. But even then the D.C. native still faced obstacles.
Back home his mother was battling cancer; meanwhile, he was
struggling in the classroom. He had a 1.8 GPA his freshman
year, according to Hendrickson.
By the end of the year, he was ready to leave HU and
transfer to a school closer to home. But Leonsis convinced
Hendrickson to stay.
“I was down on myself, but he was always behind
me,” Hendrickson said. “So was my mom. And
that motivated me to work harder.”
Not only did Leonsis work with him on his study habits, he also
helped him get a tutor. They began talking for 15 minutes every day
and, as the semesters went by, Hendrickson’s grades steadily improved.
In May 2005, Hendrickson graduated from HU with honors and
received a bachelor’s degree in sports management. He currently
works in Baltimore, Md., where he is in the Verizon Marketing
Development Program, a two-year program that prepares college
graduates to be marketing managers for Verizon.
“HU gave me so much,” he said. “It has a great reputation for a
reason. I got an excellent education.”
Aside from the education, Hendrickson feels that etiquette and
professionalism are the biggest things he took away from HU.
“HU really prepared me for the workforce,” he said. “It prepared
me to be a future leader.”
“Michael is much more self-aware and self confident,” Leonsis
said. “He listens more, he absorbs more, he has more life experience
and a wider circle of friends. He is more articulate. He knows he can
overcome adversity
and he is near selfactualization.”
Looking back on
it, Hendrickson feels
that motivation was
the key to turning
around his academics and moving him toward graduation.
“People tell you that you can succeed and not just be a statistic,”
he said. “That motivates you.”
Hendrickson said Leonsis was a big reason for his graduating.
But for Leonsis, it was just an opportunity to return the favor.
“I was befriended by two to three mentors in my lifetime, each
who helped me to develop as a human and as an executive,” Leonsis
said. “I felt like I was just paying it forward by helping Michael.”
“Michael is such a great young man,” he said. “We have
developed a great relationship and we will be connected for a
lifetime.”
“HU gave me so much. It has a great reputation
for a reason. I got an excellent education.”
10
© 2005, The Washington Post. Photo by Lucian Perkins. Reprinted with Permission.
AOL Vice Chairman Ted Leonsis took Michael
Hendrickson under his wing and Hendrickson
wound up graduating with honors from
Hampton University in May 2005.
— Andrew J. Coyne
Dr. Stephanie Johnson ’93 • Alumni Profile
Fighting to
Preserve Memories
magine experiencing dementia and you
could no longer remember the treasured
memories of your family, children, friends,
or your Hampton University graduation.
According to The Alzheimer’s Association,
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for more than
50 percent of the dementias in the general
adult population.
DR. STEPHANIE JOHNSON,
neuropsychologist at the Johns Hopkins
Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, has
devoted her professional career to research,
education and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Through early diagnosis and drug treatment,
Johnson is working to help prolong the onset of
the devastating effects such as dementia that
Alzheimer’s disease causes.
The Milwaukee, Wis., native graduated
from Hampton University in 1993 with a
degree in psychology. She continued her
education and received a master’s degree in
experimental neuropsychology from Howard
University, and a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from Catholic University in
Washington, D.C. After completing her Ph.D. in
2002, she went to the Joseph and Kathleen
Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
(Bryan ADRC) at Duke Medical Center and was
the first African American to complete a
postdoctoral fellowship at the center. Upon
completion of her fellowship, Johnson went to
the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease
Research Center in September 2005.
As a neuropsychologist, Johnson currently
spends a small percentage of her day in the
clinic diagnosing patients with different
neurodegenerative diseases. The other part of
her day is spent conducting research on
African Americans afflicted with Alzheimer’s
disease.
“I’m studying the influence of stress on
cognition and how that may influence the
development of Alzheimer’s disease. My
passion is working with the patients and being
able to provide minority patients with information. Soon I will be able to spend more time in
the clinic,” said Johnson.
While completing a fellowship at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) on aging,
Johnson became more familiar with
Alzheimer’s disease. “My maternal greatgrandmother had Alzheimer’s disease
and my maternal grandmother now
has it, so I have a personal interest in
the disease,” she said.
While Johnson was working at
Duke Medical Center, she had her
grandmother flown from Wisconsin to the
center to receive a formal diagnosis.
“I suspected that she had Alzheimer’s
disease so I had her come down to the clinic
and they completed a comprehensive exam,”
she said.
Johnson found her experiences at the clinic
so insightful that she decided to start her own
foundation. Johnson established the
International Dementia Research Foundation.
“I saw a lot of African Americans coming in
for treatment at the later stage of the illness
and at that point not much can be done in
terms of drug intervention. Once a patient is
past a certain stage of the disease, the drugs
are just not effective and we can do little to
nothing at that point. I also noticed that there
was a lack of education on Alzheimer’s
disease. People either had no clue what the
disease was or assumed it was a normal part
of aging,” said Johnson.
She conducted research and found that
African Americans have the highest prevalence
of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the statistics from The Alzheimer’s Association, it is
estimated that African Americans have an
increased prevalence of 14 to 100 percent in
comparison to Caucasians.
“Given the statistics and what I saw in the
clinic, I felt that there was a significant need
for me as an African American to start a
foundation that would address these
problems,” said Johnson.
Johnson considers creating the foundation
as one of her biggest personal accomplishments.
“I consider being an African-American
woman in a discipline in which there are very
few of us, and being able to participate in
research at institutions where we often are not
represented such as Duke and Johns Hopkins as
great professional accomplishments,” she said.
Johnson has a strong presence in her field
and community. She sits on the board of AARP
in North Carolina for the organization’s
minority initiative, the Bridges Sickle Cell
Disease Foundation, and the Community
Development Center for Victoria’s Praise
Fellowship Church of God and Christ. She
serves as director of the elder initiative for the
Maryland chapter of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC) and is a member
of the American Psychological Association,
Association of Black Psychologists and the
International Neuropsychological Society.
“I think first and foremost that Hampton
University has provided a strong foundation
for self development, self-confidence, and a
wonderful education. All are important when
you are going to move on to either higher
education or a career,” said Johnson.
She chose to attend HU because of its
legacy of being a great HBCU. “I wanted to
experience college life with peers that looked
like me. I won’t ever have that opportunity
ever again,” she said.
Since Johnson graduated, she has accomplished so much in such a short period of time.
She is proud to be a Hamptonian and is elated
that the university has taken part in major
scientific research that is related to her field.
In the fall of 2005, the HU School of
Pharmacy received a $400,000 grant to research
a blood test that will allow doctors to diagnose
Alzheimer’s disease at a very early stage.
“HU got a wonderful opportunity to
contribute to a field in which we know so little
about. HU can be on the cutting edge of
developing new techniques for diagnosis. It
also affords students the opportunity to
experience studying the field of Alzheimer’s
and gives them the experience to potentially
explore it in the future.”
Johnson’s hard work and dedication to
science and research have led her to a very
successful career. Her continued research only
uncovers more mysteries about Alzheimer’s
disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Johnson believes that people need to be
educated and understand that Alzheimer’s
disease can affect anyone, and that there is
research that says vascular conditions such as
hypertension, diabetes and heart disease may
be a risk factor for the development of
dementia.
“I want people to know that
Alzheimer’s disease is having a significant effect on the African-American
community and that we are affected,”
said Johnson.
— Ayana P. Gibson ‘04
11
Alumni Profile • Biff Henderson ’67
The
Funny
Man
Behind
the
BIFF HENDERSON has traveled the world: to
the Olympics, the NBA finals, and more
Super Bowl games than one can easily
count.
As the stage manager for CBS’s “The
Late Show with David Letterman,” he has
been a regular part of late night television
entertainment for over 25 years.
On camera, he has appeared as Dick
Tracy, a Las Vegas showgirl, and a clown.
In 1998, Henderson traveled with his wife
Carolyn, a retired New York City special
education teacher, and Letterman’s mother
to cover the Olympic Winter Games in
Nagano, Japan. And in 2002, he traveled
across the United States for “Biff
Henderson’s Map Across America Summer
Tour,” identifying the hometowns of
12
CAMERA
viewers who had written into the show.
Through his on-screen antics,
Henderson has developed quite a loyal
and devoted fan base, many of whom have
created unique tributes to him. He has
had an ice sculpture made of his face and
a horse, which competed in the Kentucky
Derby, named after him.
“One of the more complimentary
things was when a guy did a portrait of
me with Legos. Now all I’m waiting for is
Madame Tussaud’s wax museum,” he
joked. “I’m halfway there with the Legos,
but I’ll really feel like I’ve arrived with the
wax museum.”
Much of Henderson’s work actually
occurs behind the camera on “The Late
Show.” He is in charge of everything you
see on the screen: the guests, the talent,
the stagehands, technicians and scenery.
As stage manager he acts as a liaison
between the host, David Letterman, and
the director. On a typical day, Henderson
might start off with a production
meeting mid-morning, then go into a
rehearsal, and by 5:30 p.m. he is taping
for the show.
But at “The Late Show” there is no
such thing as a typical day.
“It’s a very unique experience. This is
not like any other show. It’s different
every day,” said Henderson, who spends
nearly 25 percent of his time traveling
and doing remotes for the show.
Even when the show is taping, things do
not always go as planned. For instance, in
Biff Henderson ’67 • Alumni Profile
A young Henderson (left) with
tennis legend Arthur Ashe as kids.
