'E Roar | Vol. 1 Issue 2 by Langston University

From LU to the World:

HOW DR. DELK IS FINDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANGSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Dr. Desmond Delk began working as a professor in Langston University’s Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation in August 2015. Since then, Dr. Delk has been instrumental in finding opportunities and partnerships for Langston University’s students.

A product of HBCUs himself, Dr. Delk believes in the power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the students they produce. Because of this belief, he strives to contribute to developing future leaders who are passionate about influencing change in their local communities and in the global community.

Recently, Dr. Delk helped Langston University earn a grant from USA Cycling to establish and support a collegiate cycling program; he also spearheaded an educational affiliation agreement between Langston University and the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE).

“These partnerships provide avenues for both physical and professional mobility,” Dr. Delk said. “When students establish healthy habits, they are likely to be active as a lifestyle. Early exposure to professional and graduate opportunities assists students in aligning their current efforts with their prospective endeavors.”

USA CYCLING GRANT

The USA Cycling grant was announced Sept. 22 and aims to foster the growth of cycling within HBCUs and Tribal Colleges and Universities. Langston University will receive $30,000 in grant support over a three-year period.

In addition to the grant support, Langston University will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual race series hosted by the Cyclone Racing League with the intention of bringing together HBCU students and alumni.

PATHWAYS TO DOCTORAL PROGRAMS

Langston University entered its educational affiliation agreement with ACHE on Sept. 26. This agreement establishes the Early Assurance Program, which will create two pathways for LU students to attend ACHE to study occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Through the new program, LU students who meet ACHE’s general and program-specific admission requirements can choose to follow one of two paths into either the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OT) program or the Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT) program. The first pathway will guarantee a student’s placement in their program of choice while the second pathway will allow students to bypass ACHE’s initial screening process and receive a guaranteed interview for their program of choice.

Learn more about each of these programs at USA Cycling and through Langston University.

set for success

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY INTRODUCES THE LION SUCCESS ACADEMY

Dedric Porter wasn’t sure what exactly he’d gotten himself into when he accepted his admission into the Lion Success Academy.

An Oklahoma City native, Porter knew he wanted to attend Langston University like his cousin, and he knew the Lion Success Academy was a way to do so. But he didn’t really know what to expect until he came to campus for Lion Camp. That’s when he met Dr. Kelly O’Bryan and the rest of the inaugural class of the Lion Success Academy.

“That whole week was so fun for me,” Porter said. “I met so many new people from everywhere and learned more about Langston and LSA.”

The Lion Success Academy (LSA) is a new program for first-time freshmen intended to aid them through their first two years of school to ensure they have the study skills and support system needed to achieve their educational goals. The program gives students more structure within their class schedules while still giving them the freedom to experience college life like any other student.

This year’s inaugural cohort has 25 students from varied backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: a desire to earn a degree.

“These students came in during Lion Camp like all the rest of the students,” said Dr. O’Bryan, the LSA advisor. “So they’re not getting necessarily a different college experience. They’re still getting all the advantages and opportunities as everyone else and they can still join groups and organizations, the only difference is that their academics are focused a little differently.”

LSA students are enrolled in either the Criminal Justice or General Studies associate’s degree programs.They attend all their classes together as a cohort in class sections specifically designated for the LSA, and each of their professors were hand-picked to teach the group.

LSA students also receive regular tutoring sessions, from both professors and student volunteers, and they meet with Dr. O’Bryan biweekly to ensure they are learning the material and meeting their goals.

Heath Burge, assistant vice president for Strategic Enrollment and Advising Services, came up with the idea for the LSA after seeing similar programs at other schools. His goal was to target students who might have otherwise been unable to attend college, due to grades or other circumstances, and offer them an opportunity to earn their associate’s degree in a supportive environment that will prepare them for a bachelor’s degree program.

“What we are affording to our student participants is an opportunity to come to Langston,” Burge said. “The group of students that we tried to target are just below our traditional admissions criteria, and the thought process was that if we’re able to bring that group of students in and if we’re able to provide wrap-around services, then we’re hopeful these students will advance and be able to continue here at Langston after completing their associate’s.”

Burge worked closely with the Advising Services team and the Office of Academic Affairs to create the program. Dr. Alonzo Peterson, Vice President for Academic Affairs, helped to carve out the LSA schedule for the first two semesters, creating the LSA-specific class sections and ensuring more traditionally difficult classes are strategically spaced out. These classes cover the same content and have the same standards as those non-LSA students take, but Dr. O’Bryan said taking their classes together encourages the students to work together and build community. So far, it’s working.

