Featured, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Black History: TSU students try to rebuild ‘Black Wall Street’ with financial literacy workshop

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – A group of Tennessee State University students, along with the Women’s Center, hosted a financial literacy workshop on Feb. 15 to provide awareness and empower their peers.

Titled “Bring Back Black Wall Street,” the workshop draws from the 2020 movie “Black Wall Street Burning,” that chronicles the 1921 Memorial Day massacre of Black people and the burning of the once thriving section of Tulsa, Oklahoma, referred to as Black Wall Street. 

The students said the workshop is about knowing the past, shaping the future, and holding a conversation about empowering Black people to understand true financial wealth they can build upon.

“’Bring Back Black Wall Street’ is a conscious conversation that talks about the hard-hitting issue of building wealth within our Black community and how we can actively make a change,” said Gabrielle Mosby, a freshman business major from Memphis, Tennessee, who is one of the organizers of the event.

According to recent statistics, African Americans account for 13 percent of the U.S. population with significant impact on the economy, yet they lag in financial well-being when compared to other groups.  

Seanne Wilson, director of the Women’s Center, said the workshop is one of the many programs the center provides to empower young women, as well as young men, to think about how they spend their money. 

“As we were discussing Black history and what should be one of our focus areas for the month, financial literacy jumped out,” said Wilson. “I wish when I was in college, someone had talked to me about wealth management, saving money, and not spending unwisely. So, now I want to be proactive and help them understand the value of money and not be reckless in spending it.” 

TSU Women’s Center director Seanne Wilson (center) and students promote the Bring Back Black Wall Street event. (TSU Media Relations)

Fellow workshop organizer Karly Miller, a sophomore pre-nursing major from Houston, said the event is one that every student should attend, because if nothing else, they would be inspired.

“It is motivating to hear about and see African Americans of the past and present who have established and maintained wealth in the community,” said Miller. 

Kyle Smith, a Black Nashville businessman, was the event’s keynote speaker.

For more information on the TSU Women’s Center, visit https://www.tnstate.edu/womenscenter/

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

EVENTS, Featured, NEWS, Uncategorized

TSU hosts African American Read-In event, highlighting writers and the Black experience

By Meagan Gosa

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University celebrated African American literature and literacy during the African American Read-In virtual event on Feb. 11.  As part of Black History Month, the Languages, Literature, and Philosophy Department in the College of Liberal Arts hosted the read-in, with the theme of “Self-discovery.” 

The National African American Read-In (AARI) is the nation’s first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature and encourages communities to read together, centering around African American books and authors. It was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.  

Dr. Zeba Khan-Thomas, an assistant professor of English, was the main organizer of the TSU event.  Dr. Khan-Thomas said that the theme “self-discovery” is appropriate to for empowering participants to learn more about themselves through self-care practices, creative expressions, literary engagement, and community solidarity. 

“We want to focus on what we are doing to remain in tune with ourselves, heal ourselves, and cope on a regular basis,” said Khan-Thomas.  “Our main objective is to explore how can we use our creative mediums and be writers of the African American literary canon. Most importantly, provide some of that motivation or inspiration for us.” 

Communities nationwide, including schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, and professional organizations are urged to host an African American Read-In event.

“Being able to share ideas and our thoughts, it shows other people our experiences, what we’ve gone through, and who we are despite challenges we face,” said Jasmine Sears, a history major, with a concentration in teaching, from Atlanta.  The junior added, “read-ins like the one TSU hosted are important because they provide knowledge about black excellence and showcase creativity of black thought. I think oftentimes that aspect of who we are as a people is diminished.”

Khan-Thomas said the readings started with negro spirituals from the 18th century, then moved into periods of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.  

To learn more about TSU’s Languages, Literature, and Philosophy Department, visit https://www.tnstate.edu/llp/.

For more information about the African American Read-In, visit https://bit.ly/34N3oJO. 

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

Alumni, EVENTS, FACULTY, Featured, NEWS, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

TSU President Glover pleased with progress of new residence hall set to open in the fall  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover says she is very pleased with the pace of construction of the new 700-bed ultra-modern residence hall that is scheduled to open in the fall.    

