NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University is a finalist in 11
categories of the 2019 Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ Digest
Awards.
The winners will be announced at the ninth annual
HBCU Awards ceremony to be held on August 2 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of
Maryland African American History and Culture in downtown Baltimore.
TSU is a finalist for University of the Year, and TSU President
Glenda Glover is in the running for Female President of the Year.
Other TSU nominations are:
Best Marching Band: Aristocrat of Bands
Best HBCU Choir: New Direction Choir
Best Fine Arts Program: Department of Music
Best Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics (STEM) Program: College of Engineering
Best Business Program: Executive MBA Program
Alumna of the Year: Traci Otey Blunt
Female Coach of the Year: Chandra
Cheeseborough-Guice
Male Athlete of the Year: Christion Abercrombie
Male Student of the Year: Jailen Leavell
The HBCU Awards is the first and only national awards ceremony
honoring individual and institutional achievement at historically black
colleges and universities throughout the country. Winners are selected by a
panel of previous winners, journalist, HBCU executives, students and alumni for
the merit of accomplishment and for generating positive coverage for HBCU
campus communities.
Last year, Tennessee State University received
awards for “Best Student Organization” and “Alumnus of the Year.”
The year before that, TSU’s Aristocrat of Bands and the
university’s College of Engineering received top honors in the HBCU Digest Awards.
In 2015, TSU’s women’s basketball team got Female Team of the
Year, and student activities received Best Student Organization.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – A Tennessee State
University agriculture professor has received close to a million dollars to
conduct research that will study how crops adapt to climate change.
Dr. Jianwei Li received the $999,429 from the National
Science Foundation. It will be used to study the effects of high temperatures
on microbiome, or the combined genetic material of microorganisms in a
particular environment, in cropland soils in Middle Tennessee.
TSU Assistant Professor Dr. Jianwei Li (from right) is pictured with his climate change lab team Visiting Scholar Jianjun Duan, doctoral student Siyang Jian, and master’s student Madhav Parajuli. (Photo by Joan Kite, College of Agriculture)
Li said there is very little data in this area, and the
consequential release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which scientists
say is one of the main greenhouse gases causing global warming.
“We want to increase soil fertility, productivity, and
potentially reduce the carbon dioxide, greenhouse emission,” said Li of the
research, which will help scientists better determine how much carbon dioxide
is being emitted.
Earth’s global surface temperature last year was the fourth
warmest since 1880, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Scientists say atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide are at
the highest levels ever recorded.
Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of TSU’s College of Agriculture,
said the grant is “very timely.”
“The climate change is there, whether politically some of us
believe it or not,” Reddy said. “It is a reality.”
Li will work on the project with co-principal investigators TSU
professor Dr. Dafeng Hui, TSU associate professor Dr. Jason P. de Koff, and
University of California, Irvine professor Dr. Steven D. Allison.
This fall, TSU scientists will prepare a research plot to grow the
biofuel crop switch grass at the Agricultural Research and Education Center.
Using a soil gas flux system, the plot will be kept heated even through winter,
and soil and gas samples will be routinely collected in high frequency.
The grant also seeks to specifically train young minority students
in global environmental change issues, including climate change. Each year, an
undergraduate student will be selected to receive formal training for two
months at the University of California, Irvine, where the student will acquire
experience in molecular analysis and microbial trait-based modeling.
Li envisions the grant as seed money to help build a permanent
experimental infrastructure and develop an interpretive display on climate
change to educate farmers and school children throughout Tennessee.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Men’s Initiative, a character and integrity building program at Tennessee State University, is implementing a series of programs aimed to inspire young male students to become better men.
Students who participated in the inaugural Rite of Passage mentoring program covered topics such as personal responsibility, values, communications, relationship building, and health and wellness. (Submitted Photo)
Recently, 23 second-year male students completed a semester-long Rite of Passage mentoring and leadership-training program conducted by the initiative. The students were pinned and honored in a ceremony before TSU administrators, faculty, staff, students, and community members in the Performing Arts Center on the main campus.
