The Sway | November 2026

Bison Trailblazers | Howard PhD Student William (Jake) Lowe Joins Global Ocean Expedition

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | When the research vessel sets sail on the US GO-SHIP Pacific Reoccupations expedition in spring 2027, Howard Chemistry PhD student William (Jake) Lowe will be onboard, embarking on a seven-week scientific journey from New Zealand into the freezing waters of Antarctica before heading north to the tropical climate of Tahiti. Competing against applicants nationwide for only three available student slots across the entire New Zealand-to-Alaska voyage, Lowe secured his top choice: the Southern Ocean leg.

Word to the Wise | Trusting Her Authentic Voice: Niya Mogheeth Redefines Research on Black Grief and STEM Success

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | For Niya Mogheeth, arriving at Howard as a doctoral student is more than just the next step in her academic career—it is a homecoming of sorts. "I think what makes my journey to Howard particularly meaningful is that this institution was already such an important part of my development as a researcher," she says. After spending the summer of 2025 conducting research on campus under the mentorship of Dr. R. Davis Dixon, returning as a first-year PhD student in the Psychology program "feels like a full-circle moment."

Bison Trailblazers | Giving Voice to the Invisible: Howard PhD Student Digna Mosquera Champions Domestic Workers' Rights

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | Digna Mosquera, an economics PhD student at Howard University, was working from her home when she received an email from the University of Wisconsin bearing exciting news: she had won the 2026 Graduate Student Research Workshop Award. Mosquera views the award and its funding as a crucial validation of her academic path. "This recognition means a lot to me, especially in this stage of my journey, when you are constantly questioning your own topic, your methods, and whether if your research will be meaningful to someone outside academia," Mosquera shared.

Word to the Wise | From Joliet to Howard: Micah Clemens’ Mission to Demystify Credit and Build Generational Wealth

By Anna De Cheke Qualls | From a high school classroom in Joliet, Illinois, to the front lines of consumer lending in Austin, Texas, Micah Clemens has always been driven by a singular question: how can financial systems be harnessed to build lasting wealth for underserved communities? Today, as a Master of Arts candidate in Economics at Howard University, Clemens is transforming his real-world banking experience into rigorous, data-driven research. His path toward advanced economic analysis was forged not in abstract theory, but through the daily realities of borrowers fighting for access to capital.

By Daja Elum | Atmospheric Science PhD Student | In Southwest Detroit and the neighboring communities of River Rouge and Ecorse, Michigan, environmental hazards are difficult to separate from everyday life. Oil refining, steel production, freight traffic, major highways, wastewater infrastructure, and other industrial sources sit alongside residential neighborhoods, schools, parks, and places where families have lived for generations. This summer, a group of Detroit-area high school students spent a week learning how to investigate some of those same questions using the tools of environmental scientists, regulators, planners, and geospatial analysts.The Spatial Justice Summer Academy, created by Howard University atmospheric science PhD student Daja Elum through her nonprofit organization, The Earthly Advocate, introduced students to geographic information systems (GIS), environmental data, community air monitoring, remote sensing, and digital storytelling.Read more...

By Anna De Cheke Qualls | Howard has long cultivated leaders who view the world through a global lens. As you map out your post-graduate trajectory, treating your doctorate as a borderless passport opens up a wealth of transformative opportunities. Thinking globally is a strategic option that exponentially expands your influence and professional reach.

Pursuing a domestic academic trajectory remains a vital and highly encouraged path. US institutions very much need Black faculty - there are simply not enough. However, complementing your domestic search with an international perspective allows you to leverage your expertise on a broader stage. Read more...

By Davion Washington | From Mecca to the World, faculty from the Graduate School will lead global learning experiences for Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences in Spring 2027. Three of those courses are led by faculty who also serve the Graduate School, and they will take students to Morocco, Trinidad, and Paris and London. Each course pairs up a semester of study with a week abroad, so students arrive prepared to engage with the places they visit rather than simply see them. For students, it is a chance to connect what they learn at Howard to communities and histories around the world. Students in Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences can choose from 27 courses across 4 continents, having the opportunity to apply for up to three courses.Read more...

After more than 50 years of service to Howard University, Ms Gloria Lloyd is beginning a new chapter—and what a remarkable chapter this one she is closing has been.Over the decades, she has witnessed generations of Howard graduate students grow, learn, lead, and change the world. She has been part of the rhythm of this extraordinary institution.

Jaren Smith (M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences) just had his first broadcast on WGEM. The station serves Illinois, northeast Missouri, and southeast Iowa. Read more...

A review titled "Quantum Biology 2.0," led by researchers Drs Margaret Christ and Philip Kurian from Howard University’s Quantum Biology Laboratory and published in Protein Science, synthesizes nearly 600 studies to evaluate how quantum mechanical processes operate inside biological systems. The publication examines key quantum phenomena occurring within biological structures, including collective light emission (superradiance) across protein fiber networks, energy transfer dynamics, and molecular movements that enable quantum tunneling during enzyme reactions. 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 submit news/updates (or to subscribe) 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.

The Sway archives can be found here.

Graduate School

The Sway | November 2026