The new residence hall is situated between Eppse Hall and the Performing Arts Center on the main campus. (Photo by Aaron Grayson, TSU Media Relations)

 The president toured the massive facility on the main campus on Feb. 3, accompanied by the project management team and senior administrative staff. She said not only is the project ahead of schedule, but she is also impressed by the cutting-edge technology and the types of amenities students will enjoy in the building.    

  “This is an exciting time for Tennessee State University and for our students coming in the fall,” Glover said. ‘They will be coming to a facility that is student centered, academically centered, and socially centered. It is just what the students need to study and excel. So, I am very appreciative of what I see today.”    

A rendering of one of the students’ recreation areas in the new residence hall. (Submitted)

 TSU officials have said the new residence hall, estimated at $75.3 million, and the first new residence hall on the campus in nearly 25 years, is indicative of TSU’s growth and desire to create a better living and learning environment for students. It will house lower and upperclassmen in a mixed living community that offers multiple upscale living, dining, recreational and leisure concepts.    

 “I think that this new addition is really good for the campus,” said Travion Crutcher, a senior mechanical engineering major from Huntsville, Alabama, who is a student ambassador. “That will help a lot with recruitment, and when we are talking to students about coming to TSU.” 

 Aaliyah Doss, a sophomore agricultural sciences major from Chicago, agreed.     

President Glover receives a briefing on the new construction during a tour of the facility. From left are: Dr. Glover; Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Frank Stevenson; Executive Director of Student Housing and Residence Life Brent Dukhie; Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff, Dr. Curtis Johnson; and Chief Project Manager George Herring. (Photo by Aaron Grayson, TSU Media Relations)

“I lived in Epps Hall my freshman year and now in Rudolph Hall. They are not bad, but they are outdated,” said Doss. “This new building will definitely give the campus a great look and make lots of students want to come to TSU.”     

Dr. Curtis Johnson, chief of staff and associate vice president; Frank Stevenson, associate vice president for student affairs; George Herring, chief project manager; and Brent Dukhie, executive director of student housing and residence life, accompanied Dr. Glover on the recent tour.    

“We are excited that we are on schedule to get this facility opened and able to accommodate the students in ways that we have not been able to do in the past,” Johnson said. “This particular facility is designed to be a city or community for the students. The intent is for the students to be able to do almost everything they need to do without having to go across campus.”     

Stevenson, who is also dean of students, lauded the progress of the project as well. “We started this five years ago by adding it to the campus strategic plan, and our partners on this have been amazing in working diligently to make sure we meet our target date,” he said. “We are excited about that, and what this space will mean for students as they experience campus life here at TSU.”  

As for living arrangements, the new residence hall has a variety of room types for students and employees. Among them, four-bedroom suites with bathrooms, common areas, kitchenettes, as well as doubles, and pods with community bathrooms that are shared with select groups of individuals.    

“The new residence facility is a mixture of spaces,” Johnson said. “When we initiated this project, one of the things we looked at was living spaces for traditional students and the non-traditional students. That brought us to the next question for our team to strategize around: How do you accommodate all those different groups? We also looked at being able to include space for camps and different programs should the need arise. So, having the building configured in a manner to accommodate those particular aspects was also important.”     

Kathryn Crockett, district manager of Aramark, the food services provider, disclosed during an earlier tour that dining in the new building will include brands such as Firehouse Subs, Twisters Tacos, Bojangles, Bento Sushi, and Noodle Rice Bowl. Chick-fil-A, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks are currently on campus.     

 “We are thrilled to be here at TSU. We really enjoy taking care of this campus community and serving the students, faculty, and staff,” said Crockett. “We are really looking to round out our footprint here and continue the evolution of dining services on campus.”     

  Johnson added that existing concepts will be upgraded and modified to blend in with the new offerings.

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

Featured, NEWS, Uncategorized

TSU making the mental well-being of its students a priority with additional programs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – As the nation deals with an increasing number of mental health issues, Tennessee State University is providing resources to address the mental well-being of its students, especially amid the pandemic.  