James J. Henderson, Sr.
and daughter Dr. Ann
Brockenborough
many of the on-camera skits,
Henderson and Letterman often
find themselves ad-libbing.
“He is quick on his feet. You never know
what he might do or say. So, there’s never a
dull moment. For our onstage interactions,
we have a plan, but it can easily change,”
said Henderson of Letterman.
According to Henderson, the only
thing guaranteed to occur is laughter.
“I know I will laugh and that’s a good
thing. At some point of the day,
somewhere in the course of time,
something humorous is going to happen
we hope,” he explained.
FAMILY TIES WITH HU
Henderson grew up in Durham, N.C.,
where he excelled at tennis and once
played against legend Arthur Ashe in a
tournament. Doug Smith, visiting
professor of journalism ethics at HU’s
Scripps Howard School of Journalism
and Communications, knew Henderson
through the American Tennis Association
(ATA) circuit.
Henderson visited hospitalized troops
in Khandahar, Afghanistan.
“We have tennis as a mutual love,”
said Smith. “He’s a few years younger
than I am, so we didn’t play each other,
but there were so few of us who played
tennis during that time that we kept in
touch.”
He visited the HU campus regularly
for tennis tournaments and
accompanied
his father,
Hamptonian
James J.
Henderson,
Sr., to university board
meetings.
Henderson’s father
served on the HU
board of trustees
for 28 years, 15 of
which as chairman
of the board.
Henderson, Sr.
retired from the board
in 1983 as chairman emeritus.
In fact, Henderson and his father are
part of a large HU family. His sister, Dr.
Ann Brockenborough, graduated in
1960. His wife’s, Carolyn, father and
grandfather attended HU. There are also
several cousins and in-laws on both
Henderson and his wife’s sides of the
family who have graduated from the
university.
Henderson’s children have also
followed in the family tradition. His
daughter, Celeste Henderson, graduated
I know I will laugh and
that’s a good thing. At
some point of the day,
somewhere in the course
of time, something
humorous is going to
happen we hope.
in 1995 and is now a school psychologist
for a school district in Maryland. His
son, James J. Henderson, III, received his
degree in 1999 and now works as the
director of communications and public
relations for Elite Travel magazine. The
family and numerous friends recently
gathered on Feb. 5 in Durham, N.C., to
celebrate his mother’s 100th birthday.
After attending Tennessee State
University in 1962 for one year,
Henderson attended HU until 1967,
studying business administration.
“The thing I always appreciated and
enjoyed about HU at that time was that
it was so family-oriented. And everyone
on the campus knew each other. I just
remember everyone being friendly and
close together,” said Henderson.
CAREER IN LATE NIGHT TV
After HU, Henderson’s career in
television productions began at NBC.
In the late 1970s, he served as stage
manager for a variety of assignments
including several space shuttle
missions, the World Series, and
“Today” with Bryant Gumble.
Henderson first met Letterman in
1980 when Letterman briefly
hosted his own daytime talk show,
“The David Letterman Show,” for
six months.
13
Henderson teamed up with Letterman
again when NBC began airing the
successful “Late Night with David
Letterman” after Johnny Carson’s “The
Tonight Show.” In 1993, he followed
Letterman to CBS for “The Late Show
with David Letterman.”
“It’s been a blessing to work here,” he
said.
“The Hampton family is proud of Biff
for his accomplishments and for the ways
that his life has done the singing. The
success that he has achieved would make
any parent proud,” shared Laron Clark,
vice president for development at HU.
“As he has succeeded, he has not only
brought recognition and honor to
himself, he has brought recognition to
Hampton University as well.”
VISTING TROOPS WITH THE USO
Over the years, Henderson has met
numerous celebrities, from United States
presidents to actors, musicians to
athletes. But according to Henderson,
one of the greatest highlights of his career
came when he, David Letterman and
Paul Schaffer visited U.S. troops in
Baghdad, Iraq, for the first time in 2003.
Henderson, a Vietnam veteran himself,
found the experience to be an educational eye-opener.
“It was an incredible experience. I
spoke with lots of troops and thought the
overall attitude was pretty good. You
know, you hear so much about the war,
but to see it firsthand was a whole
different story,” he explained.
Since the war started, the three men
have participated in USO tours during
the Christmas holidays to Iraq twice and
Afghanistan once. While there, they have
signed autographs, distributed t-shirts,
and talked with the soldiers, many of
whom have submitted their own “Top 10
Lists” for the show. In 2002, Henderson
also visited troops in Bosnia twice on his
own, where he did segments that aired
live for the show.
“
You know, you hear
so much about
the war, but to
see it firsthand
was a whole
different story.
“
Alumni Profile • Biff Henderson ’67
“The USO is grateful to the entertainers who volunteer their time and
talents to visit the troops on USO tours
around the world. We especially appreciate those who, like Biff Henderson,
spend the holidays with troops who are
far from home and their loved ones.
David Letterman, Paul Shaffer and Biff
Henderson spent Dec. 24, 2004, with
service members in Kuwait and Iraq. We
know this visit brought a much needed
morale boost to our men and women in
uniform,” said Edward A. Powell, USO
president and CEO.
Henderson hopes to return again.
“Educationally, it was an experience of a
lifetime.”
— Alison L. Phillips
David Letterman USO Tour from Khandahar, Afghanistan, Dec 24-25, 2002
Photos courtesy of the U.S. Army.
14
Income for the rest of your life
A substantial charitable deduction
The satisfaction of giving to
future generations of Hampton
University students and its
programs
Sadie M. ’43 and Clarence “Jap” Curry ‘41
Planned Giving Benefactors
For more information about making a life-income gift, bequest
or other planned gift, contact Joy L. Jefferson, Associate Vice President
of Development, at (757) 727-5764.
Moses Edinborough ’86 • Alumni Profile
A Rebel with a Cause
Alumnus brought hip-hop culture to a major network
MOSES
EDINBOROUGH is
remembered by the
Class of 1986 as an
outspoken student who
often challenged the
status quo. And he has since gone on to
revolutionize the hip-hop culture and is
now president of US Entertainment.
Edinborough played defensive end,
number 67, for the Pirates. The St.
Thomas, V.I., native was recruited to
Hampton on a football scholarship. He
had high expectations for his “Home by
the Sea.”
“I got a little bit of everything. The
social life was good. I definitely ended up
with a connection that made me feel at
home,” Edinborough said.
After graduating from Hampton
University, Edinborough was hired by the
CBS legal department. At the time, the
Writers Guild of America was on strike.
After spending about six months at CBS,
nightclub, he bumped into Peter Dardy, a
high-ranking representative for MTV. He
expressed his passion to be a filmmaker
to Dardy and was told to stop by his
office the next day. He did just that and
was hired on the spot.
He went on to create and produce “Yo!
MTV Raps,” a music video program, which
ran from 1988 to 1995 and was hosted by
Doctor Dre, Ed Lover, and T-Money on
weekdays and Fab Five Freddy on
weekends. In addition, the show featured
interviews with rap stars, live studio
performances on Friday, and comedy.
Edinborough’s groundbreaking idea
allowed for hip-hop music and culture to
be showcased on a major network. This
opportunity was a major success for him.
“Hip-hop was a great vehicle for a
black man’s voice; whether right or
wrong, good or bad, at least we would be
paid attention to,” he said. Through this
program hip-hop was able to flourish.
His vision was for the music industry to
I got a little bit of everything. The social
life was good. I definitely ended up with
a connection that made me feel at home,
he was promoted to president of the
Black Employee’s Association. Along with
Jesse Jackson and others, he attempted to
persuade CBS to hire more minorities.
CBS was in the middle of a corporate
takeover and began to downsize.
Edinborough was targeted as a “troublemaker” and it was rumored that CBS
might fire him. Fortunately, he was aware
of the situation and quit before he got his
pink slip. The last thing he needed was to
be fired from his first job directly after
graduation.
He freelanced for a while and was
accepted to New York University Film
School. He only spent one semester
there before catching the eye of MTV.
One night, while hanging out at a local
16
take hip-hop music seriously and to
consider it a major art form.
Edinborough also went on to produce
other MTV hits, “Unplugged” and “Fade
To Black” a/k/a “MTV Jams.”
EDINBOROUGH DESCRIBES HIMSELF as
being a bit of a rebel during his matriculation at Hampton. “I was a different
kind of soul there, even though I was a
part of the social system.”
He crossed the burning sands of
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. in 1984.
As a mass media major he felt the
curriculum was geared more towards
journalism, but he knew he wanted to
pursue a career in filmmaking. One of
his most memorable professors was Lottie
Knight, a professor in the Department of
Mass Media Arts in Armstrong Hall. In
his eyes, Knight stood out just because
she was a character. “She was older and
close to retirement, but she didn’t tolerate
nonsense,” he said.
Edinborough wanted to go down in
the history books for making a difference
at Hampton University. He participated
in numerous marches and protests. One
of the many protests focused on the issue
of apartheid. He also has a secret to tell,
one that he has held for 20 years. He
published the underground newspaper
“The Burning Sphere.”
Although Edinborough may have been
classified as the “bad boy” of his time, he
said, “I was in love with Hampton, I’m
still in love with Hampton, but I was
eager to start my career.”
ACCORDING TO EARTH’S BIGGEST
MOVIE DATABASE, “Moses also helped
introduce up and coming talents like
Will Smith, Mark Wahlberg, Ben Stiller,
Puff Daddy, Colin Quinn, Queen
Latifah, Tupac and Jennifer Lopez.” More
recently, he has produced and directed
the “One Night, One Star” event on
Showtime with R & B artist Usher and
“Interscope Presents the Next Episode”
with rapper Xhibit.
