NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University mass communication students got a special treat in Los Angeles recently when they visited the home of music legend Lionel Richie.
The students were in L.A. as part of their Extreme Spring Break trip. Joining the students was Joe Richie, who serves as Director of the Center for Media Arts and Production, which is housed within the Department of Communications. Joe Richie and Lionel Richie are first cousins.
Joe Richie (right) and cousin Lionel. (Submitted photo)
Lionel
Richie talked to the students about the media business and how to make the most
of their talents and gifts, according to Dr. Tameka Winston, department chair
and associate professor.
“Our students had an amazing time during their immersive learning experience,” she said.
As
part of Extreme Spring Break, students earn course credit for the week-long experience
that provides them with actual hands on learning in the fields of journalism, film
and Television, and Marketing/PR.
The
students also get one-on-one time with industry professionals, diversity
officers, internship coordinators, and hiring managers.
Winston
said she hopes the students will have the same success as those who have
graduated from the department.
Spencer
Glover, a 2012 TSU graduate, took home the Emmy editing/program during the 33rd
Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards on Feb. 16. He was awarded for his work on
“The Passion for Music,” a production for Yamaha Entertainment Group.
“We
are so excited when our students and faculty are awarded for their hard work
and excelling in their profession,” said Winston.
Also
at the awards ceremony, Airielle Vincent, an assistant professor of mass
communications, won her second Emmy as weekend newscast producer with Fox 17.
She was recognized for a story on a church shooting.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Tennessee State University Honors College recently hosted 31 high achieving students from Nashville’s Hillsboro High School as part of TSU Honors Week celebration.
Dr. Frances Williams, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, holds a discussion with visiting Hillsboro High School students. (Submitted Photo)
The Honors College and Hillsboro High are partners in a two-year exceptional student acceleration program called IBDP, or Academy of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, that nurtures students to excel in higher education.
Participants in IBDP are top juniors and seniors who take advanced placement and honors courses in the 9th and 10 grades to prepare them for IB-level classes in the 11th and 12th grades.
Dr. Coreen Jackson,
interim dean of the Honors College, said the visit of the high school students
allowed them to interact and exchange notes with TSU Honors students, as well
as expose the visitors to the university’s programs and offerings.
“We are delighted to have these top students from Hillsboro High visit our campus and to interact with the best among our students,” said Jackson, who also serves on the advisory board of the Hillsboro High School IB program. “I think having many more partnerships like this with more high schools in the city would help to create a pipeline for increased enrollment into the myriad of majors at TSU.”
Visiting Hillsboro High School students take part in an exercise. (Submitted Photo)
Among activities
for the day was “Real Talk,” a panel discussion about college life and advanced
learning.
“Do you all have tutoring and personal help here?” a Hillsboro High student, who wants to major in biology, asked. Another was concerned about how honors students fit in and how they are viewed on campus. They were informed about the many tutoring and mentoring programs available to students, and the friendly learning environment on campus.
“I am from India, and
even though it was a huge cultural shock, Tennessee State University has made
me feel more than welcome,” said Abhilasha
Vishwanath, a senior psychology major and Honors student with a
4.0 grade point average. “I play tennis for the university, work in the bookstore,
I am part of several organizations, serve on the Honors Council, and I’ve never
felt out of place.”
Following the panel discussion, the students were divided into groups according to their academic career interest and dialogued with faculty and staff from engineering, business, liberal arts, education, and life and physical sciences disciplines. Everett Jolly, TSU director of recruitment; Kristin Gray, director of the First-Year Experience; and Barbara Kannard, coordinator for Student Success Initiative, also met and spoke with the visitors.
Barbara Kannard, TSU Coordinator of Student Success Initiative, talks to Hillsboro High School students about opportunities at the university. (Submitted Photo)
Dr. Kenyae L.
Reese, Academy principal at Hillsboro High, who accompanied the students, said
the visit was very rewarding.
“The faculty and
staff of the Hillsboro High School Academy of International Baccalaureate
Diploma Programme is delighted to partner with the TSU Honors College in
creating exceptional experiences for advanced academic students,” Reese said.
“The experiential learning trip to celebrate Honors College Week at TSU was
both informative and inspiring in scope. The students reported being most
excited to learn from the Honors College students and professors and other
professionals who provided valuable advice.”