Dr. Richard Garvin

Incidents of suicide, or extreme bouts of depression and anxiety, have consistently made headlines across the country. Recent national statistics show 44 percent of college students reported having symptoms of depression and anxiety. Thirty percent of students reported feeling depressed in the past year, mainly because of the coronavirus that has impacted just about everyone in one way or another over the last two years.  

Most colleges and universities have returned to in-person classes. But before that, students learned remotely, the majority at home. In some cases, says Dr. Richard Garvin, assistant professor of psychology at TSU, students had to stay in abusive environments, where campus living may have provided an escape.  

“Let’s just assume the worse in that they’ve been living with an emotional or physical abuser,” says Garvin. “And they used to go to class as their way out. But now, they’re at home for 17 months. So that trauma kind of compounded itself.” 

Garvin says the scarring that may have resulted from such an environment is why mental health programs like the ones offered through the University Counseling Center are so important.  

Junior Darius Boyd says he is appreciative of the mental health programs TSU offers because he has peers in need of help. He says the pandemic continues to affect their lives, such as students struggling to raise grades that fell because COVID-19 forced them to learn remotely instead of in-person.   

Frank Stevenson, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students

“It’s unbelievable how many students are affected by depression, especially during the pandemic,” says Boyd, a business information systems major from Memphis, Tennessee. “People’s lives have been shaken, including mine.” 

Programs offered through the Counseling Center include:  

  • Individual counseling and psychological services support 
  • “Let’s Talk,” which consists of virtual drop-in hours three times a week for a brief (approximately 30 minutes), informal, friendly, no-cost consultation visit.  
  •  Crisis support and intervention 
  • Psychological Assessment and Evaluation 
  •  Training opportunities 
  • Campus outreach and consultation services 

 “TSU is committed to the well-being of our students and their mental health is our top priority,” says Frank Stevenson, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “The stress from the pandemic has created an uptick in the use of services, thus we have increased resources by serving our students in new and innovative ways. “ 

The Center also offers consultation with faculty and staff regarding student well-being and outreach presentations. Additionally, TSU has partnered with MyURGENCYMD telehealth services powered by TSU to support students when the Center has limited appointment availability or for after-hours support.  

For more information about TSU’s Counseling Center, visit https://www.tnstate.edu/counseling/. 

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

Alumni, EVENTS, FACULTY, Featured, NEWS, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Black History: TSU’s Wendelyn Inman recounts family’s traumatic experience in the ‘Tuskegee Experiment’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – It’s been nearly 50 years since the “Tuskegee Experiment” ended, but Wendelyn Inman is constantly haunted by the thought of what it did to her “Uncle Gus.” 

Wendelyn Harris Inman on receiving her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt Graduate School of Medicine (Submitted Photo)

“He was in that study and didn’t realize it was a study,” says Inman, sobbing, as she recounts her family’s trauma that resulted from the study, arguably the most infamous biomedical research study in U.S. history. 

“They gave him syphilis and he didn’t realize he had been given syphilis,” adds Dr. Inman, a professor and director of the public health programs in the College of Health Professions at Tennessee State University.

In the study, conducted between 1932 and 1972 by the U.S. Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, investigators enrolled a total of 600 impoverished African American sharecroppers from Macon County, Alabama. Of these men, including Inman’s uncle, Augustus Reynolds (Uncle Gus), 399 had latent syphilis, with a control group of 201 men who were not infected.  

Milton Reynolds, Inman’s grandfather, was the younger brother of Augustus Reynolds or “Uncle Gus.” (Submitted Photo)

As an incentive for participation in the study, the men were promised free medical care, but were deceived by the PHS, which never informed them of their syphilis diagnosis and provided disguised placebos, ineffective methods, and diagnostic procedures as treatment for “bad blood.” More than 100 died as a result. 

Inman, now a microbiologist and a nationally recognized infectious disease control expert, says as result of the study, her uncle contracted syphilis and eventually went blind. By the end of the study, Inman’s family, including her grandparents, had left Alabama, and moved to Sandusky, Ohio, where she grew up. Reynolds’ wife divorced him because of his syphilis diagnosis, accusing him of being unfaithful. Blind and no one to care for him, he moved to Ohio and stayed with his siblings.  