“The goal of this
program is to help these students to matriculate and graduate here at the
university,” said Frank Stevenson, associate vice president for Student Affairs
and dean of students. “We want to make sure that they are successful by
engaging them in things that help them in their matriculation, as
it relates to character and integrity, and understanding the principles of
being responsible young men.”
The inaugural Rite of Passage process started in January, with interest meetings for the students and a training for the 13 TSU faculty and staff mentors who helped facilitate student development. It continued with a six-week curriculum that concluded with a final challenge in the seventh week.
According to Robert
Taylor, director of the TSU Men’s Initiative, participants were trained on
personal responsibility, values, communication, relationship building, health
and wellness, and African diaspora history. He said the program culminated with
a mentor/mentee matching ritual that will continue for 15 weeks over the summer. All 23
students are expected to return to TSU in the fall, as certified mentors.
“The Rite of Passage
portion of the Men’s Initiative engages second-year male students in a series
of workshops and mentorship programs to
help them to transition from boyhood to manhood,” Taylor said. “Our ultimate
purpose is to increase student persistence and to help these young men
understand who they are as individuals, and
what their role is in the community, and how they can further that through
their education.”
Travion Crutcher, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Hunstville, Alabama, was a member of the first class that participated in the Rite of Passage training. As a graduate, he returns next semester as a mentor.
“I have always wanted
to be able to help people find their way, because when I first came here, I didn’t know where to start and
someone helped me,” said Crutcher, who plays cymbals in the TSU Aristocrat of
Bands. “I just like to be that person you can ask questions.”
Taylor said in addition to the Rite of Passage, the Men’s Initiative, which is funded by Title III, also includes success coaching, where teams of coaches work with the students to make sure that they are taking advantage of all of the resources that are available to them. There is also the Men’s Empowerment Zone, Taylor said.
“Empowerment Zone,
which we are creating on the second
floor of Boyd Hall, focuses on improving the actual physical environment for
the students,” Taylor said.
When it is completed, Taylor said the empowerment zone will include a gym with
equipment to help the men stay in shape, as well as upgrade the barbershop. He
said a computer lab is also being developed in partnership with the Career
Development Center, and there will be a conference center where students can do
online interviews with potential employers.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only
public university, and is a premier, historically black university and
land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24
master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a
comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie
designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams
Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in
McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee
State University provides students with a quality education in a
nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be
global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online
at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University agriculture officials
say they hope President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods is not long term.
Last month, Trump announced
that tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods would go up from 10 percent
to 25 percent. The U.S. has also begun investigating whether $300 billion of
other Chinese goods could be subject to tariffs.
And last week, the president
announced a 5 percent tariff on all Mexican goods, starting June 10, if that
country does not substantially halt illegal immigration across the border.
Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of
TSU’s College of Agriculture, said the tariffs are affecting producers, and
that federal government subsidies may not be enough to help farmers who have to
take out loans to make ends meet.
Trump unveiled a $16 billion
bailout last month for farmers hurt by the trade war.
“It’s very unfortunate that
agriculture gets caught in this crossfire,” Reddy said. “It’s not good for us,
not good for the rest of the world. Hopefully this is short term.”
Finis Stribling is an area
extension specialist and coordinator of the New Farmer Academy at TSU. He and a
friend have a farm that grows cotton, corn, soybeans and rice, and they’re feeling
the effect of the tariffs.
However, Stribling noted that
vegetable farmers are not really affected right now, because they can set their
prices.
“It just depends on what part
of agriculture you’re in, whether it’s the vegetable market, the livestock
market, or the grain market,” he said.
Farm groups have warned the
White House against proposed new tariffs on Mexico, saying they could trigger
retaliatory trade actions from Mexico and again impede exports to one of the
top markets for U.S. crops and meat.
