FW: External Feeds

Ghada Abdelmoumin is a Ph.D. computer science student with Howard University and an associate professor of information technology at Northern Virginia Community College. Ghada received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical power engineering from Alexandria University, a public research institution that is the second largest university in Egypt. She earned two Master of Science degrees, one in computer science from Western Illinois University and the other in computer science and applications from Virginia Tech.  Ghada has broad experience in teaching, from working in the Fairfax County Public School system as a special education instructional assistant and substitute teacher to serving as a visiting professor at Devry University and a faculty advisor at Stratford University. In 2014, Ghada received the Teacher of the Year award from the Virginia Career College Association. She also has professional experience as a senior design engineer at Global Link Solutions, Inc. She is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Her teaching and professional interests have focused on machine learning, cloud computing, mobile computing, software engineering, and cybersecurity.

My scholarly journey before joining Howard was long and limited in options. The day I became a bison, I realized that, at Howard, the possibilities are boundless, and the opportunities are endless. With Howard, I can go somewhere, and that somewhere is absolutely wonderful. It is an inspiring journey of rediscovery, hope, and renewed promises

Victoria Adebayo is a physics student from Stone Mountain, Georgia, who is interested in researching quantum computing or entering the medical field as a research oncologist. She chose Howard University because of her desire to attend a Historically Black College where she can learn and grow with the support of other Black students from across the world. Adebayo wants to enter the STEM field so she can find solutions to problems that disproportionally affect the Black diaspora. She looks forward to encouraging other young Black students to enter the STEM field, as well as creating opportunities for them through internships and research opportunities. 

Omari Allen is a third-year student earning his Doctor of Law at the Howard University School of Law. In 2020, he received the Tom S. Williamson, Jr. Scholarship funded by the African American Managing Partners and General Counsel Network. Allen’s legal experience is already extensive: He completed an internship with the National Resources Defense Council in Santa Monica, California, an internship at Gupta Wessler PLLC, and a judicial externship in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the ninth circuit in San Francisco, California, among others. Allen has taken leadership positions throughout his academic career: During his undergraduate years at Pepperdine University, Allen was a chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and at Howard, he is active in student governance as a director of graduate elections with the Howard University Elections Commission. Allen is also a senior staff editor for Howard Human & Civil Rights Law Review, a student-managed, faculty-supervised law review published by the Howard University School of Law.Allen chose Howard because he wanted to attend a law school that was “a pivotal place of the births and successes of the Civil Rights and Black Liberation Movements.” His favorite thing about Howard is being consistently inspired and challenged by his peers and by alumni. The most important lesson that Howard taught him is that all the diverse talents and experiences of a community are necessary for progress.

Howard emboldens its students to firmly step into their individual purpose and to lead an even greater path than the exceptional Bison that came before them.

Ms. Jordyn Allen is a senior marketing major from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and serves at the 62nd executive president of the Howard University Student Association (HUSA). 

Ms. Allen has served in HUSA for three years as executive chief of staff intern, and the youngest and only two-term chair of the HUSA Senate and senator for the School of Business. During her time in the HUSA Senate, Ms. Allen passed legislation creating $70,000 in permanent annual funding for the Howard University Royal Court, established “Junior Senate” sessions to provide nearly 50 freshman the opportunity to draft, debate and pass legislation, and authored “Black Panther Day,” “The Kamala Harris Public Servant Award,” and “The Good Trouble Award” legislation to honor the work of past and current Bison. 

As a student, Ms. Allen has interned at Google, JPMorgan Chase & Company, Emerson Collective, and National Crittenton, and for the Honorable Kamala D. Harris, U.S. Vice President, and former U.S. Senator. On campus, Jordyn is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the HU Speech & Debate Team, the HU Florida Club, and is a Student Ambassador for Admissions. 

Beyond Howard, Ms. Allen is a passionate public speaker who lives by the motto “Speak to Inspire. Speak to Empower.” Her speeches have been imbedded in high school and college public speaking curricula across the nation and at Howard University. Ms. Allen was named the NSDA Informative Speaking National Champion, HBCU National Informative Speaking Champion, and Harvard University Informative Speaking Champion. Upon graduating, Ms. Allen plans to complete law school and become a corporate attorney and litigator. 

Named Filmmaker of the Month by the District of Columbia Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) for the month of August. "Crispus” (produced, written and directed by Thomas) is based on the life story of Kalief Browder, a teenager falsely accused of stealing a backpack and thrown into solitary confinement in New York’s infamous Riker’s Island Prison.

I want to tell bold stories that reflect the times that we are in now. I just want to tell stories and stay true to the realities of the people who inspire them. I see film as a surreal art. If the work isn’t bold, then it hasn’t gone far enough.

Khukheper Awakoaiye is a biology (pre-med) student double minoring in chemistry and psychology, from Oakland, California. Awakoaiye’s career interest is to pursue an MD-Ph.D. surrounding neurodevelopmental disorders and become a research-physician. He chose to attend Howard because he feels he knows the school the best as a result of his two siblings attending Howard before him. So far, he has enjoyed his experience at Howard, meeting many people like him with incredible drive and high aspirations. Awakoaiye was drawn to STEM and specifically biology because of a neuroscience camp he attended focusing on neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. He was amazed at the complexity of the brain and how and why these diseases manifest. Outside of neuroscience, Awakoaiye aspires to investigate Congenital Insensitivity to Pain, a disease that prevents patients from feeling pain. He wants to work to develop a drug to block or hinder pain in chronic pain patients. Awakoaiye looks forward to earning his MD-Ph.D. so he can contribute to the medical field and make a meaningful impact.

