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Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education that were established with the purpose to provide African Americans education.

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, previously known as the Institute for Colored Youth, is the oldest historically black school.

Cheyney University was established in 1837 by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist.

CHEYNEY, PA — Navrogen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specialized in developing therapies for cancer and immune-related disorders, announced the opening of its R&D operations at the Cheyney University science center located in Chester County, PA.

The move enables the company to expand its proprietary Humoral Immuno Oncology (HIO) technology discovery efforts to identify HIO-suppressed cancer types and development of therapeutic agents that can unlock a patient’s immune system to combat their cancer.

A subset of tumors produce immune checkpoint factors that suppress a patient’s immune response to attack and destroy dysregulated cancer cells. HIO-suppressed cancers produce proteins, called HIO-factors, that suppress antibody-mediated “humoral” immune responses that are generated by a patient’s immune system to attack dysregulated cancer cells.

These factors can suppress antibody-mediated tumor cell killing of those generated by a patient’s humoral immune response as well as antibody-based drugs including Rituxan® in non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Herceptin® in metastatic breast cancer.

Navrogen’s mission focuses on therapeutic solutions to reverse HIO suppression through proprietary screening platforms to identify tumor produced HIO-factors as well as develop therapeutic agents that can overcome a HIO-factor’s immuno-suppressive effect.

“The move to Cheyney enables us to transition to the next phase of our strategic growth plan as we continue to advance the development of our technology platforms and experimental therapies to identify and combat HIO-suppressed cancer types,” stated Nicholas Nicolaides, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Navrogen. “As part of the relationship with Cheyney, we will teach students the concepts of cancer immunity and provide them first-hand training in biomedical research to support the University’s mission of bringing unique experiential learning to their students as the company leverages the use of Cheyney’s state-of-the-art research facility and operational maintenance.”

 

Another private industry partner is setting up shop at Cheyney University. School officials announced today that ASI Chemicals, a start-up company that manufactures chemicals for pharmaceutical products, is launching operations in the Science Center.

“This is the next step in our plan to attract businesses that can provide valuable learning opportunities to our students through internships and generate revenue for the university by utilizing space in our state-of-the-art Science Center,” said Cheyney University President Aaron A. Walton. “This chemistry-based company also expands the variety of science disciplines to which our students will be exposed.”

ASI’s president, Rich Tyburski, said he knew the Science Center was a good fit at first sight.

“When we visited, we saw it was a beautiful campus with a top-notch facility, and the chance to work with students is something we think is just great for us,” he said. “Before I was hired into my first job, I started as an intern right before my junior year at Villanova University, and then that company hired me as an entry-level scientist. I was able to work my way up from there. Getting that real-world experience helped me tremendously. We’re looking to create that pathway for Cheyney students now.”

Mosaic Development Partners—along with the Chester County Economic Development Council—has been helping Cheyney attract corporate partners to locate on campus. Mosaic Partner Leslie Smallwood-Lewis said the Science Center practically sells itself.

“When we bring scientists in, they are impressed by the quality of the fully equipped labs,” Smallwood-Lewis said. “The building has extra capacity so why not let some of those labs become hands-on training rooms for students and also produce income for the university?”

The two principals of ASI, both formerly with IsoSciences, are synthetic organic chemists. Their previous employer has grown into a global giant in the industry. Tyburski said he and his partners wanted to get back to a small company environment.

“We wanted to be part of a new innovative company, where we can focus on the science. For us it was about getting back to that small company feel and doing what we do best,” he said.

ASI will be looking for students seeking a science degree to intern with them but there is also potential for students on a business or marketing track.

“We’re eager to meet with the students, see what they’re excited to do, and determine how we can work with them,” Tyburski said. “At small companies, sometimes you just have to find an individual who’s passionate about something and let them run with it. That’s where you can really see some huge growth.”

ASI’s arrival follows a similar move last month by Navrogen, a research and development biology-based company. The university is in talks with other potential corporate partners about moving their operations to the 275-acre campus, which is on the Delaware County-Chester County line.