Porter said the cohort has become like a large friend group, with each of the students deciding that since they’ll be spending the next two years together, they should all make the most of it. They see each other in class and tutoring sessions, but they also hang out in their free time. Fellow LSA student Lyric Lewis affirmed Porter’s sentiment and added that the group’s closeness helps them keep each other accountable.

“My experience with the LSA program has been really good!” Lewis said. “Starting with the classmates I have. Since it’s supposed to be all of us together for these whole 2 years, you just learn to build new bonds. My classmates have their moments when they get on my absolute nerves, but it makes it easier for us to help each other out since we have the same classes and schedule.”

That was part of the plan.

Dr. O’Bryan said providing students with extra university support and resources can only go so far if the students don’t buy in to the program, but having a built-in support system of peers will hopefully give them some extra motivation to see the program through.

“It’s really amazing,” Dr. O’Bryan said. “They’ve created a community; they hold each other accountable and then they’re also out there together. In the evenings, we go home, but they still have each other.” Half-way through the first semester of the program, Burge and Dr. O’Bryan are already looking for ways to improve in the future. They have received positive feedback from the students, but they know there’s always room for improvement. Any changes made in the future will be in pursuit of the LSA’s main purpose: to set students up for success academically and in the workforce.

When the students complete the program in two years, they will have an associate’s degree and valuable life skills. They can choose to continue into a bachelor’s degree program at Langston University or elsewhere, or they can enter the workforce. Whatever path they choose, the Lion Succes Academy will prepare them for it.

“In my mind, LSA really points to what I think that HBCUs were really established for, the point and purpose of HBCUs,” Burge said. “And that is offering opportunities to students who otherwise would not have an opportunity to go to school.”

SCHOLARLY ROOTS

The Langston University Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences is pleased to announce its newest scholars joining the Langston University 1890 Land-Grant Scholars Program and the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program for AY24-25. Since the inception of these scholarships, the 1890 institutions have experienced an increase in the number of students enrolling in agricultural sciences and related disciplines. These scholarship recipients will receive engagement, mentoring, and training - all of which will be critical to increasing the number of graduates in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields.

The LU 1890 Land-Grant Scholarships were secured in the 2018 Farm Bill and have been awarded annually since 2022. Scholarship recipients receive renewable awards at two levels: $10,000 and $5,000 each year for the term of the scholarship. The scholarship is reserved for first-time college students , continuing LU students and transfer students from community colleges. The program supports the recruitment, retention, and academic success of undergraduate students, leading to an increased number of graduates with bachelor’s degrees in food, agricultural sciences, and related fields that lead to a highly skilled food and agricultural systems workforce. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), these scholarships aim to encourage exceptional students to pursue and complete their degrees in these areas.

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is designed to enhance educational and career opportunities for students from rural or underserved communities nationwide. Established in 1992 as part of a partnership between the USDA and the 1890 land-grant universities, the program plays a vital role in supporting these communities.

Managed by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), the 1890 National Scholars Program aims to increase the number of students from rural and underserved areas who pursue studies in food,

agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. The scholarship covers full tuition, fees, books, room, and board, and scholars attend one of the 1890 land-grant universities to earn degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related fields. Additionally, the scholarship may offer work experience with the USDA, making the program an essential component of USDA’s Next Generation efforts.

Overall, the 1890 Land-Grant Scholarship Program is an essential initiative that not only supports individual students but also contributes to the broader goal of ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future in agriculture and related industries.

Story

By: Sonya Moore-Davis

Photos By; Jeremiah Harrison

Small classes, big impact

For Jennifer Doby, finding ways for her school and her students to give back to their community is almost second nature.

Doby, the academic advisor and recruiter for the Langston University nursing program in Ardmore, works with students and faculty on more than just making sure students are completing their courses in a timely manner. A native of Ardmore, she has lots of connections in the community, and people and organizations will often reach out to her when they host outreach events. Students are not required to participate in these events, but Doby said they do so because they like giving back to their community.

“Any community project we have, if they’re available, at least a few of them try to come out and be a part of it,” Doby said. “As much as they can, they definitely volunteer for their communities.”

Langston University established a site for its nursing program in Ardmore in 2019. While the cohorts are small––there are currently 10 seniors and seven juniors––the students are able to make a positive impact in their community.