Racheal Ayankunbi is a biology major and chemistry minor from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She aspires to pursue an MD-Ph.D. to become a cardiothoracic surgeon while also conducting research on lung cancer cells. She decided to attend Howard University because she knew she would be surrounded by individuals who could inspire her and motivate her to achieve success. She hopes to enhance the quality of life for individuals affected with cancer, especially in her parents' native country, Nigeria. Ayankunbi has already taken an active role in her achieving her goals – she recently conducted research on lung cancer cells in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She found the experience to be extremely rewarding and is excited to see what the future holds for her.

Anisa Baines is a chemistry major with a French and biology double minor from Grand Blanc, Michigan. She obtained her high school diploma along with 32 college credits from Grand Blanc High School and the University of Michigan-Flint. Baines serves as the 2019-2020 Membership Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and she is also an active member of NSBE Jr. and the Michigan Club. In the summer of 2019, she conducted research at the Los Alamos National Lab in a polymer chemistry group. Next, Baines will begin conducting research in material science with a focus of nanotechnology and material science at Howard University.

Teanna Barrett is a computer science student from Austin, Texas, and the proud daughter of Jamaican immigrants. With her undergraduate degree in computer science, she is committed to obtaining a graduate education in data science. Barrett wants to be in the forefront of cultivating a data-driven society that acknowledges and remedies institutionalized bias, such as racism and sexism. More specifically, she is interested in building data analysis systems that will not only quantitatively define institutional injustice, but also produce its solutions. She chose to attend Howard University because she says it is the ideal community for her to fully realize her goals. Whether it is the thriving Howard West campus or the numerous professor-led research opportunities in the various applications of data science, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science proves that Howard is moving forward to embrace the technological future. Barrett is honored to be a member of the Bison STEM Scholars Program because she says the organization boldly establishes a legacy for all black STEM students to aspire to. She says the world is now being rebuilt with computer science.She wants to ensure that there are more empowered, Black, and female computer scientists leading the way. 

Ms. Minnie V. Baylor-Henry, Esq., a member since 2018, is president of B-Henry & Associates, LLC and a member of the board of directors of several publicly traded life sciences companies. Previously, she was the worldwide vice president for regulatory affairs, Johnson & Johnson, (J&J), Medical Devices & Diagnostics. In that capacity, she was responsible for coordinating the global regulatory strategy for J&J’s device companies.  Ms. Baylor-Henry’s other experiences include vice president for Global Regulatory & Medical Affairs- Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals at McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a J&J company, and senior director of J&J’s Pharmaceutical Research & Development Company. 

Previously, Ms. Baylor-Henry served as a managing director in the Life Sciences Regulatory Practice at Deloitte & Touche, LLP and a former director of the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She also served as the national health fraud coordinator in the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs. Ms. Baylor-Henry is a former president & board chair of the Drug Information Association and board chair for the Food and Drug Law Institute.   

 Ms. Baylor-Henry earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (B.S.P.) degree from Howard University’s College of Pharmacy and a law degree (J.D.) from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law.  Ms. Baylor-Henry chairs the Howard University College of Pharmacy Board of Visitors and serves as interim chair of the Board of Visitors for the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Board of Visitors.  

The Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership Studies (CWGGL) is the only Black woman-focused women’s center in the nation. As the Assistant Director of CWGGL, Anjerrika Bean aims to build collaborative relationships across HBCUs to address the needs of Black women in the U.S. and abroad. She seeks innovative approaches and ideas for highlighting and providing space for Black women in academic and corporate environments, while continuing to inspire other HBCUs to open women centers that directly address  Black women’s concerns through research, community, and services. 

Prior to earning her PhD in Sociology and Criminology at Howard, she received a BS in Christian Leadership from the College of Biblical Studies in Houston, Texas and a MA in Sociology from Prairie View A&M University.  As a student at Howard,  Bean was a Frederick Douglass Fellow. After graduating, she became the Dr. Ralph Gomes Social Justice Post-Doctoral Fellow in the history department. This educational journey took true tenacity and grit, as there was no blueprint for Bean to follow; getting to the point of being able to tell her story, and the stories of other Black women, involved attending summer and night school as a fifteen-year-old mother, serving as a senior airman in the Airforce, and pursuing real estate and cosmetology licenses.   

Attending Howard University as a doctoral student inspired Bean. Watching her Black professors and deans embrace their race, gender, and identity reminded her that she could embrace all of herself too. Bean credits her mentors Dr. Terri Adams Fuller and Dr. Valethia Watkins with challenging her to re-center the lives of Black women. Through her work at CWGGL, Bean ensures that Black women have the space to tell their own stories. In this role, Bean is an integral part of the ecosystem of “intelligent, witty, and fly Black women” to which she attributes her humility and confidence. 

