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a lifetime servant

RETIRED LANGSTON UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC LEADER, PROFESSOR INDUCTED INTO OKLAHOMA HIGHER EDUCATION HALL OF FAME

Dr. Clyde Montgomery, Jr., a retired Langston University professor and academic leader, was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the University of Central Oklahoma on November 4.

Dr. Montgomery was one of 11 inductees honored at the 30th annual Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame Banquet.

A dedicated servant to Dear Langston, Dr. Montgomery held many titles at the university over his 47-year tenure before he retired as the Vice President of Academic Affairs in 2019. His academic leadership had a significant impact in the STEM fields, created several important partnerships, secured accreditations and initiated programs that focused on professional development.

“Over the course of 47 years of distinguished service to Langston University, Dr. Montgomery has made an enduring impact on the institution,” said Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson, President of Langston University. “Throughout his tenure and regardless of his position, he exemplified an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, student achievement and institutional advancement. Dr. Montgomery served as a role model to numerous students, faculty, and staff. His dedication to developing future leaders in higher education is truly exceptional, and I am personally grateful for the invaluable professional guidance he has extended to me.”

Under Dr. Montgomery’s leadership, Langston University secured more than $6 million for state and national grant-funded projects, which led to an increase in LU students who pursued graduate degrees in chemistry and biology among other positive outcomes. Additionally, Dr.

Montgomery helped forge partnerships with various institutions that greatly benefitted both Langston University students and Oklahoma high school students, such as his collaboration with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to create a Math and Science Academy.

Dr. Montgomery, in an endeavor that ultimately saved the university thousands of dollars, pioneered the university’s implementation of technology throughout campus. He also instituted several professional development programs for faculty and instructors.

Dr. Montgomery accomplished all this while also serving in the United States Army and Army Reserves for 30 years.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THRIVE WITH SUPPORT

FROM THURGOOD

MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) supports and represents nearly 300,000 students across its 54 member schools, including Langston University.

Named after the first African American to be appointed as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, TMCF continues to impact students across the nation with its extensive scholarship programs, but that’s not all it offers.

Senior business administration major and Langston University TMCF campus ambassador Dacia Hindsman first learned about the different opportunities TMCF offers students through one of its business immersion trips.

“I was trying to figure out what type of field I wanted to go into,” Hindsman said. “I saw a gateway to be able to see if I would like this field or not.”

Through the business immersion trip, Hindsman did research and presented it to a company, earning real-world experience she can utilize in the future. Afterward, each participant was given $1,000.

Because Hindsman is a McCabe Honors Student at Langston University, her tuition and fees, room and board, and more are already paid for, so she does not qualify for TMCF scholarships, yet she still finds ways to utilize its resources to further her collegiate and career prospects.

In addition to the immersion trip, she has been able to network with HBCU students from across the country and has even earned internships through TMCF opportunities.

But TMCF’s scholarship opportunities are a significant part of its mission. To date, the organization has awarded more than $500 million in assistance to its students and member schools. TMCF distributes 98% of its awards exclusively to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs) and Historically Black Community Colleges (HBCCs), which is more than any other organization that supports the Black college community.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, Langston University students received $198,975 in scholarships. In 2023-2024, they received $158,100.

Another impactful program offered by TMCF is the Leadership Institute.The Leadership Institute is a power-packed, 4-day, in-person conference only available to students selected from the 47 publicly supported HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) to compete in today’s very competitive global workforce.

This conference is an invitation-only event. Langston University Dean of Students and TMCF Campus Coordinator Joshua Busby said the students selected have direct access to employers and a network of like-minded individuals and industry insight.

“This year, ten Langston University students were selected to attend the institute, which was the most ever,” Busby said. “They had a wonderful time and many of our students left the Leadership Institute with not only internship opportunities, but job offers as well.”

From Child Care to Criminal Justice:

Ololade Yerokun just turned 20, and in a few months, she will graduate from Langston University with four degrees: two associate degrees and two bachelor’s degrees.