“He was blind, and I remember my siblings leading Uncle Gus out of the house to sit with us under the tree in the summer and having to lead him to go to church and things like that,” Inman recalls. “He died from it. That’s what I remember.” 

Inman says she became interested in medicine and public health to “help my people better understand and avoid the mistakes” of the past. 

Inman is from a family of eight brothers and sisters, with accomplishments in medicine, law, military service and education. Back row, from left: Donald Harris, Inman, Anthony Harris, Howard Harris, and Helen Harris Abrams. Middle row: Howard Harris, Sr., father, a Ada Reynolds Harris, mother. Front row: Lt. Col. Steven Harris, Adrianne Harris, and Gaye Harris Miles. (Submitted Photo)

“When he (Uncle Gus) was going through this, I was a very young child,” says Inman. 

“So, I heard a lot of things about what my parents talked about. It did motivate me for a research career that I chose. What did my Uncle Gus die from? An infectious disease. So, I am on my path to helping my people be better, because now, I have a complete understanding of how a microbe works,” adds Inman. And she does! 

When COVID-19 hit the United States followed by widespread vaccine hesitancy, especially among black people, Inman was among those public health experts encouraging her fellow African Americans to take the available drug against the disease. The Tuskegee Study is often cited as one of the reasons African Americans do not trust the vaccine. Efforts to increase vaccination rates among African Americans often focus on misconceptions surrounding the study as a result. 

“This is no time for hesitancy,” says Inman. “The vaccines work.”

At TSU, in particular, Inman has helped in the effort to get employees and students vaccinated. Currently, close to 80 percent of the university’s full-time faculty and staff have received vaccinations, as well as hundreds of students.

Looking back at what happened to “Uncle Gus,” Inman has good reason to be optimistic about the vaccines. After all, she is a professor of public health, been an advisor on several national initiatives in that area, and previously served as the chief of epidemiology for the State of Tennessee. 

“There is great advancement in medicine today,” she says. “When you look at science, there are so many benefits that outweigh the negatives, and there is access. If they (Uncle Gus and others) had equal access to healthcare, they could have gone to another doctor, but they didn’t have access to other healthcare and they knew it. So, they (U.S. government) enticed them by offering them healthcare while they were destroying their health.” 

On May 16, 1997, President Bill Clinton formally apologized on behalf of the United States to victims of the Tuskegee study, calling it shameful and racist.

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

EVENTS, Featured, NEWS, Uncategorized

FedEx and TSU participate in bell ringing at NYSE, highlighting new HBCU program

Nashville, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University was on Wall Street. TSU President Glenda Glover and one of the school’s top students joined FedEx Corporation to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 1. The ceremonial event served as an announcement for the FedEx HBCU Student Ambassador program.

TSU President Glenda Glover and FedEx HBCU student ambassador Shaun Wimberly, Jr. (Submitted photo)

President Glover and sophomore Shaun Wimberly, Jr. were joined by presidents and student ambassadors from seven other historically black colleges and universities that FedEx is currently supporting through a $5 million grant announced last year.

“This is great exposure for Tennessee State University as we join FedEx Corporation for the ceremonial ringing of the bell at the New York Stock Exchange,” said TSU President Glenda Glover.

“The FedEx leadership continues to show its commitment to TSU and HBCUs through financial support, internships, along with career and development opportunities. Our invitation to be a part of the closing bell on one of the largest financial stages in the world and the HBCU Student Ambassador program is evidence of that commitment.”

Wimberly, an agricultural business major from Louisville, Kentucky, said the trip was ideal for his career path and he was elated to be a part of the closing bell ceremony.

“I’m thankful for being selected by FedEx to represent my HBCU TSU, a place that is molding me to be my best self and providing opportunities like this,” said Wimberly.

“This is an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience and it’s happening because of a great corporate partnership between the University and FedEx that is truly investing in students. I’m proof of that.”

Wimberly is one of two students who represented TSU in the FedEx HBCU Student Ambassador program. The other student was sophomore Breana Jefferson of Madison, Alabama.