My work is about ensuring Black women are able to tell our stories. Stories of excellence and struggle. I had to learn that my voice mattered. As a 15-year-old mom, I believed that parts of me did not matter. I had to learn that everything in me matters. The parts of me matter that I don't want people to see, the parts of me matter that people praise, the parts of me matter that keeps me grounded, and the parts of me matter that I hold sacred and private away from the eyes of the world. My intellect and my research matter. I matter and I am the only person that can tell that story.

Dr. Richard Besser is president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), a position he assumed in April 2017.  At RWJF, Dr. Besser leads the largest private foundation in the country devoted solely to improving the nation’s health. In his role, Dr. Besser is a leading voice on the importance of health equity, advocating for racial justice, full inclusion of people with disabilities, and a COVID-19 response and recovery that prioritizes those most impacted. Previously, as the former chief health and medical editor at ABC News, Dr. Besser provided medical analysis and reports for all ABC News programs and platforms. His weekly health chats on social media reached millions. The author or co-author of hundreds of presentations, abstracts, chapters, editorials, and publications, Dr. Besser has earned many awards for his work in public health and for his volunteer service. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. He received the Surgeon General's Medallion for his leadership during the H1N1 response, and in 2011 he accepted the Dean's Medal for his contributions to public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Dr. Besser received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Williams College and medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a residency and chief residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore.  For nearly 30 years, Dr. Besser practiced as a volunteer pediatrician in community clinics around the country.  

 

A native of South Carolina, Chadwick Boseman graduated from Howard University and attended the British American Dramatic Academy at Oxford, after which he began his career as an actor, director and writer. Boseman starred as T'Challa/Black Panther in the worldwide phenomenon Marvel Studios' "Black Panther," which has shattered box-office records both domestically and internationally. Boseman made his debut as the African superhero Black Panther in Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Civil War,” in May 2016. He reprised the role for Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” in 2019.Boseman's breakout performance came in 2013 when he received rave reviews for his portrayal of the legendary Jackie Robinson in Warner Bros’ “42.” He previously starred in the title role of Open Road Films’ “Marshall,” which tells the story of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases as the Chief Counsel to the NAACP. His other feature film credits include: the revenge thriller “Message from the King,” Summit Entertainment's “Draft Day,” the independent psychological post-war drama, “The Kill Hole” and Gary Fleders’ drama, “The Express.”Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016. During his four-year battle with cancer, he continued his work, persevering through the production of several films between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. Boseman passed away in August of 2020, surrounded by his wife and family. 

Purpose is the essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.

Marjorie Sapphire Bowen-Kauth is a biology student triple minoring in chemistry, psychology, and painting from Greensboro, N.C. She is interested in studying psychiatric and developmental disorders and plans to attain a MD/Ph.D. in neurobiology and behavior. Bowen-Kauth chose to embark on her undergraduate career at Howard University because of the university’s sense of pride, community, and devotion in producing leaders in all disciplines. She aspires to implement her passion for the visual arts into her scientific career as creativity plays a significant role in stimulating the mind. Bowen-Kauth has invested time understanding art in the context of medicine by providing art workshops for patients and families at The National Children’s Hospital in Creative & Therapeutic Art Services. In order to discover her research interests, Bowen-Kauth worked in the Silva Lab at Duke University as a part of the 2019 Summer Research Opportunity Program, where her project focused on using BioID in mammalian cells to identify interacting partners with ubiquitin enzymes involved in the oxidative stress response. On Howard’s campus, Bowen-Kauth is a mentor for the PHAGES Biology Lab, where she assists freshmen in learning foundational research skills and initiating their own projects. She is excited to expand her research experiences in neurological sciences so that she may investigate how to heal minds through art and science.

Howard is a very culturally rich and diverse University and our students not only come from all over the country, but all over the world. However, even through that diversity, there is an undeniable culture that grounds us and connects us, showing us that while we may all be different, that is where our strength lies.

Mrs. Brooks has been employed at HU for 17 years, making her an integral part of the Department of Public Safety.

Whether on- or off-campus, I want the University community to feel safe and secure. In my daily interactions, I reassure that my primary objective is to inform the students of the services we have available, as we want them to obtain their degrees in a safe and secure environment!

Jacob Brooks is an honors biology major with a double minor in chemistry and mathematics. He chose to attend Howard University as a member of the Karsh STEM Scholars Program because he was amazed by the support system and the beautiful culture Howard University has to offer. During his freshman year, Brooks joined the Cook Hall Step Team and helped lead the team to a ResFest championship. He also participated in education reform in Flint, Michigan as a part of Howard’s Alternative Spring Break. He recently spent time researching Osteosarcomas in the Cancer Biology Department of Vanderbilt University through the Leadership Alliance. He also spent that summer shadowing a medical oncologist in her clinic and a surgical oncologist, and gave an oral presentation on his research at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium in Connecticut. Brooks plans to pursue an MD-Ph.D. in the field of Emergency General Surgery. This will allow him to work with trauma patients and cancer patients, all while doing significant research in the field of cancer biology. Brooks looks forward to continuing to grow as a researcher and as an individual through the Karsh STEM Scholars Program

Maya Brown, a Chesapeake, Virginia native, is currently working toward earning Bachelor of Science degrees in biology and psychology. Brown will pursue a MD-Ph.D. in Neuroscience to follow her desire to learn more about the brain, neurological diseases, and memory. Her passion for neuroscience skyrocketed when she heard about the neurological diseases that affected some of her close family members. The Karsh STEM Scholars Program has been an instrumental piece to her pursuit in a terminal degree. Without this program, she would not have thought this dream could be possible.

