HAMPTON Alumni Magazine of Hampton University Summer 2014 Vol. 132, No.17 Hampton University Investigates Minority Men’s Health Alumni Features • Campus News • Class Notes President Dr. William R. Harvey Officers of the Board of Trustees Mr. W. Frank Fountain, Chairman Mr. Curtis E. Ransom, First Vice Chairman The Honorable Vanessa D. Gilmore, Second Vice Chairman Attorney. Faye Hardy-Lucas, Secretary Members of the Board of Trustees Ms. Michelle D. Bernard Dr. William R. Harvey Mr. I. Emerson Bryan, III Dr. Wendell P. Holmes, Jr. Dr. Charles I. Bunting Ms. Lina Hu Mr. H. Rodgin Cohen, Esq. The Honorable Alphonso Jackson Mr. Wesley A. Coleman *Miss April Jones Dr. William “Bill” Cosby Dr. Andrew M. Lewis Ambassador Edward E. Elson Mr. Daniel H. Mudd Mr. W. Frank Fountain Mrs. Leslie D.J. Patterson Mr. Gordon L. Gentry, Jr. Mr. Curtis E. Ransom The Honorable Vanessa D. Gilmore Mrs. Andrea M. Weiss Mr. Charles A. Harvey **Dr. Hilda Williamson *Student Representative **Faculty Representative Vice President of External Relations Joy L. Jefferson ‘86 2012-2014 NHAA, Inc. Board President Ms. Joan McMillan Wickham ‘78 First Vice President Mrs. Teresa Moore Mutakabbir ‘77 Vice President Eastern Regions Mr. Carvel Lewis ‘91 Vice President Western Regions Ms. Yvonne Orr ‘91 Recording Secretary Ms. Yvonne Saxon ‘85 Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Gloria Doyle ‘73 Treasurer Mr. Thomas Hasty ‘77 Immediate Past President Dr. Patricia Larkins Hicks ‘71 Chaplain Rev. Jerome Barber’81 Editor Yuri Rodgers Milligan ‘97, Director of University Relations Contributing Editor Dr. Joyce M. Jarrett, University Editor Art Direction and Design Taylored Printing Contributors Briana Dance, ‘14, Strategic Communications Major Leha Byrd, Communications Manager Jeff Cunningham, Assistant Director of Sports Information Sharon Gates Fitzgerald, ‘05, Director of Alumni Affairs Martha P. Jarvis, Records Secretary Ciarra McEachin, ‘05, Director of the Annual Fund Daisha Roberts, ‘15, Strategic Communications Major Gianina Thompson, Sr., Public Relations Specialist Maurice Williams, Sports Information Director HAMPTON On the Cover: Minority Men’s Health Initiative Co-principal investigator Dr. Nicholas J. Kenney and Principal Investigator Dr. Raymond Samuel. Feature: Alumna gifts $1 million ............................. 4 The late Lois Price Spratlen, Class of 1954, gift makes an impact on the School of Nursing Combating Health Disparities ........................7 Hampton University leads collaborative HBCU project Center for Public Policy analyzes issues in Virginia . 9 The Center is capturing the pulse of the people Athletic Report . 17 Campus News: Rhodes Scholar Finalist . 20 2014 Commencement..............................21 2013 Alumni Philanthropy Report....................17 Alumni Profiles: Monique Ferrell, Class of 1985....................... 11 Hamptonian has a passion for serving soldiers Desiree Williams, Class of 2011 . 14 A great role model as Miss Virginia About the Photo: The Hampton University Dining Hall sits on the banks of the Hampton River. Office of Alumni Affairs HAMPTON Hampton University Hampton, VA 23668 A LUMNI M A G A ZINE is published for Hampton University Phone: (757) 727-5425 by the Office of University Relations Fax: (757) 727-5994 Submit story ideas and article [email protected] information to: Hampton University Alumni Magazine | 3 HU Alumna Gifts $1 MILLION to School of Nursing Lois Price Spratlen ‘54 came to Hampton University from just a few hours’ drive away in Charlottesville, Va. But on the waterfront campus, she felt like she was in another world, she told those closest to her. “She had grown up in a poor household, in which her mother was a washer woman and her father, a railroad yard worker. It was at Hampton that she had her first bath in a porcelain tub (previously they used a tin tub). Their home toilet was an outhouse,” said Dr. Thaddeus H. Spratlen, Mrs. Spratlen’s husband of 60 years. From her humble beginnings, however, Lois Spratlen earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from HU, and attributes the University with preparing her for clinical practice, graduate study and a successful career. Spratlen spent most of her career as a faculty member in psychosocial nursing at the University of Wash- ington, Seattle. Upon her death in March 2013, she bequeathed a $1.1 million gift to the HU School of Nursing (SON). Mr. Spratlen, his son Dr. Townsend Price-Spratlen and daughter Patricia Spratlen-Etem, visited the campus in October to facilitate the gift with Vice President for Development Laron Clark, Provost Dr. Pamela Hammond and other University faculty and administrators. Dr. Thaddeus Spratlen isn’t sur- prised by his wife’s generosity, because of her affinity for HU. 4 | Hampton University Alumni Magazine “Her (Lois Spratlen’s) mother, Ora Ferguson Price, the funding to establish a $25,000 endowed scholar- Three Members of Lois Price had the greatest influence on her values and her life,” ship in the name