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Allen University News - Page 2
	Bishop Preston Warren Williams II The President's Word Allen, Other HBCU's, Still Relevant Five Ph.D.'s Join University Faculty 67 Graduate in 2004 Commencement Allen, Tom Joyner Foundation Team up to Provide Scholarships Allen Announces New Leadership
	Five Ph.D.'s Join University Faculty Allen University has always been about the business of teaching – "the mind to think, the hands to work and the heart to love." This academic year, that ability to teach has been bolstered by the addition of five new Ph.D.'s to the institution's faculty. Drs. Thomas Neil, Mmutakaego Chukwuanu, Godfrey C. Ndubuisi, Terri D. Wright and Patrick Inyangetor each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to students in their respective areas of specialization. Thomas Neil Thomas Neil, chairman of the Division of Business and Economics came to Allen as chairman of the management department at Clark-Atlanta University. Dr. Neil is no stranger to Columbia, S.C., having served on the faculty of the University of South Carolina during the late 1970's and early 1980's. He identifies himself as a "Human Systems Person," who has also had experience beyond the academe working for United Technologies, RCA, and the federal criminal justice system. Dr. Neil hopes to further develop his students' critical thinking skills and future courses will include current business periodicals, such as Fast Company, Business 2.0 and Wired magazines. Mmutakaego Chukwuanu Mmutakaego Chukwuanu came to the Business Department from Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Fla. Her areas of specialization include marketing, agriculture, management, human resources and leadership. She's very pleased with her decision to come to Allen. "God is fulfilling for me the purpose for which he brought me here," said Dr. Chukwuanu. She loves her students and feels that both she and they bring a great deal to the classroom learning experience. Godfrey C. Ndubuisi Godfrey C. Ndubuisi also sees his coming to Allen as "God's Grace." He is enjoying his experience thus far and sees it as a great opportunity. He added, "Being here is about their [the students'] future. Life is holistic – much more than getting a grade or degree." He hopes to be able to work within students to further develop their soft skills and their ability to work within a "group dynamic." He comes to the institution from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill. His areas of specializations include physics and the social sciences. His focus also extends to cultural anthropology and its influence on education. Terri D. Wright Terri D. Wright comes to the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics with a specialization in Organic Chemistry. She previously served as a consultant for Accenture. She hopes to increase the number of chemistry majors who will go on to pursue graduate study. Dr. Wright came to Allen with the hopes of developing creative pedagogies and strategies for sustaining and recruiting minorities into the science and math disciplines. "As an African American female chemist, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and experiences, professional and personal, that I wanted to share with students," she said. "I believed that I could make a positive contribution to the University by changing the attitudes and perceptions of many minority and disadvantaged students towards science." Patrick Inyangetor Patrick Inyangetor, chairman of the Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, previously served as a professor in similar departments at Benedict and Spelman Colleges. He likes the "student-centric environment" at Allen and said that his major focus is "strengthening the existing programs to better prepare students for gainful careers." Dr. Inyangetor said that he also hopes to be able to work toward the creation of additional programs of study in the division in the future. His areas of specialization include cellular metabolism and molecular biology. In addition to these five new faculty members, many of the institution's current faculty and staff are working toward advanced and terminal academic degrees. Wanda Fernandopulle, an assistant professor in the Division of Education, earned her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership in July 2004. back to top
	67 Graduate in 2004 Commencement
		Sixty-seven students joined the ranks of Allen University alumni in the 134-year-old institution's annual Commencement Convocation, held on Saturday, May 1, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the John Hurst Adams Gymnatorium. The Commencement Address was given by U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn. A member of the University's Board of Trustees, Clyburn was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the institution. The graduates were awarded bachelor of science degrees in biology (9) and bachelor of arts degrees in business administration (16), elementary education (6), English (5), music (1), religion (23) and social science (7).
	University President Charles E. Young also presented the newly established Presidential Award to its first recipients. W.M. Jefferson, `50, director of alumni affairs and mayor of Maysville, S.C., received the Distinguished Alumnus Award; Johnnie Mae Ferguson, '73, national president of the General Alumni Association of Allen University, received the Distinguished Alumna Award; Martha Scott Smith and Henri Etta Baskins accepted an award on behalf of BellSouth for Corporate Partnership; and G. Larry Wilson, president of The Trelys Funds LLC, received an award for Civic Service. According to Dr. Young, these awards were presented to "individuals who have been quite instrumental in helping Allen University to effectively execute its mission in the past academic year." In addition to the presentation of baccalaureate degrees, Presidential Awards, and an honorary doctoral degree, the University honored the Class of 1954 – who left an $8,000 plus donation to the institution at the ceremony. Dr. Young also made presentations to the Right Reverend Henry Allen Belin Jr., outgoing Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Presiding Bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (South Carolina), in appreciation of his leadership as Board Chairman, and Lucinda Crawford Belin, Episcopal Supervisor. Immediately following the Commencement Convocation, a cornerstone was laid at Coppin Hall on the University campus. The 1 p.m. ceremony honored the 2002 restoration of historic Coppin Hall, located on the southwest corner of the main campus at Hampton and Harden Streets. The cornerstone contains a time capsule. Erected in 1906, Coppin Hall is the second oldest structure on campus and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2003, the Coppin Hall restoration received special recognition by the Historic Columbia Foundation. The Coppin renovation was facilitated by a million-dollar fundraising effort on the part of the Seventh Episcopal District AME Church. back to top
	Allen, Tom Joyner Foundation Team up to Provide Scholarships
		Allen University junior Ronald Dixon's long term career goals include serving his nation in the Federal Bureau of Investigation or as a U.S. Marshal. His short-term goal: college graduation. The 23-year-old business administration major from Cordesville, S.C., maintains a 3.5 grade point average and his efforts to pay for college have been aided by a scholarship through The Tom Joyner Foundation Campaign for Allen University. "Receiving this scholarship award from The Tom Joyner Foundation has made me realize that anything is possible if you work hard and trust God," Dixon said. "It has helped me understand that nothing comes easy. You have to work hard to achieve your goals, stay focused and remember your purpose for doing what you are doing."