Moriah Brown is a civil and environmental engineering student from Knoxville, Tennessee. Brown plans to pursue a Ph.D. in either civil or environmental engineering, before conducting research in sustainable infrastructure. She chose to attend Howard because she wanted to be surrounded by likeminded people who also look like her. Brown chose a career in STEM to follow in the footsteps of her father, who is also a civil engineer. She says as a child, she was always curious about what her father did at work every day. Now, she plans to use that curiosity to improve the lives of people with the development of more sustainable infrastructure.

Dr. Brown has more than two decades of senior-level academic and administrative experience. As Dean of CNAHS, Dr. Brown has responsibility for leadership, marketing, management, and assisting in curriculum design of education programs that serve this academic arena, as well as the global community. The Dean works closely with health industry partners to determine program development needs, to design innovative curricula that enhance employees' skills and knowledge and which comply with professional accreditation requirements. She has an extensive track record of developing new academic programs, securing grants, and enhancing the academic accreditation process. Dr. Brown is a dual graduate of Oakwood University in Huntsville, Ala, where she earned Associate and Bachelor degrees in nursing (1984) and biology (1985). Dr. Brown earned a Master of Science degree in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University in 1989, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nursing Administration from George Mason University in 1999.

"CNAHS remains committed to teaching outstanding learners, who are driven by a dedicated and prominent faculty and supported by a spectacular staff; I am humbled to be the Chief Servant of such a distinguished College, at such a time as this."

After graduating magna cum laude from Howard University in May 2022, Civil and Environmental Engineering alumna and Karsh STEM Scholar Cameryn Burnette began a career aimed at engineering low-tech solutions to positively impact developing areas. She is currently a Special Project Manager at Energicity Corp in Benin, West Africa; Energicity “is not just building solar grids, but cultivating electricity ‘ecosystems’ by implementing programs that influence trade, education, and communication in rural areas.”  

In January, Burnette received a Schwarzman Scholars fellowship. The second-ever Howard alum to receive this honor, Burnette is  part of the eighth cohort for one of the most prestigious graduate fellowships in the world. Through this fellowship, Burnette aims to earn her PhD in Material Science to create materials for safe, sustainable, modern infrastructure with an early focus on bio-inspired materials and biocomposites after matriculating from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. She plans to create polymers that have the functionality of petroleum plastics and enhanced degradation abilities so they can decompose, rather than accumulating on the Earth’s surface or break down into microplastics. She is also interested in exploring the potential of enhancing natural materials for use as building materials. 

In addition to the Schwarzman Scholars fellowship, Burnette also received a presentation award for her research “Nanoindentation of bovine meniscus for localized properties.” She expects to eventually lead her own lab and work as a professor to inspire students, similar to how her Howard professors motivated her. 

Living and working in Cotonou, Benin allows me to witness firsthand the obstacles and potential solutions involved in development engineering. I am honing my values and priorities while living in a different country, and my experience there has reaffirmed my dedication to a humanitarian engineering career. I have discovered a line of work that excites and energizes me.

Cameryn Burnette is a civil and environmental engineering major from Houston, Texas. She aspires for a career in international infrastructure development, focusing specifically on sustainability. Her goal is to enhance quality of life globally by facilitating a transition to sustainable infrastructure in the future in order to provide efficiency, safety, and health to global communities. Burnette’s other career interests include environmentalism, urban planning, wastewater treatment, and architectural design. She will pursue a Ph.D. in environmental engineering after graduating from Howard. Burnette chose to study a STEM discipline because it will position her to help others on a large scale; she has big plans for how she would like to change the world. She chose Howard because of its supportive and welcoming community which empowers and encourages her to explore unorthodox solutions for the global issues she aims to rectify. Burnette’s passion for the environment and drive to spark change have already actualized real-world results: she is the co-founder of Howard’s environmental organization, the Howard University Water and Environment Association

Lauren Bush is a chemistry and political science double major, mathematics minor, from Charlotte, North Carolina. She is interested in health diplomacy and finding the integration between science and background policy decisions. Her goal is to work for a nongovernmental agency or the federal government making decisions to help those afflicted with different illnesses. Bush originally chose Howard University because she wanted to be in a different environment than the typical white suburbia in which she was already accustomed. By being a Karsh STEM Scholar, she gains the sense of community and expertise necessary to pursue her goals in health diplomacy.

Bisa Butler is a textile artist who creates vivid quilted portraits of African-American life. Born in 1973, Butler initially went into the arts as a painter, earning her BFA at Howard University and her MA in arts education at Montclair State University, where she took a fiber arts class. At Howard, Butler mentored members of the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (AfriCOBRA), which sought to define an art aesthetic that represents African Americans in a positive light.  Butler taught art at public high schools for 13 years, quilting in her free time, until she found representation with Claire Oliver Gallery in Harlem and became an artist full-time. In her work, which is deeply rooted in the tradition of African-American quilting, Butler uses Ghanian fabrics, Nigerian batiks, and South African fabrics to capture her subjects’ African ancestry and their place in American history. She has exhibited her work in group and solo shows around the United States and the world. 

