Fall 2010 - Cheyney University

1
Greetings Alumni, Faculty,
Students, Staff, and Friends of
Cheyney University,
We began this fall with a significant increase in the number of students who selected Cheyney University as their institution of choice. With the opening of the
400-bed residence hall in Fall 2011, we
expect to continue to attract a wide array
of talented students who want to develop
into responsible and contributing citizens
of the Commonwealth and our global
community. The more individuals we
prepare to function at their highest
potential, the stronger we will be as
Americans, and the stronger we will
function as global citizens.
This year, through the University College
initiative, we are focusing on student
engagement and working to increase our
progression towards graduation for our
students. To keep our students engaged,
we are seeking additional internships,
mentors, and sponsors for co-curricular
activities through the University College,
so that we can expose our students to the
widest range of experiences, cultures, and
perspectives possible.
Once again, we invite all of you to help
us unlock the extraordinary talents of
the next generation of leaders–so that we
can improve the overall conditions of our
connected lives.
Sincerely,
M ichelle R. H oward-Vital, Ph.D.
President, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
A view of Emlen Hall on the
attractive Historic Quad
of Cheyney University
2
COVER: Cheyney University science students Chris Stewart,
Michael DeHaven, and Lindy Brown separate bacterial cells
from an overnight culture in a microcentrifuge in one of
Carver Science Center’s laboratories.
highlights
Spirit
Cheyney
•Letter to alumni from the president of the
Cheyney University National A lumni Association . . . . . . . . . . . 2
•Two Historic A lumni–Pioneers in Medicine and Women’s R ights . . . 3
•CU’s A mazing A lumni: Where A re They Now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
•Author, Educator, Life Coach Encourages “It’s Your Turn!” . . . . . . 4
•R ising Star Shines with CU Glow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
•Two Notable A lumni R emember to Give Back:
CEOs David R ivers and K eith Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
•Class Gift of Glass A llows Glimpse of CU History . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Commencement 2010
•With a Distinctively Philly Flair, the Honorable Michael A. Nutter
Challenged Hundreds of CU Graduates to M ake an Impact . . . . . 8
Men Who Changed the World
•Dr. William “Bill” Cosby, Jr. and Others Honor Ed Bradley . . . . . 12
• PA Congressman Joe Sestak Visits CU–
and Brings H is Former Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Council of Trustees Chair
Robert W. Bogle welcomes
Dr. William H. Cosby, Jr., to the
1st Annual Ed Bradley Gala.
The
Cheyney
University
Magazine
is published for alumni,
donors, faculty, students and friends of
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.
P ublisher
Michelle R. Howard-Vital, Ph.D.
President
Executive Editor
Lawrence Green
Interim Vice President of Institutional Advancement
© Copyright 2010
M anaging Editor
Geri R. Vital
Design
Geri R. Vital, Philip Pagliaro
Web site: www.cheyney.edu
Phone: 1-800-CHEYNEY
1837 University Circle
Cheyney, PA 19319
Cheyney
PRIDE
•CU Student Conducts M arine R esearch
During Internship in A laska . . . . . . . . . . 16
•FMM M ajors Bring M ajor Style to BET . . . . . 17
•Cheyney University Undergrads Earn
National R ecognition for R esearch Projects . 18
CU Athletics on the MOVE
•Curry Establishes R eputation in NFL . . . . . . 20
•Orji Selected as NCAA
Woman of the Year Honoree . . . . . . . . . . . 21
STAYING CONNECTED
•New Council of Trustees Member . . . . . . . . 22
•New Members of CU Family . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
•Science Collaborations Provide Opportunities
for Students, Faculty, and Staff . . . . . . . . 24
•The Honor Roll of Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
•Founders Week 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
•Community Day 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
•A lumni R ecruitment Network & Open House . . 31
• Miss Cheyney University 2010-2011 . . . . . . . 32
alumni
Spirit
Cheyney
Dear Fellow Alumni,
As I enter into my second
year as your president, I
reflect upon our accomplishments for the 2010
alumni year. We now
have a Cheyney University National Alumni Association Policy and Procedures Manual in place
which clearly details the
methods by which we
will carry out the CUNAA Constitution. The
purpose of this manual
is to ensure that CUDr. Sandra Merritt Countley
NAA operates according
to best practices. It is the objective of the CUNAA
Board of Directors to be as transparent in our operations as possible. Copies of the manual were distributed at the 2010 Homecoming General Membership
Meeting. If you would like a copy, simply email me at
sandydst@aol.com to request one.
Another accomplishment in which we take pride is
the degree to which alumni have answered the call,
contributing over $400,000 to the Cheyney University
Alumni Scholarship Campaign.
Also, during Homecoming 2010, over 200 alumni
heeded the call to make a commitment to donate one
percent (1%) of their annual incomes to that Alumni
Scholarship Campaign. Through this effort, we have
the opportunity to provide scholarships to a greater
number of students than we have ever done previously. This is one of the greatest legacies we each can
make to Cheyney University!
I continue to charge all alums to be actively engaged
in CUNAA. There is much work to do and many
services to render! How can you help? Serve on a
CUNAA Committee. Attend CUNAA general membership meetings. Become a one percent (1%) donor.
Mentor a Cheyney undergraduate student. Recruit
high school students to attend Cheyney. Most of all,
remember your Cheyney Roots. We have all benefited
from our experiences at Cheyney. It provided the
impetus for us to accomplish our life’s goals. We have
been touched by the power that is Cheyney, and it is
incumbent upon us to continue to support our Alma
Mater. Do so with love and gratitude.
Sincerely and with much Cheyney Love,
Sandra Merritt Countley
Sandra Merritt Countley, Ed.D.
Class of 1967
CU takes giving online
The Cheyney University Office of Institutional Advancement is pleased to announce CU’s new capacity to accept
gifts to your alma mater online!
Visit www.cheyney.edu and click on the
“Giving to CU” link to:
• Make a secure and convenient gift to your alma mater;
• Give to the academic department, program or purpose
of your choice;
• Honor the memory of a loved one; and
• Look up a matching gift company.
Giving online enables your gifts to go to work immediately, providing much-needed resources that support
life-changing scholarships, enriching academic and
cultural programming, strong faculty development, and
ongoing general operations.
For more information contact the Cheyney University Annual
Fund at (610) 399-2154 or (610) 399-2109.
news
Rebecca Cole–women’s health pioneer
Pennsylvania was entitled The Eye and Its
Appendages.
Rebecca Cole spent her medical residency
at the New York Infirmary for Women and
Children with Elizabeth Blackwell, who is
reported to be the first woman physician in
America. In her biography, Dr. Blackwell
credited Dr. Cole for her superior clinical
skills and her facility for providing instruction to colored women patients about the
health of their babies and families.
Physician Rebecca Cole
– pioneer and advocate
for womens’ health
The few scarce historical accounts describing the extraordinary life of Rebecca Cole tell that she was born
in 1846 in Philadelphia, graduated from the Institute of
Colored Youth in 1863, practiced medicine for over fifty
years, and eventually died in Philadelphia in 1922.
When she graduated from the Women’s Medical College
of Pennsylvania in 1867, Rebecca Cole was the second
African American woman to earn a medical degree in
the United States. From historical records, it seems that
her medical thesis at the Woman’s Medical College of
Cole eventually practiced medicine in South
Carolina and returned to Philadelphia in 1873 to further her study in social medicine. Upon her return, she
started the Physician Woman’s Directory in 1884. In
1899, Dr. Cole moved to Washington, D.C. and assumed the role of the Superintendent of the Orphans’
Home operated by the National Association for the Relief of Destitute Colored Women and Children.
During her medical career, Cole was known to champion women and children’s health and medical causes,
which still lagged behind the attention to men’s health.
Caroline Anderson–physician, servant, leader
Caroline Still Wiley Anderson,
physician and educator, was born
in Philadelphia to Letitia and
William Still- the well-known
abolitionists who actively helped
slaves escape. Still describes
his abolitionist experiences in
his book, The Underground
Railroad.
Caroline attended Mrs. Henry
Gordon’s Private School, The
Caroline Still Wiley Anderson Friends Raspberry Alley School,
– physician, educator, and and the Institute for Colored
champion for the poor
Youth. At sixteen, she went on to
Oberlin College where she was the only Black woman
in her class. After graduating from Oberlin College’s
Literary Course in 1868, Still moved back to Philadelphia to teach, where she married Edward A. Wiley, a
former Alabama slave, whom she had met at Oberlin.
Before Wiley died in 1873, they had two children and
named them after her parents, William and Letitia.
Caroline Still Wiley moved to Washington, D.C., and
assumed a position with Howard University teaching
music, drawing, and elocution. Once there, Caroline
decided to pursue medicine. She enrolled in Howard
University Medical School for a term, but transferred
to the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Caroline graduated in the spring of 1878 and interned
at Boston’s New England Hospital for Women and
Children. When she returned to Philadelphia in 1879,
she became another of the state’s first black female
physicians.
In 1880, Caroline Wiley married Matthew Anderson, a
Doctor of Divinity and founder of Philadelphia’s Berean Presbyterian Church. The couple had three surviving children, Helen, Maude, and Margaret. In addition
to her medical practice, Anderson served Philadelphia’s
poor women and children. She ran the Berean Dispensary and the Berean Cottage on the New Jersey coast.
She also helped found the Berean Manual Training and
Industrial School, then acted as its assistant principal
and taught elocution, physiology, and hygiene.
Spirit
Cheyney
CU’s Amazing Alumni:
alumni
W here Are They N ow?
staying connected
Dr. Barbara R. Collins, organizational development consultant, executive coach,
professor, keynote speaker and author, began her career as an educator. She started
as an elementary school teacher in Philadelphia, teaching fourth grade and later
becoming a high school guidance counselor. Barbara was passionate about teaching
and working with students.
However, as a divorced single parent, she left education to increase her income.
Barbara entered the corporate world as a human resources development manager at
Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia, where, during her 11 years, she designed
and implemented training programs for more than 1,400 employees. Barbara later
was employed as an internal organizational development consultant, assisting in
the corporate-wide Total Quality and Diversity Culture Change initiative at Core
States Financial, also in Philadelphia.
