NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tyler Perry Studios (TPS) just announced their second cohort of talented interns selected nationwide, and one of their hand-picked interns is a familiar face in the Big Blue community.
Briana Thomas, a mass communication student at Tennessee State University, was selected as one of 14 TPS Dreamers Intern Class of 2024 out of over 1,000 applicants. Thomas, of San Diego, California, is a rising senior with dreams of becoming an independent filmmaker. She just started the 6-week paid internship based in Atlanta, Georgia, working in deliverables, where she is responsible for delivering the movie or show episode for distribution.
“I was super excited when I was selected as I knew this was a great opportunity to learn and gain experience,” Thomas said. “It feels great to represent TSU and showcase the character, integrity, and work ethic instilled in me.”
Thomas noted that she found out about the opportunity in April and applied right away as she hopes to learn the ins and outs of production and how a studio is run day-to-day.
During her internship, Thomas is gaining work experience and networking opportunities to meet professionals who are available as mentors and industry contacts. Thomas said she is excited to contribute to one of the largest film production studios in the United States and is grateful that her university prepared her for this very moment.
“The whole mass communications department at Tennessee State University has prepared me for this opportunity,” she said, showing gratitude to her TSU professor and mentor who wrote her letter of recommendation.
Erik Werner, TSU’s Director of the Center for Media Arts and Production, said the department does its best to provide students with the skill set that will land them internship opportunities of this magnitude. Werner stated that he is proud of Thomas’ success so far and “feels great knowing that I helped.”
“Networks and studios will be fighting to hire her,” Werner said about Thomas’ drive and work ethic. “That’s how good she is and how good she is going to be.”
He noted that Thomas knew exactly what she wanted throughout her collegiate years for her career and has put in the effort to obtain any of her goals.
“It’s one thing to learn the basic skills but it’s another to turn around and learn the advanced skills and be adaptable,” Werner said. “To be able to adapt and roll with it is a huge ability that not everyone has.”
TPS Dreamers program allows interns like Thomas to receive first-hand knowledge of working for a multi-faceted entertainment company.
As Thomas continues her journey at Tyler Perry Studios, she looks forward to applying the knowledge and skills gained from this internship to her future career in filmmaking, aiming to tell compelling stories from diverse narratives, she said. Supported by her mentors and the foundation built at TSU, Thomas is excited about making a significant impact in the film and entertainment industry.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – When TSU alumna Tionn Fambro Carter interned at the Tennessee State Capitol in 2004, she noticed a glaring lack of diversity in the House of Representatives. There was no reflection of her identity or her community’s demographics. The experience ignited her passion for public service, particularly drafting public policies that would positively impact her community. It also impacted Carter’s plans following her graduation from TSU.
“I loved seeing all of the decisions being made and the new laws being created,” Carter recalled. “But I didn’t see a lot of representation of women of color. That’s when I thought, our voices need to be heard and represented. So, I decided to go to law school.”
In 2008, Carter earned her law degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and recently began her trailblazing role as a public servant. Recently, Carter was sworn in as the first Black woman associate judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit at the Rock Island County Justice Center in Illinois. “I remember being speechless and feeling overwhelmingly grateful,” she said.
Her journey to the bench was not easy. Carter persistently pursued the judgeship, applying seven times throughout her career before achieving success. Her faith and dedication paid off in 2024 with substantial support from her peers and community ultimately securing her appointment. As an associate judge, she now presides over both civil and criminal cases within her district.
Throughout her career, Carter aimed to inspire the youth to pursue their dreams. She noted that her journey of witnessing positive Black representation began at her alma mater. “Your goals are real, TSU showed me that,” Carter said.
“TSU played a crucial role in my journey because as an HBCU, it really demonstrated the power of being proud of your heritage. I got to see African Americans in leadership positions, well-spoken, educated, and capable of achieving their goals, educating others, and leading their communities.”