All of my pieces are done in life scale to invite the viewer to engage in a dialogue—most figures look the viewers directly in their eyes. I am inviting a reimagining and a contemporary dialogue about age old issues, still problematic in our culture, through the comforting, embracing medium of the quilt. I am expressing what I believe is the equal value of all humans.

Naomi Calhoun is a chemical engineering student from Snellville, Georgia, who plans to pursue a MD-Ph.D. to be a medical scientist. Her goal is to be someone who discovers new medicine to treat diseases and processes to deliver current medicine. She strives to be the role model for young black girls interested in a research career and to treat people who have access to fewer resources. Calhoun is interested in STEM because she says she is an analytical thinker, and loves solving scientific problems. She chose to attend Howard because of the various resources and opportunities she says are available—from lab spaces to the internship opportunities. Calhoun also says Howard has a rich history and legacy that she is excited and proud to be a part of.  

Mr. Chris Carr, a member since 2016, is the chief operating officer of Sweetgreen, Inc. He is the former executive vice president and chief procurement officer for Starbucks.  A recipient of the 2016 Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine, he was an invaluable force in Starbucks’ quest to enhance enterprise-wide functional strategic sourcing, shape its global supplier base and generate customer insight around innovation. Over his 13 years with Starbucks, Mr. Carr also served as executive vice president of licensed stores in the U.S. and Americas.  In that position, he was responsible for the strategic planning, annual operations, market planning and profitability for the region’s 6,200 licensed stores, which generated annual system-wide sales in excess of $3 billion.  Prior to Starbucks, Mr. Carr was an executive with ExxonMobil for 18 years where he developed, led and implemented retail operational strategies for the company’s Global Fuels Marketing downstream businesses over 18 years. Mr. Carr serves on the boards of directors of Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and is a trustee of the University of San Diego.  Mr. Carr holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the New York Institute of Technology.

Kailande Cassamajor is a biology and psychology double major, minoring in chemistry and Africana studies, from Silver Spring, Maryland. She is a poet, bibliophile and avid learner who seeks to pursue her Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience or neuropsychology. She is interested in how environments, experiences and exposure impact neurological and neuropsychological aging and development across different populations. She also seeks to understand the factors contributing to ethnic and racial disparities in neurodegenerative diseases. Cassamajor chose Howard University due to the many opportunities to learn, collaborate, serve and travel with like-minded students and professors across different disciplines from a Pan-African approach. Through Howard's service learning organizations, she has traveled to Puerto Rico, South Africa and Ghana. She envisions herself running her own lab, passionately collaborating with scientists from all over the world and writing creatively for all ages. She is enjoying the journey.

Danielle Chew-Martinez is a New Carrollton, Maryland native, who is studying biology with a dual minor in chemistry and Spanish. Her plan is to obtain an MD-Ph.D. in natural products chemistry in order to research plant-based natural alternatives compared to expensively processed, harmful treatments that are economically unattainable for the disadvantaged. In addition, she wants to establish sustainable wellness centers and clinics in rural communities on an international spectrum. Her dedication and passion for the sciences motivates her to use her interests in STEM to make long-lasting impacts in disadvantaged communities. Chew-Martinez says Howard University is a great place to pursue a STEM degree because it has so many resources and serves to grow their students holistically as they enter their specific career fields. 

Donald B. Christian, CPA, CISA, a member since 2018, is a lead client partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, (PwC), where he is focused on helping clients build trust and deliver business outcomes.  During Mr. Christian's 33 years with the firm, he has served clients across several industries and has held various leadership roles.  Mr. Christian is currently a member of the board of PwC US and PwC Global.  Mr. Christian consults with clients in the areas of business transformation, strategy, technology, and risk management.  He has assisted organizations with a wide variety of assignments designed to transform operations, maximize enterprise value, and improve business performance.  In particular, his ability to think strategically and organize for success has generated sustainable results for his clients and the firm and is a testament to his accomplishments as a consultant and leader.

Since his admission to the partnership in 1997, Mr. Christian has served in both market-facing and operational roles in the firm.  In addition, he is an active and visible leader in PwC's efforts around diversity and inclusion.  Mr. Christian is very active in his community and serves on the Board of Trustees of the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland.

A certified public accountant (CPA) and certified information systems auditor (CISA), Mr. Christian earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Howard University.  He has also completed executive education at Harvard Business School and management training at MIT. 

 

 

Carter Clinton is a Ph.D. candidate conducting groundbreaking research in the field of genetic anthropology. He has been selected for numerous awards and honors, including the 2017-2018 Just-Julian assistantship as well as 2018 Graduate Student of the Year. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Clinton seeks to reconstruct the daily lives of people who have traditionally been excluded from history. He focuses his doctoral research at Howard University on the soil of the New York African Burial Ground, where enslaved Africans were laid to rest. By performing soil chemistry, bacterial DNA, and geospatial analysis, Clinton presented a new discovery regarding the diets of African slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries. In March 2019, the Cosmos Foundation selected Clinton as a Cosmos Scholar for his proposal titled "Next generation sequencing of bacterial DNA found in New York African Burial Ground soil samples". Clinton's research is also featured in Nature Scientific Reports, a subjournal of the #1 science journal in the world, and can be accessed on the Nature website.