Earlier, TSU
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. John Robinson, joined
Jackson to welcome the Hillsboro High School students.
“This is our time
to change the narrative, assist our recruiters, and utilize our high achieving
students to tell our story that TSU is truly the place to be,” Jackson said.
On March 26, TSU
will celebrate its best and brightest students when the university holds its
annual Honors Day Convocation in Kean Hall.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is
Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban,
co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree
programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU
has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and
Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one
of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social
mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee
State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit
the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Kayla McCrary
is an author!
Her children’s
book, “Dream Girl, Dream!,” with illustrations by Brandon Van Leer, just came out
and it is receiving wide acclaim.
“Writing has always
been my first love and it’s always something I wanted to do,” she says. “So
when I found the inspiration, I said I really want to write a children’s book.”
“Dream Girl,
Dream,” based on personal experiences, courage and an effort to inspire young
kids to be their best, comes amid personal tragedy and the need for strength to
move on.
Now a graduating
senior and president of the Student Government Association at Tennessee State
University, McCrary lost her mother in the first semester of her freshman year
at TSU. Her mother’s death also meant becoming the sole mother figure for her
then 5-year-old sister, Regan Christian. Devastated, lost and confused,
McCrary says she was torn between dropping out and trying to help her
sister cope with the aftermath of their mother’s passing.
“It was hard,”
says McCrary, an Atlanta native. “Losing our mother at such an early
age for my little sister, and me just starting in college, was
very difficult for me. She was our biggest support and friend. I thought,
how is my sister going to make it and how can I concentrate on school when she
needs me?”
Surprisingly,
McCrary says her sister showed remarkable resolve and strength that “shocked
me.”
“At the time
my sister was five and she was literally so strong,” says McCrary, who majors
in English with a minor in political science. “She is what kept me together,
and helped me get through a lot of things. Seeing her, I realized I had to be
the role model, and I had to raise her. She looks to me now. Everything I do is
to show her that if I can do it, she can do it too.”
Kayla McCrary says her dream is to become a renowned author, philosopher, attorney and humanitarian. (Photo by Emmanuel Freeman, TSU Media Relations)
Unlike McCrary, who struggles in math and does well in reading, her sister is the opposite. That parallel, she says, is one of the main inspirations behind “Dream Girl, Dream!”
“For me, growing
up, I struggled in math. Reading and language arts were my strongest subjects.
For her, she excels in math, but she doesn’t do too well in reading. I
think it is mainly because she just doesn’t like reading. So, I figure if I
wrote a book, she would be inspired to want to read it. And she has read it and
does have copies of it. Her reading has improved. Reading the book I think has
inspired her. She told our dad – Reginald Christian – the other day, ‘It’s not
fair, sister gets to have a book and a YouTube channel.’ So, I am definitely
teaching her how to go after everything she wants. I think she is getting it.,”
says McCrary.
With a goal of
pursuing graduate studies or entering law school after college, McCrary says in
addition to her sister, the book is about inspiring children, “especially
children of color, …and about the HBCU experience.” Her aspiration is to be a
world-renowned author, philosopher, attorney and humanitarian.
“Dream Girl, Dream!” is mainly a story of inspiration,” she says. “Sometimes in life you go through things that are just not expected, and a lot of things are out of your control. So I want them to know, ‘No matter what your current circumstances are, dream as big as you want to. If your dreams don’t scare you then they are not big enough.’ To some people, writing a children’s book may not seem like a big thing, but for me, it’s everything because I can’t believe I actually did it.”
Angelique Wells, a
junior psychology major at TSU, who has faced some difficulties of her own, has
read McCrary’s book.
“It is definitely a great read and inspiring,” says Wells, of Nashville, who has known McCrary since entering TSU. “Throughout Kayla’s hardship she still persevered and continued to go on and become president of the SGA and stay active in her college career. That is an inspiration to me because without knowing, she has inspired me to go after a few things. It is a great book. I recommend it to all ages.”
For Van Leer, a TSU graduate and local artist who did the illustration for “Dream Girl, Dream,” working with McCrary was a “professional fulfillment.”