This fall, students, faculty and staff participated in two back-to-school events in Ardmore: Literacy Day and the Back 2 School Bash. Both events were aimed at helping low-income families prepare for the upcoming school year.

Literacy Day is an annual event where families can come get free school supplies for their students. Different organizations and businesses buy one type of school supply and families go around from table to table to collect the school supplies on their list. LU nursing staff handed out colored pencils.

In addition to the school supplies, families also had an opportunity for their children to receive sports physicals from the Carter County Health Department. LU nursing students helped with these physicals by administering the height, weight and blood pressure checks.

“It’s good for them to be involved because the students get to help out with the community, and the community gets to benefit from that,” Doby said. “But the students also get the benefits of having that community life, and then also getting experience with some of these things.”

This year, Literacy Day served 358 children and their families. Langston University has participated in Literacy Day in the past, but this year was the first year the university was an official sponsor.

The Back 2 School Bash, which Langston University was also an official sponsor for, offered free school supplies, haircuts, physicals and vaccines to students and their families. The LU nursing students again aided with the physicals.

“The students were very excited to help,” Doby said. “They’re always hands on, and they got to get a different experience of their community and be more connected.”

These are just a couple of the community outreach events the nursing students participate in, but Doby said the students make an effort to volunteer year-round.

In April, several nursing students volunteered as part of relief efforts in Marietta after an E-4 tornado hit the town. During the pandemic, students volunteered to help administer COVID-19 vaccines during vaccination clinics. Twice a year, the students participate in the Healthy Extravaganza, a health fair where different organizations hand out informational materials and the nursing students offer free blood pressure and weight checks. Doby also works with the fire department to organize a flu clinic every fall where nursing students can help administer vaccines.

The students see these not just as opportunities to give back to their communities, but also as ways to develop their skills and become more well-rounded professionals. Assisting with sports physicals and vaccine clinics gives the students opportunities to practice their nursing skills in a controlled environment with real patients. It also gives them a chance to practice their soft skills, like bedside manners.

“These are really great experiences for the students,” Doby said. “They get to see, ‘Hey, there’s another side of nursing. It’s not just working in a hospital.’ So, it’s overall a well-rounded situation for our students.”

Doby said she’s proud of her students for how much they get involved in these types of outreach events, especially because building connections with the members of the community through these events helps motivate many of them to stay in the area when they graduate. Additionally, their outreach is part of how they can make sure people know that Langston University is there.

Most of all, Doby said she’s impressed by the students when it comes to their outreach work.

“I’m just really impressed with our students and their willingness to donate more of their time and volunteer for us,” Doby said. “It’s very impressive in all their hard work, because I know how much studying they have to do and how much dedication they have to have to the nursing program, and to be willing to volunteer extra time for the community, it’s just impressive.”

D

Monte BrowN

Known as one of the best off-the-bench players in the NAIA last season, D’Monte Brown spent two years with Langston University under Head Coach Chris Wright. Brown led the NAIA National Championship Tournament Runner-Ups in rebounds per game (5.6) and played significant minutes in every game across both seasons.

Now, Brown is carrying his talents across the Atlantic Ocean into Germany, where he plays for the Aschersleben Tigers.

“Living and playing basketball overseas is a blessing and a great opportunity, but it comes with its own set of challenges,” Brown said. “The chance to meet and play with players from different countries is an amazing opportunity, and the fans treat you like an NBA player. Its been a thrilling and rewarding experience.”

The support Brown received from his teammates and coaches at Dear Langston has helped him achieve success on and off the court, teaching him the importance of teamwork and collaboration.

This is Brown’s first time outside of the United States, but the versatile 6’3 (1.93 meters) player will look to make an immediate impact this season!

Class of 2023

HAILEY JORDAN

If you had the opportunity to watch the Langston University Lady Lions play basketball last season, then you saw how much of a powerhouse Hailey Jordan is. As a starter in both of her seasons at Langston University, Jordan was a top four player in nearly every statistic. Now, she will have the opportunity to dominate in Ireland as she joins the Portlaoise Panthers this upcoming season.

“I am very blessed for the opportunity,” Jordan said. “I can’t wait to explore and experience another country’s culture and just live in another country.”

Jordan helped lead the Lady Lions to an appearance in the Women’s Basketball NAIA National Tournament in her final season after finishing second in the Sooner Athletic Conference, racking up nearly 15 points per game and 6 rebounds per game, along with a .519 field goal percentage.