Dr. Samantha Morgan Curtis, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, expressed pride in Carter’s remarkable journey and significant milestone. “The College of Liberal Arts is incredibly proud of Tionn Fambro Carter, who epitomizes the capable, focused student we strive to cultivate and educate,” Morgan Curtis said. “She majored in English to hone her critical thinking, analytic skills, and writing abilities. She now stands as a model for all young women who follow her, continually making a positive impact on the world. I cannot say enough good things about her other than she embodies ‘Think, Work, Serve.’’”
Carter’s portrait now hangs in the Illinois courthouse alongside the judges who have presided over the district throughout the county’s history. Her presence among them reminds her of her TSU internship and her determination to make a difference.
“We come from a heritage and ancestry that has done great things,” Carter said. “And we can continue to be a part of that legacy too. Work hard for your seat at the table because you belong there just like everyone else,” she continued. “If you believe it’s your purpose, never give up on your dreams.
Carter resides in Rock Island County with her husband and children.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Two Tennessee State University students have been selected as ambassadors for the inaugural launch of the Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios Storytellers Lab. The Storytellers Lab is an initiative designed to create partnerships with HBCUs to cultivate diverse creator pipelines within the entertainment industry.
Showtime selected TSU students Billy Briggs and DeShonda Kennerson, both juniors studying mass communication.
The initiative will consist of a nine-month experience that equips HBCU students with the skills and insights to become the next generation of content creators.
Briggs said he is grateful for the opportunity as he looks forward to honing his skills in the creative process and digital media production. “I was beyond elated when I found out that I was selected for this program,” Briggs said. “I am excited to showcase my talent in writing and to elevate my craft. This opportunity not only grants access to a challenging industry but also imparts essential fundamentals crucial for my long-term growth.”
Kennerson of Louisiana said being an ambassador for this program is one of the greatest opportunities she’s ever received.
“Writing has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and this feels like a dream come true,” Kennerson said. “I am honored to be a part of this program and I hope that it will open many doors for me as a writer and producer in the entertainment industry.”
Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis, Dean of TSU’s College of Liberal Arts, said she appreciates that Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios recognized the creativity and abilities of TSU’s communication students.
“This is the very definition of a high-impact practice, where students can actively participate in these workshops with industry professionals who have proven success while they’re getting their degrees. They can step directly from the classroom into working for these organizations,” Dr. Morgan-Curtis said. “These are students who are known and capable and demonstrate each day that they are ready for this.”
The inaugural class of the Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios Storytellers Lab includes 11 fellow HBCUs as well.
Students will receive access to mentorship and masterclasses with leaders across Paramount Global, as well as insider perspectives on the creative processes of content development, the release states.
Ti-Shea Meadows, Vice President of Operations and Channel Planning at SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks, said this initiative underscores the commitment to fostering diverse talent and amplifying underrepresented voices for the next generation of storytellers.
“Together, we are forging a path that transcends traditional boundaries, celebrating diversity, creativity, and the power of storytelling,” Meadows said. “The innovative narratives, inspiring voices, and groundbreaking ideas that will undoubtedly emerge from this collaboration are highly anticipated.” Meadows is also the Head of the Storytellers Lab. “As we dive into this immersive program, we anticipate an enriching and transformative experience for both students and mentors alike.”
National events on participating HBCU campuses will be rolling out this spring.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – For Tennessee State University alumnus Spencer Glover, it all started in an edit bay, in room 108 of the Performing Arts Center. It was the perfect campus space to be creative and bring his ideas to life. Now, Glover is reaping the benefits of his hard work, after pitching a 12-slide presentation to studio giant Disney that was adapted into a film.
From left to right: Van-Maurice Glover, Kariss Forte, Melissa Forte, Mercedes Glover, Stephanie Rakers on red carpet for Black Belts Premiere.
Titled “Black Belts,” the 20-minute movie premiered on Disney+ in September.
“I was really excited and grateful for the opportunity,” Glover recalled the moment he received the call back after interviewing to direct the film.
“I was ready to dive in and get to work and was excited at the idea that on the other end of it, I would be a better and more confident director.”
The film explores the relationship between a Black father and son set against the backdrop of martial arts. Glover shared, beyond the Kung Fu and action, the film dives deeper into the conversation around masculinity.