“We began with the Science Center because no renovations or retrofits were needed in that building,” President Walton said. “We started to create momentum there and now we’ve begun to focus on other buildings that need to be remodeled to make them appropriate for other uses. Our plan to transform the campus is right on course.”

Cheyney University Study: Businesses, Universities and Workforce Training Programs can do more to Address Philadelphia Region’s Employment Disparities

 

(CHEYNEY, PA – January 09, 2020) – Cheyney University’s Institute of Contemporary African American Experience (ICAAE) has completed a research project on race as it relates to access to economic opportunities in the Philadelphia region. The study was funded by a grant from the Starbucks Foundation.

 

The study’s findings, while disturbing in many aspects, also revealed prospects for hope and some innovative recommendations to alleviate the region’s economic and employment disparities that have contributed to a workforce population that lacks the skills to compete in a 21^st century job market. Government, private industry, workforce development programs and universities all have a role to play in better preparing applicants and motivating them to take a more productive approach to move ahead.

 

“There needs to be a shift in many job seekers’ mind state within the community,” Atif Bostic, Executive Director of Uplift Solutions told the researchers. “If you’re comfortable saying that something is ‘not my job,’ then it never will be. If you tell your supervisor that you don’t get paid for that, then you never will. Employees need to view these situations as opportunities as it is very hard to give a role to someone else if you are already doing it.”

 

The study concluded companies also must consider hiring models that invest in on-the-job training, specialized education, and provide incentives for life-long learning. The existing career and workforce development entities throughout the city present an opportunity for policymakers to fund, expand, and organize existing resources with the same goal.

 

The study notes that other solutions may present themselves if America’s healthcare insurance system changes. If an employer no longer has to invest in the cost of healthcare for their workers, these savings could be used to invest in improving the skills of the labor force.

 

The Institute of Contemporary African American Experience was launched by Cheyney University in 2018. One of its first priorities was to examine how unemployment rates continue to remain high in the region even as companies struggle to recruit and retain skilled employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics determined that even though Philadelphia’s unemployment rate has declined, the overall unemployment rate is still higher than the national average. Research also shows that in Philadelphia over 53,000 citizens are categorized as the ‘working poor.’

 

The ICAEE team attended two job fairs in Philadelphia during the study. Although the attendees were described as enthusiastic and hopeful of attaining full-time living wage employment, conversations prompted by the researchers found that employment recruiters experienced difficulties finding qualified candidates beyond entry-level positions.

 

Michael Robinson, Director of Community Outreach & Hiring at the Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative at Temple University, was the organizer of one of the job fairs the research team attended in Philadelphia. Robinson believes that “the high unemployment rate and high failure rates of companies to fill positions is due to the education and training level of the applicant pool.”

 

Positions exist but the pool of applicants does not have the skills necessary to fulfill positions higher than the entry-level positions.

 

“Employers tend to use the same resources when seeking talent, which is similar to fishing in the same watering hole,” Robinson said. “Philadelphia employers need to continue to find innovative ways to identify, develop, and cultivate talent.”

 

Cheyney University President Aaron A. Walton said Cheyney wants to continue to advance this conversation.

 

“The ICAEE welcomes any organizations interested in further addressing questions surrounding diversity, inclusion, and belongingness as it pertains to recruiting and retaining African-Americans in the Philadelphia labor force,” Walton said. With the current tight labor market, there is no good reason to have so many people lacking the opportunity to participate in the workforce.”

 

Any organizations interested in joining with ICAEE in seeking solutions should contact Irma Aguirre, Director of Strategic Alliance & Career Development at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

 

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About Cheyney – Founded in 1837, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is the nation’s oldest historically Black institution of higher education. Building on this legacy, the vision for Cheyney is to become the premier model for academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility among not only Historically Black Colleges and Universities, but in all of American higher education. The campus is located on 275 acres straddling Delaware and Chester Counties. Read more at www.cheyney.edu.

 

About The Starbucks Foundation – The Starbucks Foundation is a charitable organization that receives funding from the Starbucks Corporation and private donations. The Foundation’s goals are aimed at supporting communities affected by disaster and advancing opportunities for youth, veterans and refugees.