THE
HOUSE
REPORT
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ROBERT MICHAEL FRANKLIN ’75
Year End 2010
As each year draws to a close, we tend to reflect on its biggest stories and best pictures.
Without a doubt, my favorite story and picture of 2010 is the one you see here, in which nearly 700 freshmen and transfer students received their Morehouse blazers and pledged to uphold and honor the College’s values and traditions. This is a portrait of the brotherhood, unity, discipline, and moral purpose for which Morehouse is famous. This photograph of high aspiring and high achieving young men should help to counteract the negative images and stereotypes that Americans encounter daily throughout the year. This is a picture that America needs to see. I’d like to pivot from that point about imaging to talk about the substance of what we call the Morehouse value proposition and conclude by inviting you to become more active in presenting it to the world. The first dimension of our value proposition is the precious people who gather around Morehouse to make it special and strong—namely, the many trustees; parents; faculty; administrators; alumni; and supporters who have contributed in countless ways to the success of Morehouse students. As a result, our students continue to do what they have done for more than 140 years: demonstrate excellence, improve the human condition, and inspire others throughout the process. •
I think Morehouse should do more to celebrate our student achievers. To that end, I am honored to share some of the accomplishments the College’s scholars have made during the semester. As you view the picture above, consider the following feats and think about ways in which you can assist in building on them. A team of accounting majors, consisting of Paul Adamson; Jonathan Davis; Jordan Ned; Michael Powell; and William Martin—all juniors—participated in and took first place in the Southeast Regional Deloitte Case Competition in November. They prevailed over teams from Clark Atlanta University; Florida A&M University; Jackson State University; Howard University; and North Carolina
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ROBERT MICHAEL FRANKLIN ’75
national competition in Scottsdale, Arizona, in April 2011. The team’s case, which was based on a real-life occurrence, was judged by a panel of partners from Deloitte. Faculty coaches included Dr. Cheryl Allen, Dr. Emmanuel Onifade, and Alicia Wilson. Barry McLaurin and Avery Munnings ’86, a trustee of the College, served as Deloitte coaches. •
Here’s a very significant bragging point. While approximately 16 percent of all American college graduates earn degrees in a STEM discipline annually, Morehouse graduates nearly double that rate at approximately 30 percent. The men of Morehouse are soaring past other American undergraduates when it comes to the percentage of students earning degrees in the science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) disciplines.
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In August, five students and two faculty members traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to participate in the African Presidential Roundtable on Leadership Solutions to Land Reform in Africa. The event was a multi-continental conversation involving students, faculty, and leaders from the public and private sectors in the United States, Europe, and Africa. Our students Jacques Pape and Chauncey Smith ’11 took first and second place, respectively, in the APARC Student Paper Contest on comparative analysis of regional democracy and development in Africa.
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Ezekiel Phillips ’11, who played a significant role in the establishment of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association, and Jacques Pape ’11, who organized the College’s efforts for Haitian relief, are the co-producers of the acclaimed documentary “Haiti: The Wake Up Call.” Filmed during their 2010 spring break trip to provide aid to the people of Haiti—Mr. Pape’s native country—the pair presented the documentary to publishers and distributors during the Cannes Film Festival. Mr. Phillips aspires to make more documentary films and has applied for graduate study in
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filmmaking. Mr. Pape has applied for graduate study in public policy and hopes to establish a career in international relations. •
Seven Morehouse students, accompanied by Dr. Terry Mills, dean of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, paid a special visit to the office of President Bill Clinton. Arranged through the William J. Clinton Foundation, the meeting consisted of a group of current Clinton Foundation staff and interns talking with our students—an interdisciplinary group nominated through their respective divisions—about the various units within the foundation and their organizational responsibilities. The students included Lance Dixon ’12; Jacques Pape ’11; Raymond Perkins ’13; Ezekiel Phillips ’11; Jonathan Wall ’12; Jeffery Taylor II ’12; and Courey Wong ’11. Morehouse is being considered as a possible host for a portion of the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative University, in part, because of the stellar impression our students made on their hosts. The program brings together students, university presidents, and national youth organizations to create and implement commitments to action across five areas: education; environment and climate change; peace and human rights; poverty alleviation; and public health.
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Our football team earned its place in Morehouse history by going to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. I’d like to offer a special word of commendation to Coach Rich Freeman, the coaching staff, and our scholar-athletes. We salute kicker Ian Mullen ’11 and defensive lineman Derrin Nettles ’11, who were selected to play in the NCAA Division II All Star Game. We salute Brandon Cunningham ’11, also invited to participate. Unfortunately, he will be unable to play due to a broken arm sustained in the playoff game. We applaud all of these scholar athletes for this well-earned honor, as well as for their leadership and athleticism as Maroon Tigers.