It has also been noted that Moses
recognizes the late Ted Demme as his
first creative partner, one of his closest
friends and earliest influences. On the
other hand, he views filmmaker Spike
Lee more so as a peer than a role model.
Aside from his career, he is not
married and has no children. “It’s just
me,” he said.
Edinborough readily admits that
without a Hampton education, he
wouldn’t be able to do what he’s doing
now. “Graduating from Hampton gave
me a sense of arrogance. I felt like I was
part of the cream of the crop.”
— Janell Muhammad ’07
2006 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
FORD MEAC/SWAC CHALLENGE
Sept. 2
vs. Grambling State
Birmingham, Ala.
6:00 p.m.
Sept. 9
HOWARD
Hampton, Va.
6:00 p.m.
Sept. 16
N.C. A&T
Hampton, Va.
1:30 p.m.
NEW YORK URBAN LEAGUE CLASSIC
Sept. 23
vs. Morgan State
East Rutherford, N.J.
4:00 p.m.
Sept. 30
at Delaware State
Dover, Del.
6:00 p.m.
Oct. 7
vs. Central State
Indianapolis, Ind.
3:00 p.m.
Oct. 14
NORFOLK STATE
Hampton, Va.
1:30 p.m
Oct. 21
at South Carolina State
Orangeburg, S.C.
1:30 p.m.
Oct. 28
WINSTON-SALEM STATE
Hampton, Va.
2:00 p.m.
Nov. 4
BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Hampton, Va.
1:00 p.m.
Nov. 11
at Florida A&M
Tallahassee, Fla.
1:00 p.m.
Nov. 18
OPEN
CIRCLE CITY CLASSIC
HOMECOMING
Home games are bold.
*Dates and times may change without prior notification.
Campus News • Hurricane Katrina
University community helps Hurricane Katrina
victims, displaced students
IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE
KATRINA, thousands of students from
New Orleans universities were left
displaced. And many natives of the Big
Easy and the Gulf Coast region
confronted the more daunting task of
starting their entire lives over again.
Illustrating the generosity that resides on
this campus, the Hampton University
community immediately joined together
to help all of those in need.
Classes had just begun at Dillard and
Xavier Universities when students were
told to evacuate because of the
approaching hurricane. Most left their
possessions behind, assuming they would
return within a few days.
When nearly 80 percent of New
Orleans became engulfed in water due to
levee breaches, many students realized
they had to begin searching for a temporary new academic home. HU, in
conjunction with the National
Association for Equal Opportunity in
Higher Education (NAFEO), arranged to
open its doors to any displaced Xavier or
Dillard student for the fall semester.
“In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,
Hampton University is poised to offer any
assistance necessary to the faculty, staff
and students at our sister schools,” said
President Dr. William R. Harvey,
chairman of the board of NAFEO.
Immediately, the HU Office of
Admissions received over 90 calls from
students inquiring about transferring to
or taking classes at HU. Working on a
case-by-case basis, 49 displaced students
arrived on the HU campus and enrolled
in classes in the fall semester.
But the HU community wanted to do
more. HU hosted a clothing and shoe
drive and the Hurricane Katrina Relief
Fund for persons wishing to make
Over 40 students from New Orleans took
classes at Hampton in the fall.
monetary donations was established.
Meanwhile, HU students took relief
efforts into their own hands and began
hosting numerous fundraisers throughout
September. Student Recruitment Team
leaders met with the Admissions Office
to develop a relief effort action plan to
assist the displaced Dillard and Xavier
students at HU.
Dillard U. President speaks at Convocation
HU students present her with a check for $10,000
HER CAMPUS WAS SUBMERGED in water
and three buildings burned down in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. However,
Dillard University will rise again, Dr.
Marvalene Hughes, President of Dillard,
said at the Hampton University Opening
Convocation held on Oct. 2.
Hampton students held several
fundraisers to benefit those displaced by
Hurricane Katrina. At the ceremony,
Hampton Student Government
Association President Stephen Wesley
presented Hughes with a check for
$10,000 for Dillard’s recovery efforts.
Dillard, located in New Orleans, was
temporarily closed due to substantial
damage caused by the winds of Hurricane
Katrina and subsequent flooding. The
University has since opened, but is
operating with limited resources.
“What I believe is in my hands is
preserving the legacy of Dillard
University,” said Hughes. “For me that
means I must tell the story of a wonderful
university and a wonderful city.”
Dillard is a historically black university established in 1869. Hughes became
18
Dillard’s first female and ninth president
in the history of the institution on July 1.
For 11 years, Hughes served as the president of California State University’s
Stanislaus campus, where she was the
first woman and first African-American
president.
“After 11 years of a successful presidency in California,” said Hughes, who
earned a Ph.D. from Florida State
University, and bachelor’s and master’s
degrees from Tuskegee University, “I
heard my calling and came to Dillard
University.”
Hughes was president of Dillard for
less than two months when the
hurricane hit. Only a week after
welcoming new and returning
students to the school, the
students were bused out of the
path of the storm.
Hughes thanked Hampton
and schools around the
nation for accepting
students from Dillard and
other institutions along
the Gulf Coast.
Hampton accepted over 40 students from
schools closed due to Hurricane Katrina.
Hughes said that despite her obviously
hectic schedule, she accepted the invitation to speak at Hampton because some
of her students are at
Hampton and she
will go where her
students are.
Making the Grade • Campus News
University named one of America’s top colleges for wireless capability
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY is one of America’s top 50
colleges for wireless Internet capability, according to a new
survey released Oct. 11 by Intel Corp. and the Center for
Digital Education.
HU, which recently unveiled wireless Internet access
throughout campus, was ranked number 39 and is one of
only two Virginia schools on the “Most Unwired” list.
Over the past several years, wireless-enabled laptops
have become a necessity for many college students,
allowing them the ability to access information no matter
their location. Over the 2005 summer break, HU installed
more than 300 wireless “access points” across campus to
provide Internet access to students in the fall semester.
In 2003, The Princeton Review named HU the 9th “Most
Connected” campus for students’ access to technology. In
addition, HU is working with the White House initiative to
assist other HBCU’s in developing their information
technology capacities. HU is also working with Virginia Sen.
George Allen and Congressman Randy Forbes in developing
opportunities to provide an equitable landscape for our
community’s cyber infrastructures.
The “Most Unwired” survey was based on the
percentage of each campus that is covered by wireless
technology, the number of undergraduate students and the
computer-to-student ratio for each school. The study
examined schools with more than 1,000 students.
School or Nursing Receives 100% Passing Rate on Licensure Exam
THE HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
School of Nursing had 100
percent passing rate on the
National Council Licensure
Examination for Registered
Nurses (NCLEX). According to
Dr. Constance Hendricks, dean
of HU School of Nursing, the
school has had more than a 50
percent increase in their
students’ passing rate since the
first quarter of 2004.
The School of Nursing
receives a quarterly report of the
passing rate for all of the schools in the
nation categorized by state and types of
programs, and is further broken down by
the schools within the state.
“Last year we had a 48 percent passing
rate for the entire year, and this quarter
we had 100 percent passing rate,” said
Hendricks. “This is further proof that the
new NCLEX success plan is working.
The plan involved assessing the
curriculum, faculty development,
academic support for the students and
enhancing the environment by providing
computers and testing labs.”
Journalism school launches program
to produce top college writers
THE SCRIPPS HOWARD SCHOOL OF
JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATIONS
(SHSJC) has launched the new Academy
of Writing Excellence (AWE) program, a
non-credit program aimed at producing
the finest college writers in the nation
and fulfilling the strong need for diversity
in the journalism and communications
industries.
The AWE program is aimed at
enhancing students’ writing skills, emphasizing accuracy, balance, fairness, high
ethical standards, integrity, and the First
Amendment. The program is targeted
towards journalism and communications
students and consists of two tiers, the
General AWE program and the Core AWE
program. The General program is
comprised of over 50 students who met the
minimum entrance requirements to enter
the program. The more select Core
program consists of 17 students who
demonstrated advanced writing skills when
applying for the program.
“HU should be producing the leadership of today, that’s our role,” said Tony
Brown, dean of SHSJC. “If you can
write, you can write your own ticket.”
19
Campus News • Research
Center for Atmospheric
Sciences to study Jupiter
NASA HAS AWARDED Hampton University’s Center for
Atmospheric Sciences a $170,000 grant as part of NASA’s
Outer Planets Research Program. The Outer Planets
Research Program supports diverse scientific investigations
that contribute to the understanding of the outer solar
system, ranging from the asteroid belt to the Kuiper Belt.
“This grant will support studies of Jupiter’s largest
moon, Ganymede, using measurements from the Galileo
mission to Jupiter,”
said Dr. William R.
Paterson, an HU
research professor
and principal
investigator for the
grant.
During a series
of encounters with
Ganymede, instruments on board
the Galileo spacecraft showed that
the moon
possesses its own magnetic field, which partially shields it
from the intense radiation surrounding Jupiter.
Researcher’s instrument will
improve hurricane predictions
WITHIN A FEW YEARS, weather forecasters could be better
equipped to predict the path and speed of a hurricane thanks to
an innovation by Dr. William L. Smith, a professor in HU’s
Center for Atmospheric Sciences.