	Johnnie May Ferguson (center) presents a $50,000 check on behalf of the General Alumni Association of Allen University to "Fly Jock" Tom Joyner (left) and University President Charles E. Young (right).
	The University conducted this scholarship campaign through The Tom Joyner Foundation, a charitable 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has raised more than $19 million for the sake of African American students in need at 66 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the United States since its 1998 inception. The Foundation is named for "Fly Jock" Tom Joyner, a nation-ally syndicated radio talk show host and HBCU alumnus. "We are pleased to have been selected as the School of the Month for March by The Tom Joyner Foundation," said Dr. Young. "We look forward to the opportunity of creating additional opportunities for our very deserving students." Today, many of Allen University's students are reaping the benefits of scholarship support provided through The Tom Joyner Foundation and its March 2004 campaign for Allen University. Sophomores Mary Butler and Wayne Eichelberger received laptop computers from Equal in support of their collegiate endeavors and many other students are reaping the benefits as well. These students include Quentin Andre O'neal, a business administration major who received a DaimlerChrysler Scholarship; Nezhla Sanderson, freshman biology major with a 3.3 GPA who earned a scholarship from GlaxoSmithKline; and Michael Maurice Oliver, a junior social science major who received the Exxon Mobil Scholar-ship. During the month of March, The Tom Joyner Morning Show — a nationally syndicated radio show heard by more than 6 million listeners weekly — featured vignettes about Allen University and profiled other student scholarship recipients. The Tom Joyner Morning Show airs nationally across 115 markets from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. EST, Monday through Friday. The Allen University campaign officially began on Saturday, February 28, at its 2004 Blue and Gold Banquet — featuring a keynote address delivered by Essie Mae Washington-Williams, the African American daughter of late U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond. Another campaign fundraising event during the month of March included a March 13 fundraiser at Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greenville, S.C. "Fly Jock" Tom Joyner also broadcast his morning show live from the Township Auditorium in Columbia, S.C. on Friday, March 26. Dubbed the "Party with a Purpose," the "Southwest Airlines Sky Show," featured national recording artists En Vogue and comedienne Kim Whitley. More than $90,000 was raised at The Sky Show alone in support of Allen University students, including a $50,000 check presentation made on behalf of the General Alumni Association of Allen University by National President Johnnie Mae Ferguson, `73. back to top
	Allen Announces New Leadership
		Allen University has just added 13 new members toits 23-member Board of Trustees. As the University continues to move forward, going from excellent to exceptional, it is excited about diversifying its board to include these new leaders. "We are extremely excited about the wealth of knowledge and experience this new board encompasses," said University President Charles E. Young. "This board will open up many doors for the University that otherwise would have been closed." "From politicians and doctors to educators and lawyers, as well as top business executives, we are in a great position to improve the University," he added. Traditionally, Allen's Board of Trustees has mainly been composed of African Methodist Episcopal Church pastors. This change sets a new precedent. For the first time in many years, the board reaches across the public spectrum.
	13 leaders from various backgrounds selected as new board members
	"As board chairman, I am elated of this assemblage. I look forward to working with all of these wonderful individuals," said the Right Reverend Preston Warren Williams II, Presiding Bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which encompasses the State of South Carolina. As Bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District, he is automatically afforded the duties of Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The new board met for the first time in late November 2004. The members of the Allen University Board of Trustees for the 2004-2005 academic year are (new members are bold): • The Right Reverend Preston Warren Williams II -- Board Chairman • The Honorable Henry "Hank" Johnston – Mayor of the Town of Bluffton, S. C. • Ann Caulkins — President/Publisher of The State newspaper • Stephen G. Morrison, Esq. – Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP • Don Herriott – President, Roche Carolina Inc. • G. Larry Wilson – President, The Trelys Funds LLC • Lisa Hutto, MD – Physician, Palmetto Allergy & Asthma PA • Alfred R. Berkeley III – Chairman, Pipeline Trading • The Reverend W.J. Baxter – Presiding Elder, Orangeburg District, AME Church • The Reverend Alonzo Middleton – Presiding Elder, Mount Pleasant District, AME Church • The Reverend R.E. Brailsford Sr. – Senior Pastor, Bethel AME Church • The Honorable James E. Clyburn, Sixth Congressional District • The Reverend R.L. McCants – Presiding Elder, Sumter District, AME Church • The Reverend John H. Gillison – Presiding Elder, Edisto District, AME Church • The Honorable Inez Tenenbaum – Superintendent of Education, State of South Carolina • The Honorable Ralph James – Municipal Judge, Orangeburg County, S.C. • Elliott Franks III – President/CEO, S.C. Jobs Economic Development Authority • The Honorable Tamara C. Curry – Associate Probate Judge, Charleston County, SC • Robert Scott – Administrator, District of Columbia Department of Mental Health • Willie F. Johnson – Chairman, PRWT Services Inc. • The Reverend Caesar R. Richburg – Pastor, Allen Temple AME Church • The Reverend Robert Cooper – Pastor, Union AME Church
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