“When people watch the film, I hope they see this moment between a Black father and son, being openly emotional with each other.”
Glover graduated from TSU with a degree in mass communications in 2012, and is also a former member of the Aristocrat of Bands.
Reflecting on his time at TSU, Glover emphasized, “TSU is so important to the foundation of my skills.”
He credited the university for providing an environment where he felt both safe and free to express himself creatively.
Spencer Glover in undergraduate school at TSU in the TV station during a musical showcase that he created called, ‘Next in Line’
“TSU was super vital to my life, career, and development as an artist.”
His former TSU instructors Joseph Richie, associate professor of Communications, and Melissa Forte, who was an assistant professor at the time, praised the filmmaker for his success.
Richie described Glover as one of the program’s pioneers, highlighting his drive and dedication.
“None of us are surprised that he’s doing very well now. He was extremely driven, active and took the program seriously. That’s why we’re here. To see students like Spencer’s success, this is the payoff for a professor.”
Forte noted Glover’s humility and diligence.
“Spencer is very humble and kind. I think that served him very well at TSU,” Forte said.
The film Black Belts explores the relationship between a Black father and son set against the backdrop of martial arts. Beyond the Kung Fu and action, the film dives deeper into the conversation around masculinity.
“He was always in class going above and beyond to learn more and even taught himself how to do 3D animation and never stops learning.”
Glover’s advice for aspiring TSU students entering the film industry is to stay on course, and things will fall into place.
“You have to be dedicated to the craft and be resourceful,” he said. “You have to create on your own, make the connections on your own.” He emphasized that sticking to your own path and staying dedicated, would eventually connect the dots.
The Virginia native added that he always knew that showcasing his talent on a large-scale platform like Disney would elevate his art to unprecedented heights. He freelanced for Yamaha and Apple, following graduation, before moving to Los Angeles in 2020. Glover took on several independent projects before he and was accepted into Disney’s Launchpad Program for writers and directors from underrepresented backgrounds.
This gave Glover an opportunity to produce short films for Disney.
As a testament to his journey, Glover and his wife, Kariss, now own a production company called “Room 108,” named after the edit bay at TSU.
“I credit edit bay room 108 with being that space where we could get lost in our creativity and come out with something super dope. That space represents what we want to create for ourselves and other people coming into the industry.”
Glover also has paid it forward by coming back to the university as a guest speaker for the communications students.
Watch Glover’s film “Black Belts” on Disney+, presented by Launchpad.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – More than 200 prospective STEM majors from three local high schools got a taste of Tennessee State University’s excellence on Wednesday.
Students from Antioch High,
Cane Ridge and Hunters Lane participated in the 2019 TSU STEM Tour. They arrived
on campus early and spent half the day visiting several of the university’s
Colleges, as well as enjoying some TSU spirit.
High school students listen to Engineering instructor. (Photo by Charles Cook, TSU Media Relations).
Highlights of the day included
a visit with TSU President Glenda Glover, and a special pep rally featuring the
famed Aristocrat of Bands.
While many of the high school
students are interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), they are
also considering other majors and fields.
Ninth-grader Erick Guzman
plays trumpet in the band at Cane Ridge and said he enjoyed the energy of TSU’s
band.
“Man, I was hyped,” said
Guzman, adding that he’s seriously considering TSU when he graduates because of
the band.
Zybria Holliday wants to be a
pediatrician, but the 15-year-old said after visiting TSU, she’s considering it
for undergrad.
“I had a wonderful time,” she
said. “TSU is great!”
The Colleges the students
visited were Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Liberal
Arts.
Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean
of the College of Engineering, talked to the students before they viewed some
of the College’s research. Even though they still have a few years before
graduation, he said now is the time to be thinking about attending a higher
education institution.
“I’m sure all of you are
bright students,” Hargrove said. “Now is the time to be thinking about what you
want to do when you graduate. And I hope it’s engineering.”
High school students enjoy TSU pep rally. (Photo by Charles Cook, TSU Media Relations).
