WINTER 2020 PHILANDERFORWARD 2 4 6 8 Lady Panthers are GCAC Champs Sorority Lauds Education Scholars Student/Administration Collaboration Captured Moments in Snapshots A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: Moving Forward through the COVID-19 Crisis his edition of the Forward Newsletter awaiting their time in the spotlight. But with the highlights several of the pinnacle moments cancellation of signature traditions such as Founder’s which took place during the timeframe Day, SpringFest, Honors Convocation and with the spanning Fall 2019/Winter 2020. In retrospect, unfortunate postponement of Commencement, we have asT you will read on the pages which follow, we enjoyed had to readjust our expectations and pivot our priorities to many successes of which we can be proud. focus on our collective health, safety and well-being. Little did we know then that the novel coronavirus It is not been easy. But the College remains (COVID-19) would shake our world to its core. This committed to its scholars. From our PSC Cares is no more evident than within the impact this public Emergency Aid Fund to our Panther Pantry ‘At Your health emergency has had upon the learning environment Door’ to the myriad virtual and online activities that our – having turned K-12 upside down and caused a total Student Affairs Team has activated to keep our student disruption to higher education. body engaged and connected, Philander Smith College is Philander Smith College has certainly not been striving to meet our students wherever they are. immune. What started with the College’s ban on non- As a resource to keep everyone abreast of the essential travel in early March quickly escalated to the College’s latest news, decisions, activities and information President Roderick L. Smothers, Sr. decision to suspend in-person classes and transition all with respect to the dynamic nature of the coronavirus coursework online, which was followed by the closure pandemic, we established a dedicated Coronavirus Philander Smith College is striving to meet our of our residential halls for the remainder of the 2020 Updates Page. It is important that not only our students wherever they are. As a resource to Spring Semester. Additionally, in alignment with strict campus community stays updated, but also our friends, social distancing guidelines advised by city, state and supporters, alumni, donors, prospective students and their keep everyone abreast of the College’s latest federal authorities, the majority of our faculty and staff families should be aware of the important measures we news, decisions, activities and information have been telecommuting. So without the presence have undertaken and the steps we will take to of our students and with only a limited number of Once the state of emergency has been lifted, in many with respect to the dynamic nature of the employees on campus, PSC has been dealing with the ways it may be a whole new world; however, our calling coronavirus pandemic, we established a effects of COVID-19 on the ways in which we live, to the unique ministry of Philander Smith College will be learn and work. unchanged. Even still, we invite your thoughts, prayers, dedicated Coronavirus Updates Page at The Spring Semester is normally filled with exciting contributions and advice as we continue to maneuver www.philander.edu/coronavirus-updates activities and milestones in the lives of our scholars – through these unchartered waters with our sights set on particularly for those seniors who have been anxiously keeping Philander Moving Forward. u Collegiate 100 is Chartered at PSC THE 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER LITTLE ROCK, INC. held an induction ceremony for the first Collegiate 100 Chapter in the State of Arkansas at Philander Smith College on January 26, 2020. Chapter Advisor Dr. Joseph Jones, Associate Professor and Special Assistant to the President, was assisted by Muskie Harris, President of the Little Rock Chapter of 100 Black Men, for the pinning of new members and officers which totaled a group of 15, including Philander Men and Women. The Collegiate 100 is an auxiliary of the national 100 Black Men of America that extends the mission on college and university campuses across America. The mission is to support the sponsoring chapters of 100 Black Men in their efforts to nurture and enhance the growth and development of young Black students. u DONATE AT WWW.PHILANDER.EDU/PSC-CARES 2 'Round Campus PSC Lady Panthers Win First Ever GCAC Championship HE PSC LADY PANTHERS capped a remarkable season on March 8, 2020 by beating the undefeated Talladega Lady Tornadoes to clinch the Women's GCAC Championship title. The win marks the first time the TLady Panthers have taken the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Title in regular season or tournament action. The hard-fought victory was cinched after an inspiring season that saw the Lady Panthers come into the tournament play with a 26-7 overall record. During the championship game Head Coach Brandon Greenwood, '04 and his athletes blew past top-seeded Talladega to a 20-point