Langston University was instrumental in preparing Jordan for her career overseas, helping her learn to adjust in tough situations, teaching her to stay true to herself and coaching her to stay calm under pressure. These skills propelled her to success at Dear Langston and will do the same in Ireland!

“ I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PLAYED FOR LANGSTON UNIVERSITY AND REPRESENT THE TEAM AS ONE OF THE SUPERHEROES. IT WAS A BLESSING TO WEAR THE LANGSTON JERSEY AND BE A PART OF THE TEAM’S SUCCESS. I AM PROUD TO HAVE LEFT MY MARK AT LANGSTON AS A LEGENDARY PLAYER, AND I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THE MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES I HAD THERE.”

“I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AND STUDENTS FOR THE ENDLESS SUPPORT AND FOR THE LIFELONG BONDS THAT I HAVE MADE AND THE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS THAT I HAVE COME ACROSS. I HAVE MET A LOT OF GENUINE PEOPLE, AND I CAN’T BE THANKFUL ENOUGH.”

Class of 2023

toru dean

Toru Dean etched himself into Langston University legend during his two years with the program. Described as “tough, unselfish and passionate” by Head Coach Chris Wright, Dean was often the guy who made the offense click, proven by his 251 total assists over two years, averaging 4.1 assist per game during the 2023-2024 season, the most on the team. He also averaged 9.4 points per game.

Dean was slated to take his talents to the Accent Baskets Solzkotten in Germany, but due to a lost in sponsorship the season was canceled. Nevertheless, Toru will still be heading to Germany soon as he awaits a new contract.

“Langston University taught me how to overcome hardships,” Dean said. “I want to thank everyone who helped me get to this point.”

Dean played in every game during his final season with the Lions, totaling 1,078 minutes played in 2023-2024. He never played less than 21 minutes in a single game.

Dean is eager to continue playing internationally, and no setback will keep him from accomplishing his goals.

“ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOUSELF AND NEVER GIVE UP. KEEP PUSHING FORWARD EVEN WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH.”

Preserving Black History:

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY HELPS

NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN JAZZ LEGACY MUSEUM STORE ARTIFACTS

Rosetta Funches took a trip to Alabama to see the Edmund Pettus Bridge that changed how Oklahoma shares Black history forever.

During that year’s anniversary celebration of the historic bridge, Funches met a woman from New Orleans. As the two of them began to have a conversation, Funches mentioned she started the Oklahoma Black Museum in 2008. The woman began inquiring about how she could go about starting a jazz museum in Tremé, New Orleans.

Funches visited Tremé several times to share her ideas about how to begin such a museum, but after conversations stalled with the city council, she decided to take her ideas back to Oklahoma.

“Well shoot, there’s no rules to where you can start a museum,” Funches said. “Oklahoma has a history of jazz music ... so I said, ‘Let’s do it in Oklahoma City.’ So, I started the National African American Jazz Legacy Museum in 2016.”

Since its founding, the National African American Jazz Legacy Museum has become a staple in Oklahoma’s Black community, but in early 2024 Funches was notified by the owner of the building in which the museum sat that she would have to vacate because the building was being sold.

The National African American Jazz Legacy Museum needed to find a place to store their artifacts until a new building could be found. Thankfully, the museum already had a partnership with Langston University’s Oklahoma City campus when it was housed at Milwood High School, which is where the museum hosted its jazz radio station, KJLM.

Funches contacted the interim site director for LU-OKC, Dr. Andre Washington, to see if Langston University could provide a storage space for the museum. Dr. Washington involved Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Alonzo Peterson and President Ruth Ray Jackson in the discussion, and they were able to find space appropriate for the National African American Jazz Legacy Museum.

“It was important for us to find a space where their precious artifacts were safe, and a space where they can still work in an administrative capacity,” Dr. Washington said. “And collaborating with them was a natural fit. Their goal is to educate, our goal is to educate, and because both Langston University and the museum are staples of the Black community in Oklahoma City, it just made sense.”

The National African American Jazz Legacy Museum relies on monetary donations and artifact donations to maintain its operations, all with the goal of etching the history of Black music into stone in Oklahoma.

“Jazz is a gift from God, and it has a definite history,” Funches said. “It’s the greatest art form in the world, and I want to collect its history to ensure it lives forever.”

new partnership. new opportunities.

FIRST STUDENT COMPLETES LANGSTON UNIVERSITY COBANK SCHOLARS PROGRAM

It all started with a tip from an alumnus.