Barbara’s parents instilled in her the importance of education at an early age.
She received her Bachelor’s degree from Cheyney State University, and Master’s
degree in Education, specializing in Counseling Psychology, from Antioch University in Yellow Springs, OH, and her doctorate in Group and Organizational
Behavior from Temple University in Philadelphia.
During Barbara’s 20-plus years in business, she created her own consulting company, Positive Trends, Inc., which specializes in helping organizations develop
and implement strategic initiatives to enhance work productivity and achieve
organizational goals. Barbara helped numerous clients maximize people differences to accomplish business
goals, manage change in a changing environment, and learn effective team group process strategies.
In her journey of self-discovery, Barbara’s life has transformed from what she had to do into doing what she
loves and what feels authentically right. Her inner search has taken her on a journey that finds her an associate professor, professional keynote speaker, executive coach, and TV and print commercial actor.
As a member of the National Speakers Association (4,000 members), and NSA Philadelphia Speakers Association, she has a proven track record. Currently, her board memberships include the breast cancer awareness organization Sisters Health Initiative (SHI), and Eastern University Academy Charter School. She is a
member of The Society, Inc., an organization that supports youth in the arts and Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.
Barbara currently provides her expertise in helping people create authentic, more fulfilling second and third
careers. She offers fun and exciting ways to discover the true you and create the career you deserve with her
keynote – “It’s Your Turn: Find Your Authentic Self and Go Fetch It!”
Gabriel Boyd serves as director of Youth Programs.
Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Mr. Boyd has
been involved in positive
youth development for the
past 9 years. He has been
trained and employed
in all facets of youth
development from detention facilities, residential
settings and afterschool
programs. He started
with the Urban League
of Greater Hartford as an
Engagement Specialist
with the Hartford Youth
Project in which he not
only created partnerships
with local organizations and public service
entities, but implemented
more therapeutic support
services for customers.
Mr. Boyd majored in Social Relations at Cheyney
University.
Carlos A. Burke is an assistant professor of Mathematics in the Gloucester
County College Mathematics Department in
Sewell, NJ. He has earned
his M.S. from Rowan
University and his B.S.
from CU.
Regina Curry is coordinator of Success and
Succeed (S-Plan), a mentoring retention program
at Northern Illinois Uni-
versity. Her job is to make
students feel like they are
a valued part of Northern
Illinois University.
David R. Dickens, Principal, Archbishop John
Carroll High School, B.S.,
Bloomsburg University;
M.Ed. Secondary Administration, Cheyney University; Superintendent’s
Letter of Eligibility,
Widener University
Trina Dow earned her B.A.
at CU and her M.C.A.T.
at Hahnemann University. She is currently the
program director of West
Haven Public Health
Management Corpora-
tion (PHMC), a treatment
facility for mentally ill
adults, and one of the
largest and most comprehensive nonprofit public
health organizations
in the nation. Dow is a
licensed and board-certified art psychotherapist
who supervises clinical
and non-clinical staff
and graduate art therapy
students. She has experience in pain management,
forensic intensive recovery, trauma, mental health
and addictions recovery,
psychodrama and medical
play therapy.
news
Tisa Evans has a B.A. from
Penn State University and
a master’s degree in elementary education from
CU. Ms. Evans has been
hired as the Management
Analyst II-Ombudsman/
Dispute Resolution for
Children and Families
for the Clark County
Manager’s Office. In this
position, Evans will be
responsible for receiving,
reviewing, and resolving
complaints from children
and families involved in
the child welfare system
in Clark County. She previously served as program
director at the Keystone
Center Residential Treatment Facility in Chester,
PA.
Heather Hopkins-Roberts,
who earned her B.A.
in Psychology at CU,
is a counselor at North
Dorchester High School.
She earned her M.A. in
Educational Counseling
at Eastern University,
K-12 School Counseling
Certification, and she is a
member of ASCA.
William J. Elkins earned a
bachelor’s degree in business administration from
Cheyney University. He
has joined The Star Group
in Cherry Hill as senior
vice president/partner of
the company’s interactive
division. Most recently,
Elkins was chief operating officer and vice president of consulting services for Rila Solutions,
a multinational Internet
and wireless-development
company.
Lisa James, who earned her
B.S. in Education from
CU, her M.Ed. in MultiCultural Education from
Eastern University, is
department chairperson
for the Special Education
Department at Mount
Pleasant High School,
a comprehensive high
school of approximately
1,000 students in Wilmington, DE.
Mahlene Lee, owner of Divi
Holding Group, Ltd., is
a Philadelphia native,
earned a B.S. from CU,
an M.Ed. from Antioch
College, and a Ph.D. from
Penn State University’s
School of Educational
Policy & Leadership. Her
consulting firm specializes in designing and
implementing business
strategies, coaching, and
developing the “people
skills” of staff in area
corporations.
Kenneth Bridges completed
his B.A. at CU in 1973,
his M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in
1977, spent his surgical
internship at Lankenau
Hospital in Philadelphia
in 1978, and completed
his surgical residency
there in 1982. He also
completed cardio-thoracic
residency at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio
in 1985. As an assistant
professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences,
Dr. Bridges coordinated
the surgical curriculum
and training of third
and fourth year medical
students assigned to the
Regional Medical School
Campus, Fort Pierce.
Further, Dr. Bridges
served as an attending
surgeon at the Lawnwood
Regional Medical Center
in Fort Pierce.
He also served as attending surgeon at Indian
River Memorial Hospital,
Saint Lucie Medical Center and Raulerson Hospital. During the past 10
years, Dr. Bridges served
as Chief of Surgery at
Lawnwood Regional
Medical Center. After
30 years of busy surgical
practice, Dr. Bridges has
transitioned to academics. He and his wife of 37
years, Myrna, have two
children, Dr. Kimberly
Bridges and Kenneth
Bridges, II. Dr. Bridges is
a Fellow of the American
College of Surgeons. He
enjoys teaching and is
We want to hear from you!
Please send information to be included in the next
issue of Cheyney University Magazine to:
Office of Alumni Relations
Cheyney University, 1837 University Circle
P. O. Box 200, Cheyney, PA 19319-0200
Rising Star Shines With CU Glow
Tanisha LaVerne Grant (‘97) is on
the move with a microphone, a script
in hand, or in any of several national
magazines. The Screen Actors Guild
member has appeared in television
shows, stage productions, commercials, and motion pictures including
For Your Love, Providence, Bette,
Grown-Ups, Malcolm in the Middle,
and the films Hustle and Heat and Ride
or Die with Vivica Fox and Duane
Martin. Tanisha appeared in a recent
commercial installment on the “Live
Out Loud” series on Oprah Winfrey’s
Oxygen Network, and is slated to play
the lead role in a stage and film tribute
to Lola Falana scheduled for 2011.
Tanisha got her start interning at
WTXF FOX 29 and covering news at
Philadelphia’s KYW NEWS RADIO.
Thereafter, she was soon offered a
full-time position at WCAU NBC 10
as their youngest assignment editor,
while still an undergraduate.
A former Miss Cheyney University and Miss Black Pennsylvania USA, Tanisha also
serves as a motivational speaker at high schools and universities as an industry professional to speak about the experience of pursuing an acting career. She completed her
B.A. degree in Communications in Theatre Arts in 1997 under the instruction of
Dr. Edythe Scott Bagley, the department’s founder and sister of the late Coretta Scott King.
Now based in New York, Tanisha is excited to work with such notable theaters as the
American Theater of Harlem, The New Federal Theater, and the Negro Ensemble
Company. Keep up with her successes at www.tanishalgrant.com.
committed to the training
of future doctors.
Jeffrey Montague, earned
a B.S. from Cheyney
University and a M. Ed
from Temple University.
He is currently the assistant dean of the School
of Tourism & Hospitality
Management at Temple.
Regina Patterson earned
her B.S. in 1980 from
Cheyney University
and her M.H.S.A. from
Springfield College in
1999. She is currently the
assistant director for administration of the School
of Human Services at
Wilmington College in
Wilmington, DE.
Michline Brice earned her
BA in Biology at CU in
2006. Additionally, she
earned a MS in Biology
from Delaware State University. She is currently
pursuing graduate studies at the University of
Maryland Eastern Shore
in Food Science and
Technology.
Bernetta D. Robinson is
currently a reference
librarian at La Salle
University in Philadelphia. She earned her
B.A. from CU in 1989
and her M.L.S. degree
from Atlanta University
and her M.A. at La Salle
University.
Apollo Wright earned his
B.A. in Recreation and
Leisure Services from
CU in 1998, and his M.A.
in Education at Wagner
College, Staten Island,
N.Y. in 2001. A native of
Philadelphia, Wright is
beginning another season
on the Florida International University staff
as the Golden Panthers
special teams coordinator.
Wright came to FIU after
several successful coaching tenures including Villanova University.
Cheryl Nelson is a Speech
Pathologist at the First
Philadelphia Charter
School. She earned her
BA from the University
of Pittsburgh, her MA in
Speech Disorders from
the University of Pittsburgh, and her M.Ed, in
Elementary Education
from Cheyney University.
Thelma Jacks is a 1972
graduate Cum Laude of
Cheyney University in
Psychology/Sociology,
and earned an M.S.S from
Bryn Mawr College. She
is the president of TJ &
Consultants. As CEO,
Ms. Jacks is responsible
for the administration
of all projects and the
marketing for the firm.
Prior to forming her own
company, Ms. Jacks was
employed with various
Philadelphia public sector
organizations in senior
management and executive positions.
Spirit
Cheyney
alumni
Two CEOs Remember To Give Back In Big Ways
David Rivers earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from
Cheyney University, and he graduated with the Class of 1967. Rivers, with his partner, Donna Allie, lead one of the largest, minority janitorial services companies in the Greater Philadelphia area.
The quintessential business team, Rivers is the Chief Executive
Officer, and Allie is the founder and president of Team Clean, Inc.
Allie started the company on a shoestring after she graduated from
Wilberforce University with a degree in sociology in the mid 1980s.
This past summer, Inc. Magazine included Team Clean for the fourth
time in the Inc. 5000, an exclusive annual ranking of the nation’s
fastest-growing private companies.