The students, who were
accompanied by guidance counselors from each of their schools, also heard from
other TSU officials and faculty, including Mr. Terrence Izzard, associate vice
president for enrollment management, and Dr. Coreen Jackson, interim dean of
the Honors College.
The guidance counselors
lauded TSU for having the tour.
“The students got the
opportunity to be exposed to Tennessee State, to see what’s available to them,”
said Antioch counselor Tamika Reed. “A lot of times they don’t get that
opportunity.”
Hunters Lane counselor Joe
Levickis agreed.
“A lot of our kids are going
to be applying to college and are going to be first generation students,”
Levickis said. “It’s important that they get on a college campus, because it
becomes more real to them. It’s also important to see people being successful,
to see what their future could look like.”
Earlier this year, President Glover surprised about 20 students visiting the university with full scholarship offers. Most of the students were interested in STEM majors.
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) – Friends and family of Tennessee State University alum Maleka Grimes Jackson gathered on TSU’s campus July 8 to remember the young mother who was recently killed in a boating accident in the Bahamas.
Jackson, a Chattanooga native who lived in Atlanta, graduated from TSU in 2000 with a degree in liberal arts and sciences. She and her husband, Tiran, were on vacation celebrating their 15-year wedding anniversary at the time of the accident.
A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Jackson was known by her line sisters in the Alpha Psi Chapter as “the glue that held them together.”
“She made sure that whenever we came together, whether at homecoming or at an event in Atlanta, that we stayed together,” said Sharese Jackson, a graduate of TSU who pledged AKA with Maleka as part of the “Y2KUTE” line in the fall of 1999. “We are in the process of planning our 20th anniversary, and she was one of the first people to say, ‘What are we going to do? It will be 20 years next year. We need to do this. We need to do that.’ She kept us connected.”
Though the two Jacksons were not blood sisters, Sharese, a professional singer and actress, shared reflections at the candlelight vigil as well as sang an original song called Hero in honor of her “line sister” Maleka.
“She was a really sweet person. She was a person who wanted to make sure you were always at your best,” Sharese said. “She worked in human resources, and she was the one that people could go to if they had a question about what to do as far as looking for jobs and how to stay relevant. She was always ready to give that information, and always willing to help.”
The Bahamas explosion, which took place on June 30, injured nine other passengers including Tiran, who suffered severe injuries that resulted in an amputation.
Lawanda Jones, who has known Maleka and Tiran since their days at TSU, said the last communication she had with Makela was through a text message conversation they shared on Jones’ birthday, four days before Jackson died.
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority honored Makela Jackson with a candlelight vigil in Houston while attending the sorority’s international conference. (Photo submitted)
“She had sent me a text to tell me happy birthday. For me it was the most beautiful piece of closure when I realized she had passed just days later because in my text message to her I was thanking her for being such a close friend over the last 18 years,” said Jones, also a member of AKA and the “Y2KUTE” line. “I was just telling her I was blessed to have her as a friend, and how much I loved her, and she responded back similarly. She was just saying how proud of me she was, and she ended by saying, ‘We are forever friends,’” Jones said.
Jones, who recently attended the AKA’s international conference in Houston, helped to organize a vigil there which coincided with the event at TSU. She said other vigils honoring Maleka were held simultaneously in Memphis, Tennessee; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas and Atlanta.
“There’s going to be a long road ahead for Tiran and their son. Tiran
Sorority sisters gather at candlelight vigil in Atlanta to honor Makela Jackson (Photo courtesy of AJC)
is going to face physical and emotional challenges. They are both going to need someone to help them talk this through.,” Jones said.
She encourages people to contribute to the fundraising campaign established to help support Maleka’s family.
“Maleka saw the best in everyone. She was all about her son and her husband. I have no doubt she had big plans for her son to go to school and to further his education. So it’s like giving to someone who always gave back. “
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 8,000 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, 25 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) – Houston, Texas will serve as the backdrop for a special performance by Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands in July.
TSU’s Aristocrat of Bands
Affectionately known as the AOB, the band will be front and center during the upcoming national conference for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Members are preparing for a big show, which is extremely important as the natives believe, “everything is bigger in Texas.”