He is currently waiting for NASA to test the ability of his
Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer
(GIFTS).
GIFTS measures changes in atmospheric temperature, water
vapor, carbon monoxide and, ozone and the wind velocity from
the motion of water vapor molecules and clouds. It will then be
able to provide researchers with the data needed to forecast a
hurricane, including when and where it will land.
Currently, 24-hour forecasts concerning a hurricane’s landfall
can be made within 100 miles. Eventually, according to Smith,
that will be improved to 50 miles.
NSF grant to introduce nanotechnolgy to HU
THANKS TO A $200,000, two-year grant from the National Science
Foundation, HU will soon introduce nanotechnology to undergraduate
students in engineering and science fields. Nanoscience is a very new
area, concerned with the study of materials at the atomic level. The
Nanotechnology in Undergraduate Education award will support the
introduction of undergraduate students to the field.
Nanotechnology is so important that Virginia is looking to generate
trained personnel for the workforce. Therefore, HU is one of eight Virginia
colleges involved in the “Nanotechnology in the Commonwealth”
initiative.
“Nanotechnology is revolutionizing the way we understand and
engineer the world around us,” said Dr. Eric Sheppard, dean of the School
of Engineering and Technology. “This project enriches our classrooms with
the state-of-the-art in practical working scales.”
20
Research • Campus News
School of Pharmacy Receives $400,000
Grant for Alzheimer’s Research
THE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY received a
$404,163 grant to develop a blood test
that will enable doctors to diagnose
Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier stage.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent
neurodegenerative disease of aging in the
U.S.
Evidence suggests that abeta protein
plays a primary causal role in the
progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
“The precipitation of abeta protein
damages the brain cells, causing loss of
memory and function,” said Dr.
Chengan Du, assistant professor of the
HU School of Pharmacy.
“The current diagnosis of the disease
is by behavioral change and cognitive
analysis, but the problem is that by the
time a change in behavior is observed,
the protein has already damaged the
neurons and treatment is not as effective,” Du said. “With this study we
plan to develop an analytical method to
measure the concentration of abeta
protein in the blood using High
Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC) coupled with Tandem Mass
Spectrometry.
Hampton University School of
Pharmacy will collaborate with the
Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at
Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston, Texas.
Osher Lifelong Learning
Institute Flourishes, Grows
IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR, the College
of Continuing Education’s Osher
Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) has
seen phenomenal success and growth.
By May, over 100 adults were enrolled in
the program and OLLI is expected to
grow to at least 150 participants by
August.
The program, which formally
launched in August 2005 with the
receipt of a $100,000 operating grant
from the Bernard Osher Foundation,
offers intellectually stimulating learning
opportunities for Hampton Roads
citizens, ages 55 and older.
OLLI recently began offering a new
course in genealogy. Students learn how
to begin researching archival information
regarding their ancestors and discover
methods of tracing their family lineage.
“This course goes much deeper than
just attending family reunions. We will
teach students how to do basic research,
how to talk with their older family
members, and how to piece together
their history,” said Dr. W. O. Lawton,
dean of the College of Continuing
Education.
This spring, the OLLI began offering
classes in ballroom dancing. This highly
anticipated course offers an ideal way for
adults to have a great time while
exercising. Participants learn a variety of
ballroom dancing styles and come
together at the end to compete for prizes.
Hampton University is the only
HBCU and the third university in
Virginia to host an OLLI. The courses
require a $35 annual membership fee
plus a $50 registration fee per term,
allowing members to enroll in three
courses each term of the year. Retired
professors and professionals teach the
nine-week classes.
NIH grant allows
HU to expand
chemistry
program in Africa
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY’S DEPARTMENT
OF CHEMISTRY has received a four-year
grant from the National Institutes of
Health to support the International
Research Training program.
Each summer, the IRT takes a group
of selected students and faculty to the
University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania,
and Egerton University in Kenya where
they participate in research programs in
natural products and environmental
health.
The grant from the NIH will allow the
project to establish a third site, located at
the University of Benin in Benin City,
Nigeria.
The research the students conduct in
Africa is unique in many respects. For
example, Tanzania’s rain forests have more
than 10,000 vascular plant species, 25
percent of which are believed to be found
nowhere else in the world. Students
spend the 10 weeks at one site. Here they
conduct lab work, fieldwork, and write
up their research.
21
22
Devin Green • Athletics
From HU to L.A.
A sit down with former Pirate standout and current Los Angeles Laker, Devin Green
The Office of Sports Information’s intern Jeff Granger sat down with his former teammate Devin Green to gather some insight into
how the two-time All-MEAC performer made it to the NBA.
Can you briefly take us from your last
game at Hampton in the 2005 MEAC
Tournament, to how you ended up
playing for the Lakers?
After the last game, I was real sad
because I never thought it would end like
that, although we did accomplish a lot.
That senior year turned me into a man
because it made me a stronger person
and got me ready for what I’m going
through right now. The MEAC
Tournament got me a lot of exposure
because we were winning and a lot of
people started talking. That made them
want to see what kind of talent I had.
I got in the PIT [Portsmouth
Invitational Tournament] because one of
the guys from Michigan State cancelled.
I was the next choice to get in, so it
pretty much was a blessing by God. I
kept pushing and working out, and kept
praying and eventually ended up in the
PIT. The crazy thing is that I ended up
being on a team with a person I grew up
with in Ohio, Jawaad Williams from the
University of North Carolina. That
made the situation much more relaxing
and made me more comfortable because
I had someone I knew on my team. All
the scouts were there and our team did
good enough to get that extra game and
that extra exposure.
Following the PIT, I worked out for
several NBA teams and was eventually
invited to play on the Lakers’ summer
league team. They were impressed with
some of the things I did in the summer
and extended me another invitation to
training camp. And actually, now that I
have been here, I discovered the Lakers
saw me at the University of California
Tournament that we played in early in
my senior year. Brian Shaw came out
and saw that tournament, and one of the
head scouts, Bill Berker, is actually from
Akron [Ohio] and graduated from my
high school.
When and how did you find out that
you had made the team and what was
your reaction?
I actually found out the day before the
final cuts. Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant
and Devin George came in and pretty
much said congratulations. I worked
hard and I deserved it and they pretty
much told me that I was a Los Angeles
Laker. I was real excited inside, but
being the type of person I am I didn’t
jump up and down and scream because it
was always in my head that I was going
to make it. I never thought I wasn’t
going to make it. It was definitely a
relief, but I also knew that it was just the
beginning. I don’t want to relax and get
comfortable, but I made it and I’m very
excited and thankful. It’s just the beginning. I’m going to keep working hard
until I am a Hall of Famer.
What is one thing about the NBA that
you didn’t know prior to joining the
Lakers?
Actually, some of the concepts are
different from college as far as different
defensive schemes. The defensive concepts
are different. It’s pretty hard to explain and
even grasp, but I’m learning every day.
The screen and roll is definitely more effective in the NBA than it is in college,
because you have a greater talent level.
How hard has it been to make the transition from a four-year starter at Hampton,
to a role player with the Lakers?
I’ve never really been in a situation like
this, because I have always been the best
player or one of the best players on a
team. I’m adapting because it is a learning
process and an experience which will
make me a better player and person in the
long run. Being on the bench, I get to
see things about the game that I wouldn’t
see if I was playing. Sometimes you have
to take a step back to take a step forward.
What’s the most difficult part about
being in the NBA?
The most difficult part is not playing
because making it is not good enough.
I’m not satisfied and I want more than
sitting on the bench. I know I can go out
there and help this organization compete.
It’s hard to complain when there are
veterans playing in front of you that have
already won championships. I went to a
workout with the Lakers before the draft
and they asked me, “Would you rather
have played on a team that was good and
you didn’t play much, or play on a losing
team and play a lot?” My answer was
that there is nothing like on the court
experience, but there is also nothing like
learning from great players and coaches
like I have in the Lakers organization.
What’s it like playing for Phil Jackson
and alongside Kobe Bryant?
It’s definitely a great opportunity because
I’m very attentive to everything they say
and do. They don’t realize or recognize
it, but they are actually creating an AllStar. I watch everything that they do.
Is life in Los Angeles everything you
expected?
Yes it’s everything I expected. It’s got a
nice flow to it and great weather. Overall
I’m just very happy. I get the opportunity to bring my family out here and
have a good time.
What did you do with your first pay
check?
I framed it. Craig Hodges, who
played with Michael Jordan and the
Chicago Bulls, told me to frame it.
Many small college players feel that
because they don’t attend a large university, they really don’t have a chance of
being recognized. If you could speak to
them, what advice would you give?
I would tell them that if you have a
dream, keep fighting for your dream and
don’t let anyone tell you what you can
and can’t do. Always keep your eyes on
the big picture and just keep working
towards your goals because you never
know what might happen. And when
the opportunity presents itself you have
to be ready to step through the door. If
you’re not prepared, you pretty much cut
yourself out of a blessing that you didn’t
think you were going to get. I would
just tell them to keep working hard. It’s
not where you go or where you play
because if you can play, it’s their job to
find you.
— Jeff Granger ’06
23
Athletics • Pirate Football
Pirate football scores a perfect
regular season
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY TURNED IN
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING FOOTBALL
season in 2005 when the Pirates were
named as co-champions of black college
football by the Sheridan Broadcasting
Network (SBN). The Pirates and
Grambling State were tied for first place
in the final SBN poll with 277 points
apiece, giving Hampton its fourth SBN
title (1994, 1997, 2004, 2005) under
coach Joe Taylor. This is the first time in
32 years that two teams have shared the
crown.