Rivers has a strong desire to give back to Cheyney University. Team
Clean was one of the sponsors for the 2010 Ed Bradley Gala which
featured the American icon, Dr. William Cosby. In his own humble
way, Rivers affirms, “I want to show my gratitude to the University
for the great educational foundation it provided for me. “I graduated
from Cheyney on a Friday afternoon, and the following Monday, I was
gainfully employed at DuPont in Wilmington as a Textile Chemist.”
“My way of giving back to my alma mater is through the company. Using the rating system developed by the
Association of Physical Plant Administrators of Universities and Colleges (APPA), I am pleased to state that
we have already reached level one, the highest possible level of cleanliness, in all the high profile buildings on
campus. All other buildings are at level two; our goal of achieving level one across campus by the beginning
of the next school year is well within reach.”
Keith Singletary, Sr., owner of two Chick-fil-A franchises in Largo and Capitol Heights, Maryland, has a clear
vision of the direction for his franchises. With a sharp eye on development of key management and staff, the
savvy alumnus keeps his more than 140 employees focused on their shared visions for the restaurants and on aggressive long-term goals for sales, food quality, and customer satisfaction.
Singletary has worked in the areas of business operations, finance/accounting and auditing for over twenty five years with firms like Blue Cross & Blue
Shield Association, Marriott International, and the American Red Cross. He
was also a senior auditor in the Inspector General’s Office of the Environmental Protection Agency. In each, his tasks have included managing budgets in
excess of $120 million and providing training and development of key staff.
Attributing the majority of his success to his experiences as an undergraduate at Cheyney University, Singletary is quick to relate fond memories of CU
where he was able to meet other young people like himself from all walks of
life, attend the many parties, homecomings, and “May weekends,” and visit
other HBCUs. Most importantly, Singletary remembers the relationships with
instructors and other students. “Both were major sources of encouragement
while attending Cheyney University.”
It was always stressed in both his family home and his CU home that each
person’s actions and deeds are a statement of who they are. Singletary reminds
us, “If we all make an effort on a daily basis to impact others, then we will
truly make a remarkable difference!”
news
A Gift Of Glass Offers Glimpse of Cheyney History
Class Gift of Glass Allows Glimpse of CU History
At the fortieth anniversary
reunion banquet of the “SO
FINE Class of 1962,” Warren
McMichael began a project for
a legacy gift to a great institution that made it possible for
all of her graduates to lead
productive lives. Fundraising
began shortly afterwards, and
classmates responded quickly
with contributions and to support the silent tea and personal
preference online art show.
Many exciting ideas were explored, but when the idea of
depicting the rich history of
Cheyney University was suggested, the Class selected this
as a “CHARGE TO KEEP!”
With the assistance of Dr.
Lut Nero, Dean of the Library, Class of 1962 members
searched the archives at Leslie
Pinkney Hill Library where
ideas emerged for illustrating the
eight stages of Cheyney University’s history. Ms. Justine
Pressha De Vann, art consultant and member of the Class of
1959, outlined important steps
in the project. One key idea was that a single mosaic
could depict all eight stages. When Joan Colvard Lambright identified Chandler Coleman, the owner of Cathedral Stained Glass, who had recently created windows for a church she visited,
five class members arranged a
visit to Mr. Chandler’s studio,
where they were delightfully
impressed and agreed that they
had found the artist who could
produce the desired results.
responding icons. The panels
were completed in the Fall of
2008. Although administrative
plans were in place for installation, the implementation of this
final stage lagged despite the
efforts of member, Paul Turner.
An urgent request to President
Howard-Vital resulted in Mr.
Gregory Benjamin’s assignment to help bring this project to completion. On July 21,
2010, Mr. Benjamin called a
meeting in his office. Attending members included, Juanita West Campbell, Christine
Parker Dillon, Marian Aiken
Garfield and Warren McMichael. Issues of installation,
feasible sites, maintenance, and
security were addressed.
Exactly one week later, Class
members Christine Parker Dillon, Marian Aiken Garfield,
and Joan Colvard Lambright
proudly watched as the stained
glass panels were installed in
the President’s Conference
Room in Biddle Hall.
Legacy Gift Committee members of the CU Class of 1962 visiting Biddle Hall for
the display are (from left) Warren McMichael, Marian Garfield, Thelma Davis,
Beatrice Bright Johnson, CU President Michelle Howard-Vital, Dorothy Robbins
Miller, Christine Parker Dillon, Juanita West Campbell and Paul Turner.
Dr. Shirley Turpin Parham and
Claire Morris Lyons took the
lead in selecting significant
historical events, and together,
Class members chose cor
Commencement 2010
The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of the
City of Philadelphia, challenged graduates
to continue making an impact in their
families and communities.
C
heyney University was proud to celebrate the
success of its 2010 graduating class on Saturday, May 8, 2010, on the Historic Quadrangle of
the campus in Cheyney, PA. Even though about 200
students graduated in the commencement ceremony,
the celebration drew one of the largest audiences in the
University’s recent history with approximately 3,000
family, friends, and guests attending.
The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, greeted many Philadelphians as the ceremony
began and delivered the 2010 Commencement Address to graduating students. His participation in
the University’s
Commencement
program appeared
to influence the size of the audience.
In his address, Mayor Nutter congratulated the graduates while reminding them of their civic responsibility
to participate in positive social action. Referring to one
of the signature programs of his administration, Mayor
Nutter highlighted the need for more Philadelphians to
complete a rigorous and preparatory secondary educational program, so that they will be prepared to pursue
and complete undergraduate and graduate degrees.
with a distinctively
P hilly flair
The Mayor also
challenged the
graduates to
continue to development personally throughout their
careers or in graduate education, so that they could contribute to the well-being of their families and the economic development of Pennsylvania and their country.
Mayor Nutter’s message resonated with many graduates and other guests. After the ceremony, numerous
graduates expressed their appreciation for the Mayor’s
engaging and motivating speech and affirmed that his
was an appropriate reminder for all present.
Other speakers and special guests participating in the
the 2010 Commencement ceremony included Robert
W. Bogle, Chairman of the Council of Trustees; the
Honorable State Senator, Vincent Hughes, who is also
a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors and Cheyney
University’s Council of Trustees; Kenn Jarin, Esquire,
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education; Dr. John Cavanaugh, Chancellor of the State System; faculty representatives,
deans, and other University staff.
(continued on following page)
According to President Michelle Howard-Vital, “The
commencement celebration acknowledged the hard
work of students, faculty,
and staff, and demonstrates
the widespread affects of a
college education on family
and other significant stakeholders.” President Howard-Vital proudly noted that
nineteen Cheyney University graduates were purusing
graduate degrees using the
Bond-Hill Scholarship fund, which significantly reduces the cost of graduate education at
specific universities including Temple, Penn State, and the University of Pittsburgh.
President Howard-Vital also
praised the accomplishments
of the 2010 Keystone Honors
graduates. The 59 academically advanced students who
participated in, and graduated
from, the Keystone Honors
Academy received unique
academic and personal development and unique opportunities that included special
seminars, internships, and
study abroad programs.
Provost Ivan Banks congratulated the first graduating class
of graduate students completing the Call Me MISTER program. This program is part of
a national initiative designed
to encourage more African-American males to dedicate their lives to becoming role models
in the field of education and to encourage more females to pursue teacher education degrees
in the STEM areas. The MISTER program (Mentors Instructing Students Through Effective
Role Modeling) was established after Cheyney University received a $1 million
grant from the Pennsylvania
Department of Education.
Cheyney University is one
of four Historically Black
Colleges and Universities
(HBCU’s) to participate in
the program.
Ms. Diamond Butler, 2010
Senior Class President,
recognized two classmates
10
who were unable to participate in the ceremonies,
Anthony C. Richardson and
Joseph M. Davis, Members
of both families were present to accept their degrees
posthumously.
During the 2010 Commencement Ceremony,
Cheyney University also
awarded its first Leadership
Outreach Award to Cheyney
University Outreach Commencement Awards to
RADM Michael J. Lyden, SC, USN, Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command and
Mr. John C. Goodhart, Vice Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command for their leadership in making our nation’s
armed services more diverse.
The United States Navy has
provided internship opportunities and has hired numerous
Cheyney University graduates for various positions
within the Navy.
Dr. S. Jean Wilson was nominated by faculty to receive
The Lindback Distinguished
Teaching Award as a recognition of her excellence in the
classroom.
Commencement 2010 was the
culmination of an extraordinary week of activities held at
the University, which included a $30,000 check presentation from PECO for student scholarships, a student brunch for graduating seniors, and a
groundbreaking ceremony for the new 400-bed residence hall scheduled to be completed in
late 2011.
Celebrating their 50th anniversary at the event was
the Cheyney University
Class of 1960, members of
which presented a check for
$27,000 to their alma mater
at the President’s Legacy
Luncheon in Carnegie
following the commencement ceremony. Their gift
will be used for University
scholarships.
11
First Ed Bradley Gala rolls
Guests entered the newly
renovated Marian Anderson
Music Center on campus via
red carpet on Thursday evening, October 7, for the first
annual Ed Bradley Scholarship Gala to benefit the
Call Me MISTER Teacher
Leadership Program. Lauren Wilson of ABC Action
News 6 served as mistress
of ceremonies for the
evening. Greeted by Cheyney University’s distinguished student ambassadors, special
friends of the University
dined and mingled with Dr.
William (Bill) Cosby, Jr.,
comedian and close friend
of journalist and Cheyney
alumnus Ed Bradley. Poet
Sonia Sanchez introduced
Dr. Cosby with a poem,
“Catch the Fire,” which she
wrote especially for him.
Bradley ‘64, an Emmy
Award-winning television
journalist, was best known
for his compelling profiles
of unusual people and places on CBS’s “60 Minutes.”
Dr. Cosby joked about
growing up in Philadelphia,
but was decidedly serious
sharing stories about Ed
Bradley’s pride in Cheyney
University. “In discussions
with colleagues, Ed would
often preface a statement
saying, ‘When I was at
Cheyney...’” he remarked. The event, sponsored by
12
out the Red Carpet for the
MISTER Program
the Cheyney University
Foundation, benefited the
Call Me MISTER program
for which Mr. Cosby serves
as honorary chair. University President Michelle
Howard-Vital thanked Dr.
