Prepared. Unified. Unmistakable.

Cheyney Scholars Step onto the National Stage at TMCF DEVCON

Twenty students from Cheyney University traveled to Baltimore, MD to attend the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s DEVCON Leadership and Career Development Conference. They did more than just attend, they represented a legacy. They embodied preparation. And in a national arena filled with opportunity and competition, they stood out.

Held February 18–21, 2026, TMCF DevCon, is a four-day regional conference centered on professional development for college freshmen and sophomores from public and private historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The annual gathering brings together high-achieving scholars, Fortune 500 recruiters, federal agencies, and nonprofit leaders for leadership development, professional training, and direct recruitment opportunities.

This year’s Cheyney delegation was the largest the University has sent in more than a decade. Yet what distinguished the group was not simply its size, but its presence.

A Presence That Spoke Without Words

Throughout the conference, organizers and recruiters praised Cheyney students for their professionalism, confidence, and unity. Dressed in coordinated Cheyney apparel, the delegation projected more than school pride. They communicated alignment, preparation, and institutional identity and observers took notice.

Conference representatives remarked that Cheyney students had “stepped up,” pointing to their professionalism and cohesion as indicators of a strong institutional culture and readiness for opportunity. In highly competitive national environments, presence matters. Cheyney’s scholars understood that before they spoke a single word.

When Preparation Meets Opportunity

The results reflected both readiness and ambition.

• One Cheyney scholar was selected to serve as a DEVCON student speaker, an honor reserved for emerging leaders who demonstrate voice, vision, and excellence.
• Several students secured internship opportunities through on-site recruitment.
• Others received financial awards and conference recognitions.

Yet the experience extended beyond tangible outcomes. Students expanded professional networks, sharpened career focus, and gained confidence in their place within competitive professional spaces.

President Aaron A. Walton sees moments like this as evidence of the University’s mission realized in real time. “When our students enter national spaces prepared, confident, and unified, they demonstrate the strength of a Cheyney education,” Walton said. “Their success affirms our commitment to preparing scholars who are ready to lead, compete, and excel on every stage.”

DevCon connects students with leading employers across technology, finance, defense, retail, and federal service sectors. The exposure opens pathways to internships, graduate study, and long-term career placement. For Cheyney students, it was not only access to opportunity, but affirmation of belonging.

The Honors Academy Difference

Many members of the delegation were scholars in Cheyney University’s Honors Academy, a selective program designed to cultivate high-achieving students through rigorous scholarship, leadership development, and professional readiness preparation.

Dr. Janelle L. West, Dean of the Honors Academy, said the experience affirmed both preparation and purpose. “Our scholars arrived prepared, polished, and ready to compete,” West said. DevCon confirmed what we already know: Cheyney students belong in every room where leadership, innovation, and opportunity are being shaped.”

Through academic rigor, leadership training, and career preparation, the Honors Academy equips students to thrive in environments where excellence is expected. DevCon provided a national stage where that preparation became visible.

More Than Attendance: Visibility and Identity

What unfolded in Baltimore, MD was more than participation. It was visibility. It was brand elevation. It was student advancement.

Cheyney’s unified presence signaled organization, purpose, and pride, qualities that resonate with employers, partners, and prospective students alike. Their cohesion demonstrated that institutional identity is not abstract; it is lived, worn, and carried into every room where opportunity exists. In national spaces where first impressions matter, the delegation’s alignment amplified both individual opportunity and institutional reputation.

Returning with More Than Experience

For many students, the most lasting outcome cannot be measured in awards or internship offers. They returned with greater confidence and clarity. They saw themselves in rooms of influence. They built networks that extend beyond the conference halls. They recognized their competitiveness and potential.

They returned with a stronger belief in what is possible.