I think it’s very important to address and combat the paucity of data on African peoples. Discovering one's ancestry and genomic identity is pertinent to the way in which they self-identify and are able to efficiently address generational health issues.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is an award-winning novelist, essayist and journalist. Coates was born and raised among six siblings in Baltimore, Maryland. His mother was a teacher, while his father is the founder of Black Classic Press, a publishing company specializing in books by Black writers. Coates studied journalism at Howard University for five years, then went on to work as a reporter. His writing gained national attention in 2008 with the publication of his first piece for The Atlantic; in that same year, Coates published his first book, The Beautiful Struggle. In 2015, Coates’ second book, the memoir Between the World and Me, launched his work to best-seller status. Since then, Coates has published myriad articles, memoirs, and essays, as well as a bestselling novel. He is currently a writer in residence at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.

My only Mecca was, is, and shall always be Howard University.

Robert E. Coleman Jr. is a computer engineering student from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Robert’s career interest is to obtain a Ph.D. in computer engineering, conducting research in the field of solar energy. Since spring 2018, he has interned at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Additionally, Coleman is heavily involved on Howard University’s campus, holding an executive board position in a number of organizations and serving as an on-campus DJ.

Marika Countouris is a musician, educator, and performer in the DC area. This is her second-year teaching in the Musical Theatre Program at Howard. Marika previously held the position of Choral Arts Director at Georgetown Visitation High School from 2018 - 2022. Marika received her BM in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America and currently serves as Music Supervisor for Monumental Theatre Company.  Some of her theatre credits include: WOOLLY MAMMOTH: A Strange Loop (Associate Conductor); FORD'S: Grace (Keys 2); FLYING V: We’re Gonna Die (Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Music Direction); SIGNATURE: The Color Purple(Keys 2); GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS: Godspell; CONSTELLATION: The Last Five Years; MONUMENTAL: Songs for a New World, Head Over Heels, Be More Chill, Daddy Long Legs, and Brooklyn; NEXTSTOP: Beehive; LEVINE MUSIC THEATRE: Matilda;  CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY: 9 to 5;  MONTGOMERY COLLEGE:  Urinetown and Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play; GONZAGA COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL: SpongeBob The Musical. Upcoming: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Bat Boy.

Christopher N. Cross, Ph.D. is a biomedical engineer with expertise in policy and non-profit development. During his graduate studies at Howard University, Cross became the first openly gay male student trustee in the University’s history. He also founded the Lavender Fund, a scholarship award established to provide academic financial support for Howard University students who demonstrate outstanding involvement in LGBT+ community issues. Cross has since worked in publishing, biomedical engineering, and public policy. Currently, he is a postdoctoral research fellow at Yale University’s Cancer Biology Training Program.

I am endowed by the Universe to be who I am. This foundational understanding gives me continued solace and guidance along my journey of growth and evolution.”

Destin Davis is a mathematics student from Harlem, New York. He is open to any and all research opportunities that may come his way. After undergrad, Davis wants to give back to the black community, become more selfless than selfish and become a great role model for black youth. He chose Howard University because he attended a primarily white high school, and wanted to attend a university where he was surrounded by intelligent individuals that looked like him, thought like him, and had been through the same experiences as him. Also, being a legacy student at Howard, Davis felt somewhat of an obligation to attend The Mecca. His love for math is rivaled by his passion for music, poetry, and dance. In his spare time, Davis makes music and writes poetry. Last Spring, he led the Cook Hall Stroll Team.

Ruth Davis is a mechanical engineering major from Houston, Texas, who’s deciding between two disciplines and career options: A doctoral degree so that she can conduct space research and eventually become an astronaut or a dual MD-Ph.D. so that she can conduct research on tropical diseases and treat people in Africa. Davis chose to attend Howard because of the wonderful experiences both her parents had when they attended, as well as the opportunity to be around other Black students with similar goals and spirit of determination. She chose to pursue STEM because she wants to make the greatest impact on the world and believes she has the greatest ability to do that through this field. 

Born on December 18, 1917, in Cogdell, Georgia, Ossie Davis hitchhiked from Georgia to Washington, D.C., after high school, where he received the National Youth Administration scholarship and enrolled at Howard University in the fall of 1935. There, Davis found a nurturing environment to cultivate both his ideas and his talents. Impatient to try his luck on the actual stage, Davis left Howard for New York City, where in 1939, he became involved with the Rose McClendon Players. After his 1946 Broadway debut, Davis went on to perform in many Broadway productions, including “Anna Lucasta,” “The Wisteria Trees,” “Green Pastures,” “Jamaica, Ballad for Bimshire,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “The Zulu and the Zayda,” and the stage version of “I'm Not Rappaport.” Davis was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1994.Davis has written and directed numerous films, including “Countdown at Kusini,” the first American feature film shot entirely in Africa by Black professionals. Davis has received the Hall of Fame Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement; the U.S. National Medal for the Arts; the New York Urban League Frederick Douglas Award; NAACP Image Award; and the Screen Actor's Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.

Any form of art is a form of power. It has impact. It can affect change. It can not only move us; it makes us move.

Dominic Davis is a chemical engineering student from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He aspires to have a career in research and development, as well as academia—eventually becoming a professor of chemical and biomedical engineering. Specifically, he’d like to be a professor at Howard so that he can give back to the school that is currently giving him an opportunity to learn and grow. Davis plans to bring his ideas to life through the invention of new technology for the enhancement of society. Davis says he originally chose Howard because of the pool of great minds that have been developed at Howard and for the vast amount of opportunities, such as research in the Interdisciplinary Research Building. Davis’ desire to study a STEM-related discipline is because it will bring his ideas to life, especially as it relates to technology helping to move society forward. 