Cosby, Cheyney Council of
Trustees Chairman Robert
W. Bogle, the Honorable
Senator Anthony Williams,
David Rivers of Team
Clean, Keith Singleton of
Chick-Fil-A, and a host of
other Cheyney University
friends for sponsorship and
support of the program.
“Your generosity will help
us generate needed scholarships for our urban K-12
teacher education program
focusing on producing
more male teachers of color
and more female teachers
in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
areas,” she noted.
Mr. Howard R. Jean,
Cheyney University’s Call
Me MISTER Director, presented Servant Leadership
Awards to student scholars
Jonathan Walker, Lauren
Anita Norris, Mirline Francois, Raymond Jackson,
Lenny Macklin, Ameer J.
Blackmon (Alum) & Christopher Lewis.
The gala evening finale was
a crowd-pleasing rendition
of the song, “We Are Family,” sung by Kathy Sledge,
member of the original Sister Sledge group. 13
The Soulful Sounds Marching Band begins the
celebration of the presidential visit with a short
parade from Marian Anderson Music Center.
by Yasheaka Oakley ’10, CU Keystone Honors Academy
As the words to the song, “Don’t stop thinking about
tomorrow” slowly faded, the 42nd President of the
United States, Bill Clinton and U.S. Senate Candidate
Joseph Sestak, climbed onto the stage of Cheyney University’s Cope Hall, and they were greeted by students,
faculty, and members of the surrounding communities
with deafening applause on October 28, 2010.
After taking several minutes to quiet the crowd,
Cheyney University President, Dr. Michelle HowardVital, thanked Dr. Joseph A. “Joe” Sestak, Jr., former
14
U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, for his past support of initiatives to
“tackle innovative solutions as the University continues to strive to bring students an enriching academic
experience.” As a congressman, Sestak has supported CU’s pursuit
to expand funding for its Keystone Honors Academy,
to allow CU to offer more scholarships for high academic performance. Sestak has also visited the University numerous times in support of improvements for the
Carver Science Center, the Aquaculture Research and
Education Center, and other technology upgrades.
Admirers and well-wishers
from surrounding communities
pack Cope Hall in hopes of getting
a chance to shake hands with
Former President Clinton.
Dr. Howard-Vital warmly stated, “I thank Joe Sestak
for recognizing the role of historically Black universities and colleges in solidifying America and [upholding] its national security.”
Former-President Clinton delivered a powerful speech
encouraging students to get out and vote in a force similar to that of the 2008 elections. His message was clear
as he asked the crowd, “If you voted two years ago, but
aren’t going to the polls on November 2nd, what did
you vote for?”
After his speech, Clinton shook hands with SGCA
President Clinton shares a quieter moment
with PASSHE Board of Governors Chair, Attorney
Kenneth M. Jarin, Student Government President Chris Carter, and President Howard-Vital.
President, Chris Carter, and proceeded to shake hands
with numerous students and community residents in
the crowd. The excitement of the crowd was evident, as
people stretched over each other in an attempt to simply get a handshake from the former president. When asked about Sestak, Carter said, “I do appreciate his support of Cheyney University over the years as
he has involved the campus in his phone-banking, his
legislative advocacy, and his planning to host events. It
appears very much that he is trying to include the
Nation’s first HBCU in his agenda.”
15
Pride
Cheyney
student
CU Student Conducts Marine Research In Alaska
Charles Owen explains the poster project he composed
from data he collected during his internship at
Kachemak Bay Research Reserve.
ecology, and public outreach and education. The internship was centered
on salmon ecology and management,
particularly focused on how juvenile
salmon use estuarine habitats. Charles
assisted with field data collection, laboratory sample processing, data entry, and field
sampling preparation for this project.
North Philadelphia
native Charles Owens
found a summer internship
experience that provided a truly unique
diversity of exposures to marine ecosystem
research, monitoring, and management projects.
His work at the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve and
cooperative work with Alaska Department of Fish and
Game provided him with the opportunity to participate
in research as part of a variety of marine ecosystem
monitoring and management projects. Included in his
daily activities were marine water quality and algae
monitoring, commercial fish management, juvenile fish
16
In addition, Charles helped set up and present a
display of the salmon work for public outreach workshops, called Discovery Labs. This display included prey
items from estuary habitats and a microscopic display of
a salmon otolith (a bone from the fish’s head which lays
down annual rings like a tree) with instructions for aging
the fish that were being studied. The last three weeks of
his internship focused on public education and outreach,
including setup and presentation of the different Discovery Lab programs, guiding estuary walks, and assisting
the public with general marine ecology questions. Charles
has been one of the student researchers in Cheyney
University’s Aquaculture Research and Education Center
for over two years. He will be finishing his B.S. degree
in Biology this year and expects to continue his work in
ecology and animal biology.
Contributed by Steven G. Hughes, Ph.D.
news
FMM Majors Bring Major Style to BET
There is a strong connection developing between the Cheyney University Fashion Merchandising and Management
(FMM) Program and Black Entertainment Television (BET). Since 2007, two FMM majors have earned internships
in the wardrobe department working with the 2008 keynote speaker for the 4th Annual FMM Fall Open House, BET
Wardrobe Director, Texanna Watts. FMM majors were very pleased to meet the former assistant to music mogul,
Sean “Diddy” Combs. She was also delighted to meet them and visit the FMM Program, an academic program she
had read and heard about from Lynae Miller and ShaQuana Breland, two seniors in the FMM Program.
It was in 2007, when Lynae Miller applied for the BET internship program. A week after an interview in New York,
she received the important call informing her that she would be headed to the “Big Apple” for the summer. Her one
problem was housing. After researching her options, she chose to commute from Philadelphia via bus three days a
week to Manhattan. Having the opportunity to work under Texanna Watts in the wardrobe department was Lynae’s
motivation to rise early and head to another exciting day in NYC. Besides assisting the main fashion stylist for Rocsi, one of the hosts of the television show “106th and Park,” Lynae’s duties included selecting apparel and accessories from designers showrooms, organizing rows of garments, and running
tons of errands. However, there were moments of pure fun when Lynae
was free to engage with celebrities in the Green Room as they waited to
go on the air. In fact, a big break came when she was given the chance to
assist at the BET Awards in Los Angeles. For Lynae, “It was an experience of a lifetime!” She loved the internship so much, she applied and won
it again in 2008. By proving her value, Lynae Miller impressed not only
BET, but also her new mentor, Texanna Watts.
It was Lynae’s experience at BET that led fellow FMM major, ShaQuana
Breland to apply for the internship. ShaQuana dreamed of working as a
fashion stylist since she was a young girl in high school. Going through the
same process and receiving that all-important telephone call from the Texanna Watts, ShaQuana was off to NYC for an eight-week internship with
BET. With similar issues related to housing, ShaQuana also opted to commute. She traveled to B.E.T. four days a week via the train, often working
until 7 p.m. and still having to return to NYC the next morning. Yet, with
an opportunity to work with Ms. Watts plus two other wardrobe stylists,
Tasha Ampadu and Lindsey Hillyard, the tough commute was not an issue
when considering the chance to work with them. As an intern, her duties
were similar to Lynae’s but also included
researching fashion trends and making seasonal trend boards. Having to interact with
fashion industry representatives and celebrities has given ShaQuana Breland the boost
in confidence and contacts to continue the
pursuit of her life-long dream.
After internships with BET, Lynae Miller
and ShaQuana Breland both have the resumes and portfolios to be successful fashion stylists in the apparel industry.
Contributed by Dr. Vanessa Brantley
FMM major, Lynae Miller
FMM major, ShaQuanna Breland demonstrates her
ability to assemble and accessorize a wardrobe as
Dr. Vanessa Brantley observes her technique.
17
Cheyney University Undergrads Receive
categories and present their research from STEM-related summer internships during the three-day event.
Dr. Adedoyin Adeyiga, Associate Professor of Chemistry, said “It is made possible through the National
Science Foundation (NSF) HBCU-UP Implementation Grant, obtained by the institution in 2005.
Student participation in summer research has grown
from a few to over 30 students every summer because
this (HBCU-UP Implementation grant) and other
grant funds currently available in the department.”
In addition to the quality research and learning opportunities, the students hone their networking and
public speaking skills as they present their research.
The experience proves to be valuable both personally
and professionally, as many of the students go on to
prepare for their graduate studies.
Dr. Adeyiga added, “Through our collaboration with
CHOP, three students worked on research projects that
are relevant to curing sickle cell diseases.”
The partnership ensures that CU students have the
opportunity to study during spring and summer
internships. Spring 2009 was the first time students
engaged in hands-on training at CHOP and this will
continue next spring, according to Dr. Adeyiga, the
principal investigator for the project.
Madende’s objective was to determine if stem cells
derived from bone marrow can contribute to muscle
Cheyney University Undergraduate Students recently
received national recognition for their science research
projects at the HBCU-UP National Conference. The
conference highlights undergraduate student research
and institutional strategies to enhance the quality of
undergraduates in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education and research at Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU.)
Ezekiel Crenshaw earned the first place prize in the Biological Science Division based on his research during his
summer internship at a national research laboratory in
Los Alamos, New Mexico.
This was the second year that a Cheyney University
student earned the high honor at this conference. However, this was the first time that two CU students won
first place! CU Senior Denis Madende also received first
place in the Ecology and Environmental Division based
on his research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
(CHOP) from May to July.
HBCUs from around the country compete in different
18
National Recognition for Research Projects
cell regeneration. Working alongside a research
team headed by Dr. Timothy Brazelton, Madende’s
research became part of an ongoing research project
that continued after his internship ended.
Crenshaw’s research addressed the improvement
of the purification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
which is the organism that causes the Tuberculosis disease. His objective was to identify the best
conditions under which to study the function of the
organism. Crenshaw explained, “The organism has
grown resistant to antibiotics and therefore needs to
be researched.”