Building Forward Momentum

Participation in national convenings like DevCon strengthens Cheyney University’s visibility, expands access to career pipelines, and reinforces its commitment to preparing students for leadership and professional success. It also reflects the University’s broader momentum and ongoing transformation honoring its historic legacy while advancing boldly into the future. For the students who attended, the experience was not simply a trip. It was a turning point. And for Cheyney University, it was a powerful reminder that preparation, pride, and partnership continue to open doors on the national stage.

To contact the Cheyney University Honors Academy, click here.

Stay up to date with the Honors Academy on Instagram (@cuhonors1837).

Preparing Tomorrow’s Scholars, Today

Cheyney University continues to make headlines for the work it’s doing to support the next generation of scholars. Through new and expanded programs designed for high school students, Cheyney is gaining attention for its commitment to early access, college readiness, and meaningful on-campus experiences. These initiatives reflect how Cheyney is expanding access and readiness for college-bound students through campus visits and immersive preparatory experiences—made possible by strategic partnerships and targeted investments.

These stories reflect Cheyney University’s continued commitment to the advancement and success of students—long before they step onto campus. As Cheyney expands programs that nurture readiness, confidence, and belonging, the University expects to remain a strong presence in the news for the work it’s doing to support and uplift future scholars.

Have you seen Cheyney doing amazing things in the news?

Let us know! Email Public Relations

Jasir Jones Is Just Getting Started

A young leader with vision, purpose, and unapologetic drive, Jasir Jones is shaping Cheyney University and now the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania one step at a time.

When Jasir Jones reflects on his journey to Cheyney University, he speaks with the confidence of someone who understands that every detour, every challenge, and every unexpected turn was preparing him for something bigger. Now a Business Administration major and the current SGA President, Jones leads with energy, authenticity, and a commitment to improving the lives of the students around him.

Jones grew up between Philadelphia and Maryland, two worlds that shaped him in different ways. Philadelphia gave him his roots. Maryland gave him his voice. In high school, he rose to leadership quickly at a predominantly white institution, serving as both class president and student body president. It was there he first learned how to advocate for others, build consensus, and stay true to himself in rooms where he was often the only one who looked like him.

Cheyney wasn’t his original plan. He imagined beginning his college career in Atlanta, but obstacles kept redirecting him. A conversation with a friend, followed by an unexpected scholarship opportunity, shifted everything. What he once viewed as a backup option became the place he felt instantly connected to, a place where he later discovered his grandmother, aunts, and uncles had all walked the same grounds.

“God will always put you where you’re supposed to be,” he says. For Jones, that place was Cheyney.

Built for This Moment

From the moment he arrived on campus, Jones poured himself into leadership. Freshman Class President. Vice President of Executive Affairs. And now, SGA President for the 2025–2026 academic year. In this role, he serves as the voice of the student body, the liaison to university leadership, and the person responsible for elevating student concerns with clarity and impact.

“Student leaders are students too,” he says. “We live the same struggles. My job is to make sure our concerns are not only heard, but taken seriously.”

His influence stretches far beyond campus. Jones represents Cheyney at civic events across the region, from the Mayor’s Ball to NAACP youth programs, sharing the significance of HBCUs, the strength of community, and the value of Cheyney’s legacy.

This year, Jones gained statewide recognition when he was appointed to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs. Established under Governor Josh Shapiro, the Commission brings African American leaders into direct conversation with state government to address inequities in education, economic opportunity, criminal justice, health outcomes, and community empowerment.

Commissioners advise the Governor, recommend policy solutions, connect with Black communities across Pennsylvania, and help shape programs that improve conditions for African American residents.

Jones is now the first Cheyney student ever appointed to this Commission, a milestone that reflects not only his leadership but the power of Cheyney’s presence at the state level.

“It’s a blessing and an opportunity,” he says. “My goal is to make sure that another Cheyney student comes right after me.”

Finding His Voice and Using It

Jones speaks with purpose, but also with ease. He laughs when he recalls being nicknamed “World Domination,” a playful response to his long list of goals—class president, leadership boards, and more. Rather than shrinking from the label, he leaned into it.

