Parting Ceremony

Tomorrow students start classes. New students started arriving last Monday and by Wednesday they all arrived. Part of that process was a formal program to allow families their last moments before leaving their children to begin this new journey.

After a good message from our AD, good music and prayers, we had parents leave their children. One of the most powerful days in the academic year.

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2014 Faculty-Staff Institute

Last week we kicked off the year with our faculty-staff institute. This is our annual gathering to address current issues (like Title IX), as well as get a state of the university address (which I do). Last year we began doing a service recognition luncheon based on years of service. This year we recognized people with at least 20 years of service.

Our guest speaker was Dr. Jeff Gardere. You've seen him on something- Good Morning America, Today Show, CNN, or Love and Hip Hop to name a few. He helped us begin conversations about how to help people resolve conflict. We invited 100 student leaders to participate in this discussion and he did a fantastic job relating to all ages. He already has an invite for a January command performance!

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Lauren & Marcel

 

This past weekend we were in Little Rock as two of my former students were married. Lauren is a former Miss Philander Smith College (who graduated in 3 years then finished law school), and Marcel is a former SGA president (now working on a doctorate). I don't know if I ever saw this coming (I always keep my ears open about who is dating who), but it was a great ceremony.

 

(Y'all started late though and you know I like to be on time!)

I am very proud of them, as well as many of their friends who were in the wedding or came back. This group was part of the Renaissance era of PSC. Their performance as students, and now as young professionals, is what lifted the institution into new levels in terms of alumni giving, foundation support, and even rankings. What they did during those years was amazing. Glad to have played a small role in their development.

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Higher Education Sunday, Cascade United Methodist Church, Atlanta

This past Sunday I was the speaker at my "home" church, Cascade United Methodist in Southwest Atlanta. There were probably 50 college students in attendance for the service, attending schools all across the country. Cascade always produces strong students.

 

 

My topic was "Do The Work: The Gospel According to Iyanla." The text came from Proverbs 22:1-16. The foundation is Proverbs 22:6 which of course is a famous one- train up a child in the way that they should go so that when they are old they won't stray from it. I offered thoughts for students, parents, and the church about the work they must do.

 

The bonus was seeing Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook, 4th president of Dillard who served for 22 years. He often attended Cascade when he retired when my father was senior pastor. So it was cool seeing him and his wife. He recently turned 85!

 

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HBCU Awards 2014

I am pleased that we were able to host the 2014 HBCU Awards. This is the 4th year of this program sponsored by HBCU Digest. We were excited to be nominated as a finalist in 8 categories, and we won 3 awards.

 

For the second year in a row we were named best nursing program. We have really done a lot to improve our program. A team of external consultants came in over a year ago to help us strengthen the program, and all of our 2014 graduates completed the required comps. Those that have taken the NCLEX have all passes as well. 

 

Cynthia Butler-McIntyre, past president of Delta Sigma Theta, was named female alumnus of the year. She was the centennial president of the organization, and this past fall presented Dillard with a $50,000 donation for our SAFE fund for students. She and I have known each other for a decade and she was one of the first people to congratulate me when I was appointed to Dillard.

 

And I was named  male president of the year. Definitely the result of the work of everyone at Dillard. Just glad to be on the team!

 

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How To Make Your President Media Minded

Here is my presentation from the HBCU Media Week conference.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByZdwNtAIOguQ3ktWVgxenQzSms/preview

Hip Hop Sisters

 

During the Essence Festival this weekend I attended a reception sponsored by the Hip Hop Sisters Foundation, which was started by MC Lyte. They added several people to their advisory board including recent Dillard alumna Nicole Tinson.

 



 

Nicole was able to come down for the event. She is preparing to start graduate school this fall so this was another great honor for her.

 

 

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