In his 14th season at Hampton, Taylor
guided the Pirates to an undefeated
regular season at 11-0, earning back-toback Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) championships and NCAA
playoff appearances along the way. The
fourth-winningest active coach in
Division I-AA, Taylor improved his
overall record to 181-71-4 and helped the
Pirates climb to No. 2 in the country,
matching their highest ranking ever.
The Pirates ended the season as one of
the top defensive teams in the country,
ranking second in scoring defense (14.0),
third in passing defense and sixth in total
defense. On offense, Alonzo Coleman
and Ardell Daniels became only the third
duo ever to rush for more than 1,000
yards each in consecutive seasons with
1,326 and 1,044 yards respectively.
Hampton had 12 players selected to
the all-conference team, led by Coleman
and linebacker Justin Durant who were
named Offensive and Defensive Players of
the Year in the MEAC. In addition,
senior Gerell Golightly garnered
Offensive Lineman of the Year honors,
marking this the fourth consecutive year
that a Pirate lineman has won the award.
When national honors were
announced, Durant, Golightly and placekicker Andrew Paterini found themselves
listed among the top players on The
Sports Network, The Associated Press,
The American Football Foundation and
the Walter Camp Football Foundation
All-American Teams.
— Jamar Ross
24
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2006
Bazaar
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Student Center
Alumni Meet and Greet
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Student Center Ballroom
(Sponsored by HU and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2006
Homecoming Parade
10 a.m.
Downtown Hampton
Donor Reception
noon
Get ready for
Student Center Ballroom
(by invitation only)
HU vs. Winston-Salem State
2 p.m.
Armstrong Stadium
Homecoming 2006!
TO HAMPTON UNIVERSITY’S
GREAT SUPPORTERS:
There are many ways to be involved with Hampton University’s
athletic teams, but we must always be mindful to do so within the
University, MEAC and NCAA’s rules and regulations.
It is our goal to strive for athletic excellence, which can only be
achieved with the ethical conduct and integrity. We are grateful for
your loyal and continuing support, and rely upon you to partner with
us in creating a championship environment for all our athletic teams.
Please feel free to contact the compliance office by phone at
(757) 727-5737 or by email at [email protected]
if you have any questions or need clarification.
25
Homecoming
HU Homecoming 2005
An evening of laughs kicked off this
year’s Hampton University homecoming
weekend. On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the
newly renovated Ogden Hall was filled
with alumni and current HU students for
a comedy show featuring comedians from
BET Comic View.
The fun didn’t stop with the comedy
show. HU alumni had the opportunity to
watch current Hamptonians strut their
stuff on the catwalk at the HU Gossip
Fashion Show. Great music, lights and a
runway made everyone feel as if they were
at an authentic New York City fashion
show.
On Friday, as more alumni arrived, the
Student Center and surrounding areas
were crowded. Everyone purchased food
or items from vendors and student organizations at the bazaar. In the evening,
everyone gathered in the Convocation
Center to watch the annual Homecoming
Step Show. This year the Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity Inc. and the Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority Inc. won the show.
Homecoming weekend wouldn’t be
complete without the annual
homecoming parade that kicked off
Saturday’s events. Armstrong Stadium was
filled with family, friends, faculty, staff,
students and alumni that cheered for the
undefeated HU Pirates football team as
they beat South Carolina State University.
Prior to the big homecoming game,
the parking lot was packed with food,
laughter and memories as alumni,
students, families and more held tailgate
parties. Among the groups were members
of the HU Tri-Bi Council.
According to David A. Johnson, a
1974 HU alumnus, the Tri-Bi Council
represented three male social clubs:
Olympic Social Club, Fidi Amici, and
Omicron, and two female social clubs:
Phyllis Wheatley Literary Society and
Calliope Literary Society. The Tri-Bi
Council was established to represent the
concerns of the clubs to the administration of Hampton Institute. Between 1908
and 1946, Hampton was unable to have
established national Greek letter organizations on campus, so the students turned
to social clubs as an alternative. This
26
response was consistent at other predominately black colleges.
The Olympic Social Club, Omega
Sigma Chi, was the first Greek-lettered
social club and was established in 1916 as
the Chesterfield Smoker Club. In 1918 it
was renamed the Olympic Social Club.
Gregory Williams, 1968 graduate and
member of Fidi Amici, said that Fidi
Amici was established in 1927 and that
during his tenure at HU, the social clubs
operated like the national Greek organizations. The social clubs even had plaques
hung across the walls of the ‘grill’ like the
Greek organizations and a pledge process.
Because the social clubs were not nationally recognized, students were able to be
members of both a social club and Greek
organization. Williams pledged Fidi
Amici in the fall and Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity Inc. in the spring.
“In 1986, Dr. Greer Wilson, director
of student activities at HU, reduced the
pledge period of all the campus national
Greek letter organizations due to consistent hazing and pledging misconduct,”
said Johnson.
According to Johnson, Wilson’s strict
pledging rules resulted in no first-semester
pledging for social clubs and limited the
pledge process to two weeks for the
National Pan-Hellenic organizations. “At
no time were the social clubs involved in
any irregularities during their firstsemester pledge period, yet the social
clubs were penalized and lost their
charters with no hearing,” said
Johnson.
Among the five social
clubs established on HU’s
campus, The Calliope
Literary Society is the only
one still in existence. “The
Society was established in
1924 (Kappa Lamda
Epsilon) and I have been
advisor to The Calliope
Literary Society since
2003,” said Eleanor Earl,
assistant professor of
English.
“Since the absence of
social clubs from the campus,
the organizations have reestablished
themselves as national fraternal organizations that meet on campus during
homecoming and graduation weekends.
This national movement has allowed the
former Tri-Bi Council clubs to establish
endowed scholarships at HU.
In addition to the annual homecoming
tailgate parties, the Tri-Bi Council will
host their first reception during the 2006
homecoming weekend, consisting of the
social club members and their guests. For
more information, contact the HU Office
of Alumni Affairs at (757) 727-5425.
— Ayana P. Gibson ’04
27
Alumna spreads God’s love in novels
Victoria Christopher Murray ’77
“TEMPTATION.” “JOY.” “TRUTH
BE TOLD.” “GROWN FOLKS
BUSINESS.” What do these books
all have in common? They were
written by Victoria Christopher
Murray, a critically-acclaimed
Christian-fiction writer and
graduate of Hampton University.
Murray, Class of ’77, began
her tenure at the then-Hampton
Institute in 1973, where she
lived in Kelsey Hall for two years
before moving to Dubois Hall,
then a co-ed dormitory. She
majored in communication
disorders and participated in
many on-campus organizations,
including the Student
Government Association and
Student Leadership Program.
Originally from Queens, N.Y.,
Murray was well known around
campus for her infectious laugh
and hometown pride. She also
was known for her adventurous
spirit.
“My freshman year, I would
sneak my male friends, visiting
from Boston, in the dorm all the
28
time,” Murray said. “I had the
whole floor looking out for us.
Those were some of the best
times.”
According to Murray, there
are many positive facets of
Hampton, including the
beautiful campus, the way it
prepares students for life, and the
relationships students form.
“The best aspect of Hampton
is the life-long friendships,”
Murray said. “My best friend was
my next-door neighbor in
Dubois. We were even in each
other’s weddings.”
After graduating from
Hampton Institute, Murray
attended New York University
where she joined Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, Inc. and received
the Master of Business
Administration degree in 1979.
Shortly thereafter, in 1981, she
got married. For many years,
Murray had a lucrative career in
finance, working 10 years in
corporate America before
opening a financial services
agency for Aegon, USA. But her
desire to write was renewed in
the late 1990s, and she selfpublished “Temptation,” her first
novel, in 1997. It was republished in 2000 by a major
publishing company.
“Temptation” made numerous
best sellers’ lists including Emerge
and The Dallas Morning News. It
remained on the Essence best
sellers list for nine consecutive
months and was nominated in
2001 for an NAACP Image
Award in Outstanding
Literature.
Since then, Murray has
written three more novels and
contributed to an anthology,
“Blessed Assurance,” which
features other Christian fiction
writers, including Jacquelin
Thomas, Patricia Haley, S. James
Guitard, Terrance Johnson and
Maurice Gray. Her writing has
led to other awards, including
Essence best seller and the 2002
Gold Pen Award for Best
Inspirational Fiction for “Joy.”
Her latest novel, “Grown Folks
Business,” was released this past
June.
Murray always knew she
wanted to be a writer. However,
when she grew up there were not
many black writers, so she did
not know what steps to take.
The writers she loved were
classics, such as Richard Wright,
James Baldwin and Claude
Brown. Little did she know one
day, she too would be admired as
a fantastic writer. According to
Murray, all writers should be
respected.
“I admire many of the writers
today,” Murray said. “Anyone
who can sustain themselves in
this career is amazing to me.”
Murray lives an interesting,
“I just want
to write
entertaining
stories that
people enjoy
and I always
want readers to
understand the
message of
God’s love.”
Victoria Christopher Murray ‘77 • Book Review
exciting life as a writer. She has a house in
Los Angeles, Calif., and an apartment in
D.C., though she spends the majority of
her time in Washington. She uses her
days for personal errands and usually
writes from 7 p.m. to midnight every
night. She goes on book tours every year,
from June to August, to promote her new
books, which are released every June.