“The Aristocrat of Bands is honored to be invited and have the opportunity to perform for a prestigious audience such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,” said TSU Band Director Dr. Reginald McDonald. “This performance will also give us exposure in the Houston area. The Aristocrat of Bands Staff started vigorously recruiting the Houston market about three years ago to date,” added McDonald.
Dr. Glenda Glover, TSU’s first female and eighth president, will become the 30th international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha. The service organization is the oldest African American sorority in the country with nearly 300,000 members worldwide, in 1,000 chapters. Glover believes her leadership role with the organization will assist in recruiting talented students to TSU and enhance the university’s presence on a national stage.
“I’m truly humbled by the membership for electing me to this position, and just as proud to have my institution, and alma mater be part of the this special moment,” said President Glover. “Our world renowned band is one of the university’s greatest ambassadors. Band members will have center stage in front of nearly 20,000 sorority members and special guests to showcase their talents. The performance will be a proud moment for me and for the institution.”
The band is a part of several performers scheduled for the 68th national conference for the sorority. Glover noted she was pleased that friends and sponsors made the trip possible. This means the university will not incur costs or be responsible for paying transportation, food or lodging, another major incentive for the band. McDonald said he reminds band members they represent themselves, but most importantly TSU whenever they travel.
“While we are no strangers to being on a national stage, anytime the Aristocrat of Bands has an opportunity to perform anywhere, I always remind my students that the TSU on our chest is bigger than we are. We represent the dreams and hopes of past, present and future alumni, as well as all of our stakeholders.”
In 2014, the AOB became the first collegiate band ever to be presented at halftime of the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame game. The band and university made national headlines again in 2017 by accepting a special invitation from President Barack Obama to perform on the White House Lawn. Both President Glover and McDonald believe the presentation in Houston will continue to open more doors for the band and TSU.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 8,000 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, 25 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) – How does a Magna Cum Laude Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary Medicine graduate from one of the nation’s top historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) become an award-winning filmmaker?
That’s a good question for 27-year-old Myah Naomi Lipscomb, a 2013 alumna of Tennessee State University and creator of the comedy series #WeirdMYAH. Lipscomb, along with a host of TSU alums, are garnering national acclaim with their original comedy series, which is currently being featured in the Tennessee Episodic Showcase division of the Nashville Film Festival.
“I feel so blessed, and I am so happy,” said Lipscomb. “I would not have thought when I was working at the animal hospital and not loving it that in just a couple of years I could say that I am doing what I love.”
Members of the #WeirdMYAH cast and crew after winning Best TV Pilot for “#photobomb” at the National Black Film Festival (Houston, Texas) Left to Right: Brandon Lee W., Kelly Keri Greer, Myah Naomi Lipscomb, Jennifer Mkoma, and Lanial D. Madden
#WeirdMYAH, which recently took home the Best TV Pilot Award at the National Black Film Festival in Houston, for its full length episode #photobomb, screens Wednesday, May 16, at 6 p.m. at Regal Hollywood Stadium 27.
In the television comedy, Myah Bridges, portrayed by Lipscomb, is a student at historically black Lloyd University. She struggles to overcome the conflicts in her problematic life, created by the stress of college, lack of income, and her social awkwardness. Overtime, Myah learns to deal with her uniqueness by embracing her individuality, but her quest for normalcy has its obstacles.
Lipscomb and the pilot’s director and cowriter, Kelly Keri Greer, both graduates of TSU, earned MFA’s in Film and Creative Media from Lipscomb University in 2017. The two are just part of a long list of TSU alums involved with the project.
“I think when I first tried to pursue it years ago, it just wasn’t the right season for it,” Lipscomb said. “And I think me going to graduate school and really learning the craft and learning the field, I needed that. Me networking with other filmmakers and actors, I needed that. And all of us together is what has really branded this project into what it is now.”
Greer, a Memphis-native who graduated from TSU with a B.A. in Mass Communications, said the cast and crew of #WeirdMYAH are like a family.