In 2022, Kenneth and Jean Crowley called Theresa Powell, the Langston University vice president for Operations, to let her know about a potential opportunity to forge a partnership with a financial institution called CoBank. Excited about the benefits a relationship with the company could provide to LU students, the Denver-based alumni were eager for the two entities to connect.

“I am grateful for the close relationship we’ve built with (the Crowleys),” Powell said. “They reached out one day and said, ‘Hey, CoBank is interested in partnering with an HBCU. We’d love for it to be Langston.’ President Smith and I then started having conversations with CoBank.”

A relationship began to form quickly. As a part of the U.S. Farm Credit System, CoBank’s mission to support agriculture and rural infrastructure lined up nicely with LU’s land-grant mission of supporting agricultural research and cooperative extension. A partnership seemed almost natural.

That September, Powell and then Langston University President Kent J. Smith, Jr., flew to Denver to meet with CoBank representatives and start laying out what a partnership between the institutions would entail. In October, representatives from CoBank came to Langston University to meet with academic leaders and participate in LU’s homecoming festivities. Discussions continued, and in March 2023, the institutions announced the creation of the Langston University CoBank Scholars program.

CoBank gave a $500,000 endowment to the Langston University Foundation to create the Scholars program. As part of the program, Langston University students will have an opportunity to complete an internship at the CoBank headquarters in Denver.They will participate in a variety of internship events and programs, receive mentoring from experienced CoBank employees and complete an internship project. Once they complete their internship, the students will each receive a $4,000 stipend from the endowment.

“Ultimately, the idea of all of this is for career placement into CoBank,” Powell said. “What CoBank likes to do and what they aim to do is, with these interns, they’re really cultivating their workforce from Langston University. This partnership creates opportunities for students from a wide variety of majors to participate in this program and gain employment with one of the largest banks in the country.”

Since conversations between the institutions began, CoBank has participated in the semiannual career fairs at LU and hired several interns from the university, some of whom have already gone on to be full-time employees after graduation. This summer, though, Michael Hankins became the first student to officially become a Langston University CoBank Scholar.

A senior agribusiness major from Tacoma, Washington, Hankins first heard about CoBank from an info session held for students during his sophomore year. There he met Faye Tate, the vice president of Diversity & Inclusion at CoBank, and she encouraged him to follow up with her later at the career fair. He did, and he learned more about the company and the different opportunities available to him there. He decided to apply for an internship, and after three rounds of interviews, he was hired as an intern for CoBank’s Farm Credit Leasing (FCL) team.

“It was an honor to experience that early on,” Hankins said. “You know, it gave me a jumpstart to my young professional career development, and I feel like I’ve been able to grow tremendously since then.”

Hankins interned with the FCL team at the CoBank headquarters for two summers, attending meetings, processing deals, working on leases and providing a helping hand wherever he was needed. He said everyone he worked with was welcoming and he felt almost like everyone’s younger brother. He said he learned a lot and made connections with people, and he never felt like just a student.

After two summers with FCL and officially completing the Scholars program, Hankins has transitioned into a remote intern for the Capital Markets team while he finishes his last year of school. He’s had conversations with his supervisors about what his future looks like at CoBank, and he plans to apply for their Credit Assistant Advancement Program once he graduates. The program will be similar to his internship, but he will cycle through several teams to see where he fits in best.

“I would like to say, ‘Thank you’ to CoBank for taking a chance on us students from Langston and giving us the opportunity to shine,” Hankins said. “I know everyone at Langston is looking for opportunity. And with the relationship CoBank and Langston have now, it’s looking very promising in our future.”

INDUSTRIES FEATURED:

ACCOUNTING

ADVERTISING, PR & MARKETING AEROSPACE

COMMERCIAL BANKING & CREDIT

CONSTRUCTION

CPG - CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS

FARMING, RANCHING AND FISHING

FINANCIAL SERVICES

FORESTRY

GOVERNMENT - LOCAL, STATE & FEDERAL HEALTHCARE

HIGHER EDUCATION

HUMAN RESOURCES

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

INSURANCE

INTERNET & SOFTWARE

K-12 EDUCATION

LEGAL & LAW ENFORCEMENT

MANUFACTURING

NON-PROFIT

OIL & GAS

OTHER EDUCATION

RESEARCH

RETAIL STORES

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

SPORTS & LEISURE

TOURISM

TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

UTILITIES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Meet staff

‘E ROAR IS PRODUCED BY THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Theresa Powell Vice President for Operations

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