of the nursing class of 1954, of Spratlen’s family: her son Dr. he said. “I believe she would put Hampton second.” which Lois Spratlen was a part. Townsend Price-Spratlen her Spratlen’s gift will establish The Lois Price Spratlen “We come from a generation where giving back is daughter Patricia Spratlen-Etem Endowed Chair (LPSEC) within the SON, and the just something that you do with appreciation that and her husband Dr. Thaddeus selected professor will focus on mental and com- you’ve earned enough to have something to give. H. Spratlen share a moment munity health research. Upon the appointment, the She took to heart the Booker T. Washington message with Dr. Harvey. first of its kind at the SON, the LPSEC will help of ‘lifting as we climb,’” he said. “My hope is that to ensure the future of the mental and community her generosity will encourage other Hampton alumni health research focus at HU, as the school seeks to to consider planned giving. It’s a matter of sharing grow its profile and impact regionally and nationally, and giving back at whatever level their circumstances officials said. will permit. The Nursing Class of 1954 Endowed A shortage of nurses who have advanced practice ed- Scholarship fulfills one of the goals of giving back ucation and certification, and a challenge for schools to Hampton that (my wife) wanted to share with to prepare graduates well versed in health care reform her classmates. In a Feb. 23, 2012 letter to them, and maintaining wellness, are among the reasons she urged all of them to join her in supporting the why family and community mental health nursing scholarship. Thanks to the generosity of Lois and was selected as the focus for the endowed chair. some of her classmates, the Nursing Class of 1954 will be remembered for giving back to Hampton in a “This opportunity is momentous,” said HU SON way that can be sustained over time.” Dean Deborah Jones. “It affords us the opportunity to expand our research projects to include mental, Once the scholarship is available, an applicant must and community health research. This funding is be a full-time, second- or third-year nursing student also the impetus for our department broadening our at HU, and selection will be based on academic reach and training students who can serve in the merit and financial need. With continued eligible mental health community.” academic performance, the scholarship award may be renewable for one additional year. The University’s Spratlen was recognized posthumously by induction Office of Financial Aid shall determine financial into the SON Hall of Fame May 9, and the Uni- need. versity archives will eventually house her published writings. “The entire school of nursing faculty are eternally grateful to the late Dr. Lois Price Spratlen and family Spratlen’s widower, a professor emeritus of market- for their generosity,” Jones said. ing at the University of Washington, Seattle, said his wife’s gift is an extension of how their entire genera- — Leha Byrd tion feels about philanthropy. This year, he provided Hampton University Alumni Magazine | 5 About Alumna DR. LOIS PRICE SPRATLEN Lois Price Spratlen passed away on March 30, A graceful and courageous leader, she 2013. She is survived by her husband, Dr. used her many talents to serve the Dr.Thaddeus H. Spratlen; five children Pa- public’s interest. Dr. Price Spratlen mela, Patricia, Paula, Khalfani and Townsend; nine was a member of the Mary Mahoney grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of Professional Nurses Organization and relatives and close friends. established its endowed scholarship Born in Charlottesville, Va. in 1931 Dr. Price fund for students of African heritage. Spratlen finished Jefferson High School in 1949 as the She was chair of the King County class co-valedictorian. She applied to the University Board of Ethics and served on other of Virginia, but was rejected because she was black. boards as well, including Group Health The admissions director told her that she would never Cooperative of Puget Sound and the be admitted to the University of Virginia. This rejec- Metropolitan Seattle Urban League. tion was devastating to her. Her neighbor comforted Dr. Price Spratlen was a gifted indi- her and said that she was going to call Hampton vidual who was known for helping Institute. In turn, Dr. Price Spratlen was accepted for other people and seeking justice and admission and offered a scholarship. fairness where she lived and worked. Dr. Price Spratlen challenged barriers at the Uni- She and her husband, Dr. Thaddeus versity of Virginia, and she pushed for change at Spratlen, also shared many interests. Hampton, as a student majoring in nursing. In 1952, For example, he became an associate she advocated for and succeeded in getting a policy member of the Hampton Alumni Association’s Puget Lois Price Spratlen (fourth change that would allow students to be married while Sound Chapter. They were board members of the from the front) poses with completing their degrees.