Tag Archives: Dr. John Miglietta

College of Health Sciences, EVENTS, FACULTY, Featured, FEATURED, GRANTS, Marketing, NEWS, RANKINGS, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, Student Profile, Uncategorized

TSU’s Honda All-Star Team Earns Best Ranking in Nearly 20 Years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) team has made history after securing its highest national ranking in nearly 20 years. The team earned the title of national runner-up at the 36th annual HCASC National Tournament, held in Torrance, California, placing second out of 32 HBCUs from across the country.

The competition, sponsored by American Honda Motor Company, is a prestigious academic quiz bowl that celebrates Black excellence, scholarship, and teamwork. As part of their achievement, the TSU team brought home $40,000 in grant funding from Honda. In addition, each student on the team will receive a $1,500 scholarship from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a partner of the HCASC program.

The team’s coach, Dr. John Miglietta, a professor of political science, described HCASC as a unique competition that unites scholars from HBCUs nationwide and showcases their knowledge. “TSU’s players are very intelligent, work hard, and put in a lot of effort,” Miglietta said. “The students have shown they are well equipped to face challenges and succeed. I’m very proud of our students and wish them all the success in the world.”

Tennessee State University HCASC team during the 36th annual National Tournament in California after receiving their $1,500 scholarship award. From left to right, Aniya Johnson, Kaitlin Skates, Tyler Vazquez, Morgan Gill, and Dr. John Miglietta.

TSU’s team included four dedicated students who has participated in the competition throughout their entire time at the university: Tyler Vazquez (team captain), Morgan Gill, Aniya Johnson, and Kaitlin Skates.

During the tournament, held April 12–16, the team compiled a 5–1 record in division play. TSU competed in the Nannie Burroughs division against Morehouse College, Paul Quinn College, and the University of the District of Columbia. In the playoffs, the team defeated Albany State University and Howard University to advance to the semifinals, where they won against Tuskegee University before falling short against Hampton University in the final round.

Vazquez, a graduating senior, member of the TSU Board of Trustees and Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute cohort two, said this marks TSU’s best performance in the competition in nearly two decades. “This is a bittersweet moment,” Vazquez said, reflecting on his final appearance at HCASC. “This has been an amazing experience. I’m blessed to be here and to represent TSU one last time. I’m excited to see how HCASC will continue to grow at TSU in the future.”

He added that several departments supported the team and helped ensure they were well prepared for the main event.

“I’ve been competing in academic challenge teams since middle school. To have a safe space like this at my HBCU has meant everything to me.”

Morgan Gill, a junior majoring in Urban Studies, said she’s grateful for the networking opportunities and being part of a team that is producing quality, nationally ranked results. “It means a lot to me, just as an HBCU student, to be in an academic space created solely for HBCUs,” Gill said. “Honda has made it clear that this is a space for young, bright talent. Being able to represent ourselves and amplify our voices is powerful especially because it’s something I didn’t often see growing up.”

TSU has participated in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge since 1990 and has earned more than $260,000 in grant funding from American Honda over the years.

This historic milestone reflects the hard work and academic excellence of TSU students, as well as the university’s continued commitment to cultivating scholars and leaders. Click here to watch the 2025 HCASC competition in full!

FACULTY, Featured, FEATURED, NEWS, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, Uncategorized

TSU professor home vandalized with swastikas, hate messages

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) –  It wasn’t the first time Tennessee State University professor Dr. Andrew Patrick’s Black Lives Matter (BLM) signs had been stolen from the front yard of his Sylvan Park neighborhood home. However, it was the first time his home had been vandalized with swastikas and hate messages because of his support for the organization. 

“This happens a lot. But the actual vandalizing of our houses with the Neo-Nazi signs and statements is new,” said Patrick, who is a 10-year history professor at TSU.

Dr. Andrew Patrick (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

On March 19, Patrick and his family woke up to the new paint job. Their home, along with four others, were vandalized with racist and anti-semitic graffiti in the Sylvan Park neighborhood.

Patrick’s home was vandalized with three swastikas symbols and two “white power” signs spray painted on the sides. The act was caught on one of Patrick’s neighbors Ring doorbell cameras around 1:30 a.m. The footage shows two individuals vandalizing the home, with one attempting to cover the camera with spray paint.

Patrick and his family have lived in their Sylvan area home for a decade. A community Patrick describes as, ‘a liberal inclusive enclave,’ that has seen a pattern of their community signs being stolen overtime.

“It seems like they were just going after their political opponents like me, as a supporter of BLM,” said Patrick, who identifies as a non-religious white male who was raised Catholic.

Within hours, dozens of neighbors came together to remove the messages and symbols of hate from the vandalized homes. Two of those supporters were TSU professors who also live in the neighborhood, husband and wife, Dr. Elizabeth Dachowski and Dr. John Miglietta.

Patrick noted that the outpouring of support and cleanup included his son and some of his friends.

Andrew Patrick’s son being interviewed by local media while creating new signs for their front yard. (Photo submitted)

“They got down to it and did most of the clean up on the house,” Patrick said. “They made many different signs of love and support for BLM and the Jewish community. ”

Now, there are more than 100 signs plastered on Patrick’s home: ‘Hate has no home in Sylvan Park.’

He also stated that he is very appreciative of the support from his TSU colleagues.

“Dr. Miglietta and Dr. Dachowski, as soon as they heard they came over right away,” he said.

“Other colleagues have been calling to make sure I am okay. Everyone has been extremely helpful and kind.”

Dachowski, a TSU history professor, and Miglietta, political science, rushed over after they received a call from Patrick’s wife about being vandalized. “I found this very disturbing,” Dachowski said.

“All of the homes targeted had signs indicating support for disadvantaged groups. Something like this could be the beginning of an isolated incident or a nasty campaign against people.” Dachowski and Miglietta noted that they took pride in the neighborhood joining forces to support one another in solidarity.

Although Patrick is proud of the outpouring of support, he voiced his biggest concern with the state of Tennessee.

Andrew Patrick’s son during clean up to remove the messages and symbols of hate from Sylvan Park vandalized homes. (Photo submitted)

“I am a little more concerned about Tennessee’s white supremacy problem,” he said. “So, that is the next step. My neighborhood is going to band together, we are going to be unified, but I want to see some reaction here.” Patrick reiterated that he is not a vengeful individual but wants justice as the two suspects are still at large as of April 11.

“I already forgive them for what they have done. But it would be nice to talk to them,” he stated. “Chucking a few white supremacists in prison for a little while, I don’t think that’s really going to help. The Tennessee government has to do a lot more to fight these hate groups.”

On a federal level, hate crime laws are classified as crimes committed on the basis of the victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability, according to the U.S Department of Justice.

Patrick told the University that the homes with signs and or flags representing disadvantaged groups being vandalized isn’t a coincidence.  He noted that the first time his BLM signs were stolen out of his yard happened during the 2020 election cycle.

“They are trying to intimidate us,” he said. “This is politically motivated vandalism. Not only is it not going away, but it is also getting worse.”

Click here to see video of Dr. Patrick sharing what happened the morning of March 19.

The incident is currently under investigation. If you recognize the individuals from the camera footage, contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.