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TSU Honor Society wins prestigious academic award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s chapter has won the prestigious Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) Academic Honor Society Order of the Torch Award for the 2023-24 academic year. This award recognizes the most outstanding ALD chapters based on chapter involvement, communication, visibility, and overall presentation during the academic year.

This year, the Board of Directors of ALD recognized TSUs Honor Society chapter as one of five chapters across the nation to receive the Order of the Torch.

TSU is the only HBCU to receive this recognition this year.

Tennessee State University’s chapter is successfully led by the organization’s President Keyon’Dre Boyd, Vice President Calvin Pickett Jr., and elected board members Vinessa Taylor, Azana Bruce, Carrie Estes, Kynnedi Priestly, Promiss Patterson, Morgan Myers, Ziri Mgbeke, and Camille Lander.

TSU chapter Vice President Calvin Pickett, a junior studying criminal justice and political science, said he is proud of the award recognition, especially since the university chapter had been chartered only two years ago.

“It’s phenomenal to see that we were the only HBCU selected among the ALD chapters. Because we put in the work, our events were successful, and we had a phenomenal e-board,” Pickett said.

There are currently over 450 members in the society. “It speaks volumes that we’re more than just an honor society. We’re here to make the university proud by providing service.”

The chapter president, Keyon’Dre Boyd, a rising senior studying biology, stated that the efforts and chapter events have been rewarding.

“It really shows that HBCUs can put in the hard work and make a difference within a national honor society like this,” Boyd said. “I want to thank our advisors as well. They set a high standard in the Office of First-Year Experience and motivated us to strive for this award and become a prestigious chapter.”

The chapter was advised by TSU Student Development Specialist William Taylor and Chief Student Affairs Officer, Interim Associate Vice President Dr. Tasha Carson.

“We are so proud of our chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society at Tennessee State University,” Carson said. “The work that this chapter has done in just its second year of being chartered is worthy of this national recognition. To be the only HBCU recognized this year really speaks to the work we do. We are proving that first-year students at TSU are brilliant, committed to academic excellence, and future-ready.”

ALD Executive Director Eileen Merberg said that it is truly impressive what the winning chapters were able to accomplish this past year. “We sincerely appreciate the work it takes to achieve the Order of the Torch award,” Merberg said. “The students from these winning institutions demonstrated high-quality programming, outstanding communication across campus and in their communities, and overall excellence.”

She acknowledged the students’ efforts while juggling the responsibilities of academics, family, work, friends, community service, and participation in campus organizations. “These chapters were able to stay engaged and continue the important work of supporting student success.”

This recognition highlights the excellence of the university’s ALD Honor Society chapter. The commitment of the students and chapter advisors to academic achievement will continue to inspire and shape the next generation of scholars.

More about Alpha Lambda Delta

 Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society that recognizes students’ academic success in their first year at a college or university. Founded in 1924 and active on 280 campuses, Alpha Lambda Delta inducts 22,000 members annually and has over 1.3 million lifetime members. Alpha Lambda Delta’s mission is to “encourage superior academic achievement, to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their unique roles in society.” Since 1939, Alpha Lambda Delta has been a member in good standing with the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), the only national accrediting body for collegiate honor societies.

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TSU’s Tasha Carson designs HBCU course for the Univ. of South Carolina

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s Dr. Tasha A. Carson is bringing the ‘HBCU experience’ to the University of South Carolina in a groundbreaking college course. The National Resource Center at the University of South Carolina recently named Dr. Carson as their newest instructor for The HBCU Experience from a Student Affairs Perspective course that runs from June 3 – 28.  Carson, who also designed the curriculum, currently serves as the assistant vice president of First-Year Students in the division of Student Affairs.

“I feel extremely blessed to have been chosen to create and teach this course on historically Black colleges and universities at the University of South Carolina,” said Carson.

“As a three-time HBCU grad, who was just a first-generation college student from the Southside of Chicago, I work every day with a conscience that I wouldn’t be who I am today had it not been for the lessons, values, and education I received at an HBCU.”  

Designed for higher education practitioners and student-support service providers, the course will explore the unique role of student affairs professionals at HBCUs. It will provide an in depth look into understanding the staff and student experience. The courses examine the history, culture, and impact of HBCUs on education and its critical role in American history and society.

“The HBCU culture and history means so much to me and I am passionate about helping others see the treasure that is entrenched in the very fabric of our institutions,” Carson added.

Dr. Jamil Johnson, associate Director of Research and Grants, said USC is pleased to welcome Dr. Carson and her expertise in the field, especially as the country begins to learn more about HBCUs. Johnson added that he looks forward to seeing how this unique course will benefit students and the university.

“We had an exceptional number of outstanding candidates, and I am confident that her experiences and background will serve as an enormous benefit to the students (participants) who enroll in the course.”

Dr. Carson will explore theoretical perspectives and practical approaches to serving the HBCU student population through frameworks related to academic success, advising, mentoring, student support, and student engagement. Professionals from all over the country will be able to take the course and receive continuing education units (CEU), to provide a critical professional development opportunity. The course starts this summer and allows individuals to learn on their own schedule within specified deadlines.

“I am not only a representation of the HBCUs that I attended but I am also a representative of the HBCUs that I have had the honor to serve,” explained Carson.  

“I look forward to sharing some of the amazing work that we are doing, here at Tennessee State University, with colleagues across the nation as we continue to rise as a model of student-centeredness for others to see.”

To find out more about the course please visit here.

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TSU kicks off spring semester with orientation for nearly 200 freshmen

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The spring semester at Tennessee State University began with a successful freshman orientation, which helped to prepare over 200 incoming students for life at TSU. The orientation, held a week prior to the start of classes, provided a platform for the new students and their parents to interact with enrollment and recruitment officials.  In the packed Forum on the main campus, discussions covered a wide range of topics, including financial aid, academic advising, class scheduling, residence life, and student activities.