The HBCU Student Ambassador program aims to provide empowerment, engagement, and education for students; and resources that will hopefully offer them an edge as they prepare to enter the workforce after college.

Antoinette Duke, director of TSU’s Career Development Center, said she’s proud to have TSU students participate in the FedEx program.

“The career development center is so excited to have two of our top scholars represent TSU as ambassadors for FedEx,” said Duke. “These students understand the value of representation.”

TSU sophomore Shaun Wimberly, Jr. (2nd from left) and student ambassadors from other HBCUs. (Submitted photo)

The program will officially kick off in March, with the first cohort of students who will participate in virtual and hybrid meetings. The intent is to introduce a new cohort each year, to align with FedEx’s five-year commitment to HBCUs.

Students for the program were selected based on their career interests in various areas, including e-commerce, sustainability, IT/tech, logistics, marketing communications, sales, data/analytics, operations, and more. The first cohort of student participants will help set the direction for upcoming FedEx Ambassador programs, such as career pathways initiatives, HBCU leadership institutes, and student forums/think tanks.

“We’re preparing tomorrow’s leaders, and the students we reach through this program will gain valuable practical experience that will help prepare them to enter the workforce,” said Judy Edge, corporate vice president for human resources at FedEx. “It will also help us to continue to bring diverse talent into our pipeline at FedEx.”

The FedEx Corporation has had a long partnership with HBCUs. Since the early 2000s, the company has played a vital role in cultivating the next generation of leaders from these institutions.

Last year, NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin unveiled a special HBCU paint scheme featured on his #11 FedEx Toyota during last year’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona that included school logos of TSU and three other HBCUs.

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

FACULTY, Featured, NEWS, Uncategorized

TSU economist says inflation is here for the long haul

Nashville, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – A Tennessee State University economist says inflation is not going away anytime soon and is poised to be the top economic challenge this year.

Dr. Achintya Ray

Since December 2021, the inflation rate rose to 7 percent, the highest in 40 years. A stronger consumer demand, continuing supply chain issues, and the emergence of the coronavirus omicron variant, continue to plague the economy, making it increasingly tough for working-class citizens to make ends meet.

Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden held a meeting with White House officials to discuss the administration’s plan for combating rising prices as inflation continues to surge throughout the U.S. He talked about steps the administration has taken to increase consumer choice and scrutinize what he called “mega mergers” that reduce competition. 

“The inflationary situation is extremely worrisome,” says Dr. Achintya Ray, an economics professor in the College of Business at Tennessee State University. “Furthermore, the inflationary pressures are likely to be here for a considerable period of time unless an intervening market crash or recession brings about deflationary pressures.”

In July, the president signed an executive order aimed at increasing competition by cracking down on larger firms in industries that the administration sees as too “consolidated.”

Dr. Ray says there is no reason to panic but the American people should be very cautious about what lies ahead.

“Rising inflation, rising public debt, declining employment to population ratio, declining consumer sentiment, unsustainably low tax base, steep increase in inflation causing money supply, rapid decline in blue chip stocks, worrisome unsustainable increase in house prices, all point to enhanced probabilities of a recession,” says Ray.

Here are some figures Dr. Ray cited on the state of the economy:

  • The producer price index has increased nearly 21 percent between January 2020 and December 2021.
  • Public debt in America is now about 23 percent bigger than the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), which is the total monetary or market value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period.
  • The American tax base may be reaching a breaking point, with more than 100 million U.S. households, or 61 percent of all taxpayers, paying no federal income taxes last year.
  • Median house prices have increased by nearly 26 percent between March 2020 and November 2021. Such a steep increase may be unsustainable over the long run. Discussions about a 2008-09 style housing market crash are increasing.

To learn more about TSU’s College of Business, visit https://www.tnstate.edu/business/.

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

Alumni, FACULTY, Featured, NEWS, Uncategorized

TSU a priority for TN lawmakers, as Gov. Lee proposes funding in State of the State Address

By Kelli Sharpe

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Governor Bill Lee presented a budget proposal that would enhance the growth and development of Tennessee State University during his State of the State address on Jan. 31.