“If that’s what they want to call it, fine,” he says with a smile. “I call it pushing myself. I call it showing up for my community.”

What he wants future Cheyney students, especially incoming freshmen, to know is simple:

“Never doubt yourself. If you want it, go get it. Your belief in yourself is the first step.”

This Is Only the Beginning

Jones talks about legacy often, not as a slogan but as a responsibility. Leadership, for him, is less about the role and more about who benefits from it.

“I want to leave something behind that makes it easier for the next student coming up.”

With his SGA presidency, statewide appointment, and undeniable presence on campus, Jones is already shaping Cheyney’s future. And with his drive, charisma, and unshakable sense of purpose, one thing is clear:

Jasir Jones is just getting started.

New $145,000 Grant Fuels Summer Bridge Experience for 100 Students

Cheyney University is proud to announce that the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) has awarded the University a $145,000 SOAR Grant to launch a new Summer Bridge Program in July 2026. This investment reinforces Cheyney’s leadership in student access, academic readiness, and high-impact college preparation for emerging scholars.

Running July 5–11, 2026, the Cheyney University Summer Bridge Program will be led by Dr. Janelle L. West, Dean of the Honors Academy, and will welcome 100 rising high school seniors to campus for a weeklong, residential learning experience. The program is designed to strengthen academic skills, build a supportive community, and provide students with an early and transformative introduction to college life at the nation’s first Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

Participants will engage in curated academic sessions, mentoring, and experiential learning that highlight Cheyney University’s academic strengths, signature programs, and proud HBCU heritage.

A major highlight of the week is attending the HBCU Swingman Game on July 10, supported by the Philadelphia Phillies, which gives students a dynamic cultural and educational experience celebrating HBCU excellence on a national stage.

This grant reflects TMCF’s confidence in Cheyney University’s mission and momentum and expands the University’s capacity to support first-year students from the moment they begin their journey. Additional information regarding student participation, faculty engagement, and volunteer opportunities will be shared in the coming weeks.

Uniting Legacy and Possibility

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is proud to announce the appointment of Ken Anderson as the University’s new Executive Director of External Affairs, a role designed to expand Cheyney’s partnerships across industry, government, education, and philanthropy.

Anderson joins Cheyney with a distinguished career spanning business, civic engagement, and nonprofit leadership. His previous work with the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, United Way, and other civic organizations focused on building cross-sector ecosystems that advance inclusive economic growth and regional competitiveness.

When asked what motivated him to bring that experience to higher education, Anderson pointed to Cheyney’s unique position in the national landscape. He described the University as “the intersection of legacy and possibility” and emphasized his long-standing commitment to connecting sectors to expand opportunity and innovation. In his view, Cheyney’s identity as the nation’s first HBCU, and its emerging role as a future-focused institution make it the ideal place to continue that work.

Advancing President Walton’s Vision

His appointment aligns directly with President Aaron A. Walton’s transformation agenda, which has strengthened academic pathways, expanded workforce partnerships, and driven measurable institutional growth. When asked how his background connects to President Walton’s vision, Anderson noted that his experience in public–private collaboration positions him to help Cheyney “reclaim its position as a national thought leader in education, innovation, and equity.” He highlighted opportunities to attract companies to campus, build new internship and career pipelines, and advance collaborative work that prepares students for long-term success.

Anderson will play a central role in accelerating Cheyney’s expanding partnership ecosystem.

The University’s recent collaborations, including the Community College of Philadelphia transfer pathway and the Shoot 360 sports technology center, demonstrate its commitment to innovative, student-centered engagement. His charge is to grow this network across established industries and what he calls the “unusual suspects” in technology, life sciences, sports innovation, cultural institutions, and emerging markets.

“External Affairs is about turning relationships into results,” Anderson said. His goal is to position Cheyney as a magnet for ideas, investment, and impact, expanding the institution’s visibility and influence while building tangible opportunities for students.

Anderson holds a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University and business credentials from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University. He serves on several regional civic boards, including Philadelphia 250 and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.