Other Cheyney University student presenters at the
HBCU-UP Conference were: Paul Gwengi-Anam,
Tolani Adebanjo, Ebelechukwu Nwafor, Yaminah
Watson, and Carolyne Ochieng.
This and other paid research opportunities were
funded by the Department of Energy, the National
Nuclear Safety Administration and National Science
Foundation.
“These research opportunities are attainable and
enrich the already challenging curriculum at CU,”
Crenshaw said. “The only expectations they have are
that you are open-minded and have a willingness to
learn and ask questions. The hardest part is leaving
home.”
Crenshaw’s reaction to his win was renewed enthusiasm because all of his hard work this summer truly paid
off. He said, “I was shocked when I won because some of
the other research projects were unbelievable! Minority
students are setting the bar high, and this conference addresses the issues facing us now in society. For example,
there was work on renewable energy which will revolutionize the automobile industry.”
Madende’s reaction to his win was similar to Crenshaw’s.
He said, “I was very excited because there are so many student presenters, and this was my one-time chance because
I am a senior. I really tried my best at CHOP and didn’t
know what to expect at the conference. I called all of my
friends and told them this is the best thing ever.”
Madende is currently preparing for his MCATs and is hoping to utilize a Bond-Hill Scholarship to attend medical
school.
Dr. Adeyiga said, “It’s fun when the students are doing so
well. Last year, Walter Lewis took first place in the Computer Science and Information Systems Division. So this is
the first year we had two first place winners. It is a treat to
be a part of for the past four years.”
19
Pride
Cheyney
athletics
Curry Establishes Reputation in NFL
Former Cheyney University Wolves wide receiver Dominique Curry
was one of the 53 players suiting up for the St. Louis Rams of the
National Football League when they officially opened the season battling the Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis in the Edward Jones Dome.
In pre-season, Curry was a mainstay on special teams. He caught
two balls for 25 yards. The 6’2” wide receiver earned All-PSAC
(Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) honors (2005 2nd Team, 2006 1st
Team, and 2007 1st Team) in his three years with the Wolves and became the
conference’s Rookie of the Year in 2005. That year he caught 33 passes for 584
yards, including four touchdowns, to rank seventh in the PSAC in receiving
yards per game. In 2006, the Philadelphia native and George Washington HS
graduate caught 63 balls for 1,035 yards and seven touchdowns. He ranked
third in receptions per game and second in receiving yards per contest in the
PSAC. In 2007 Curry caught 38 passes for 583 yards and three touchdowns.
Curry, a “Cheyney University Student-Athletes of the Year,” was a threesport athlete, competing on the track team as well as a starting forward on
the basketball team where he dominated the court. Scoring 1,079 points in
his collegiate career (2005-09) Curry earned the rank of 16th on the all-time
Wolves scoring list and 11th in the country in receptions. While at CU, he had
the privilege of playing basketball for his dad, Coach Dominique Stephens (two
years as an assistant and two years as a head coach). In his rookie season, father
and son teamed up to secure a NCAA D II tournament appearance. Curry would
regularly electrify the Cope Hall crowd with athletic dunks that made Cope Hall
one of the toughest places in the PSAC for a visiting team to play.
After graduating from CU in 2009, Curry still had one year of football eligibility
remaining which he decided to use at PSAC rival California (PA) and earn
credits towards his master’s
degree. Although used sparingly
in the Vulcans’ offense, Curry was
a mainstay on special teams and finished
the year with four catches for 64 yards including a touchdown and helped lead the Vulcans
to an 11-4 record, a fifth-straight Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West title, a
consecutive appearance in the PSAC Championship, and a third-straight NCAA Super Regional One Championship. He also represented
the Vulcans at the Valero Cactus Bowl, an
all-star game for NCAA Division II seniors, in
January.
“He’s a special athlete,” Stephens said, “My
hat’s off to him...I’m just a proud father
whether he made it or not.”
20
news
Orji Selected as NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist
Cheyney University graduate, Stephanie Orji
has been selected as an finalist for the 2010
NCAA Woman of the Year Awards from
the 452 female student-athletes nominated
nationally across all three NCAA divisions.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Awards
honor graduating student-athletes who have
distinguished themselves throughout their
collegiate careers in the areas of academic
achievement, athletic excellence, service,
and leadership. Orji, who was also the
PSAC’s 2010 Woman of the Year, recently
concluded her athletic career as a twosport competitor on both the women’s basketball and outdoor track & field teams.
A classroom standout, Orji recently
graduated with a 3.77 GPA and a degree
in Recreation and
Leisure Management. Earlier this
year, Orji was also named to the
Philadelphia Inquirer’s All Academic Women’s Track and Field Team and
named an Academic All-American by the USTFA (United States Track and
Field Association). Other accolades earned by Orji included being named a
PSAC Scholar Athlete and a D II Athletic Directors’ Association Scholar
Athlete. Last year, Orji became the first female athlete in Cheyney history to
qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field championships after
finishing second in the PSAC in the triple jump. She finished
15th at NCAAs in the same event. This year, Orji qualified for
NCAAs for the second straight year after winning the PSAC
triple jump title. She went on to finish 12th at NCAAs and
ended her track & field career as the school’s record holder in
both the triple jump and high jump. Her effort of 11.78 meters
was the best of any competitor from the PSAC. On the basketball court, Orji was a second team All-PSAC East selection as a
sophomore and was among the team’s leaders in both scoring and rebounding
in each of the past three seasons, including finishing in a tie for third place in the
PSAC in rebounds per game this past season with 9.2. She helped lead the Wolves
to PSAC tournament in both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, marking the first
time in 18 years, since 1990, that CU qualified for the PSAC playoffs. She is believed
to be the first Cheyney University female student athlete to participate in the Track
and Field Championships. Orji, who has qualified for a $10,000 McClendon Scholarship, is currently pursuing
an advanced degree in Sports Management at West Chester University. 21
Campus
>>Connections<<
STAYING
New Trustee Member, Bishop Audrey F. Bronson
Dr. Audrey F. Bronson, ordained
minister and consecrated bishop, is founder and pastor of the
Sanctuary Church of the Open
Door. She began preaching at
the early age of fourteen years,
and after many years of serving
as an evangelist, she was led by
the Lord to establish the Sanctuary Church of the Open Door in
1975. Under her leadership, the
church has grown tremendously.
She also founded the Sanctuary
Christian Academy in 1978, a
private school from pre-school
to fifth grade; the Sanctuary
Bible Institute and the Sanctuary
Counseling and Referral Center.
Dr. Bronson, a native of Florida, comes from a family
of ministers and educators. Her father, Dr. Uriah Perry
Bronson, was a minister and pastor in Florida and
principal of several schools there. Her mother and stepmother were both teachers and church workers. Her
brother, Dr. Oswald P. Bronson, a United Methodist
minister, was pastor of several churches; president of
the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta,
GA and recently retired president of Bethune-Cookman
College in Daytona Beach, Florida and Edward Waters
College in Jacksonville, FL.
Dr. Bronson earned a B.S. degree in elementary education from Cheyney University and a Master’s degree in
psychology from Howard University, where she became
a Ph.D. candidate in psychology. She earned a Doctor of
Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary.
She holds a Doctor of Divinity degree from BethuneCookman College, and a Doctor of Humane Letters
from the National Theological Seminary and College.
Due to the demands of a growing church, Dr. Bronson
retired from Cheyney University in 1984 as an associate professor of Psychology after seventeen years. She
served as Dean of the Philadelphia Urban Education
Institute, a subsidiary of the African American Interdenominational Ministries, Inc. (AAIM) of Philadelphia
in association with the city’s seminaries. Dr. Bronson
served as state secretary on the boards of One Church,
One Child, Inc., a statewide organization dedicated to
22
encouraging members of African-American churches to adopt
African-American children. She
served two years on the Executive Committee of the Association of Theological Schools and
two years as Executive Director
of AAIM, Inc.
In 1994, she was consecrated
to the office of Bishop and now
presides over many churches in
the International Fellowship of
Churches, Inc. The recipient of
numerous honors and awards,
Bishop Bronson is in demand
as a speaker, panelist, television
guest and consultant. She served
briefly as the host of the Dialogue television program. She
has ministered at conferences and seminars throughout the United States, Germany, South Africa and
Bermuda.
Bishop Bronson served on the Philadelphia Special
Investigation Commission (MOVE). Her picture and
resume were on display at the African-American Museum in Philadelphia as a Black women who has made
a contribution to Philadelphia in the area of religion.
She is listed in Philadelphia Leaders, 1991, Who’s Who
In Delaware Valley, and has been nominated for Who’s
Who in Black America. She is a member of the Heritage Registry Who’s Who for 2005-2006. Dr. Bronson’s
photo and resume appears in an issue of the African
American Pulpit as one of “Those Preaching Women”
and in Gospel Today magazine as one of the most beloved pastors of 2005. She recently received the Ruth
B. Hayre Award for excellence in education.
Bishop Bronson has served as block captain, ministered in prisons, worked to rid the area surrounding
her church of drugs, and helped feed homeless people.
Currently she serves on the board of the Philadelphia
Industrial Development Corporation, and she is the first
female to be elected President of Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity.
“My life is based on one historical hero, Jesus Christ,
and two historical heroines,” says Bishop Bronson,
“Harriet Tubman and Mary McLeod Bethune.”
CONNECTED
New Members of CU Family
Nancy Stoltzfus, a native of Chester County, serves
as the new Assistant Controller in the Business Office for Cheyney University. She
earned a Bachelor of Science from
Goldey Beacom College.
She served in numerous positions
at Verizon Communications
before she came to Cheyney
University. Her most recent
leadership position was that of
Manager of Financial Planning
and Analysis. She also was the
Controller, for Verizon TeleProducts, which she was an
integral part of its transformation from losing $2.5M annually
to becoming profitable.
Nancy strives to make a difference
in other people’s lives, whether it is her
co-workers, family, friends, or the students at CU.
Nancy Stoltzfus
A strong supporter of healthy living, she has run
the Boston Marathon for the last seven years and is working on completing a marathon in every state of the country. Her current total is 31 states. She also enjoys gardening, and recently completed the Master Gardener program
though the Penn State extension, and she volunteers her
time educating others in this area.