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ROBERT MICHAEL FRANKLIN ’75
Kudos to the Academic Divisions Morehouse educates a noteworthy cadre of the world’s best and brightest students who will someday improve the world. We are exceedingly proud of their academic accomplishments and the far-reaching impact they make in the global community. Clearly, they could not achieve this without the knowledge, mentoring, discipline, and guidance they receive from a world-class faculty and staff support team. Each of the College’s three divisions—Science and Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Business Administration and Economics—and their dedicated personnel make it possible for the students and the College to excel and to consistently earn national recognition for providing quality education. Here, I celebrate the divisions, their staff, and their diligence in acquiring opportunities for Morehouse and her students to soar to increasingly higher heights. Business Administration and Economics • Chaired by Dean John Williams ’69, the Graduate Business/Professional School Feasibility/ Implementation Strategy Committee met for the first time during the fall meeting of the board of trustees. This strategy committee is tasked with reviewing and validating the findings and recommendations of a consultant team that was enlisted to conduct the study. Once their work is approved by the board of trustees, that committee will also develop an implementation plan. • In September 2010, Ambassador Andrew Young joined the Leadership Center as Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence. His presence on the campus has provided an exciting platform and opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to experience firsthand his wisdom and unmatched credentials on effective ethical leadership. In his capacity as Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence, Trustee Young will conduct public lectures, participate in other academic programs, forums, and workshops, and serve as a critical resource in helping Morehouse fulfill her historic mission. •
It is my pleasure to join Vernon Jordan and other
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thought leaders and renowned scholars as part of the teaching team for a seminar, titled Ethical Leadership and African American Moral Traditions. This course will serve as the capstone course for the leadership studies minor and will fulfill my vision for increasing the number of nationally recognized leaders who engage our students before they graduate. It will begin in the spring 2011 semester. Humanities and Social Sciences • In September, the Mellon Foundation awarded funding to establish the Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies Program at the College, a program that has been under exploration for more than a year. The curriculum review and approval process for the program, which will be a part of the Department of English, is scheduled to conclude by the end of this year. • We received a $100,000 grant from the WalMart Foundation to support our stellar Chinese Studies Program. Under the leadership of Dr. Henrietta Yang, the program is in its third year and has received accolades from the U.S. Department of State. The program is expected to be a part of the Department of State’s forthcoming “100,000 Strong” student exchange initiative to increase the number of American students studying in China. Dr. Yang and Julius Coles ’63, director of the Andrew Young Center for International Affairs and Office of Global Education, recently met with the U.S. Department of State regarding its “100,000 Strong” initiative which aims to increase opportunities for American students to study in China. Science and Mathematics • Dr. J.K. Haynes ’64, dean, and Dr. James P. Brown ’66, director of the Office of Research Careers, undertook a project to create a profile of alumni who have earned doctoral degrees. Using the Survey of Earned Doctorates, a publication of the National Science Foundation, they determined that Morehouse alumni who earned doctoral degrees in all fields during the period
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ROBERT MICHAEL FRANKLIN ’75
from 2003 to 2007 were more similar statistically to non-Hispanic white students than to other African Americans. Specifically, they found that 13 percent of Morehouse graduates and non-Hispanic whites earned Ph.D.s in the physical sciences, compared to 6 percent in the general African American Ph.D. population. This is compelling data that now enables the College to assess how it will expand the pipeline of students in STEM doctoral research and teaching. •
Earlier this month, scores of alumni physicians joined us for a wonderful reception and networking event hosted in partnership with Novo Nordisk. Several new initiatives will be undertaken during 2011 and beyond to revive the pipeline of Morehouse Men entering health care professions. We owe a debt of gratitude to Thomas Blocker ’74—who served the College for 27 years and was devoted to preparing
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students for careers in health professions—and all of the legendary faculty, staff, and alumni, who have excelled in health care professions and brought great distinction to Morehouse. Morehouse Thanks You As you can see, Morehouse students are having an enormous impact on improving the human condition, and we acknowledge that you are a large part of their success. Your gifts help them continue their work and relieve the financial burden many of our families are facing in these difficult economic times. In this season of giving, I hope you will again consider assisting our students and advancing the Renaissance at Morehouse College. Sons of Morehouse, especially, if you have been blessed by the College, I offer this special appeal to you to give to the College. You may donate at giving.morehouse.edu or by responding to the email and mail appeals that you will receive in the coming weeks. Thank you for all you do.
Christmas reminds us we are not alone. We are not unrelated atoms, bouncing and ricocheting amid aliens, but are a part of something, which holds and sustains us. As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. Christmas shows us the ties that bind us together, threads of love and caring, woven in the simplest and strongest way within the family. Donald E. Westlake, novelist
May peace and joy abide with you and your loved ones during this holiday season and in the coming year!