halftime lead, then fought off the Tornadoes late to take a resounding 68-50 victory. Adding to the historic win, PSC senior point guard Terralyn Dominick, '20 took tournament MVP honors and fellow Lady Panthers Ineka Clark, '21 and Ciara Pettis, '20 were both named to the All-Tournament team. The entire Panther family celebrated the successful season and dedicated the win in memory of the late Brenda Acklin, the wife of long-time Assistant Coach James Acklin, who passed away in the summer of 2019. Credit to the milestone championship also goes to Coach Greenwood, who has coached at his alma mater for 13 seasons and has led the Lady Panthers as Head Basketball Coach since 2008. The championship title earned the team a bid in the NAIA tournament, a first in PSC history; however, the outbreak of COVID-19 led to the unfortunate cancellation of all tournament competition across the country. While disappointed that the team did not get their well- earned appearance on the national stage, Philander Smith College is beyond proud of the work and dedication displayed by these phenomenal athletes and their coaches! u The Forward Moment is International PRESIDENT SMOTHERS CONTINUES to make This agreement solidifies the specific intent to facilitate inroads in the Bahamas on behalf of Philander a mutually beneficial exchange of Bahamian students Smith College. In January, invited by the University to matriculate at the College, to include scholarships of the Bahamas and the Iota Epsilon Lambda from both parties to aid in the mission of international Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Dr. student recruitment. Smothers traveled to Nassau to serve as keynote Dr. Smothers was set to return to the Bahamas in speaker for a 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March to participate in the the 2nd Annual HBCU Lecture. Additionally, while there, the President Fair in Nassau; however, the outbreak of COVID-19 met with government officials to discuss terms for a canceled those travel plans and postponed the highly- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between anticipated event – which was expecting tripled Philander Smith College and the Ministry of participation from last year – until a later time. u Education of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. PSC GREATLY ENJOYS THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN FORMED WITH THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN RECRUITED FROM THE BAHAMAS. WITH AN OFFICIAL MOU IN PLACE, THE COLLEGE The Links Support PSC with LOOKS FORWARD TO CULTIVATING THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT AIMS TO PLACE MORE HIGH-ACHIEVING $20,000 Donation SCHOLARS AT THE INSTITUTION TO BECOME PART OF THE PHILANDER FAMILY. The Little Rock Chapter of The Links, Incorporated annually supports Arkansas’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through its fundraising initiatives. In “What I like most about February, Links Chapter President Lana Nayles Philander is that we are was joined by fellow member Dr. Pebbles family oriented. It’s easy Fagan to present a $20,000 contribution to to find your place and the College on behalf of the organization. PSC form relationships with Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Sherece West- your professors.” Scantlebury joined President Smothers to - Vashanti Storr, freshman accept and thank The Links for their ongoing Mathematics and Chemistry commitment to the uplift of the state’s minority- Major serving institutions. u 'Round Campus 3 HBCUs Celebrated During Annual Fly-In PRESIDENT RODERICK L. SMOTHERS joined chancellors and presidents from other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country for the Fourth Annual HBCU Fly-In which took place in Washington, D.C. The late February event featured a bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress to celebrate America’s more than 100 HBCUs. Among those whom Dr. Smothers met with included United States Senators Tim Scott (SC); Tim Kaine (VA); Kelly Loeffler (GA); Chris Coons (DE); and Sen. Marco Rubio (FL). He participated in a session that allowed the higher education leaders to discuss and acknowledge Congressional support of the pivotal FUTURE President Roderick L. Smothers, Sr. and Kathy Findley of the Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust cut Act—that will restore and make permanent a $255 million per year funding stream the ribbon officially opening the Philander Panther Pantry and Fresh Market. for HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)—as well as the critical first steps toward simplifying the FAFSA. u During the Annual Baskets of Love Chapel Service, faculty, staff, and students collected over 100 baskets The Panther Pantry and Fresh Market is located on the 1st Floor of the to distribute to local Titus Building and open to students, faculty, and staff. families in need. Hunger and Homelessness President Smothers and U. S. Sen Tim Scott meet again, following the lawmaker’s 2019 visit to PSC to Awareness Week tour and discuss Opportunity Zones adjacent to the campus.