The Sway | November 2024

Bison Trailblazers | Howard Alum to Contribute to White House Climate Report

by Daliah Ouedraogo | Howard University alum Dr. Cassandra Jean has been nominated and selected as a participating author in the upcoming White House Climate Assessment Report, bringing their sociological expertise on diversifying climate and disaster scholarship to this crucial national initiative. As Climate Resilience Specialist, they will be among several authors who contribute to shaping the nation's climate understanding and response to climate challenges.

The White House Climate Assessment Report, is a comprehensive scientific report that provides decision-makers in Congress, state and government officials, and interested individuals to engage with the current climate-related work throughout the United States, including the territories and tribal communities. The entire report will take about three years to complete. It is slated for publication in late 2028.

Word to the Wise | Dr. Nicole Dezrea Jenkins

By Anna De Cheke Qualls | Dr. Nicole Dezrea Jenkins, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Howard University, has been selected as part of the inaugural cohort of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean's Fellowship at Harvard University for 2024-2025. As a fellow, Jenkins is spending this academic year at Harvard, focusing on completing her forthcoming book, Twisted Entanglements: Navigating the Paradox of Sisterhood and Systems of Power in Black Beauty Spaces, under contract with Princeton University Press. The book draws from two years of ethnographic research conducted in a Las Vegas African hair braiding salon and delves into the complexities of identity-making and Black spaces among Black women in the U.S.

Bison Trailblazers | Machine Learning Engineer, Howard Prioleau

by Daliah Ouedraogo | When Howard Prioleau applied for the Google PhD Fellowship in Natural Language Processing, it felt like a natural step towards his journey of diving deeper into the world of computer science. Now, the Howard University doctoral student may make history as the first recipient from an HBCU of the prestigious Google PhD Fellowship. For Prioleau, this achievement would represent a significant milestone in his ongoing dedication to advancing the field of natural language processing.

Google's impact on Prioleau’s journey began in childhood.

“As a kid fascinated by technology, Google was one of the places that sparked my curiosity and inspired me to dive deeper into the world of computer science. From building my first computer to exploring machine learning, Google’s work showed me what was possible with tech and pushed me to pursue my own path,” recalls Prioleau.

Word to the Wise | Troy Kearse

by Anna De Cheke Qualls | Troy Kearse, Social Psychology PhD student, just spent a week at Harvard's Academic and Research Exchange Program. Through a faculty sponsor, eligible late-stage doctoral students or postdocs spend time interacting with Harvard faculty to engage in collaborative discussion for innovative problem solving or to develop new research techniques. Participants can also leverage Harvard’s network of libraries and museum collections, and build relationships with peers and scholars in their field.

Kearse came back from Harvard with more connections, insights and he sat down to share those with the Howard graduate community.

The Sway: Why did you come to Howard?

Troy Kearse: I chose Howard University as the place to launch my graduate education because it is a place where my identity and my work can be valued. Howard also houses incredible scholars who are dedicated to the advancement of people of color and have made significant contributions to the field of psychology. With this in mind, I am honored to be working with so many amazing scholars and peers within the Howard community.

As we stand on the cusp of the exciting and transformative milestone of achieving Research I (R1) status again, I want to this special point of privilege to thank our graduate faculty. The Research I designation, bestowed by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, is a prestigious recognition of our institution’s growing capacity and commitment to conducting high-impact research that addresses some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Achieving R1 status is not just a badge of honor for our university, but a signal of the future we are creating together — one where knowledge production, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement get are at the heart of everything we do.

Lauren Taylor, PhD student, alongside Dr. Amy Yeboah and Dr. Joseph Wilkins, on winning a $100,000 award from NASA for their wildfire technology. Over the summer she was selected for the RAND Graduate Summer Associate position. She also participated in the Harvard Student Faculty Academic Exchange Program.

Dr. Tamanika Ferguson, PhD Alumni, Communication, Culture and Media Studies on her new publication "Lessons in Resistance, Activism, and Solidarity: Incarcerated Women and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners" in the summer 2024 edition of Feminist Formations Journal.

Devyn Brown, PhD Student, Social Work, for her participation in the AIR Opportunity Fund Pipeline Partnership Program (P3) as a Research Fellow and working with The Sentencing Project, headed by Dr. Odis Johnson, Jr.

Howard University graduate alumni, Walter Wilson Jr., MD, MHA, is now the Chief Medical Officer at Cumberland Hall Hospital in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He obtained three degrees from Howard University: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s degree in Neuropsychology, and an MS degree in Anatomy.

NEW BOOK IS OUT ON BLACK SOCIAL THINKING

Fifty Key Scholars in Black Social Thought is a collaborative volume that uplifts and explores the intellectual activism and scholarly contributions of Black social thinkers. Edited by Howard faculty Dr. Marie C. Jipguep-Akhtar and colleague Dr. Nazneen M. Khan, it is written by 55 scholars who explore the diverse contributions of notable Black thinkers, both historical and contemporary - of which, more than 16 are either Howard faculty, graduate students or alumni.

RAND SUMMER ASSOCIATES PROGRAM

RAND's Summer Associate Program introduces outstanding graduate students to RAND, an institution that conducts research on a wide range of domestic and international social policy issues and matters of national security. Deadline: December 2, 2024

The Howard Initiative on Public Opinion (HIPO) stands resolutely committed to cultivating informed public discourse through research and innovative community engagement. By harnessing the power of public opinion data, HIPO empowers communities through amplifying the opinions of Black Americans.

With a dedicated team of researchers, HIPO has produced a series of impactful reports and surveys that capture the diverse perspectives of Black Americans. In a notable effort during this general presidential election season, HIPO conducted an extensive three-part study, integrating focus groups and polling to unearth nuanced insights into the opinions of Black Americans in pivotal battleground states regarding the 2024 presidential candidates. The findings have garnered national media attention, underscoring both the significance of the data and HIPO's outstanding contributions. As HIPO’s Director, Dr. Terri Adams, emphasizes, “In this pivotal moment in history, understanding the needs and opinions of our community through a culturally relevant lens is crucial.”

Virtual Employer Forum | December 4, 2024

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Careers in the Cosmetics Industry with Dr. Debra Payne (Howard alum and company executive at Botox)

Virtual Employer Forum | January 22, 2025

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Careers in Law and Intellectual Property

For PhD and graduate students in STEM, social sciences and other fields.

(For registration follow the links to the Join Us page.)

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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