Yerokun graduated from an Early College High School in Houston with an associate degree, and she came to LU in 2023 with the goal of earning her bachelor’s degree in corrections and then applying to law school.When she realized she had the opportunity to earn four degrees, though, she knew she had to take it.

“During Lion Camp, Dr. (Kelly) O’Bryan came to visit us,” Yerokun said. “She talked to us about how we could get four degrees in five years. I was like, ‘Four degrees! How do I do that?’ So, I called her up and she helped me create my schedule all over again. And when she saw that I actually already had 74 college credits, she told me that I could do it in less than three years instead of five.”

Dr.O’Bryan is the director of University College, which handles advising for all freshman, and the chair for the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, which houses the programs for the associate degree in Criminal Justice and the bachelor’s degrees in Corrections and Sociology. Yerokun will graduate with all three of these degrees as well as an associate degree in General Studies.

The ability to earn multiple degrees at once is one of the lesser-known benefits of the associate degree programs at Langston University. Because of the way most of the undergraduate degree programs are structured, almost every student qualifies for an associate degree in General Studies in addition to their bachelor’s degree.

“We want them to get every benefit for every dollar that they pay,” Dr. O’Bryan said. “Some students are happy to get one degree, but to know that you could get two, three or four? You can’t do that at every college. That’s what makes Langston a little bit special.”

Criminal Justice and General Studies aren’t the only options available for people seeking an associate degree. The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences also offers an associate in Child Development.

The Child Development program builds a foundation for understanding and supporting young children and their families. The program utilizes field trips and educational seminars to give students hands-on learning opportunities to apply theory and research to real-world experiences. Graduates from the Child Development program can work as teacher assistants, preschool teachers and childcare workers. An associate in Child Development is also a great addition for people who want to go on to pursue a career as a child or family therapist.

“The reason I chose Child Development is because when I first started working at a daycare last summer, it really broadened my horizons to what I can get out of it when working with children,” said Kayla Jackson, a senior psychology major with a minor in child development. “My experience has been overall helpful and beneficial, from how to contrast curriculum to a lesson plan, down to observing a classroom. This program has given me hands-on experiences that have developed my skills to another level”

Dr. O’Bryan encourages students to earn their associate because of the advantages it provides.

For many students, an associate degree can mean the difference between a paid or unpaid internship. In the criminal justice field, an associate degree can enable a person to begin working at a higher pay grade than someone without one. For many employers, an associate degree speaks to a student’s determination and commitment to their education that can transfer into their job.

“The associate degree now is kind of like how we revered the high school diploma 40, 50 years ago,” Dr. O’Bryan said. “An associate degree has kind of replaced that, in a sense. It shows that you’ve given time and commitment to two years, and for a lot of employers, that speaks a lot.

“There’s no reason why a student should leave Langston University without an associate’s and a bachelor’s.”

Forward, Upward, Onward, Together:

BAHAMIAN STUDENTS BREAK BARRIERS, ACHIEVE DREAMS AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY

Even when he was young, Jamal Kemp knew he was going to college. His grandmother prophesied it over him as a kid.

“Jamal is going to college, and he is going to achieve one of the highest GPAs in the whole college,” she would say.

Now, Kemp can do just that, about 1,400 miles away from home.

Kemp is a part of an increasingly large group of students attending Langston University from the Bahamas. This year, Dear Langston will have over 110 students from the Bahamas on its campus, all of whom are a part of the Langston University Marching Pride.

This recruitment effort began in 2019 during Mark Gordon’s second year as Director of Bands at Langston University. After chatting with a Bahamian student who was already on campus, Mark learned there might be larger interest from students in that area to come to America to receive their education.

“So, I got on WhatsApp and put these eight directors from the Bahamas in a group chat,” Mark said. “I asked if they had any students interested

in coming to the United States, told them I need trumpets, trombones, baritones, and I’m giving out scholarships.”

About 12 minutes later, Mark began receiving responses.

