The Sway | March 2026

Bison Trailblazers | Dr. Majda Atieh

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | When PhD alum Dr. Majda Atieh reflects on her academic journey, she returns repeatedly to one idea: stories shape the world. “Literature is the reality and not a statement about reality,” she says, a belief that has guided her from a coastal Syrian childhood to Howard University and onward to her current role as Assistant Professor of English and Deputy Head of the Department of English and Translation at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. Her story — interwoven with migration, scholarship, resilience, and interdisciplinary innovation — exemplifies the impact of a Howard education amplified on the global stage.

Word to the Wise | Dr. Adana Llanos

By Anna De Cheke Qualls | When PhD Alum Dr. Adana A. M. Llanos stepped into the warm Nairobi morning in February the air held that peculiar blend of dust, jacaranda blossoms, and possibility. She had arrived with a clear purpose—two weeks as Scholar‑in‑Residence at the Columbia University's Global Center in Nairobi, a short window to deepen partnerships and advance research on chemical exposures and women’s health. But what she encountered was something far more alive: an ecosystem already pulsing with potential, waiting for someone to help connect the threads. “It didn’t feel like starting something new,” Llanos later reflected. “It felt like walking into a conversation already in motion—and being invited to help shape what comes next.”

Bison Trailblazers | Dr. Eric Afoakwah | The Quality Architect Transforming Clinical Research

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | When Dr. Eric Afoakwah begins to talk about his work, his tone is steady and unhurried—the voice of someone who has learned to think several moves ahead. From his home base in Washington, D.C., he reflects on the systems, people, and pressures that shape clinical research today. His style is part engineer, part mentor, part strategist, and entirely committed to one mission: building quality frameworks that protect patients while propelling new therapies toward approval.

Word to the Wise | Melissa Knight Tucker

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | Melissa Knight Tucker’s story begins far from the corporate boardrooms and university strategy sessions where she now spends much of her time. “I was born in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and raised in Houston, Texas,” she recalls, a dual upbringing that taught her to see community and opportunity through more than one lens. Growing up between those identities, she says, “shaped how I view community, culture, and opportunity.” Even as a young girl, her mind gravitated toward the human systems around her—“education, leadership, and the systems that influence people’s life and career outcomes.”

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PhD alum Dr. Dennis E. Corbin, an associate professor of social work at Fayetteville State University, steps into his new role as chair of the Cumberland County Department of Social Services Board with the quiet gravitas of someone whose life’s work has been shaped by service. His election, effective January 28, 2026, is not merely an administrative transition but a recognition of the depth of experience he brings—nearly three decades of professional practice and academic stewardship, underscored by a reputation for thoughtful, community‑centered leadership. His years on the DSS Board, including his recent tenure as vice chair, have positioned him as a steady hand well‑prepared to guide the organization through its evolving responsibilities. Read more...

Dr. Ann-Marie Waterman | PhD Alumna

The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has awarded Dr. Ann-Marie Waterman a Fulbright Specialist Program award. Dr. Waterman will complete a project at Ethiopia's Addis Ababa University.

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Washington, DC’s lead‑in‑water problem just met its match—and the heroes wielding the data aren’t caped crusaders but researchers from Howard University - Drs. Yogesh Bhattarai, Sara Kamanmalek and Sanjib Sharma. Their team, joined by Howard alum Dylan Darling and Rocky Talchabhadel, used cutting‑edge explainable machine‑learning models to expose the city’s most dangerous hidden patterns of lead exposure. What they found is as riveting as it is alarming: more than a quarter of DC, with hotspots clustering in Wards 1, 4, and 6, falls into high or very‑high risk zones due to a potent mix of aging pipes, older homes, heat‑driven corrosion, and deep‑rooted social vulnerability. Schools show a similarly dramatic story—roughly 14% land in the highest‑risk category, especially older buildings with legacy fixtures. 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

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March 23 - 26, 2026 | Doctoral Career Pathways Conference

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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.

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