According to Murray, she’s living her
life doing what she loves best.
“I love that I can create anything
that I want,” Murray said. “I love that
at the beginning of my books, every
page is blank, but after several months
there are 400 pages of words that form
together to tell a tale that people enjoy.
I love that I’m living my passion and
doing what I’ve always wanted to do.”
The only regret Murray has is that
she will not be able to grow old with
her husband. He passed away in 2001,
the same year she was to speak at her
25th-year college reunion. She never
made it. They have one child,
Monique, who is now 16.
According to Murray, she doesn’t try
to be a profound writer. “I’m not trying
to write the next great American
novel,” Murray said. “I just want to
write entertaining stories that people
enjoy and I always want readers to
understand the message of God’s love.”
To aspiring writers, Murray espouses
the virtues of reading and writing.
“You cannot call yourself a writer if
you’re not doing something toward that
every day,” Murray said.
To current Hampton students, she
says to enjoy these wonderful days in
college.
“I know you’ve heard this before,
but if I knew then, what I know now, I
would have just lived in the moment,”
Murray said. “I was so anxious to get
out of college and get started with ‘my
life.’ I didn’t realize that I had a pretty
wonderful life already right at
Hampton.”
—Joi Brown ’06
Review 2006
Alumni Book Re vie w
Oscar H. Greene ’41 is the author of
“Hampton The War Years Nostalgic
Reminiscences of College and World War II
1937-1946.” Greene
reflects upon his self
discovery at Hampton
when America was
emering from the Great
Depression and heading
for World War II. Greene
faced numerous challenges
aside from the global
turmoil. His experiences are extraordinary
and pertinent to study of humanity, civil
rights, history and self-worth.
Julia Chance ’84 co-authored a book
entitled “Sisterfriends, Portraits of Sisterly
Love.” Chance wrote the essays and her
co-author photographed the women
featured in the book. The book presents a
collage of impressions of AfricanAmerican women
both well-known
and unknown. The
essays in
“Sisterfriends” tell
beautiful stories of
sisters, whether
related by blood or bonded by fate. The
stories are uplifting, funny, and sometimes
heartbreaking. “Sisterfriends” reflects the
entire experience in the words of women,
and ultimately illuminate the fascinating
relationship of women who call themselves
“sister.”
Terry Smith ’90 penned a book entitled
“Helvena.” This story is intended to
stimulate society with
conscious reverence for
life. The story centers
around Helvena, God’s
mate; together they
create great kingdoms.
Barnes and Noble has
categorized “Helvena” as
“visionary, metaphysical
fiction.” Smith’s first book is titled “Jason’s
Final Coming.”
DuEwa M. Frazier ’96 published a novel,
“Stardust Tracks on a Road.” This novel is
a classic literary offering from a young
writer with an old, traveling soul. This
book gives honor and praise to legendary
artists such as Ntozake Shange, Sonia
Sanchez, and Katherine Dunham, and
Zora Neale Hurston. Giving readers a taste
of her jazz-blues-soul
poetry style, Frazier
writes in free verse and
haiku as she enlightens
on the gems of Harlem,
the future of our
children, divine
intuition, sacred love and
the motivation and
strength that make women fierce. The
setting of Stardust is sure to take you everywhere as you experience Frazier’s spoken
work in its powerful written form.
Yolonda D. Coleman ’98 released her
debut novel, “Sugar Rush: Love’s
Liberation.” This novel will touch those
who believe in love. With an omnipotent
blend of fictional prose and poetic verse
tossed in as a pre-course of what’s to come
in each chapter, Coleman
has carefully woven
together the experience of
two people who meet on
a path to spiritual
enlightenment. This
novel is written from
both the male and female
perspectives.
29
1940-1970
CLASS NOTES
1949
Thirty-three members of
the Class of 1949 met in
Chattanooga, Tenn. for a
reunion on Sept. 8-11,
2005. The class had a
mini-conference/reunion.
This is the 6th consecutive
year that the class has met
in a different city.
1940s
1945
Marian Morgan was inducted into
the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame’s
Class of 2006. Morgan was instrumental in helping to develop six
African-American women Olympic
track and field gold medalists from
1949-1971. She was the pipeline that
helped make the Tennessee State
Tigerbelles a national power. In 1961
she was selected to coach the United
States’ Women’s National team that
competed against Russia in Moscow.
1947
Golan Frazier received the Durham,
N.C., Inter-Neighborhood Council’s
Neighborhood Hero Award. Frazier
was contacted concerning a disoriented man walking around in his
neighborhood. He approached the
gentleman, determined his destination and delivered the man to his
brother’s house. Frazier is known for
countless selfless acts. He uses his
talents as a builder and repairman to
assist his neighbors.
30
higher education, public affairs and
television journalism. At GH
Associates he provides consultation
services in areas of communications,
public policy analysis and development, government relations,
lobbying and affirmative action,
with special expertise related to the
construction industry.
1952
Arthur Holmes, Jr. was promoted to
Montgomery County’s (Maryland)
director of the Department of Public
Works and Transportation. Holmes,
a retired U.S. Army major general,
1960s
1950s
1960
Wallace C. Arnold, Interim
President of Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania, announced that
Cheyney was ranked as one of the
top producers of African American
masters degrees in the nation by
Black Issues in Higher Education
magazine. CU ranked #20 out of
100 institutions that awarded education graduate degrees in 2003-2004
to African-Americans.
1950
Gustav Heningburg, president of
Gustav Heningburg Associates Inc.,
received recognition for a
distinguished
career encompassing civil
rights,
community
leadership,
urban affairs,
1965
Theodore T. Jones, Jr. recently
presided over the New York City
transit workers strike and also received
national recognition for his promotion
to administrative judge of Brooklyn
Supreme Court, Civil Term, Kings
County. Justice Jones is on the board
of directors for Judicial Friends, a
former member of the Committee on
Character and Fitness, and a past
recipient of the Brooklyn Bar
Association’s Judicial Excellence
Award.
1966
Clarence W. Pearson, Jr. has been
inducted into the College of Fellows
of the American Institute of
Architects
(FAIA), the
highest level of
membership in
the American
Institute of
Architects.
There are 700
members of
which 81 are
AfricanAmerican.
Pearson is the
second Hamptonian to receive this
honor and is currently employed as
department chair and professor of
architecture, University of the
District of Columbia.
1970s
1970
Winston K. Walker was one of six
Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI)
Stewardship Award Winners. A cofounder of Denver’s James P.
Beckwourth Mountain Club, Walker
has spent more than 2,270 hours
leading 190 outdoor trips. He also
committed more than 600 days of
service to project funding and
fundraising. Walker participates in
projects that help protect natural
landscapes, lead youth groups and
teach safe and responsible enjoyment of outdoor recreation.
1970-1980
1971
Constance Drain Greene is now a licensed
funeral director in the state of North
Carolina. She is the newest addition to the
Adkins-Drain Funeral Service. Her duties
will include funeral director and director of
operations. Prior to this achievement, Greene
worked for 30 years for the state of Maryland.
Col. Lonnie Stith retired from the U.S.
Army in a ceremony at the Pentagon. Col.
Stith served in numerous command and
staff positions both within the United
States and overseas. Col. Stith is currently
employed by Booz Allen Hamilton, an
international consulting firm located in
McLean, Va.
1972
Gwendolyn A. Bailey was promoted from
assistant director for residential services to
executive director of Youth Service Inc., in
Philadelphia, Pa. Youth Service is a private
child welfare agency providing placement
and prevention services to children and
families. Bailey is also the president,
Philadelphia Chapter, National Hampton
Alumni Association Inc.
1978
Celestia Simmons has been appointed
community librarian at the Twain Branch,
Hartford Public Library, Hartford, Conn.
Prior to this appointment, Simmons worked
as a children’s librarian at the Mark Twain
Branch and was previously a cataloguer at a
local school in Farmington, Conn.
Lynnette Young Overby, Ph.D., associate
professor, Department of Theatre, Michigan
State University, published “Interdisciplinary
Learning Through Dance: 101 Moventures,”
co-authored with Beth Post and Diane
Newman, and “Dance: Current Selected
Research Volume 5,” co-authored with Billie
Lepczyk. Overby received the following
honors: Higher Education Resource Services
(HERS) Management Institute 2005 and
National Dance Education Organization
Leadership Award 2004.
1976
Debra DeBose Whiting has been
promoted to assistant director for advancement for HorizonsUpward Bound at the
Cranbrook School in
Bloomfield Hills,
Mich. In this capacity
Whiting will be
responsible for annual
giving development
activities. The
mission of the
Horizon-Upward Bound program is to
prepare students with limited opportunity
from the Detroit metropolitan area to enter
and succeed in post-secondary education.
1977
Moses A. Hardie, Jr. has been appointed
assistant vice president, people services
officer at ChoicePoint Inc., in Atlanta.
Hardie is chief human resources officer for
the Insurance Services Division, including
data services, insurity and insurity claims.
Insurance Services is ChoicePoint’s largest
business unit.
1980s
1980
Victor D. Evans, unit chief, Federal Bureau
of Investigation, was recently included in
the National Register’s Who’s Who in
Executives and Professionals 2006-2007
Edition. This register identifies individuals
who have reached a level of recognizable
success in their respective fields. The 20062007 Edition will be registered at the
Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Evans is unit chief of the FBI’s Space
Management Unit, which manages all overt
facilities for the FBI nationwide.
