The Sway | February 2026

Bison Trailblazers | Dr. Eric Akwoafah

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | XXXX

Word to the Wise | Melissa Knight Tucker

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | XXXXX

Bison Trailblazers | Building the Mathematical Mecca: Howard’s Half‑Century of Innovation, Scholarship, and Leadership

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | By any standard, 1976 was a threshold year. When Howard University launched the nation’s first PhD program in mathematics at a historically Black college or university, it didn’t simply add another graduate credential. It built a durable pipeline—one that would carry generations of Black mathematicians into research, classrooms, laboratories, agencies, and leadership roles around the world.

But the story of Howard mathematics is older than the modern doctorate. It’s a narrative of continuity—of ideas, people, and purpose—running from the late nineteenth century to today’s research-active department. That throughline begins with Kelly Miller, a foundational figure who helped shape mathematics and science education at Howard at the turn of the 20th century. Often cited as perhaps the first African American to undertake graduate study in mathematics, Miller’s influence extended beyond pedagogy; he laid intellectual and institutional groundwork for a department that would become nationally significant.

Word to the Wise | Dr. Tracey Thomas

By Anna De Cheke Qualls | Dr. Tracey Thomas’s journey into science began long before she ever stepped into a laboratory. Raised in Birmingham, Alabama, by a registered nurse and a Social Security Administration accountant, she grew up in a home where education was treated as both an opportunity and a responsibility. Her childhood curiosity—often expressed through taking apart household objects just to put them back together—hinted at an early fascination with how things worked. But it was her late father’s battle with cancer, and his eventual passing, that transformed that curiosity into a profound scientific drive.

That drive carried Thomas through a rigorous biology curriculum and into a doctoral program at Howard University, where she earned her PhD studying cell signaling and calcium mobilization. A postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine followed, allowing her to delve deeper into cellular mechanisms by examining HIV–host cell interactions. Like many young scientists, Thomas initially imagined a future rooted in academia. Yet a pivotal AAAS Science Policy Fellowship revealed a broader landscape—one where her strengths in strategy, communication, systems thinking, and translating complex science for decision‑makers could have wide‑ranging impact.

Attending and graduating from Howard University was a dream come true. As a fourth-generation college graduate, my elders believed that Howard University was the epitome of higher education. So, when I told my great grandmother that I was attending in the fall of 2010 as a Ph.D. student, she was pleased and assured me that my great grandfather would have been proud. I was unaware that my graduation in 2014 from the Department of History with a Ph.D. in the African Diaspora and Public History, would make me the first African American woman from my hometown Bowling Green, Kentucky, to earn a Ph.D. in history. Read more...

New Book Explores the Cultural Convergence of Hip-Hop and Comics

Dr. Sheena Howard, whose academic career began at Howard University, is set to release Hip-Hop and Comics, a new edited volume that examines the longstanding relationship between the two cultural forms. The forthcoming book builds directly on her dissertation about The Boondocks, the groundbreaking comic strip and animated series known for its hip-hop sensibility, and political commentary. The book gathers contributions from scholars across the globe and includes two chapters by the Howard (as editor) herself—featuring interviews with DMC of RUN‑DMC and Eric Orr, creator of the first hip‑hop comic book in the 1980s. Read more...

Dr. Ashleigh Brown-Grier | Alumna

Is featured in a Forbes article examining HBCU board governance and leadership dynamics. In the story, she shares insights on the importance of strong board–president relationships that remain grounded in institutional mission, long-term sustainability, and the well-being of students, faculty, and staff, particularly during periods of recovery and accreditation pressure.

Dr. Natalie Muñoz | Alumna

The EDU Ledger has recognized Dr. Muñoz (Rutgers University) as a 2026 Emerging Scholar for reshaping social work education by empowering students to heal themselves before helping others. Read more...

Scheduled for March 6-7, 2026, this festive occasion honors Howard University’s founding, celebrates our successes and recognizes alumni achievements. Friday’s convocation and Saturday’s dinner and dancing are all part of the University’s largest in-person fundraiser, raising more than $1 million for student scholarships. Read more...

(Virtual sessions)

Monday, March 23
11:00 AM – Academia
12:15 PM – Public service (local/federal)
1:30 PM – Nonprofits
2:45 - Health Careers

Tuesday, March 24
11:00 AM – Primary/Secondary Education
12:15 PM – Research in Industry (STEM/Social Science)
1:30 PM – Hot Topic of the Year: AI and its Influence on the Job market/career navigation
2:45 PM - Biotech/Pharma

Read more...

March 23 - 26, 2026 | Doctoral Career Pathways Conference

Read more...

The Sway is Howard University Graduate School's news publication. It serves to celebrate and highlight graduate student, alumni, faculty and staff achievements and updates. It is published regularly during the academic year.

To subscribe or to submit news/updates follow this link.
We also encourage all alumni to join one of our networks on LinkedIn. The Doctoral Alumni Network can be found here, and the Master's Network here. The Graduate School also regularly publishes updates on its social media channels: Instagram and Facebook.

Archives

February 2026

January 2026 | December 2025

November 2025 | September 2025

June 2025 | April 2025

March 2025 | February 2025

November 2024 | October 2024

June 2024 | April 2024

March 2024 | January 2024

November 2023 | October 2023

June 2023 | April 2023

March 2023 | January 2023