“Kayla approached
me after school got out. I had never done a project like this before, but
knowing me, I was not good at saying no,” says. Van Leer, known for painting
likenesses of individuals like the late world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Levi
Watkins, Jr., and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.
“I just wanted to
take on the project because I love Kayla’s story,” he says. “I love what she
was doing. We are both African-Americans, we are both at the same institution
(at the time) and we are just doing something positive for the community. Her
story was great, and it was a children’s book. You don’t really see that many
African-Americans working together. The story was touching and I was just
honored by it.”
“Dream Girl Dream!” is available in paperback on Amazon and Google Books.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is
Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban,
co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree
programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU
has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and
Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one
of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social
mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee
State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit
the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Department
of Communications at Tennessee State University was well represented at the
33rd Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards on Feb. 16.
A professor and a
former student walked away with Emmys for their work in news and entertainment.
Prof. Airielle Vincent
Airielle Vincent, an assistant professor of mass communications, won her second Emmy as weekend newscast producer with FOX 17. She was recognized for a story on church shooting.
Spencer Glover, who graduated from TSU in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, took home the Emmy for editing/program. He was awarded for his work on “The Passion for Music,” a production for Yamaha Entertainment Group.
“We are so excited
when our students and faculty are awarded for their hard work and excelling in
their profession,” said Dr. Tameka Winston, department chair and associate
professor. “It is our desire to see them graduate, follow their dreams and be
recognized on such a prestigious level.”
The Emmy Awards,
organized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, recognizes
excellence in television for news and documentary, sports, daytime
entertainment, daytime creative arts and entertainment, public and community
service, and technology and engineering.
Spencer Glover
Cara Anthony, a
2010 TSU graduate, who works for “The Belleville News Democrat,” was also
nominated in 2018 for a Mid-America Emmy. Her Emmy nomination was the first in
the News-Democrat’s 160-year history.
Winning at the
Emmys is not new to the TSU Department of Communications. In 2012, Assistant
Professor Erik Werner won for promotional producing.
“The department is
dedicated to producing award-winning industry professionals and employing
top-notch leaders in the field,” said Professor Karen D. Russell, mass
communications coordinator and professor of multimedia journalism. “We are
very proud of our outstanding alumni and professors.”
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is
Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban,
co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree
programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU
has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and
Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one
of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social
mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee
State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit
the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University students in the College of Public Service hosted a forum recently to have a candid discussion about voter suppression.
‘Let My People Vote’ Poster (Submitted Photo)
The forum on Feb. 27 at the university’s Avon Williams Campus included a panel discussion, as well as a screening of “Let My People Vote,” an award-winning short documentary about voter suppression.
Keturah Barnett, a student in the Master of Public Administration Program at the university and cofounder of the Know Your Rights Program, said voter suppression is an issue that affects people from all walks of life.
“Voter suppression doesn’t just affect minorities. It affects young people, students, ex-offenders and others,” she said. “When you think of voter suppression, a lot of people say that happened years ago in the 1960s during the civil rights movement, but it is still happening today. And with the midterm elections that took place last year in 2018 in November, we saw a lot of that in state’s like Georgia and Florida.”
Keturah Barnett (Submitted Photo)
Barnett, who has worked at the Nashville Juvenile Public Defenders Office since 2016, said she hoped the event would inspire students to engage in the political process by voting, as well as challenging current laws and holding elected officials accountable.
Dr. Michael Harris, dean of the College of Public Service and a nationally-syndicated columnist, was pleased to see members of the larger Nashville community, as well as TSU students and faculty, at the screening.
“It is imperative that the College of Public Service stand
at the forefront of engaging on issues related to voter suppression and
access. The history of and current efforts to suppress voters in
African-American communities undermines the democratic processes black
institutions, including TSU, have fought to improve and revolutionize for
centuries,” Harris said.
Dr. Anthony Campbell, assistant professor of Public Administration in the College of Public Service and the faculty member who worked with students to organize the event, stressed the importance of grappling with this issue.
Dr. Michael Harris (Submitted Photo)
“This filmmaker has developed a documentary that shows how the black vote has been suppressed in Florida for a long time and leading up to this last election, typically felons but more broadly people of color,” he said.
