five new deans join tsu in 2011
Dean Ronald Johnson joined the
Although the roles of academic deans may vary greatly, these
Jesse H. Jones School of Business (JHJ)
leaders share common ties. As scholarly administrators,
from the College of Business at Western
academic deans serve and answer to a variety of univer-
Carolina
sity constituents. At TSU, our deans are also bonded by
North Carolina. He is the former presi-
another commonality: a commitment to the positive changes
dent and chief investment officer at
currently happening here. In the past year alone, the
Smith Graham & Co. in Houston. As
University has appointed five new deans to join this esteemed
the new dean, Johnson brings his unique blend of experience
contingent.
to the Jesse H. Jones School of Business.
University
in
Cullowhee,
Dean Robert Bullard has rejoined the
Humphrey Regis is dean of the Thomas
faculty at Texas Southern University
F. Freeman Honors College, succeeding
as the dean of the Barbara Jordan-
Thomas F. Freeman, the namesake of
Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs.
the newest college. Earlier this year, the
Named by Newsweek as one of 13
ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Honors
Environmental Leaders of the Century,
College, housed on the lower level of the
Environmental
Robert J. Terry Library, symbolized its
Health and Racial Equality in the United States: Strategies
addition on campus. The mission of the Thomas F. Freeman
for Building Just, Sustainable and Livable Communities in
Honors College is to encourage its students to live produc-
April 2011.
tively as citizens of a global era.
Bullard
published
Lillian B. Poats is now dean of the
Danille K. Taylor is now dean of the College of Liberal Arts
College of Education. She has served
and Behavioral Sciences. Before coming
as a professor in the Department
to TSU, she was instrumental in the revi-
of Educational Administration and
talization of the Division of Humanities
Foundations and director of certifi-
at Dillard University. In 2011, Taylor led
cation for the College of Education.
a TSU delegation to confer with Beijing
Poats earned a bachelor’s degree in
Jiatong University for completion of
Secondary Education from Purdue University. She also
the TSU COLABS Confucius Institute
holds a master’s degree in Counseling and a Ph.D. in Higher
application. She was also an active participant in a study sem-
Education Administration from Texas Southern University.
inar on the Afro Cuban Women’s Experience at La Casa de
Her primary research focus is diversity in education.
las Americas in Havana, Cuba.
It Takes a Village UAV Students Find Support and Success With the help of the Houston Endowment, the University received a $2.74 million grant to begin a two-year pilot study — The Urban Academic Village (UAV) — which started in fall 2011. The primary goal of the UAV is to defeat low retention and graduation rates. As part of the program, the 390 freshmen who live in a renovated apartment complex have access to on-site faculty members 24 hours a day. Supplemental work that helps them sharpen their skills combined with the option of taking classes together offers additional academic support. Students also have the opportunity to attend lectures together and venture off campus for field trips. With strength in numbers, graduation becomes a reality for the vast majority of the UAV students. In 2011, 90% percent of Urban Academic Village students continued to the spring semester, compared to 80% of their peers.
Seven students of the UAV (above) created a marketplace within the UAV complex last year. Concerned about their peers walking to the corner store late at night, the friends started selling snacks, sodas and chips from their apartment. Pictured above: Javon Artis, Wally Wallis, Jalen Jones, Oliver Smith-Perrin, Jakari Bass, Jerry Ford, Idell McCarthur.