“We are always together, and not only do we work together, we work well together,” she said. “We’re there for long periods of time together on set, but we can actually go and spend our own personal time with one another, so we are really a family, and I think that’s probably the most rewarding part of being a part of this project.”
Greer, like Lipscomb, said attending TSU played a major role in her success.
“We only had one film professor at TSU, Melissa Forte, and she really taught us everything from beginning to end,” Greer said. “We had editing classes with her. We had screenwriting classes with her, and she really taught us the basics of film including production and being your own producer, like being an independent filmmaker. With those tools you really can’t go wrong.”
Lipscomb’s rendezvous with TSU goes back much further. Her grandfather, Dr. Roland Norman, worked at TSU for nearly 40 years, ultimately serving as dean of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics. Her grandmother, Naomi Norman, worked as a nurse in the Queen Washington Student Health Center at TSU throughout her professional career.
Their children, including Myah’s mother, Chandra Norman Lipscomb, grew up on the TSU campus. Myah’s mother eventually attended TSU and became Miss TSU 1979-1980. She worked at the university in various capacities, including teaching in the Department of Communications, serving as a campus administrator, working in the College of Business, and eventually serving as the coordinator of International Student Services and Cultural Programming in the Office of International Affairs before her recent retirement.
As a student at TSU, Myah served as Miss Freshman 2009-2010. She also served on the student government association as representative-at-large and speaker of the house.
An accomplished actress, Norman Lipscomb said she sees a lot of herself in Myah.
“I look at Myah, and a lot of the things she is doing, she got from me. Myah grew up watching me doing my performances and what not, but we never knew she had a desire for the arts or for communications because she would always talk about being a veterinarian,” she said. “To be honest, she was afraid to let her dad and I know that that was the area she wanted because she thought we wanted her to be a veterinarian.”
As a mother, Norman Lipscomb said she sees the hard work her daughter puts into her craft and believes it is the key to her success.
“I personally see what no one else sees. I see Myah getting up to go to the gym at 5 a.m., coming back and working whether it is #WeirdMYAH, editing a project, getting ready to go film a music video, whatever,” she said. “She is working most of the time, and this is like a labor of love for her.“
Myah encourages other young people to pursue their passion.
“Whether it’s in film, whatever field you are passionate about, I think you need to follow your passion, and follow your heart, and you’ll get there,” Lipscomb said. “You just need to take that first step and not be afraid.”
Lipscomb said the next step for #WeirdMYAH is to pitch the show to networks and streaming platforms. She hopes to use her journey as a filmmaker to revitalize positive, entertaining content that highlights African Americans.
Other TSU alums involved in the project include the cinematographer, Joseph Patrick; cast and crew members Lanial Madden, Kala Ross, Chelsea Smith Brand Lee W., Asia Jones, Joe Major, Clarke Howard, Evony Thompson and Lauren Waller; and filmmaker Spencer Glover, who also graduated with an MFA from Lipscomb and has worked as a director on the miniseries.
The five episode web-based miniseries of #WeirdMYAH is available online at www.myahnaomi.com/weirdmyah. To purchase tickets for the May 16 screening of the full length episode, #photobomb, visit www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 8,000 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, 25 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) – One brief conversation with Tennessee State University senior Deontae Henderson, and it becomes clear that he is an undeniable force of inspiration and positivity.
Each morning, the 21-year-old Minneapolis, Minnesota native begins his podcast, Just Deontae, by proclaiming to the world, “I can’t stop until I make it to the top.” For Henderson, making it “to the top” is not just a catch phrase; it’s a way of life, as well as the title of his first children’s book.
To The Top tells the story of a turtle named Koa who overcomes numerous obstacles during his quest to make it to the top of a mountain. On his journey, Koa encounters various animals that discourage him from reaching his destination. However, Koa exercises persistence and determination until he reaches his goal.
Like Koa, Henderson’s story is one of overcoming obstacles. In fact, his mother, Evette Henderson, said his writing started as a result of her finding constructive ways to discipline her son when he was in grade school.
“When Deontae was young, he had to do a lot of time-outs because he wouldn’t listen. In his time-outs, he would have to read or write. He did a lot of writing,” she said. “When he would get in trouble at school, I would also have him come home and write out his five-year plan, and I still have some of the papers he would write for me.”