Noah Drakes is a computer engineering major and music minor from Atlanta, Georgia. Drakes has an interest in the Internet of Things (also known as IOT) field and hopes to become a senior engineer, developing creative ways to integrate hardware and software to advance the standard of living for many communities. He chose Howard University because of the opportunities it offers students—from internships to personal development—and the many fortune 500 companies within STEM fields that it attracts. Drakes’ primary goal is to become an expert in his discipline, and he believes Howard will amply prepare him to pursue a Ph.D. route with a top graduate program. He chose STEM because he has always possessed an innate affinity toward the field, and his desire is to serve as an inspiration to other young Black males by being one of the few to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and math.  

Mr. Brent Drenon (JD ’21), winner of the 2020 graduate student election, received his JD degree from Howard in 2021.  He was a Derrick Bell Scholarship recipient and an Edmund & M. Pioleau Scholarship recipient, and he was on the Howard Human & Civil Rights Law Review.  Mr. Drenon also holds a bachelor's degree in business administration in legal studies from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where he was a President’s Merit Scholar, made the Dean’s List, and played Division I football.  As a student at Howard law, Mr. Drenon served internships with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the D.C. Public Defender Service, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in New York, New York.  Currently, he works as an associate for Winston & Strawn LLP, an international law firm.  Mr. Drenon will serve a one-year term.  

Justin Drummond is a junior civil engineering major, pursuing a Ph.D. in earthquake engineering. Drummond ultimately desires to become a professor at Howard University to serve as a mentor and leader. Justin hopes to inspire other students to achieve their best, helping other minority students on their journey to a Ph.D., as well as other areas in life. Originally from Prince Georges County, Maryland, Justin decided to attend Howard University after inspiration from his parents, who both attended Howard’s School of Pharmacy. Outside of academia, Justin is a musician, playing the piano, guitar, bass guitar and drums. He also serves as president of Chosen: Christian Mentorship Organization at Howard University.

The Honorable Arne Duncan served as the ninth US Secretary of Education from 2009 to 2015 under President Barack Obama. Mr. Duncan's tenure was marked by several significant accomplishments on behalf of American students and teachers. He helped to secure congressional support for President Obama's investments in education, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's $100B to fund 325,000 teaching jobs, increases in Pell grants, reform efforts such as Race to the Top and Investing in Innovation, and interventions in low-performing schools. Additionally, he helped secure an additional $10B to avoid teacher layoffs; the elimination of student loan subsidies to banks; and a $500M national competition for early learning programs. The department also focused billions of dollars to transform struggling schools, prompting nearly 1,000 low-performing schools nationwide to recruit new staff, adopt new teaching methods, and add learning time. He led new efforts to encourage labor and management to work together as never before, and during Mr. Duncan's tenure, the department has launched a comprehensive effort to transform the teaching profession. Mr. Duncan helped secure increases in the Pell grant program to boost the number of young Americans attending college and receiving postsecondary degrees, and the income-based repayment program was also introduced during Mr. Duncan's tenure.

Since his tenure as secretary, Mr. Duncan is managing partner at Emerson Collective and has returned to Chicago on a mission to improve the lives of young adults in his hometown. Established by Laurene Powell Jobs, Emerson Collective is an organization dedicated to removing barriers to opportunity so people can live to their full potential. Emerson Collective centers its work on education, immigration reform, the environment and other social justice initiatives. Through partnerships with local business leaders, community organizers, and nonprofit groups, Mr. Duncan aims to create job and life opportunities for disconnected youth between the ages of 17 and 24.

Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Mr. Duncan served as chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. From 2001 to 2008, he won praise for uniting the city’s stakeholders behind an education agenda that included opening 100 new schools; expanding after-school, summer learning, early childhood, and college access programs; dramatically boosting the caliber of teachers; and building public-private partnerships around a variety of education initiatives.  Mr. Duncan serves on the boards of: Ariel Capital Management; Aspen Institute; Communities in Schools; Lucas Museum; My Brother’s Keeper Alliance; National Association of Basketball Coaches; Pluralsight; Revolution Foods; Thrive-Chicago; and Catapult Learning, LLC. He also serves as Co-chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Mr. Duncan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1987, where he served as co-captain of the basketball team and was named a first team Academic All-American.

 

 

Kwesi Easton is a mechanical engineering student from Laurel, Maryland. His goal at Howard University is to gain knowledge that feeds his desire to understand more about biomedical engineering. Furthermore, with Howard University's rigorous course work , his hope is to pursue an MD-Ph.D. to conduct research on sustainable products in rehabilitation therapy and disease prevention. Howard University is a very nurturing and gifted school that prepares students for real-world problems and applications. Howard University has been a place for his developmental growth and it has been the school where many of his family members were educated. Easton looks forward to reforming how society treats injuries, while also exploring other real-world applications of mechanical engineering and biology. He also hopes to inspire other minority and youth groups, such as athletes, to pursue degrees in the STEM field.   