The National Pork Producers
Council, a trade group, estimated that tariffs over the last year from Mexico
and China so far have cost U.S. pork producers $2.5 billion.
Despite the trade war, there
is still interest in farming. Currently, more than 50 prospective farmers from
across the country are participating in TSU’s New Farmer Academy, which covers
topics like hydroponics and irrigation, farm equipment selection, and organic
production.
Brian MacDonald travels from
Orange County, California, to attend the seven-month class that meets the third
Monday in each month. He said he’s aware of the effect tariffs are having on
farmers, but he’s not letting it discourage him from becoming an organic
farmer.
“I have this dream of owning a farm,” said MacDonald, who is a
retired president and chief financial officer for an electronics company. “It’s
a dream I’ve had for the last couple of years.”
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Tennessee State’s Office of Emergency Management recently participated in an exercise to better prepare the university for an emergency event.
Besides the OEM, the exercise on May 23, which simulated a bioterrorism attack, involved the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Tennessee Department of Military, and the 45th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team.
“There are simple steps that everyone can take to prepare themselves and their loved ones for emergencies: be informed, make a plan, build a disaster supply kit, and get involved through opportunities that support community preparedness,” said Dr. Curtis Johnson, chief of staff and associate vice president for administration.
“By gathering
supplies to meet basic needs, discussing what to do during an emergency with
your family in advance, and being aware of the risks and appropriate actions,
you will be better prepared for the unexpected and can help better prepare your
community and the country.”
Last
year, TSU was selected to host the Best Practices in Higher Education Emergency Management
Conference.
TSU, the first HBCU selected to host the conference, was
recognized for its unique urban-agriculture and cutting-edge emergency
preparedness initiatives that have earned the university many accolades,
including a Storm Ready designation.
As a result of the recognition, TSU was presented with the Best
Practice Trophy at the 2017 conference, and subsequently selected to host the one
in 2018.
Please visit https://www.ready.gov, or call 1-800-BE-READY, to learn more about preparedness activities.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – When Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover traveled to her hometown of Memphis last week, she had one goal in mind: Bring back Tupac Moseley.
Moseley had recently graduated valedictorian of his class at Raleigh-Egypt High School, and received $3 million in scholarships, all while homeless his senior year. This hands-on treatment didn’t go unnoticed by the shy teen.
President Glenda Glover presents Tupac Moseley with his full-ride scholarship letter. (Photo by Emmanuel Freeman, TSU Media Relations)
“For the president herself to drive down to one of the schools to actually assist a student personally, one-on-one, to take him or her up there for a visit, it’s just mind blowing to me,” said Moseley, who will major in engineering.
Dr. Glover personally led a team of senior university officials to Memphis and presented Moseley with a full-ride scholarship, including housing and a meal plan.
“Tupac is not homeless anymore,” Glover
said to the throng of media representatives and a cheering crowd assembled in
the school cafeteria during a celebration for the teen. “He now has his
own room with a meal plan with all the necessary amenities to help him continue
his success as an academically talented student. That’s what we do. We are an
HBCU, we care about our students. It is in our DNA that we can see a student
with this much potential and talent and see what we can do to assist him even
before he starts his academic journey.”
President Glover and Tupac Moseley answer reporters’ question at a press conference in Memphis. (Photo by Emmanuel Freeman, TSU Media Relations)
Moseley’s remarkable story of perseverance
and success amidst homelessness and poverty has made national headlines. The
18-year-old became homeless in his senior year after his father died and the
family could not afford the mounting bills. They moved to a campsite for the
disadvantaged. In the midst of the hardship, the Memphis native found a way to
stay focused in school, and “staying on top of everything that came his way in
class work,” his high school principal said. He graduated with a 4.3 grade
point average.