Incoming freshman Amoree Alexander and her family tour campus during Freshman Orientation. From left are, grandmother Donna Alexander, Amoree, sister Phoenix Alexander, and mother Makalea Alexander.

For many participants, the orientation served as the starting point for their college journey. Amoree Alexander, from Clarksville, Tennessee, was one of those students. Alexander is majoring in civil engineering and is eager to continue the family legacy at TSU. She expressed her enthusiasm for the faculty and students following orientations.

“The faculty is super nice, and the students are very welcoming.  Besides, my grandmother came here. So, I am also here to get that HBCU experience.”

Davieon Moss’ mother, Dr. Effua Ampadu, right, holds two degrees from TSU. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

Davieon Moss, a native of Columbus, Ohio, was drawn to TSU due to the positive experiences his mother had at the university while earning her master’s and doctorate degrees. Moss, a music major, was particularly enticed by TSU’s world renowned music program and the Grammy award-winning Aristocrat of Bands marching band.

“I am no stranger to TSU. With a great music program that has two Grammys to its name, this is the place I want to be.”

Davieon’s mother, Dr. Effua Ampadu, a former TSU instructor, praised the thoroughness of the orientation process and the institution’s commitment to taking care of its students. Recalling her personal experience as a graduate and former student, Ampadu said, “This institution was good to me, and I am sure it will be good to him as well.”

Chelsea Morgan, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, urges the new students to make sure all of their questions are answered.

Chelsea Morgan, assistant director of Undergraduate Admissions and Transfer Enrollment, kicked off the orientation with a comprehensive slide presentation on various topics and advised students on how to navigate college life seamlessly. Morgan stressed the availability of support resources.

“We are here for you, so make sure you get your questions answered before you leave,” Morgan told students.

“Whether it’s selecting the right classes, understanding student conduct, or utilizing disability services, we are here to assist you.”

Dr. Brent Dukhie, left, Assistant Dean for Student Services, and Dr. Tasha A. Carson, Assistant Vice President of First-Year Students, give the new Tigers tips on seamlessly navigating campus life. (photo by Aaron Grayson)

Others speaking at the student orientation included Chief Operating Officer Jason T. Evans and LaMar Octavious-Scott, the director of Admissions. Evans extended a warm welcome to students and their families and encouraged them to make the most of the orientation by asking questions and seeking answers. Octavious-Scott coordinated the program and said the event was organized to effectively address the needs of the incoming freshmen.

For more information on admissions at Tennessee State University, visit www.tnstate.edu/admissions.

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TSU celebrates legacy students with special pinning ceremony

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Dr. Carolyn Baldwin Tucker, a two-time Tennessee State University graduate, had a special moment last night when she pinned her grandson, Josiah Jones, as he begins his journey as a legacy student at TSU this semester. Tucker, an author and retired Davidson County council member, received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from TSU and sees her grandson’s enrollment as a continuation of their family legacy. Tucker’s husband and two children are graduates of TSU.

Dr. Carolyn Baldwin Tucker ’69, pins her grandson Josiah Jones, as her husband, Jesse F. Tucker ’70, and daughter, Attorney Susan Tucker Jones ’96 ’97, look on. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

“Tennessee State University provided me the means to achieve the things that I have achieved,” Tucker said. “I came here in 1965 as a freshman. TSU laid the foundation for me, and I am glad that my grandson is here to continue that legacy.”

Josiah Jones, a business administration major, and his grandmother, participated in the TSU Legacy Pinning Ceremony, organized by the Office of First-Year Students. The ceremony honored students with immediate family members who are TSU graduates.

TSU President Glenda Glover, along with Chief Operating Officer Jason T. Evans, and Debbi Howard, director of Alumni Relations, were among the officials who spoke at the event.

President Glover greets students and family members at the Legacy Pinning Ceremony, as Dr. Tasha Carson, Assistant Vice President of First-Year Students, looks on. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

“It is a privilege to greet you on this occasion set aside to honor our legacies,” Glover said. “We pay tribute to those who attended TSU and those who had the thought to send their sons and daughters back to TSU. They have carried the spirit of Tennessee State in their hearts and kept it and passed it down to their children. When a family leaves a legacy, it means giving something back that will be valued, treasured for the next generation, those coming behind us.”

During the ceremony, TSU’s legacy students took part in the reading of the Legacy Creed, pledging to uphold the legacy of those who came before them and maintain the scholastic standards and mission of ‘Think, Work, Serve.’ They also vowed to forge their own path of greatness.

From left, Debbi Howard, Director of Alumni Relations, Jason T. Evans, Chief Operating Officer, and President Glenda Glover applaud participants at the pinning ceremony. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

Talia Talley, a health science major from Birmingham, Alabama, expressed her gratitude for her father, Anthony Talley, pinning her as a legacy student. She, along with other speakers at the pinning ceremony, thanked their parents for encouraging them to attend TSU and for passing down the vision and values they gained from their experiences at the university.

“I am truly honored to be a legacy student at TSU,” Talia said. “My father always speaks so highly of his experience at TSU, and it’s wonderful to see his legacy live on. I am grateful for the vision my dad had in encouraging me to attend the same institution that gave him his foundation.”

Talia Talley receives her pin from her father Anthony Talley ‘97.  (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

Dr. Tasha Carson, assistant vice president of First-Year Students, thanked her staff, Student Ambassadors, and the office of Alumni Relations for their help in organizing the pinning ceremony. She recognized Jefferey Thomas on his vision for the Legacy Ceremony, now in its third year.