“Let My People Vote,” directed by Gilda Brasch, follows formerly homeless Desmond Meade, now the State Director for Florida Live Free Campaign, as he canvasses the streets of Tampa, Florida, on the last day of early voting before the 2016 presidential election. At the time of the filming, Meade, who earned a law degree from Florida International University’s College of Law, could not vote or practice law in Florida because he has a felony.
Gilda Brasch (Submitted Photo)
Brasch’s documentary has won many awards, including the 2018 Best Short Documentary at the BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta and the 2018 Audience Award For Best Short Film in the Florida Film Festival. It was also featured at the Meet The Press Film Festival with The American Film Institute. She said she created the documentary so viewers could see what voter suppression looks like in the current political climate.
“If people are interested in voting rights, followed the recent midterm elections and saw what happened to Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum, then when they watch ‘Let My People Vote’ they will actually get an opportunity to see real people at the polling places having their votes surpressed,” she said.
Brasch said she was shocked by how quickly she found
examples of people being turned around at the polls.
“We just got out of the rental van, and turned the camera on, and we got all those testimonies immediately in the space of probably 45 minutes to an hour. It’s not like we had to go stand out there for hours. It’s immediate in these districts,” she said.
Martesha Johnson (Submitted Photo)
Immediately following the screening, students hosted a panel to discuss the issue. Panel members included: Metropolitan Nashville Public Defender Martesha Johnson, Davidson County Election Commisioner A.J. Starling, Project Return Associate Director Elizabeth Hayes and others.
Barnett said the goal of the event was to provide a forum for a conversation they believe is timely and necessary.
“Voting is a fundamental right for everybody. It is something that any American should be
able to do without being hassled,” she said. “Going to the polls should be just as easy as
going to the grocery store.”
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – TSU officials are excited about a new link that will give the university’s alumni and constituents an opportunity to monitor the construction process of its new Health Sciences Building.
“Many of our alums don’t get to the campus throughout the year because they live all over the country. I thought giving them an opportunity to see this facility evolve would be a benefit to them, so they can watch the evolution of the campus,” said Dr. Curtis Johnson, Chief of Staff.
Johnson said HOAR Construction, the company responsible for
building the facility, installed the camera, which will monitor the 18 to 24 month
construction project.
“It updates itself every 15 minutes, but you can also do a
six-day review. It can go back six days
and play forward for you to see the progress,” he said.
Dr. Ronald Barredo, interim dean of the College of Health
Sciences, said viewing the development of the new facility is a positive sign
of the college’s growth.
“I am excited to
witness the steady progress that is being made in constructing the new Health
Sciences Building. This project will not only bring together a number of
excellent programs under one roof – Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational
Therapy, Cardiorespiratory Care, and Health Information Management – but will
also be a hub for collaborative practice, community service, and clinical
research,” he said.
Hannah Brown,
president of the Student Occupational Therapy Association, said although she
will have graduated when the new building opens, she will return as alum to see
the impact it will have on educating future health professionals at TSU.
“The new building
is a great addition to the campus. The added space will help promote
interprofessionalism among the programs housed in the building and will provide
a larger space for clinical simulations and laboratory experiences that are
essential in professional practice,” said Brown, who is pursuing a Master in
Occupational Therapy degree.
TSU National Alumni Association President Joni McReynolds said she thinks providing a link for alums to monitor the construction is a wonderful idea.
“I would encourage
all alumni to look at the link and see how progress is being made, and I will
do my best to send it around to my executive board, and to all alums we have the
ability to contact,” she said.
TSU Nashville Alumni Chapter President Dwight Beard echoed
McReynolds’ comments.
“I think it’s a great initiative. I am excited about it. It’s going to bring in
new students, and it’s going to create new opportunities,” he said.
Braxton Simpson, a sophomore agricultural sciences major who
serves as the student trustee on the TSU Board of Trustees, said having the
ability to monitor the progress of the construction will have a tremendous
impact because of the large numbers of health science students at TSU.
“I think it’s very important that students and faculty… have
the opportunity to track the progress of something that is going to be so
instrumental to the students at Tennessee State University,” she said.
Construction progress of the new health sciences building at Tennessee State University can be viewed at the following link: https://app.truelook.com/?u=hj1548695954
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
