Kentucky State University president Mary Sias becomes yet another HBCU president to resign from their position this year, following the departures of Dianne Boardley Suber, president of Saint Augustine’s University, Frank G. Pogue Jr., president of Grambling State University, Johnny Moore, president of Philander Smith College, and, most recently, the retirement of Clark Atlanta president Carlton Brown. After serving for 10 years, Sias will officially end her tenure at the 13th president of Kentucky State on June 30. According to Kentucky.com, an interim president is to be chosen by July 1.

However, West Virginia State University President Brian Hemphill’s term has been extended for five more years. With his extended contract, which is effective July 1, Hemphill will receive an increase in salary as well as additional compensation based on performance. As the 10th president of WSVU, Hemphill has helped to increase percentage of first-time, full-time freshman to 48% and he has led a two-year $53.9 million infrastructure revitalization for classrooms and technology upgrades, amongst many other accomplishments.

Two football players at Tennessee State University are now players in the NFL. Kadeem Edwards, now of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Demetrius Rhaney, now of the St. Louis Rams, were picked up in the fifth and seventh round of the NFL draft, respectively. Edwards and Rhaney are the first Tennessee State Tigers to be chosen in the draft since 2009. Two other members of the Tigers, A.C. Leonard and David Van Dyke,  signed free agent deals. (Via Black America Web)

In addition to awarding former Howard University student, graduation commencement speaker and mogul Sean Combs an honorary doctorate degree, Howard University made history by having the largest doctoral class in the university’s history—-there were 105 PhDs awarded at this year’s ceremony. (Via Howard University)

The Wayne family with 52 graduates from Grambling State University has earned a new Guinness World Records title as world’s single biggest collection of graduates from one family attending one university. In total, the Wayne family has had 81 family members attend Grambling State with 40 confirmed to have graduated. Grambling State president Frank Pogue plans to officially recognize the Wayne family before he retires in June. (Via Dallas News)

Johnson C. Smith University welcomed its first Latino fraternity on campus. Six Latino male students began a chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity and it was recently accepted by the university. The idea for starting the chapter started out of the six students wanting to celebrate their heritage and promote their Latino culture amongst the university community. The founding members are Dominguez, Omar Cossio, Yerrison Cardenas, Francisco Cerrillo, Sergio Montesdeoca and Juan Carlos Hernandez Campillo. (Via Diverse Education)

 

PLUS:

Bethune-Cookman Sweeps PGA Minority Golf Championship for Second Year

NABJ Honors North Carolina A&T Professor Sandra Hughes With Lifetime Achievement Award

Morgan State University Rallies for Kidnapped Nigerian Students

Grambling State Hopes to Have New President by October

ASU and Tuskegee Share Their Versions Of ‘Happy’