Henderson’s book, which can be purchased through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Kindle, Nook, iBook, Xulon Press, and Mall of America, became the number one selling book by a local author at a Minneapolis Barnes and Noble, surpassing the sales of My Country, ‘Tis of Thee: My Faith, My Family, Our Future, a book written by Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress and the first nonwhite that Minnesota has ever elected to Congress.
The founder and CEO of an inspirational brand called S.M.O.O.V.E., which stands for Steady Moving On Our Visions Everyday, Henderson uses his company to create bracelets, apparel, and books to encourage and motivate others to pursue the best version of themselves.
“What I’m starting to realize is that those people we look up to, Steve Jobs, Stan Lee, Jim Henson who made the muppets, Jay-Z, P Diddy, and Ryan Cooglar who just made The Black Panther, all these people are just being big kids. And when you watch the interviews they say, ‘I’m just doing what I wanted to do as a kid,’” he said. “They are having fun doing what they are doing and they don’t see it as a job.”
A consummate optimist, Henderson said a great deal of his success can be credited to the training he received from his mother.
“She really taught us to believe in ourselves,” he said. “She gave us so much confidence that whenever we went to do anything, we thought, ‘Yeah we can accomplish it. This is easy for us.’ And she still does that. No matter what, she always has my back.”
After a disappointing introduction to college life, Henderson set his sites on attending TSU and becoming a walk-on member of the TSU Flying Tigers Track Team. In order to make the team, he had to impress Olympic Gold Medalist and TSU Track Coach Chandra Cheeseborough.
“He found Coach Cheese, and he e-mailed her. At first she denied him, but he just kept contacting her, and she finally told him he could come and do a walk on,” Henderson’s mother said. “I just packed all our stuff, and we basically went on faith. We just threw all his stuff in my truck and I drove him to TSU, and that’s how he got there. He’s been there ever since.”
Cheeseborough said Henderson, who graduates Cum Laude next weekend from TSU with a bachelor of science in mass communications, has what it takes to be successful.
“I am proud of Deontae, and what he has accomplished as an author,” she said. “He has a spirit of determination, and that will take him a long way.”
Henderson, who recently released his second children’s book, Momma Bear, which is available on Amazon, said being an author brings him great joy.
“When I am able to write a story, put it out there, and receive a profit from my own ideas and what I love to do, that’s actually the best feeling ever,” he said.
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 8,000 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, 25 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) – Seven mass communications students from Tennessee State University earned eight separate awards recently in the Southeast Journalism Conference competitions.
The awards for the best journalism in broadcast, print and online were presented during the 29th annual SEJC convention held Friday, Feb., 27 at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
In the “Best of the South” competition, Tennessee State University awards included the individual categories of:
*Best Radio News Feature Reporter – first place, Brandi Giles, Nashville, graduated Dec. 2014
*Best Radio Hard News Reporter – third place, senior Chantell Copeland, Atlanta
*Best Radio Journalist – fourth place, Brandi Giles
*College Journalist of the Year – fourth place, Chantell Copeland
*Best Public Service Journalism – fourth place, seniors Anastasia Williams, Milwaukee, and Dominique Thomas
*Best TV Hard News Reporter – ninth place, senior Carlos Mavins Jr., Houston
According to Dr. Terry Likes, Head of the Department of Communications, this is a testament to the commitment to excellence of students, faculty and the administration.
“Having students win is part of the external validation which shows our faculty are training our students to achieve at a high level,” said Likes.
The Southeast Journalism Conference is a vibrant learning community of journalists honing their craft through professional development and the Best of the South Collegiate Journalism Competition. An organization comprised of nearly 50 member colleges and universities in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, SEJC was created to encourage greater interest in student journalism and to form closer ties among journalism schools in the Southeast United States.
The Best of the South competition recognizes individual student journalists and university publications. The competition consists of 23 individual and 8 university categories.
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 42 undergraduate, 24 graduate and seven doctoral programs. 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.