David Edgerton III is a graduating senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Strategic Legal Management Communications. In April 2021, Edgerton was selected from a pool of 845 applications from 328 institutions to be a Harry S. Truman scholar. He also serves as a civic engagement coordinator for the Howard University Student Association and as president of the Howard University Speech and Debate Team. He was named a Global Scholar and elected student council representative for the Council on International Education Exchange during his time abroad in Spain, Italy and England.Edgerton is an aspiring civil rights attorney who will attend the Howard University School of Law. He has dedicated his life to service and community action. An aspiring multi-vocational change agent, he believes that it is our duty as a nation to build up every child from every background.

I feel incredibly humbled to receive this award acknowledging the hard work I put into making my community a better place. I thank Howard University for inspiring me to be a change agent and to always have a passion to serve. I will use this award to further my skills at Howard University School of Law and continue the legacy of Black excellence that Bison before me have started.

Kymai Ellis is a civil engineering student from Sacramento, California. Ellis chose to study civil engineering because he loves to work with large physical structures. Ellis chose to attend Howard University because of its soulful student body and its extensive worldwide network. In the future, he’s interested in research and development of the optimization of the design of civil structures by use of artificial intelligence. Ellis looks forward to working in STEM because he is fascinated by the advancement of human technology.

Shalom Entner is a Biology student, minoring in Chemistry, from Baltimore, Maryland. Entner is a member of the Biology Honors Program, where she conducts ecological research on butterfly wing patterns. Entner plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Ecology and perform interdisciplinary research to examine how pollutants affect gene pathways. She chose Howard for the rigor of the courses, the empowering atmosphere, and the academic and social opportunities on campus. Entner chose a career in STEM because she’s always had a passion for science, especially biology. Her long-term goals include doing research that will influence laws restricting the amount of pollutants companies and individuals are allowed to output.

Mr. Nchacha Etta is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Omnicell, Inc. Etta is a seasoned finance and accounting executive with more than 20 years of experience leading and working in global finance organizations across healthcare and consumer products industries. He most recently served as chief financial officer of Essilor of America, Inc., a subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica SA, where he developed and executed long-range financial and commercial strategy. Prior to his role at Essilor of America, Mr. Etta served as the worldwide vice president and chief financial officer of Johnson & Johnson Vision, where he led finance operations with a 250-person global team. He has also served in a number of financial roles of increasing responsibility at The Coca-Cola Company, Microsoft Corporation, and Eli Lilly and Company. Etta began his career as a Senior Accountant at Orano Cycle (previously Cogema). He earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Howard University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from George Mason University.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lori Evelyn is a graphic designer, web designer, and professor at Howard University. She was born and raised in Detroit, MI. She moved to Washington, DC in 2014 to attend graduate school and has lived in the area since. She holds a BA in Digital Media from the University of Detroit Mercy and an MFA in Design from Howard University. She did her graduate thesis on branding small, Black-owned businesses.

Thinking big and then bigger than that – Lori flexes her ability to look at the bigger picture, amplify best practices, present fresh strategies, and execute from start to finish.

Lori’s portfolio includes work focused on identifying the unique story companies (of all sizes) have to tell and then using that to design from and for – while leaving room to evolve (because that’s always the goal). Lori is also an Adjunct Design Professor at Howard University – where she feels a lot of pressure to stay sharp (design and fashion-wise)!

When Howard University criminology major and volleyball player Jurnee Farrell had to choose between playing in the MEAC playoffs and saving a stranger’s life, the decision was, in her words, “a no-brainer”. In 2017, Farrell signed up with the donor registry for Be The Match, an organization that matches patients in need with potential bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell donors, with the encouragement of head volleyball coach Shaun Kupferberg. Two years later, Be The Match contacted Farrell, saying that she was a match to a 57 year-old woman with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She spent her final conference tournament recovering on the sidelines, encouraged by her coach to go through with the donation. Jurnee Farrell hopes to be an example that will encourage more African Americans to sign up as potential donors. According to Be The Match, the chance of Black patients finding a donor match is 23%, the lowest rate of all ethnic groups. Howard University has partnered with Be The Match to increase the odds of Black patients finding a donation. To join the Howard registry, you may register online at join.bethematch.org/howard.

If you get the opportunity to save someone’s life with such an easy process -- you shouldn’t hesitate.

Classically trained on the piano, GRAMMY Award-winning musician Roberta Flack received a music scholarship at age 15 to attend Howard University. She was discovered by jazz musician Les McCann while singing at the Washington, D.C. nightclub, Mr. Henry's, and was promptly signed to Atlantic with a string of hits, including, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Where Is the Love” (a duet with former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway), “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “Feel Like Makin' Love,” “The Closer I Get to You,” “Tonight I Celebrate My Love,” and “Set the Night to Music.” In 1999, she received a star on Hollywood's legendary Walk of Fame. Flack regularly performs for audiences around the world, and has had the pleasure of appearing with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. In February 2009, Flack performed with critically acclaimed orchestras in Australia, including the Melbourne, Queensland, and Sydney Symphonies. She is currently involved with a new venture — an interpretive album of Beatles' classics. As a humanitarian and mentor, Flack founded the Roberta Flack School of Music at the Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx, providing an innovative and inspiring music education program to underprivileged students free of charge.

My hope is that out of all the anger and seeming hostility that we hear in some of today's music will come some sort of coalition that will become politically involved.