“Tupac is an amazing individual with excellent math knowledge,” said principal Shari Meeks. “He has taken the highest-level math here that we offer. He has attained college credits. He took a statewide dual credit challenge test in pre-calculus and passed it. He could have gone to any school in the nation. I think TSU will have an asset in Tupac. He is awesome and revered by his classmates – he helps them, he tutors them.”
Tupac Moseley blows the candles on his pre-birthday cake at a send-off reception Raleigh-Egypt High School hosted for the incoming TSU freshman. His birthday was May 23. (Photo by Emmanuel Freeman, TSU Media Relations)
At a sendoff reception for Moseley in the principal’s conference room, the standing room only audience included state and county Who’s Who, such as State Rep. Antonio Parkinson (District 98), who was instrumental in the TSU/Moseley talks; and Dr. Joris M. Ray, superintendent of Shelby County Schools.
Parkinson described Moseley as the “best and brightest talent that has ever been produced in Shelby County.”
“This is just the culmination of a lot of things that’s been going on,” Parkinson said about the reception. “Losing his father, homelessness, that was just too much for anyone. What we have done is just pull resources together to make sure that we provide the stability for him and Tennessee State University was part of the strategy to create that stability for one of our best and brightest talents.”
Superintendent Ray was thankful for the support system at the school – principal, teachers, counselors.
“This young man is a testament of being very resilient and strong,” Ray said. “I am so proud of his hard work, dedication, and he defied the odds with a great support system here at school that helped him to overcome and achieve in the midst of turmoil. I am so proud of Tupac, what he has done here, what he has done for our city and school district.”
As a way of telling his story and helping others facing hardship, Moseley created his own T-shirt based on his quote, “Your location is not your limitation.” He earned 50 scholarships worth a total of $3 million. He said he is majoring in engineering “because I love the smiles I get after helping people with tech issues.”
Moseley is not coming to TSU alone. Two other fellow graduates, including his best friend, Brandon Fontaine, also received scholarships and will attend TSU with him. President Glover included them in the trip back to campus on Wednesday as well. Fontaine is considering majoring in business management or mechanical engineering. The other student, Natoriya Owens, who wants to pursue a career in entrepreneurship, will major in theater arts with a minor in business.
President Glover added that this is what makes HBCUs so special for African Americans, and particularly first-generation college students and communities of color.
“This is the type of hands-on, special attention TSU provides our students, and especially those with unusual circumstances. It also speaks to the holistic approach and nurturing that HBCUs provide to students. Tupac is a prime example of the role TSU and other HBCUs play in addressing the total needs of our students.”
Tennessee State University is currently accepting students for the fall and have scholarships available for qualified students who want to major in STEM.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only
public university, and is a premier, historically black university and
land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24
master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a
comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie
designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams
Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in
McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee
State University provides students with a quality education in a
nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be
global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online
at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (TSU News Service)
– More than 200 students in grades K-8 from Davidson County and surrounding
areas recently took part in a NASA-funded, one-day STEM education workshop at
Tennessee State University.
A parent participates with her children in an activity at Dare to Dream STEM Saturday. (Submitted Photo)
Called “Dare to Dream STEM Saturday,” the workshop in April engaged students in scientific experiments, and engineering design processes, such as robotics, coding, drones, virtual reality, flight simulation and math games.
The TSU College of
Education, in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools, hosted the
workshop under the Minority University Research Education Project, or MUREP, a
NASA program at the university.
Led by TSU undergraduate STEM students and MNPS teachers, the
workshop included a Family Engagement component that allowed parents to engage
their children in the various projects.
A student controls a robot using a tablet. (Submitted Photo)
“Dare to Dream STEM Saturday was designed to celebrate
minority innovators in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Dr.
Trinetia Respress, director of the TSU MUREP project and interim assistant dean
of Assessment and Accreditation in the COE. “It was very rewarding to see students
and parents engaged in brainstorming in various activities.”