TSU President Glenda Glover

The Governor is proposing that the University receive $60 million for a new engineering building, and $250 million for strategic initiatives. This would include infrastructure improvements, repairs, renovations of multiple buildings, as well as planning, design, and out year construction. It also includes a new library and new food science building. Another $8 million is included for building maintenance. This is the largest funding recommendation in the University’s 110-year history. It will be up to lawmakers to deliver on Lee’s budget recommendation.  

“We are pleased that Governor Bill Lee made Tennessee State University a priority in his budget,” says TSU President Glenda Glover. “Governor Lee has taken a crucial step in highlighting the State’s commitment to our infrastructure needs, but more importantly to our students. His budget recommendation will enhance TSU, directly benefiting our faculty, staff, students, and all Tennesseans. This is a historic moment for TSU and our legacy. I am hopeful that lawmakers will help us build upon that legacy and be a part of it.”  

Rep. Harold Love, Jr., also a TSU alumnus, agrees that Governor Lee’s proposal is important to the competitive growth of the university. “I appreciate the governor including in his budget proposal to the legislature a significant investment in the infrastructure of Tennessee State University’s campus,” says Love. “Now the work begins to keep it in the budget and get the budget passed.”  

Rep. Harold Love, Jr.

The Governor also is proposing $90 million to fully fund the outcomes-based funding formula which will benefit each of the State’s 4-year public universities.

Dr. Glover adds that the administration will bring forth a bill for lawmakers to consider that will increase the Hope Scholarship dollars to $5,100 per year for all four years at TSU. This is a much-needed increase over the current $3,500 for years one and two, and $4,500 for years three and four.

Glover is optimistic Governor Lee’s plans for TSU will come to fruition with lawmakers passing his funding bill. She and key administrators will continue working with lawmakers to try to make that happen. The legislative session could end as early as April.  

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

EVENTS, FACULTY, Featured, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

TSU students excited to return to campus despite pandemic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) -New and returning Tennessee State University students say they are glad to be back on campus despite continuing challenges posed by the pandemic. Classes began on Monday, Jan. 24, following a one-week delay due to the COVID-19 omicron variant. 

A father helps his daughter to unload her luggage at Wilson Hall. (Photo by Aaron Grayson, TSU Media Relations)

For the first two weeks of class, the university is enforcing a safer-in-place policy for students arriving on campus. The policy requires students to stay in their places of residence unless they need to perform essential activities, such as getting food, or going to medical appointments. During this time, all classes will be online. 

Even with these policies, many students are highly enthusiastic about returning to campus. Just ask senior health sciences major Tredarius Lassiter, of Atlanta.

Tredarius Lassiter

“I am very excited, and I am sure other students are as well,” says Lassiter. “Of course, safety protocols are in place but it’s been so long that we haven’t actually had a college experience. I think that’s the reason why we are so ready and anxious to get back.”

Dr. Curtis Johnson, associate vice president and chief of staff, leads the university’s COVID taskforce. He says students want to come back because the university has “gone to great lengths” to be as accommodating as possible. 

Chandler Cotton

“The safer-in-place policy allows us to create a bubble for the students in the event that they are positive (for COVID),” Johnson says.  “We are better equipped to deal with it immediately and to also conduct contact tracing to determine if others have the potential to test positive and be quarantined right away.”

Chandler Cotton, a freshman, who spent his first semester taking classes online, says he was able to interact with some classmates virtually and even join some student organizations.

“Even though my first semester was virtual, I was still able to connect with other students, join other organizations, such as the Freshman Institution,” says Cotton, a biology major from Tulsa, Oklahoma. “So, I am excited to get back to that. I first came here in my sophomore year of high school during a college tour. When I stepped on campus during that visit I felt right at home. I said right then that TSU is the place for me.”

Carla Boudal

Tasha Andrews, TSU’s executive director of new student programs, says that because many incoming freshman students missed out on starting in-person classes in the fall, the delay further fueled their excitement about being on campus.

“They are very excited to know that after all that the world has been going through, being able to come to college for the very first time, live in a residence hall, and be a part of organizations and clubs is really very exciting,” says Andrews. “It is a great time to be at Tennessee State University, and to be a Tiger.” 