Joining the Cheyney University Office of Human Resources as payroll manager in May is Marie Jones Williams, a
New York native, who grew up in Philadelphia where she
currently resides. After earning an Associate’s Degree in
Specialized Business from Berean Institute in Philadelphia in 1985, she worked as an accounts payable technician
for Universal Record Distributors before being hired as a
fiscal technician in the Bursar’s Office at Cheyney University in 1988. She transferred to the payroll office in 1991
and, after obtaining her degree in accounting in 1997, was
promoted to payroll manager the same year.
She also worked as project manager in the
Controller’s Office before accepting
a position as payroll manager at St.
Joseph’s University.
Dr. Robin Smith Williams, a
native of Garner, N.C., serves as
the Interim Executive Director
for the University College for
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor
of Science in Communication
Marie Jones Williams
Media and a Master of Arts
in Industrial Technology,
Graphic Communications,
both from Appalachian State
University.
In 2001, she earned an
Ed.D. in Technology Education from North Carolina
State University in Raleigh.
Her dissertation topic was
An Analysis of Award Winning Local School Technology Education Teachers and
Their Use of Effective Leadership Practices.
She served as an associate dean in the
Dr. Robin Williams
University College of North Carolina Central
University in Durham during the 2009-10 academic year. In
that capacity, she improved the university’s retention rates
and has won $1.5 million in grants to support that work.
As an educator, Dr. Williams taught from 1995 to 2009 at
Appalachian State, where she earned tenure in the university’s Thomas W. Reese Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology Program. In 2006, she was selected to receive the North
Carolina Technology Education Association’s Excellence in
Education Award.
Monique Y. Baylor, a Coatesville native, has assumed the
role of director of Business Support Services. She holds a
B.S. in business marketing and an MBA in project management. She has worked in procurement since 2000 with
major pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Sanofiaventis and Johnson and Johnson.
Baylor was the CEO of a family-owned safety
supply company, which distributed
supplies nationally to pharmaceutical and biotech companies,
which was later sold.
Monique Baylor
In the past, she has mentored
at-risk girls and was an advocate for children without
parents. She was also a board
member for the Phoenixville
YMCA and a volunteer with
organizations for adults with
disabilities.
In her spare time, she writes poetry
and is working on a screenplay about
her father, a local civil rights leader.
23
Science Collaborations Provide Opportunities
for Students, Faculty, and Staff
Scientists at Cheyney University collaborate with
faculty at other institutions to expand their research
opportunities and to furnish quality research venues for CU’s students. Every year faculty generate
innovative collaborations that expand research venues that could have
positive long term
effects on the larger
community.
For example,
Cheyney University is collaborating
with Thomas Jefferson University,
Fox Chase Cancer
Center, Lincoln
University, St. Joseph’s University and the University of Pittsburgh to study new vaccine strategies
for treating colorectal cancer—a leading cause of
cancer deaths in Pennsylvania. An important aspect
of this collaboration is the clinical trial component.
CU faculty and students will work to encourage
diverse participation in cancer vaccine trials in
order to evaluate the safety of a guanylyl cyclase
C (GCC)-based vaccine for treating colon cancer
patients and its effect on the immune system. This
collaboration will allow faculty and students to
help educate a broader community about colorectal
cancer prevention and treatment.
Similarly, Cheyney University is collaborating with
Drexel University, Inovio Biomedical Corporation,
and the University
of Pennsylvania to
conduct pre-clinical studies to test
the safety and effect on the immune
system of a vaccine that could treat
persons who are
chronically infected
with the hepatitis
C virus (HCV).
This research is important because some persons
infected with the Hepatitis C virus do not respond
to currently available therapies. The importance
of conducting clinical trials with a population that
resembles the Commonwealth is extremely impor24
tant to the outcome of the research. CU scientists
and students will help conduct these clinical trials
and disseminate information about hepatitis C to
a broader community than is usually included in
clinical trials.
In a different vein, but equally important, Dr. Steven Hughes with a small group of CU students has
been working to strengthen the waterway environments with a mussel reintroduction
program. In this
program, CU has
been collaborating
since 2007 with the
National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation
and the Pennsylvania
Coastal Resources
Management Program. This collaboration has been funded by ConocoPhillips.
Dr. Hughes and the other partners have been attempting to breed the region’s one remaining common mussel species, the eastern elliptio, in a lab.
It is the only species still commonly found in this
region. The research involves increasing the likelihood of survival for the lab-bred mussel and finding conditions in local waterway streams in which
the mussels can thrive. It is hoped that this research
will help clean up many waterways. According
to the researchers, Chester Creek and White Clay
Creek are emerging as possible sites in which the
reintroduction program may work. If the research
does work, CU will have played a pivotal role in
cleaning up these waterways and generating results
that will benefit
other similar areas.
For information
about participating
in Cheyney University collaborations, contact Dr.
Sakkar Eva, Chair
of the Department of
Natural and Applied
Sciences.
Honor Roll of Donors
The following pages recognize gifts and pledges of alumni, faculty, staff, friends,
parents, foundations and organizations that supported Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania during the period from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.
This list includes donors who made gifts directly to the university. Although every
effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we apologize in advance for any errors
or omissions. To report a discrepancy, or for more information, please contact the
Annual Fund Office at 610-399-2109. Any needed corrections will be printed in a
future issue of Cheyney University Magazine.
The entire CU community extends its gratitude for your interest and support of
Cheyney University! Every gift is important!
$100,000 and above
Friends Fiduciary Corporation
$25,000 to $99,999
Class of 1960
Lincoln Investment Planning
INC.
The Charles E. and Shirley S.
Marshall Charitable Trust
PECO
Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith
Memorial Fund
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
$15,000 to $24,999
Cheyney University National
Alumni Assoc.
Cheyney Univesity ‘C’ Club
ING Insurance and Annuity
W. W. Smith Charitable Trust
Craig T. Welburn
$5,000 to $14,999
Class of 1959
Estate of Calvin Douglas
Banks
Maxine S. Coleman
Ronald L. Coleman
Theodore V. Gee
Family Planning Council Operating Account
Independence Foundation
Team Clean, Inc.
$1,000 to $4,999
Shirley S. Adams
Akhoury Foundation
American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc.
Delores M. Andy
Charles W. Andy
Elizabeth A. Berry-Holmes
Charles A. Biney
Robert W. Bogle
Brenda E. Braithwaite
Hermine O. Burris
Betty H. Camper
Rodney T. Carter
Marthea B. Carter
Chester County Velo
Cheyney University Alumni
Chapter of Philadelphia
Class of 68-70 Reunion
Leonard S. Closson
Delaware County Alumni
Chapter
Delaware State Alumni
Chapter
Delaware Valley Chapter
Links, Inc.
Lawrence Dowdy
Meryl S. Dowdy
Elsie S. Erwin
Theodore P. Erwin
Exelon Corporation
Magnolia Highsmith
Michelle R. Howard-Vital
Howard P. Jennings
Mary H. Jennings
Jennings & Jennings
Educational Consultants
LLC
Kraft Employee Involvement
Programs
Ruth Ellen Johnson
Purnell W. Lawrence
Frank B. Lawrence
Gaynelle T. Lewis
Craig S. Lewis
Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation
Marlen Livezey
Carolyn R. Manning
Russell D. Nichols
Helen F. Nichols
Jacqueline L. Peace
Chuck R. Pennoni
Pennoni Associates INC.
