Alcorn State 1000 ASU Drive University Lorman, MS 39096 ALCORN FALL 2013
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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID THE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Alcorn State 1000 ASU Drive University Lorman, MS 39096 ALCORN FALL 2013 Show Your Alcorn Pride BOLD VISION, BOLD DECISIONS Get into gear. Shop fine apparel and accessories from the Alcorn State University Official Bookstore, operated by Barnes & Noble College. Located on campus and online. alcorn.bncollege.com • 601.877.6333 110723_Cover_SinglePages.indd 1 11/5/13 4:11 PM BraveBrave TheThe SocialSocial SceneScene FromFrom the the President President YourYour personalized personalized guide guide to to Alcorn’s Alcorn’s social social networks networks EvenEven if ifyour your campus campus days days are are past, past, you you can can keep keep up up with with all all the the latest latest Alcorn Alcorn buzz buzz onon your your favorite favorite social social networks. networks. You You can can even even personalize personalize your your social social networking networking withwith the the chart chart below! below! Just Just follow follow your your interests interests and and see see where where they they lead. lead. GreetingsGreetings Alcornites Alcornites and and Friends, Friends, WhenWhen my my friend friend and and mentor, mentor, the the late late Congressman Congressman William William H. H. “Bill” “Bill” BravesBraves games games and and scores scores GrayGray III, III, demanded demanded I applyI apply for for the the presidency presidency at atAlcorn Alcorn State State University University and and YOUTUBEYOUTUBE asualcorn asualcorn acceptaccept the the challenge challenge to tocreate create a modela model land-grant land-grant HBCU, HBCU, little little could could he he have have ColorfulColorful campus campus photos photos imaginedimagined the the impact impact the the decision decision would would have have on on my my life life and and the the Alcorn Alcorn family. family. BRAVESBRAVES TWITTER TWITTER EvenEven today, today, I amI am grateful grateful for for Congressman Congressman Gray’s Gray’s bold bold vision, vision, leadership, leadership, LiveLive updates updates from from the the President President @BravesSports@BravesSports andand influence influence in inmy mylife. life. His Hispresence presence is ishere here with with me meat atAlcorn, Alcorn, encouraging encouraging me me to tocontinually continually make make bold bold decisions decisions while while maintaining maintaining excellence excellence at atevery every level. level. AdmissionAdmission and and orientation orientation info info ALUMNIALUMNI FACEBOOK FACEBOOK AlcornAlcorn State State University University OurOur goal goal is tois tobe be known known not not only only as asa great a great HBCU, HBCU, but but as asa great a great University. University. To To this this end, end, a proactive a proactive plan plan NationalNational Alumni Alumni is inis inplace place to tomove move Alcorn Alcorn forward forward in infour four distinct distinct areas: areas: Academics, Academics, Athletics, Athletics, Agriculture, Agriculture, and and Accessibility. Accessibility. SoundsSounds of of Dyn-o-Mite Dyn-o-Mite videos videos AssociationAssociation InIn our our Feature Feature Story, Story, “A “A Great Great University,” University,” you’ll you’ll read read about about the the exciting exciting progress progress our our students, students, staff, staff, faculty,faculty, and and administration administration are are making making in ineach each of ofthese these areas areas — — from from new new academic academic programs, programs, to tohard- hard- AllAll things things Alcorn Alcorn Athletics Athletics ADMISSIONSADMISSIONS TWITTER TWITTER wonwon athletic athletic victories, victories, to toscientific scientific discoveries discoveries and and new new community community resources. resources. @ASUAdmission@ASUAdmission AlumniAlumni news news and and events events YouYou will will also also meet meet four four outstanding outstanding alumni alumni who who have have gone gone on on to tobecome become presidents presidents of ofcolleges colleges and and universitiesuniversities themselves themselves in inthe the story, story, “The “The Presidents’ Presidents’ Circle.” Circle.” FLICKRFLICKR AlcornStateU AlcornStateU KeepingKeeping up up with with classmates classmates Finally,Finally, we we relive relive the the much-anticipated much-anticipated unveiling unveiling of ofthe the Medgar Medgar Wiley Wiley Evers Evers statue statue in inthe the presence presence of of ALCORNALCORN TWITTER TWITTER hishis wife, wife, Distinguished Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence Scholar-in-Residence Myrlie Myrlie Evers, Evers, in inthe the beautiful beautiful story, story, “A “A Daughter Daughter Returns.” Returns.” CurrentCurrent students