Carla Boudal and Nil Moinet, now in their second year at TSU, are student athletes from France. Boudal is a junior international business major on the volleyball team, while Moinet, also a junior majoring in exercise science and kinesiology, plays tennis for the Tigers. The students say although they miss their families and friends back home, their experiences at TSU make them anxious to come back.

Nil Moinet

“I get to keep all of my classes, finish my major, and get to prepare for our next season,” says Boudal, who is from Cannes. “It’s been a tough time …missing family and friends, but coming back gives me more time to work out and practice with my teammates.”

Adds Moinet, “It might sound kind of childish, but I met some friends here that I have missed, and I get to see them again. It is a whole new experience living in the United State and coming to TSU. I just enjoy everything about it.” Moinet is from Guadeloupe, France.

Frank Stevenson, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, says students are going the extra mile to adhere to the university’s safety measures.

“We feel good about how we will manage this spring semester, especially as it relates to our COVID protocols,” says Stevenson. “Our students have done a great job of following rules and regulations from fall 2021 and I am hopeful it will continue.”

Excitement about campus living is expected to continue next fall when TSU opens its new 700-bed ultra-modern residence hall on the main campus. The building, estimated at $75.3 million and the first new residence hall on the campus in nearly 25 years, will house lower and upperclassmen. It is described as a mixed community living facility that will offer upscale living, dining, recreational and leisure concepts.

FEATURED PHOTO BY Aaron Grayson
A Family from Massachusetts made the overnight drive to Nashville to check their son in at Eppse Hall on the main campus.

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.

 

Alumni, EVENTS, FACULTY, Featured, NEWS, Uncategorized

President Glover lauds dedication of TSU employees, unveils five-year plan at Faculty-Staff Institute

By Meagan Gosa

Nashville, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover praised employees for their contributions to the success TSU has achieved, and she challenged them to take the university to even higher heights over the next five years.

Faculty and staff attend event that was also live streamed. (Photo by Aaron Grayson, TSU Media Relations)

In her state of the university speech to the 2022 Faculty-Staff Institute on Tuesday, Dr. Glover addressed the university’s successes and challenges, particularly operating amid the coronavirus and its variants. She applauded employees for their dedication.  

“I commend you on how you have responded to this COVID crisis,” said Glover, who spoke in-person at the event that was also live streamed. “You made adjustments in your personal lives to meet the needs of our students. You are the source of our tremendous vitality.”

In pointing out TSU’s successes, the president discussed faculty attracting more than $70 million in sponsored research and external funding during the 2020-21 fiscal year, a school record. She also cited using federal dollars (CARES Act) to pay off students’ balances, and that the university is owed $544 million by the state of Tennessee. Discussions are currently underway to determine exactly how much the university will receive.

“I am reminded again and again that TSU is an extraordinary place,” said Glover.

The highlight of her presentation, however, was a five-year strategic plan for the university. It includes achieving an R1 research status (currently R2); 10 to 15 new doctoral programs; doubling research funding to $150 million; increasing overall enrollment from 8,000 to 10,000; boosting the endowment to $200 million, and $75 million in reserves; and establishing at least five high impact named centers with contributions of $2 million each.  

“It’s an exciting time for Tennessee State University,” said Dr. William Johnson, faculty trustee on TSU’s Board of Trustees. “The vision laid out by the president is … a high bar. But that’s what Tennessee State University does. We reach for the high bar and we overcome it.” 

Frank Stevenson, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, said the university family is ready for the challenge.

“She’s challenged us over the next five years to move the needle on how Tennessee State University provides education and opportunities to our students,” said Stevenson. “And we’re ready to step up and accept that challenge.”

Dr. Nolan McMurray, Jr., interim dean of the College of Life and Physical Sciences, agreed.

“President Glover presented a strong and positive atmosphere for TSU’s future,” said McMurray. “She’s definitely going to take the school to the next level.”

Classes at the university are scheduled to begin on Jan. 24.

Note: Featured photo also by Aaron Grayson, TSU Media Relations.

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 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and eight 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.