Annette C. Pennoni
Marie Prattis
Elsie M. Robinson
Keith N. Singletary
Cynthia L. Thomas
William A. Thomas
Geri Vital
Gertrude S. Williams
Alice G. Wootson
Isaiah Wootson
$500 to $999
Evelyn D. Allen-Chase
Eric R. Almonte
Andrea H. Boseman
Clarence K. Boseman
Norman C. Clark
Antoinette P. Davis
Antoine F. DeLoach
Bertha S. Dent
Anna A. Dorsey
Myrtle C. Engs
Envision
Norma E. George
Lawrence Green
Carol L. Harris
Jethro Memorial
Presbyterian Church
Janice Y. Henry
Tom Joyner Foundation
Audrey G. Keels
Charles L. Keels
Steven J. Lane
Hermione C. Logan
Thomas Logan
Janet B. Manspeaker
Jane C. Nelson
Sylvester Pace
Pennsylvania State Employees
Credit Union
Julius Reeves
Wayne M. Richardson
Howard M. Robinson
Delores R. Shelton
Harley Spry
Joan W. Spry
Alice B. Stith
Susan A. Thomas-Holder
Pamela Tiller-Reeves
Robert L. Turner
Drema B. Turner
Catherine J. Wade
Aaron Waller
Sylvia F. Washington
Harold C. Whitney
Carl M. Williams
Emmanuel Witherspoon
$250 to $499
Erick K. Acolatse
John A. Axam
June C. Boswell
Ernestine H. Buck
Marvin P. Caldwell
O’Jetta C. Croswell
Joseph M. Devane
Ruth M. Douglas
Harding Faulk
Edward Fitzgerald
John K. Greene
Jacob L. Hopper
Hunt Enginering Company
Carolyn D. Jackson
Rosalyn T. Jones
Charles Logan
Clarabon Logan
Warren McMichael
Randolph B. McNeill
June McNeill
Richard M. Newberg
Ralph F. Patterson
Morris C. Peterkin
Linda M. Portlock
James L. Portlock
Adrian L. Pringle
Angela Pringle
James A. Realer
Renee M. Richardson
David L. Rivers
Ernestine J. Rouse
Lois N. Rowe
Trina Russell
Gregory L. Samuels
Karen E. Shanks
Shor and Asssociates INC
Charles E. Songster
Junious R. Stanton
Sonjia E. Stanton
Gary K. Stovall
Henrietta J. Stukes
Calvin H. Sydnor
Joanne B. Terry-Johnson
Edward Tomezsko
Beverly R. Turner
Carolyn D. Weathers
Ed Weathers
Gloria R. Williams
Lola R. Younger
(Continued on next page)
25
Honor Roll
(Continued from page 21)
$100 to $249
Adedoyin Adeyiga
Patricia D. Akins
Romella J. Arnold
Norma Y. Avery
Wanda L. Baker-Smith
Etta G. Baldwin
Etta G. Baldwin
Sylvester J. Ballard
Sharon Barnett
Arthur G. Baylor
John M. Beeson
Beverly J. Bell
Charlotte A. Beverly
Rosalind R. Blanchard Lewis
Donna J. Blatch
Rosalind C. Booker
Mabel Bounds
John J. Bowden
Janice R. Bowden
Charles E. Bradford
Lawrence E. Brandon
J.S. Broaden
Wanda W. Broaden
Roy Brooks
Christine Broome
Charlie Brown
Julius H. Brown
Bradley J. Buchner
Margaret L. Burden
Barbara D. Burke
Elisabeth A. Burton
James F. Butler
Wilhelmena M. Calland
Lillian Carpenter
Ann W. Carter
Herman L. Carter
Aileen H. Casey
Marilyn A. Clark
Sulayman Clark
Mozelle V. Clinton-Butts
Jacqueline Cody-Downing
Gerald Coleman
Harriet Coren
Benedict Coren
Bernice E. Covert
Barbara D. Cox
Alfred R. D’Angelo
Denise A. D’Angelo
Pamela J. Daniels
Kimphus C. Daniels
Vivian D. Davidson
Juanita B. Davis
Fannie M. Dawson
Delta Sigma Theta
Shirley M. Dennis
William D. Dennis
26
Anthony L. Dent
Mildred DeShields
Rowena DeShields
Justine P. Devan
Emma Dickerson
George E. Dickerson
Florence A. Dockins
Theodore J. Duncan
Cheryl A. Dyson
R. A. Easley-Sudler
Joye Evans-Mann
Julianna L. Ferebee
Bette R. Few
Larnell D. Flannagan
Edythe Ford-Bush
Gwendolyn M. Freeman
Marian E. Garfield
Helen Garrett
Kenneth A. Gee
Vivian H. Gee
Bonita F. Gibson
Janet L. Giddens
Gladys M. Glenn
Creola Gramby
Faith J. Green
Pamela J. Greer
Joann Griffin
Elizabeth B. Guy
Ozzie Hackett
Marion Haliburton
Carolyn C. Hall
Chris Hanlon
Frances W. Harold
Albert Harris
Althea W. Harris
Eunice Harris
Renee L. Harrison
Barbara J. Hart
Barbara J. Hicks
Gladys C. Hill
Freddie M. Holman
Ronald D. Holman
Linda D. Holmes
Thelmarene S. Hooper
Lionel S. Hoye
Lawrence E. Jack
Annabelle W. Jackson
Marlene P. Jackson
Ky”a Jackson
George B. Jackson
Lee Janiczek
JoAnne Jenkins Walls
Marcus A. Joe
Helen R. Joell
Robert Johnson
Walter W. Johnson
Helen S. Johnson
Nellie B. Johnson
Emmett A. Jones
Dyane L. Jones
Rosalind Jones-Johnson
Aldustus Jordan
Jane E. Jordan
Barbara E. Jordan
China Jude
Dolores L. Knox
Elizabeth C. Lacy
Marion T. Lane
Charles L. Lanier
Sharon Lewars
Arthur J. Lewis
Mary G. Lightfoot
Delrio A. Ligons-Berry
Edward L. Livingston
Wanda Lofton
Lionel Long
Shelton L. Lowe
Shirley T. Maddrey
Thurgood Marshall
College Fund
Lee E. McCardle
Calvin & Cynthia R. McNeil
Edward Melvin & Associates,
Inc.
Norman T. Miller
Raymond S. Mitchell
Sheree Monroe
Walter N. Montague
Catana T. Montague
Joan B. Monteverde
Deborah J. Moore
Sterling Morse
Patricia P. Morse
Jacqueline B. Mosley
Edith Moyer
Samuel O. Onyekere
Peggy C. Outing
Lindabeth E. Parker
James H. Parker
Marva M. Peace-Jackson
C. W. Pearson
John T. Pearson
Jennifer Plumer-Davis
Wallace M. Pride
Bonnie L. Pyett
Lyman A. Quarterman
Mary J. Quarterman
Erika R. Ragland-Lee
Sulister S. Ranson
Wendy L. Realer
Fedie R. Redd
Samuel A. Reed
Patricia Reed
Lawrence W. Richards
Bentley Ritter
Marva W. Ritter
Sidney Robinson
Rose M. Robinson
Deborah E. Rogers
Carole J. Ross
Doris M. Ross
Corliss T. Scipio-Pearson
Theressa G. Scott
Joyce A. Scott-Parker
Salem Baptist Church of
Jenkintown
Walter W. Scruggs
Anna Scruggs
Robert H. Sharp
James L. Shelton
Brenda P. Shields
William H. Shields
Neal H. Simpson
Pamela D. Singleton
Robert T. Smallwood
Gerald A. Smith
Carolyn L. Smith
Frank A. Smith
Henry G. Smyrl
Bertram H. Snead
Sandra L. Solomon
James C. Solomon
Evelyn O. Somerville
Anthony W. Spells
Mary I. Stallings
Hakim Stovall
Jamal Stovall
Omar K. Stovall
Sylvia L. Thomas
Marie J. Thompson
Irvin W. Thompson
Dewitt M. Thorpe
Darlene E. Tolbert
Cynthia G. Tompkins
Barbara E. Townes
Leonore B. Triplett
Phill A. Tucker
Deborah N. Turner
Roderick Turner
Monique Turner
Barbara A. Walker
Lucille R. Weeks
Nancy M. West
Carolyn L. Whitaker
Amelia P. White
Keith B. Williams
Sandra E. Wilson
Harold T. Woods
Wynnefield Presbyterian
Church
Whitney T. Yancey
Up to $99
Barry W. Adams
Barbara Akins
Kathleen Alexander
(Continued on next page)
Honor Roll
(Continued from page 22)
Richard N. Allen
Richard L. Allen
Diane P. Anderson
Diane P. Anderson
Helena D. Anderson
Barbara A. Antrom
Clarice H. Archer
Dorothy M. Atkins
Robert L. Atwell
Betty T. Avery
Adrean Bailey
Delois M. Barnes
Gerard J. Barnes
Eleanor A. Barnes
Ralph T. Batty
Louis Baxter
Venita V. Baxter
Sandra L. Baytops
Weldon Bazemore
Joyce G. Beckett
Bruce S. Bell
Inez R. Bell
Gregory Benjamin
Camelia A. Bowles-Cobb
Alice Bowman-Cropper
Raiford Box
Claudean Boyd
Jennifer C. Boyd-Waller
Darlene I. Branch-Smith
Ann E. Braxton
Virginia L. Brooker
Christine S. Brown
Evelyn N. Brown
Richard H. Brown
Raymond H. Bruton
Evelyn V. Buchanan
Juanita W. Campbell
Patricia L. Chappelle
Jeffrey C. China
Marianne J. China
Selmon Choice
Patricia A. Christopher
Marion T. Claiborne
Antoinette Colon
Mary G. Corbett
John C. Corbin
Sandra Countley
Wanda D. Cousins
Cynthia J. Craddock
Orlando J. Cummings
Stacey G. Cummings
Viola A. Curry
Ernest B. Daniels
Lanee Daniels
Marietta Dantonio-Fryer
Elaine A. Davis
Anthony E. Davis
Judith A. Davis
Deanna M. Davis
Susan J. Dennis
Marsha M. Depte
Catherine M. Dickerson
Brooks F. Early
Maxine H. Edmunds
David Eldridge
Arthur J. Evans
Gwendolyn Y. Faush-Carney
Arlinda Felder
Courtney V. Fields
Theodore W. Fleck
Brittany N. Fox
Calvin L. Francis
Joel L. Frater
Byron K. Gamble
Deborah C. Gerald
Gloria J. Grantham
Marilyn D. Griffin
Jacqueline Grundy-Kennard
Donald E. Hackney
Andrew Haman
Leroy A. Hanks
Tyrone C. Hardy
Ernest F. Hargett
Yvonne B. Harper
Nancy L. Harper-Appling
Patricia Harris Hamilton
Erlene A. Harvey
Ernest L. Henderson
Cynthia D. Henderson
Diane R. Henry
Carita L. Hernandez
Carole L. Hodges
Gregory V. Hodges
Jeanne R. Holmes
John G. Holmes
Vincent S. Ianni
Thelma P. Jacks
Keturah A. Jackson
Dolores D. Jackson
Jay S. Jackson
Barbara H. Jefferson
Shon P. Jeffery
Karen A. Jenkins
Artensa L. Johnson
Jacqueline L. Johnson
Ruby F. Johnson
Tanyika D. Jordan
Janice Judge
Constance G. Keaton
John W. Kennard
Tara Kent
Lester Kleckley
Margie Kornegay
James A. Larmore
Alexander Laurencin
Miriam I. Lawson
John H. Leary
Carla Lee-Stucky
Lenue Legette
Ann F. Lewis
Joseph J. Lewis
Valerie S. Love
Mary H. Lucas
Robert A. Mack
Eddie J. Manning
Larry C. Martinez Skinner
Carmen M. Martinez Skinner
Carole Y. Mayo
Catherine McCall
Geneva McCullers
Evelyn McCullers
Barbara McKenzie
Gregory B. McNeill
Anna J. Miller
Jacqulyene Miller
Patricia G. Montenegro
Yvonne A. Morris
Donna R. Morris
Marva M. Morris
Irene M. Moszer
Madeline l. Murphy
Jeannette I. Newby-James
Frederick Nichols
Joanne M. Nichols
Loretta D. Norman-Legette
Adrienne N. Owens
Linda L. Parks
Thomasine R. Parsons
Terry D. Pearsall-Hargett
Carol M. Pearson
Margaret C.