Among some of the activities, students used an engineering
process to build a structure that could handle a load, by testing factors
affecting the strength and stability of the structure. Using a template, the
students also created a rocket that
they launched from a soda straw.
Shaliyah Brooks, a junior English major, from Atlanta, was one of the TSU students who led the workshop. As a technology specialist for the workshop, she exposed the students to robots through demonstrations on how they work, using devices such as parents’ personal phones or tablets.
A mother and daughter celebrate as they complete an activity at the workshop. (Submitted Photo)
“I definitely think
that the students were excited to be there,” Brooks said. “They got a chance to
play all day and in a way that was educational. They were very hands-on working
with their parents.”
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only
public university, and is a premier, historically black university and
land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24
master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a
comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie
designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams
Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in
McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee
State University provides students with a quality education in a
nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be
global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online
at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – More than 50 prospective farmers from across the country are participating in Tennessee State University’s New Farmer Academy
The seven-month program was started by
the university’s College of Agriculture in 2014. Participants meet the third
Monday in each month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and cover topics that include agricultural leadership and regulations, financial
planning, hydroponics and irrigation, organic production, farm equipment
selection, soil fertility and suitability, and value-added agribusiness.
Finis Stribling, TSU area extension specialist and Academy coordinator, speaks to participants. (Photo by Michael McLendon, TSU Media Relations)
The Academy, which also offers classes in West and East Tennessee, is the only one of its kind in Tennessee. Its first year, the program had nine participants. This year, 52 are enrolled in the Middle Tennessee class, which will finish in September.
“Every year we’ve been
growing and growing,” said Finis Stribling, TSU area extension specialist and
coordinator of the New Farmer Academy. “There’s a lot of interest.”
Brian MacDonald traveled
from Orange County, California, to attend this year’s Academy. After visiting Tennessee several years ago, he decided it is a place
where he would like to retire, and do some organic farming.
“I have this dream of owning a farm,” said MacDonald, who
is a retired president and chief financial officer for an electronics company.
“It’s a dream I’ve had for the last couple of years.”
With the help of the Academy, MacDonald plans to make that
dream a reality when he permanently moves to Tennessee, as early as next year.
Academy participant Ashley Brooks of Chicago is also
hoping to start farming soon. She’s interested in growing hemp, and developing
products from it, as well as using its oil for medical uses.
“Hemp has been proven to help with different conditions,
like pain,” said Brooks, a TSU alum who grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. “I
have aging family members who have used the oil, and they say it relieves their
pain tremendously.”
John Ferrell, TSU extension agent for Franklin County, Tennessee, talks to participants about irrigation. (Photo by Lucas Johnson, TSU Media Relations)
Tennessee State is among the nation’s leaders in hemp
research. TSU’s College of Agriculture
has hosted several hemp workshops, and has charged a team of scientists to
develop hemp production practices for Tennessee. The research projects include
developing hemp nutritional products for human consumption and studying the
economic viability of hemp production. Currently, the university is growing and
evaluating 10 varieties of hemp.
“TSU
wants to be at the forefront of this new interest that’s cropping up across the
country,” said Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of the College of Agriculture. “If it’s
ever approved for large scale use, we have some knowledge about it and can work
with the farmers.”
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU
News Service) – From the 5th grade, Christian Bond always had an
interest in biology and how the human body works
“I remember being
in a human anatomy class in the 10th grade and just being fascinated
with how the various mechanisms are put in naturally,” says Bond, a top rising
senior majoring in biology. “That has always been interesting to me. So, I wanted
to further my education in science to understand the biology of the body.”
Christian Bond
And Bond is well
on her way. Her goal is to become a
doctor of osteopathic medicine, which focuses on health promotion and disease prevention.
“First, I wanted
to be a neurosurgeon or a pediatric doctor, but I know for sure now I want to
do osteopathic medicine,” says Bond, a transfer student from Alabama State
University. “That is just a more holistic approach on medicine versus
prescribing pills and things like that. I want to be able to figure out what
other factors play into an illness and other ways to heal.”