students and and activities activities @AlcornStateU@AlcornStateU AsAs always, always, our our gratitude gratitude for for the the support support of ofalumni alumni like like you you cannot cannot be be overstated. overstated. As As you you browse browse throughthrough this this edition edition of ofAlcorn Alcorn, know, know that that together, together, we we have have accomplished accomplished much, much, and and with with your your continued continued EducationalEducational Equity Equity and and Inclusion Inclusion ALCORNALCORN FACEBOOK FACEBOOK AlcornAlcorn State State University University investment,investment, we we will will do do even even more. more. news,news, updates, updates, and and events events ToTo stay stay connected connected with with the the University University where where knowledge knowledge and and character character matter, matter, I personallyI personally invite invite you you PRESIDENTPRESIDENT TWITTER TWITTER to tofollow follow me me on on Twitter Twitter @AlcornPrez18. @AlcornPrez18. Your Your continued continued involvement involvement means means much much to tothe the Alcorn Alcorn family. family. TheThe latest latest Alcorn Alcorn updates updates @AlcornPrez18@AlcornPrez18 VideoVideo from from campus campus events events Sincerely,Sincerely, INCLUSIONINCLUSION TWITTER TWITTER @AlcornInclusion@AlcornInclusion MM. C. Christopherhristopher B Brownrown II II HomecomingHomecoming photo photo albums albums M.M. Christopher Christopher Brown Brown II, II, Ph.D. Ph.D. LikeLike FollowFollow WatchWatch FaveFave AlcornAlcorn State State University University @AlcornStateU@AlcornStateU asualcornasualcorn AlcornStateUAlcornStateU AlcornAlcorn State State University University @AlcornPrez18@AlcornPrez18 NationalNational Alumni Alumni Association Association @BravesSports@BravesSports @ASUAdmission@ASUAdmission @AlcornInclusion@AlcornInclusion 110723_Cover_SinglePages.indd 2 11/5/13 4:11 PM THE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE LCORN on the cover: A Bronze bust of civil rights champion FALL 2 013 and distinguished alumnus Medgar Wiley Evers ‘52, located in the Medgar Wiley Evers Heritage Village on the Lorman campus. The bust is the work of nationally renowned sculptor Ed Dwight. CONTENTS CREDITS PURPLE & GOLD ALCORN HBCU A Great University 2 Fall 2013 of the Year @AlcornPrez18 is #BraveEnough 7 And the Winner Is... 8 PRESIDENT 2012 M. Christopher Brown II, Ph.D. Celebrating the Alcorn Legacy 10 The Presidents’ Circle 12 Alcorn is a Great Place to Work 14 EDITOR Clara Ross Stamps Advancing Our State Together 17 Strength in Unity 18 EDITORIAL BOARD A Daughter Returns 20 Tanya Carr A Sparkling Crown and a Special Cause 22 Christopher Davis Lift Every Voice 24 Janice Gibson Blasting into Battle 26 Elena Kostyleva Jessica Russell The Drive of M. Christopher Brown II 28 833 Degrees and Rising 33 DESIGN Faculty & Staff Notes 34 Yolanda Foster Special Section – Foundation Report PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS NOTES Hubert Worley National Alumni President 36 In Memoriam 37 COPY EDITOR Alumni Action 38 Johnny Lowe Alumni Reunion Weekend 40 Alcornite of the Year 40 Alcorn is published by the Division of Media and University Relations. Our phone number is 601-877-6130. Send contributions, letters to the editor, and address changes to [email protected] or Alcorn State University, 1000 ASU Drive, #389, Lorman, MS 39096-7500. Alcorn.edu Purple & Gold A Great University Alcorn’s 18th President, M. Christopher Brown II, has a clear vision for the University he leads. “Our goal is to be known not only as a great HBCU, but as a great University,” he says with Alcorn pride. To get there, he has a plan — and the backing of Alcorn’s Recently Alcorn added the Master of Science in Applied Sci- proactive administration, faculty, and staff. Together, ence and Technology Program, where students can earn a technical master’s level degree and bachelor’s degree in a con- they have set out to strive for uncompromising excellence densed five-year period. Weekend, evening, and online courses in four distinct areas: Academics, Athletics, Agriculture, add to the program’s flexibility. and Accessibility of Alcorn resources to the greater com- Business School Achieves Higher Accreditation munity. Here’s how it’s working. In addition, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs awarded its prestigious candidacy certificate to the Alcorn School of Business, a distinction shared by only 400 business programs worldwide. Excellence in Academics Evaluation of Deans with Faculty Input Historically at Alcorn, faculty have had limited input in the More Students deans’ review and continuance. Last year, President Brown Alcorn is attracting more students than ever before. In 2012, changed that. He put together a faculty and staff senate to the University had the great honor of celebrating the gradu- weigh in on