Phillips-Richardson
Annette S. Piper
Blanche Plummer-Jones
Tina Randall
Diana Remack
William B. Retallick
Beatrice Y. Rice
Kam L. Ritter
Helen L. Robinson
Brenda E. Rochester
Sandra V. Rodgers
Loretta F. Rogers
Lillian Ross
John J. Rossiter
Patricia Rossiter
Sekini Royster
Gayle P. Satchell
Norman W. Satchell
Jesse L. Shaw
Esther D. Slade
Wayman W. Smith
Allyson C. Speed
Harriet A. Staten
Patricia D. Stephens
Shirley M. Stewart
Kathy A. Stone
Carolyn Styer
Mariko Z. Tapper-Taylor
Donald F. Taylor
Gregory T. Thompson
Herbert C. Thompson
Sharon D. Thorn
Gregory J. Toatley
Admasu E. Tucho
Antoinette Turner
Paul L. Vance
Victoria Vann-White
Valerie F. Villines
Flora E. Wadkins
Sharon Wallace-Frater
Darlena E. Ward
Lottie J. Washington
Alta G. Watkins
Louise R. Watkins
Mary Anne L. Watts
Kelly B. West
Marlin J. White
Sinyan D. Whitfield
Daniel Whyte
Etta R. Williams
Leola J. Williams
Lorraine M. Williams
Herbert B. Williams
Deborah L. Williams-Gordon
Glorine Wilson
Celestine J. Wynn
Pamela D. Young
Does your
employer
match your
contribution?
If your or your spouse’s
company has a matching
gift program, your gifts
to CU can be easily increased! For more information, please visit
www.matchinggifts.com,
contact your human
resources department,
or contact Marsha Depte,
at 610-399-2109 or at
mdepte@cheyney.edu.
27
Founder’s Week . . .
F
Celebrating the Legacy
ebruary marks Black History Month, and it is also the month that
Cheyney University – America’s first Historically Black College or University - recognizes its past and looks forward to a bright future with a
week-long series of events entitled Founder’s Week–Celebrating the Legacy.
During the week of February 22nd, Cheyney University will host a lecture
with film maker Spike Lee, a tribute to the late Ed Bradley (former CBS television news journalist and Cheyney alumnus), as well as, performances, art
exhibits and presentations all culminating in the University’s annual Founder’s Day Convocation. The events are open to students, alumni, faculty, staff,
and the general public. Further information can be obtained by contacting
Cheyney University’s Office of Institutional Advancement at 610-399-2027,
or by visiting Cheyney University’s website at www.cheyney.edu.
Honoring Black History
28
Standing on the shoulders of giants
Monday, February 21, 2011
Escape to Freedom
Featuring The Cheyney Players, (Video)
Dudley Theater
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
A Tribute to Ed Bradley
DSS TV Studio
Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 7pm
An Evening with Spike Lee
Marian Anderson Music Center
Sponsored by the Keystone Honors Academy
Thursday, February 24, 2011, 4pm - 6pm
Literacy within Reach, Art Exhibit
Biddle Hall Art Gallery
Thursday, February 24, 2011, 5pm
Scholarship Recognition Dinner
(with the CU Band & Concert Choir)
Marcus Foster Auditorium
An Evening with Spike Lee
Presented by the Keystone Honors Academy
Spike Lee, the award winning film writer, director, producer and actor, will visit Cheyney University to share
his experience and knowledge of the film industry along
with general social commentary during the University’s
Founder’s Week on February 23rd at the Marian Anderson Music Center. With over 35 feature films and documentaries to his credit, including the critically acclaimed
and racially poignant Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X
and When the Levees Broke, this will certainly be a
memorable event worth attending.
For more information on any Founder’s Week events, contact
the Office of Institutional Advancement @ 610-399-2027 or
visit www.cheyney.edu. (Event scheduling is subject to change.)
Thursday, February 24, 8pm
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing:
The Impact of Spirituals and Gospel Music on
African American Heritage
Dudley Theater
Sponsored by the Arts & Lecture Series, Title III
Friday, February 25, 1pm
Founder’s Day Convocation
Dudley Theater
Keynote speaker; Ms. Mellanie Kai Lassiter,
PECO, Corporate Contributions Manager
A Tribute to
Ed Bradley
On Feb. 22, the late Ed Bradley,
CBS television news journalist
and Cheyney University alumnus, will receive a posthumous
tribute from his alma mater
recognizing his career accom29
plishments and his inspiration to
aspiring media professionals.
il 2nd
r
p
A
day, pm
r
u
t
a
S
to 2 iversity the
m
a
0
1
y Un mnasium anmd
e
n
y
e
Ch ope Hall Gynson Stadiu
C
phe
at the hields Ste
S
’
O
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Residents, neighbors and friends are invited to join the Cheyney University
Campus Community from 10 AM to 2 PM on April 2, 2011. The event will
take place on the University’s main campus in conjunction with the Thornbury 5k/10k race, and it is sponsored by the Cheyney University Foundation
Schedule of Activities
2nd Annual
Thornbury 5k/10k Race
(Sponsored by the Delaware Valley Lion’s Club)
5k/10k Junior Race
Petting Zoo
Health & Safety Fair
Academic Showcase
Community Day will be held rain or shine. The event will
only be cancelled in the event of severe weather.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL
THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS at
610-399-2121
30
BECOME A SPONSOR!
Contact ealmonte@cheyney.edu
For more information
CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY
OF PENNSYLVANIA
Explore, Learn and Grow . . .
www.cheyney.edu
SAVE THE DATE...
Join the CU Alumni
Recruitment Network Today!
The Office of Admissions Actively
Seeks Dedicated Alumni to Help
Cheyney University Reach
Underrepresented Markets
Contact Mr. Michael Taylor at
610-399-2100, or by email at
michael.taylor@cheyney.edu
Visit us on the web for more information about
CU’s Alumni Recruitment Network
www.cheyney.edu
Meet the Presidents
HBCU Tour
April 5, 2011
Cheyney University’s
Main Campus
Hosted by
Comedian, Rudy Rush
• VIP Reception •
• Town Hall Meeting •
• Alumni Award •
• Community Leadership Award •
Presented by HBCU Link Up & Rolling Out.com
Exciting!
Informative!
Inspiring!
For more information,
contact the Office of Admissions at
610-399-2275, or visit us on the web at
www.cheyney.edu
March 25, 2011
9am to 2pm
CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY
OF PENNSYLVANIA
Explore, Learn and Grow . . .
31
Brittani Christian, Miss Cheyney University 2010-11
CU senior Brittani Christian was
crowned Miss Cheyney University
at a lavish coronation ceremony
on October 6, in Dudley Hall at
the main campus. “My goal is to
represent Cheyney University to the
best of my ability everywhere I go,”
said Ms. Christian in her acceptance
speech to the crowd of students, faculty, staff, families, and friends.
Christian, a communications major
from Philadelphia, engages in modeling, praise dancing, motivational
speaking, mentoring and participating in church and community service projects. During her junior year
at Cheyney University, she founded
the campus mentoring organization,
Cheyney’s Angels. Their mission is
to teach young women the importance of goal-setting and making
good choices. “My desire is to continue doing some kind of mentoring throughout my life,” affirms
Christian. “I really love motivating
people to pursue excellence.”
The 2010-11 Miss Cheyney
wore an over-the-shoulder
white gown with a brocade
bodice and a tulle skirt and
train as she entered the coronaMiss Cheyney University 2010-11 and her
mentoring group, the Cheyney Angels.
32
tion ceremony escorted by her father, Mr. Terry Christian, at the end
of a colorful procession of campus
royalty. Fellow student Peter Hughes
served as master of ceremonies. Following the invocation by Reverend
Elisha Morris and a poetry reading
by Ibijoke Akinbowlae, Cheyney
President Michelle Howard-Vital
delivered the University’s Charge
to Miss Cheyney University 2010
saying, “As you assume the responsibility of serving as Miss Cheyney,
know that wherever you go and
whatever you do, you are a representative of this great institution.”
In her acceptance speech, Christian expressed her gratitude to her
parents and family for their life-long
support as she recounted her journey
to college and her inspiration to become Miss Cheyney. As a surprise
treat for the coronation ceremony,
she received a musical tribute from
her sister, Corrinn, as her mother,
Anita Christian, beamed with pride.
3
1837 University Circle
P. O. Box 200
Cheyney, PA 19319-0200
ensuring
future
the
President’s Cabinet
Michelle R. Howard-Vital, Ph.D., President
Ivan Banks, Ed.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Lawrence Green, M.S., Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Gerald Coleman, M.B.A.,Vice President for Finance and Administration
Suzanne D. Phillips, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Affairs and Student Life
Eric R. Almonte, J.D., Executive Associate to the President
Barbara A. Simmons, J.D., Interim Dean, Graduate Studies, Continuing Education
and Community Relations
Bernadette Carter, Ed.D., Dean of Arts and Sciences
Larnell Flannagan, Ed.D., Dean of Education and Professional Studies
Tara Kent, Ph.D., Dean of the Keystone Honors Academy
Lut Nero, Ph.D., Dean of the Leslie Pinckney Hill Library
China Jude, M.S.S., Athletic Director
Sharon Cannon, M.Ed., Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development Center
Council of Trustees
Robert W. Bogle, Chairman
Dongkyu Bak
Bishop Audrey Bronson
Lynette Brown-Sow
Gary N. Horton
Senator Vincent J. Hughes
Thane Martin
Samuel Patterson
Edward S. J. Tomezsko, Ph.D.
Robert Traynham, II
Eric Parker
PASSHE Chancellor John C. Cavanaugh, Ex Officio
Board of Governors
Mr. Kenneth M. Jarin (Chair)
Mr. C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni (Vice Chair)
Mr. Aaron A. Walton (Vice Chair)
Mr. Leonard B. Altieri, III (student)
Representative Matthew E. Baker
Mr. Paul S. Dlugolecki
Acting Secretary Thomas E. Gluck
Representative Michael K. Hanna
Senator Vincent J. Hughes
Marie Conley Lammando
4
Ms. Jamie L. Lutz (student)
Mr. Jonathan B. Mack
Mr. Joseph F. McGinn
Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola
Mr. Guido M. Pichini
Governor Edward G. Rendell, Ex Officio
Mr. Harold C. Shields
Mr. Thomas M. Sweitzer
Ms. Christine J. Toretti
Ms. Mackenzie M. Wrobel (student)