That year, he brought in about 130 freshmen from across the world. The next year, Mark began getting invited to brass symposiums hosted in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. There, he would connect with and audition even more potential students.

Year after year, Mark kept getting invited back to the island. And year after year, more Bahamian students would tell their friends and family about their wonderful experiences at Langston University.

“Shepherds don’t recruit sheep, sheep recruit sheep,” Mark said.

Langston University’s competitive scholarships, mixed with its affordability and programs, made the university especially appealing. But what has really boosted its reputation among the island is how the university took care of its students during the pandemic. When borders began closing in 2020, Dear Langston’s international students

were able to remain on campus free of charge over the summer.

This level of care made parents in the Bahamas feel comfortable with their students coming to Langston, Oklahoma, for college. Now, when Langston University comes to the Bahamas, there’s a line of people eager to audition.

This is how Kemp found out about Langston University in 2023.

Kemp auditioned for the Marching Pride and was immediately offered a scholarship.

“I had four prior scholarships,” Kemp said. “But I thought, ‘I think I want to go to Langston.’ And despite all the odds my mom said, ‘If you want to do it, do it.’ So, I did.”

After accepting his scholarship, Langston University’s Director of

Admissions, Recruitment and Outreach Services, Jocha Gordon, helped Kemp along with the many other students get their forms and admissions materials together.

Jocha’s first time going to the island was in December 2023, and she went again in July of 2024; each time, Jocha went with Mark to assist the new students in the enrollment process. During her travels, Jocha formed a tremendous bond with these students. Some even call her “momma.”

Jocha and her team help all prospective Langston University students learn about the opportunities available to them at Oklahoma’s only HBCU. During her trips to the Bahamas, she learned the band doesn’t just offer opportunities to those who play instruments.

Mya Kirlew started dancing during the pandemic after watching people online dance. She fell in love with it and realized she could also learn to dance. A couple years later, her dance instructor told her Langston University was in Nassau, her hometown, and there might be an opportunity for her with the marching band.

“There were no auditions for dancers,” Kirlew said. “I was just talking to everybody. (Jocha) sent my dance photos and videos to (Mark), and he told me to find the Golden Feline Instagram page to sign up for auditions.”

Becoming a member of the Golden Felines includes a long, typically in-person audition process. Mya couldn’t afford to fly to America for the audition, so she was allowed to go through the audition process online.

After several days, she made the team not only as the first Bahamian student on the Langston University Golden Felines, but the first international student on the squad.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Kirlew said. “How could they tell through video I’m a good dancer?

“When I found out, it felt for me like I was creating a legacy, making a pathway for other girls from the Bahamas or internationally.”

Kirlew is attending Dear Langston as a psychology major, with the goal of becoming a speech pathologist to help people like her brother, who has Downs Syndrome.

Kemp is a freshman music major, who might want to eventually bring what he learns back to the Bahamas so he can help improve his community.

Mark says the students in his band from the Bahamas are among the best and brightest, with some of the highest GPAs among his students. Their work ethic is insatiable because they understand how a degree from Langston University can change their lives.

Each of these students, and many more, can fulfill their dreams at Langston University.

“We want every student to see the gem we are at Langston University,” Jocha said. “Seeing these students at Langston University is a dream come true for them, and it’s a dream come true for us, too.”

Tickets for the 19th Annual President’s Scholarship Gala sold out in a record five days. On Oct. 18, 1,000 alumni, students, employees and friends of Langston University came together to raise over $50,000 for student scholarships, concluding with an exciting performance by New Editions’ Johnny Gill. Be on the lookout for tickets to the 20th Annual President’s Scholarship Gala taking place Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.

Langston University’s homecoming saw thousands of alumni and family flock to our three campuses to celebrate the times and memories they created while attending Oklahoma’s only HBCU. The Lion’s football team dominated North American University 48-2, and after the game 8Ball and MJG entertained in the tailgate lot to end our week-long festivities. We can’t wait to see you for next year’s homecoming Oct. 5-11, 2025!

Meet staff

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

Theresa Powell Vice President for Operations

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