Joseph Williams, III is founder and CEO
of Matador Artist Management and cofounder of a planned Triad-based record
label entertainment company. Williams
manages gospel and R&B singers such as
Melba Moore, Douglas Miller, Gabriel
Hardeman, ReeRee & Matt, and Michelle
McKinney Hammond.
1981
Rita R. Henderson was selected to lead the
City of Richmond, Va.’s Office of Minority
Business Enterprise effective January 2,
2006. She will serve as deputy director.
She most recently served as director of the
Virginia Council on Human Rights, a
governor-appointed
position where she
administered legislative mandates and
policies and developed
a statewide Equal
Employment
Opportunity compliance program.
1981
Tami Simmons has been named senior vice
president of Wachovia Bank. She is responsible for leading Wachovia’s philanthropic
initiatives in the headquarters city of
Charlotte, N.C. Her day-to-day responsibility is to manage the $2.8 million foundation budget and community involvement
programs for Wachovia’s 18,000 employees
in Charlotte. She previously served as
manager of diversity recruiting and she is
also a certified diversity practitioner.
1983
Gwyndolyn Lee-Lomax, director of the
CHROME Community Enrichment
Program and a teacher at Francis Mallory
Elementary School in Hampton, Va., was
selected as one of the 2005 Hampton
Roads Local Heroes by Bank of America.
She was chosen for this award for her
dedication and commitment to Hampton
Roads youth development. Lee-Lomax was
given a $5,000 contribution to the
Hampton CHROME Community
Enrichment Program, a non-profit organization. This program has served 300
students in grades K-8 in areas of science,
mathematics, social studies and other
related subject content areas.
1986
William E. Johnson, III was hired as the
12th city manager for the city of College
Park, Ga. Johnson becomes the first
African-American city manager of College
Park in the city’s 110-year history. He has
15 years of experience in municipal government and served briefly as the deputy
county administrator for King George
County, Va. Prior to that Johnson served
as the deputy city manager for the city of
Richmond, Va.
1987
Dr. Angela Peters was named the 2005
Governor’s Professor of the Year for fouryear colleges and universities in South
Carolina. Peters was awarded a plaque and
a $5,000 check for her efforts in teaching,
31
1980-1990
CLASS NOTES
advising, and mentoring students.
Peters is an associate professor and
chair of the Department of
Chemistry, Claflin University,
Orangeburg, S.C.
1990s
1991
Samara Heaggans, process
engineer-research and development,
Campbell Soup Company, received
the Distinguished Achiever for
Research award at the recent
National Women of Color (NWOC)
Technology Awards Conference in
Atlanta, Ga. Heaggans helped to
launch products such as Pace Queso
dipping sauce and Campbell’s lowcarb soups. She also co-leads the
outreach committee for Campbell’s
African-American Network (CAAN).
Rebecca A. Mathis wrote a charming
story, “The Noise,” that appeared in
the July 2005 issue of Highlights for
Children
magazine. In
“The Noise,” a
rebus, Max
cannot fall
asleep at his
friend Jason’s
house because
of an unusual
noise. After
guessing several things the noise could
be, he gets up to investigate, and
discovers Jason’s dog snoring in the
hallway. Mathis is a member of the
Society of Children’s Book Writers
and Illustrators (SCBWI). “The
Noise” is her first published story.
Lamonte M. Woodard has been
hired as a project architect in the
Virginia Beach, Va., office of Burgess
& Niple. In this position, he is
responsible for developing the architectural staff
and overseeing
architectural
designs. He is
currently
working on
design-build
projects for
Langley Air
Force Base.
32
Edward L. Woods, Esq. was recently
elected as the new president of the
Black Entertainment and Sports
Lawyers Association (BESLA).
BESLA is an international organization of lawyers and other entertainment and sports industry executives.
Woods will serve a two-year term as
president and plans to focus on development and fundraising to provide
more opportunities and scholarships
for students.
1992
Marc E. Rankin, MD was certified by
the American Board of Orthopedic
Surgery in
September
2005. He
currently
practices orthopedic surgery
specializing in
sports medicine.
He has
presented
research papers at national meetings
and has published his work in prestigious medical journals. He is an
adjunct faculty member at Howard
University School of Medicine.
Karen D. Smith, former assistant
principal at McKinley Technology
Senior High School, was named
principal at the Southeast
Washington School, Washington,
D.C. Smith was one of 44 new
D.C. principals named.
Dalric Webb, data acquisition, data
quality, and instrumentation business
leader, transitioned from Lynn
Product Development and Delivery
to Evendale to provide leadership for
the integrated data acquisition team
within Product Development and
Delivery Center of Excellence
(PDDCoE) Engineering. Webb is
currently a major in the U.S. Army
Reserve and is the current leader of
the Greater Boston Chapter of GE
Volunteers, ELFUN Society, and
African-American Forum.
1994
Derwin Smiley is the host of “The
Derwin Smiley Show” that debuted
in Indianapolis, Ind. This show
aims to refresh youth by providing
choices and
solutions to
common youth
issues such as
relationships,
money, education, drugs,
alcohol,
violence, and
pregnancy. The show will provide
serious dialogue for local students,
parents, teachers, and community
leaders.
1996
Tasha Cooper Coleman is the new
assistant general counsel for Movado
Group Inc. The Movado Group is
comprised of watchmakers and
jewelers. Coleman received her law
degree from the Columbia Law
School in 1999.
Sabin Duncan is the new principal
of Dr. Charles Drew Academy in
Ecorse, Mich.
This position is
a step closer to
his ultimate
dream of
becoming a
college president. Duncan
is currently a
doctoral
student at Eastern Michigan
University.
1997
Heather W. Coleman is a home
mortgage consultant for Wells Fargo
Mortgage Company. Coleman
states this position will allow her the
opportunity to provide her community, family and friends with home
financing.
Ryan C. Greene, author and
motivational speaker, has started a
book publishing company, Bakari
Book
Publishers. He
published the
2nd Edition of
his book,
“Success Is In
Your Hand:
Unlocking The
Successful
Person You
The Wes
ti
601 Sou n Charlotte
th Colleg
e St.
Charlott
e, NC
For m
www.hu ore info visit:
charlotte
alumni.c
om
1990-2000
CLASS NOTES
Were Designed To Be.” Greene is
also the developer and host of his
own radio talk show, “Success Is In
Your Hand,” and founder and CEO
of a personal development company,
Maximum Leadership Concepts.
Mariam Sydnor Nix successfully
defended her project thesis in molecular virology and received board
approval of her doctoral degree from
the Albert Einstein College of
Medicine in New York. Nix plans to
conduct post-doctoral research at
Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
Keshia B. Warner achieved her
National Board Certification for
teaching in
November
2005. This
certification is
the highest
achievement in
the teaching
profession.
Warner is
currently in her
seventh year of teaching third grade
in the Chicago Public School System.
1998
Tameka Bowser, Captain, U.S.
Army Nurse Corps, is now serving at
Fort Dix, N.J., as an Army ROTC
Nurse Counselor.
Walter Jones has been appointed
director of field services for Cox
Communications
at its corporate
headquarters in
Atlanta, Ga. As
director, Jones is
responsible for
the development,
planning, execution and support
of company-wide
field service programs. He provides
strategic direction and counsel to
Cox’s local field service operations.
1998
Kimberly Oliver was selected as one
of four finalists in the National
Teacher of the Year competition.
She is the first Maryland teacher to
34
be a national finalist since 1992.
Oliver was previously honored as
Montgomery County Teacher of the
Year and Maryland Teacher of the
Year. President Bush presented the
National Teacher of the Year Award
during a ceremony at the end of
April. Oliver currently teaches at
Broad Acres Elementary School,
Silver Spring, Md.
Dr. Timothy A. Thornton received his
doctoral degree in statistics at the
University of
Chicago.
Thornton is the
first AfricanAmerican to
receive a Ph.D.
from the
University of
Chicago,
Department of
Statistics. He has accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of
California at Berkeley, Department
of Statistics.
2000s
2000
Jay A. Brown was awarded a $1,000
scholarship courtesy of the National
Forum for Black Administrators
(NFBPA), Central Virginia Chapter
and was selected by the NFBPA’s
national office to participate in the
organization’s mentor program. This
program selects young, aspiring
public administrators and pairs them
with seasoned administrators in the
profession for one year. Brown is
pursuing a doctorate in public
administration and policy at Virginia
Commonwealth University.
Siraaj Hasan and Curtis Blackwell
are co-founders of the Lifting as We
Climb Foundation Inc., Detroit,
Mich. This foundation is devoted to
encouraging youngsters in poor
communities to pursue education
beyond high school. They held a
camp in Detroit that was devoted to
football training and college admissions. The idea was to connect a
sound body to a sound mind.
2001
Cidra Sebastein of The
Brotherhood/Sister Sol, was the
winner of 2005 Leadership for a
Changing World Award. The Ford
Foundation chose the awardees from
a pool of nearly 1,000 national
nominations. The award was given
to individuals and leadership teams
who are tackling some of the nation’s
most entrenched social, economic
and environmental challenges.
2002
Stacey M. Brewer graduated from
The Pennsylvania State Dickinson
School of Law. While in law school,
Brewer was a member of the Black
Law Students Association, managing
editor of the “Arbitration Law
Review,” the recipient of the
Jefferson Award (an award given for
academic excellence in the course
“Right To”), and a member of the
entertainment law clinic. She plans
to specialize in entertainment law.