At TSU, Bond is a
member of the Honors College, with a 4.0 grade point average. She is also a
member of the Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Pre-Med Society, the Golden Key
International Honor Society, and Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society.
The second of
three children from Chris and Traci Bond, of Nashville, Christian Bond has had a
few bumps in the road that would have derailed some students’ career. But not
this Nashville native, a high achieving student all her college years.
The mother of a
6-month-old boy, Bond got pregnant while in her sophomore year at ASU. She came
back home for family support and never allowed her pregnancy to hold her back.
She enrolled at TSU a few weeks later, and never missed a day of class work.
“It was during my
sophomore year while home on spring break when I found out that I was pregnant.
I stayed home for three weeks past spring break,” says Bond. “I went back to Alabama
State, but right away decided it would be best if I came home for support that
would help me further my education because I was halfway there as a sophomore.”
Professors and
fellow students are amazed at Christian’s work ethic, sense of ambition and
perseverance.
Dr. Tyrone Miller,
associate director of the Honors Colleges, teaches an honors leadership class
during Maymester, an accelerated summer program that Christian attends. He
describes her as a highly responsible and dependable person who stays on top of
her work and an example to her fellow students.
“Christian is
definitely a thinker, she is thoughtful, and definitely a person who wants and
strives to be better,” says Miller. “I think she is setting a great example to
the rest of our students and her baby.”
Christian says her
family has a long tradition with TSU.
“All of my family from
both sides graduated from TSU,” she says. “I have come in contact with
professors who really care about my success and really devoted to helping me
move to that next level. Most of my
professors let you know about opportunities or societies or organizations on
campus to help you stay active. I want to leave a mark here.”
Christian says she
looks forward to graduating next May, then on to medical school.
“I have taken full
advantage of opportunities here at Tennessee State University and I cannot wait
to see where they will take me and my baby,” says the future doctor of
osteopathic medicine.
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only
public university, and is a premier, historically black university and
land-grant institution offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24
master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a
comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie
designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams
Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in
McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee
State University provides students with a quality education in a
nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be
global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online
at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Dr. Ronald Barredo,
interim dean of Tennessee State University’s College of Health Sciences, is the
recipient of the highest award given by the American Physical Therapy
Association.
In June, Barredo will attend an award ceremony in Chicago,
where he will receive the Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical
Therapy Association. The award is the highest recognition that the association
can give to physical therapists, and is given to individuals “who have
demonstrated unwavering efforts to advance the physical therapy profession for
more than 15 years,” according to the Association’s website.
Dr. Ronald Barredo
There are more than 100,000 members of the APTA. Of that
number, only 214 have received the Catherine Worthingham Fellow. In Tennessee,
only five have been given the honor.
““We are so proud of
Dr. Ronald Barredo,” said Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover.
“Here at TSU, excellence is our habit, and Dr. Barredo is continuing that
tradition with this prestigious award. We applaud him, and thank him for his service
to our university.”
Dr. Barredo, who is also professor and chair of the Department
of Physical Therapy, is being recognized for his work in professional and
post-professional education, particularly in the area of competency assessment.
He has been actively involved with the Federation of State
Boards of Physical Therapy, with its focus on the assessment of entry-level
competence through the National Physical Therapy Examination; the American
Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, with its focus on the assessment of
continuing competence through specialist certification; the Foreign
Credentialing Commission in Physical Therapy, with its focus on assessment of
educational equivalence of foreign educated physical therapists; and the APTA
Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program, with its focus on education and
credentialing of clinical instructors.
“I am humbled and honored to be recognized as a Catherine
Worthingham Fellow,” Barredo said. “My appreciation goes out to the faculty,
staff and students at Tennessee State University, who make my life interesting,
challenging, and fun every day.”
TSU is currently constructing a new state-of-the-art 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,” Barredo said.