2003
Catherine Hawes has been selected
to serve on the ad hoc committee on
mandatory paralegal regulations for
the National Federation of
Paralegals. This committee will
determine whether or not the
paralegal profession needs to be
regulated and the steps needed to
take in order to get there. Hawes is
presently serving as PACO’s NFPA
Primary Representative and the
committee chair for the Professional
Development Committee. She is a
paralegal working for Buckingham,
Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP.
Erin Trent founded the Economic
Empowerment Group, a student
organization focused on educating
the African-American community on
savings, investment, and home and
business ownership. She plans to
work towards the economic development and revitalization of lowincome urban communities. Trent is
in a residency program in public
policy as a 2005-2006 Coro Fellow
in Public Affairs.
Join alumni and friends of Hampton
University in the following cities:
Charlotte, NC
Birmingham, AL
August 16, 2006
September 1, 2006
New York, NY
Indianapolis, IN
September 22, 2006
October 6, 2006
The tour will raise awareness about the University,
its accomplishments, successes, strategic directions
and is an opportunity to bring alumni
and friends of the University together in
support of Hampton.
Regional invitations will be sent.
For more
information
call
757-727-5764
Detroit Legacy Tour Reception,
September 2, 2005
35
memoria m
in memoria m
Teresa Alexander AbdumMuhaymin ’95 of Charlotte, N.C.,
December 17, 2005
Clarence R. Albea ’75 of Newport
News, Va., October 6, 2005
Leon W. Armistead ’52 of Suffolk,
Va., December 10, 2005
Alice Perry Bell ’52 of Chesapeake,
Va., June, 2005
Kolby Wragg Bilal ’95 of
Williamsburg, Va., July 1, 2005
Roscoe Blount ’75 of Brooklyn,
N.Y., January 10, 2005
Southey A. Booker ’49, of
Hampton, Va., October 27, 2005
Thomas Cannon ’54 of Richmond,
Va., July 2, 2005
John W. Carr, Sr. ’38 of Charleston,
S.C., September 2, 2005
Lee E. Carter ’48 of Tacoma,
Wash., August 16, 2005
Marie House Cooper ’38 of
Greensboro, N.C., September 7, 2005
Shirley Humes Davis ’52 of
Westbury, N.Y., December 19, 2005
Bernice Jackson Everson ’39 of
Hampton, Va., November 16, 2005
Evelyn Adolphe Fennell ’33 of
Atlanta, Ga., January 22, 2005
Edward D. Foster ’78 of Hampton,
Va., January 2, 2006
Russell L. Gaines ’46 of Bridgeville,
Del., July 13, 2005
Rhoda E. Gregory ’37 of Norfolk,
Va., December 6, 2005
Collins J. Harris, III ’79 of
Mitchellville, Md., September 30,
2005
Charlotte Mackel Harrison ’39 of
Lawrenceville, Ga., October 21, 2005
Emma Ross Hoffler ’67 of Norfolk,
Va., October 30, 2005
Delores Dabney Hunt ’59 of
Hampton, Va., September 17, 2005
36
John H. Ingram, Jr. ’49 of Newport
News, Va., December 9, 2005
Kenneth L. Riddle ’04 of
Clementon, N.J., August 29, 2005
Margaret Hill Irvine ’52 of San
Francisco, Calif., September 16, 2005
George H. Robinson ’35 of
Winston-Salem, N.C., June 2, 2005
Lucille Wilson Irving ’58 of Red
Oak, Va., May 31, 2005
Georgia Atkins Ryder ’44 of
Norfolk, Va., December 22, 2005
Kennell A. Jackson, Jr. ’62 of
Stanford, Calif., November 21, 2005
Warren A. Sanford ’46 of
Chesapeake, Va., June 14, 2005
Thomas A. Jeter, Jr. ’47 of Dover,
Del., August 7, 2005
Julius R. Scott, Sr. ’50 of West
Haven, Conn., December 17, 2005
Willie O. Johnson ’65 of New
Orleans, La., October 22, 2005
Darian T. Spruill ’85 of
Mitchellville, Md., December 6,
2004
Frissell W. Jones ’41 of
Greensboro, N.C., January 15, 2006
Dwight O. Joyner ’76 of Landover,
Md., June 17, 2005
Melvin E. Lancaster ’34 of Deale,
Md., October 25, 2005
Leslie L. Lewis ’89 of Springdale,
Md., November 20, 2005
Herbert S. Massey ’50 of
Charleston, S.C., June 1, 2005
Sarah Murphy McDowell ’40 of
Greensboro, N.C., October 13, 2005
Virginia Dillard Miller ’37 of
Bronx, N.Y., December 8, 2005
Stephen W. Mims, Jr. ’54 of
Columbia, Md., June 3, 2005
Wesley W. Morris ’81 of
Sicklerville, N.J., January 25, 2006
Bernice Donastorg O’Reilly ’69 of
St. Thomas, V.I., November 30, 2005
Hampton R. Pearson, Sr. ’53 of
Burke, Va., August 19, 2005
Vera Edmondson Perry-Small ’41
of Hampton, Va., September 9, 2005
Ella Winston Strother ’37 of
Baltimore, Md., April 22, 2005
Bernard K. Stuart ’51 of Ft.
Wayne, Ind., October 26, 2005
Earnest C. Taylor ’71 of
Washington, D.C., November 26,
2005
Natalie Cunningham Thomas ’79
of Ocoee, Fla., January 22, 2006
Frances Lockley Thompson ’50 of
San Antonio, Texas, November 26,
2005
Lawrence E. Thornton ’50 of
Simsbury, Conn., August 20, 2005
Marilyn Martin Tucker ’70 of
Hampton, Va., November 3, 2005
Francel A. Walker ’61 of Charlotte,
N.C., January 2, 2006
Dorothy Latimer Washington ’40
of Washington, D.C., August 3,
2005
Brian B. Welsh ’92 of Philadelphia,
Pa., July 19, 2005
Burner Foster Powell ’35 of
Chicago, Ill., June 24, 2005
Esther Coaxum Wright ’76 of
Newport News, Va., December 8,
2005
Jodie E. Powell, Jr. ’46 of
Portsmouth, Va., July 6, 2005
John W. Young ’51 of Syracuse,
N.Y., December 28, 2005
Dorothy Jones Price ’86 of
Norfolk, Va., September 28, 2005
Exercise Your
WILL POWER
Making a bequest is often the best option for
individuals who want to create an enduring legacy
at Hampton University. Our planned giving
professionals can help you shape your intentions
to best meet your objectives.
Contact: Joy Jefferson, Hampton University,
Office of Development, Hampton, VA 23668
757/727-5764 • Fax: 757/727-5936
Email: [email protected]
37
ublished by the Hampton University
Museum, the International Review of
African American Art is a journal of
exceptional quality to collect. With articles by
outstanding writers, numerous color reproductions
of art work, enameled paper and durable covers, it
is a unique publication for your coffee table.
And it’s not just for arts
professionals. The journal is
intended for anyone interested in a stimulating intellectual and sensory
experience of African
American culture. Recent
issues have featured articles
on African American master
artists and the market value
of their work; relations
between mathematics,
physics and visual art in the
African Diaspora; and the
“visual explosion” of art,
design and architecture
projects in Harlem, New York.
For subscription and other information,
visit: www.hamptonu.edu/museum/
publication.htm.
38
MEMORIAL CHURCH
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Hampton University plans to
increase the endowment base for scholarships in order to provide more financial aid to high achieving students.
In this regard, the University is
offering seats of pews in Memorial
Church for $1,000 each as a means of
generating a $1,000,000 endowment for
scholarships.
Your name or the name of the
person whom you wish to honor or
memorialize can be inscribed on a
plaque (as shown below) and affixed to
the seat of a pew in Memorial Church.
You are invited to join with others
in this effort to generate $1,000,000 in
endowment funds for scholarships.
If you wish to reserve a seat in your
name or the name of a loved one,
please complete and sign the form. A
one-time gift of $1,000, or a pledge of
this amount
payable
In Memory of
over five
Given by
Lawrence Patterson years will
Lawrence Patterson
reserve a
seat.
In Honor of
Lawrence Patterson
To assist Hampton with its endowment scholarship program, it is my intent to
reserve _________seat(s) for the sum of $ _________________.
(Check one): ❏ I have enclosed my check for $_______________.
❏ I pledge $ __________________ payable over five years.
I will forward my first payment by _____________________.
Name: __________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
Signature: ______________________________ Date: __________________
I’d like my plaque to read: In Memory of __________________________
In Honor of ___________________________
Given by ______________________________
PLEASE SEND CHECKS AND MONEY ORDERS TO:
VICE PRESIDENT FOR DEVELOPMENT
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
HAMPTON, VIRGINIA 23668
39
OFFICE OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
HAMPTON, VIRGINIA 23668
If address is incorrect
please indicate change.
Do not cover or
destroy this label.
Mail changes of address
to OFFICE OF
ALUMNI AFFAIRS.
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Hampton, Virginia
Permit No. 73

Summer 2006 - Office of Alumni Affairs

Transcription

Similar documents

Kites Against Cancer

NHBA Member Hosted Events

Pocono Raceway Pocono Raceway

Pages09and322013-02-12 15:451.0 MB

It`s as easy as... - Hampton Chronicle

these are some in our guestbook

Hampton Roads for the Holidays TOUR

Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway

Architectural Digest - November 2013

view the Grass Tour brochure