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The Propel Center selected Cheyney to help fund its Bridge for Black Americans Pursuing Medicine program

(CHEYNEY, PA – Aug. 25, 2022) – Cheyney University of Pennsylvania today announced it was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Propel Center, the global HBCU technology and learning hub, to support the university’s Bridge for Black Americans Pursuing Medicine (BBAPM) program.

The BBAPM program will provide undergraduate Cheyney students with exposure to non-traditional, high-demand careers in medicine. Through a partnership with AtlantiCare, a health system serving southern New Jersey, 25 students majoring in Biology with pre-health concentrations will participate in the immersion program during winter or summer break. The grant will help fund portions of the program that will give students the opportunity to complete rotations with healthcare professionals such as respiratory therapists, medical lab technicians, and radiology technicians while working to enhance their readiness for additional training programs.

“We designed this program to provide a pathway for our students to enter medical careers with hands-on training and internship opportunities,” said Cheyney President Aaron A. Walton. “This program’s ultimate goal is to increase the number of Black healthcare professionals.”

President Walton continued, “The program will help reduce the disparity in health outcomes for Black Americans, as there is evidence that health disparities among Black Americans can be reduced when they are treated by Black healthcare professionals.”

The BBAPM program will also expose students to technology resources to support their academic achievement. Students will employ the use of the virtual Apple Classroom app and Apple mobile devices. The technology resources will aid students in improving their readiness for the next training level and prepare them for the standardized tests required for certification and licensure in healthcare fields. Students will use the virtual classroom throughout their undergraduate years so their skills and level of independence as learners progresses every year.

According to Vanessa Atkins, Director of Cheyney’s Life Sciences & Technology Hub, the innovative approach to building health career awareness and improving readiness for the rigors of advanced training for these careers will provide a bridge for undergraduate students to careers that meet the needs of society.

“We want to increase representation of Blacks in healthcare and promote continued engagement in the field of medicine beyond degree completion,” said Atkins. “We are creating a clear pathway to fulfilling careers otherwise unknown to recent graduates.”

Cheyney is one of five awardees that recently received grants from the Propel Center. The awards, the second round of Industry Impact Grants, continue Propel’s mission to offer world-class research and innovation opportunities for HBCUs and their students. The selected universities will also have the opportunity to work in collaboration with Propel Impact Industry Mentors, who are available to help curricula and provide ongoing mentorship, learning support, and internship opportunities.

“One of our goals at Propel is to shine a long overdue spotlight on the young scholars at our HBCUs who are prepared, trained and poised to step up and transform the global, diverse healthcare workforce of the future,” said Dr. Charles J. Gibbs, president of the Propel Center | HBCU Consortium. “These Impact Grant awardees are our best hope and opportunity to add and enhance the Black talent pipeline, and we’re proud to support our future healthcare leaders and innovators.”

Cheyney’s BBAPM program supports the university’s growing demand for bioscience and technology majors. With 35 percent of the student body now enrolled within these majors, the university is increasing awareness of career options for these students through its on-campus partnerships with biotech companies and expanding opportunities with external like-minded partners, providing internships and careers.

“We have more than doubled the percentage of students majoring in STEM in four years,” said President Walton. “With the assets we have put into place, there is every reason to believe we will continue to grow our educational offerings and real-world experience for our students.”

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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.

The two oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities Cheyney University (HBCUs) and sister institution down the road, Lincoln University served as co-hosts for the National Association of Title III Administrators, Inc. Technical Assistance Workshop June 19th – 24^th, 2022.

The annual event gathered more than 250 representatives from the 101 HBCUs to network, discuss grant compliance and share best practices during a participate technical assistance workshop. Title III Strengthening HBCUs funding started in 1965 with the Higher Education Act that among other objectives intended to level the educational playing field and provide financial support to institutions of higher education, including HBCUs more equitably.

“Prior to 1965, black and brown individuals could not attend state universities,” said Cheyney’s Mae Stephens, Director of Title III/Grants Administration. “That is why HBCUs were so critical for those seeking to advance their education.”

Along with HBCU representatives, the multi-day conference was attended by City of Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, LaDeshia Maxwell, newly appointed deputy southeast regional director from Gov. Tom Wolf’s Office, and numerous vendors from around the country. Cheyney students were able to attend and fully participate in the workshop sessions. Additionally, Cheyney University alum Joyce Abbott, who is Quinta Brunson’s inspiration for the fictional television series Abbott Elementary, made an appearance at the welcome reception and took pictures with many of the attendees and students.

The final day of the event included a Spirit Day where each school wore their colors, Greek sororities and fraternities competed in step exercises and a grand presentation from the Teyhimba African Drum Ensemble.

The conference marked an important part of why the Higher Education Act of 1965 was signed into law under President Lydon Johnson’s Administration as part of the Great Society domestic agenda, identifying the principal characteristics of an HBCU. It authorized a broad array of federal student aid programs that assist students and their families with financing the cost of a postsecondary education, as well as programs that provide federal support to postsecondary institutions of higher education.

Stephens reminds us that “Today, HBCUs though they comprise approximately three percent of American colleges and universities, these schools award more than 22 percent of all bachelor’s degrees in the United States, with 24 percent in STEM fields. Among members of Congress, 40 percent are HBCU graduates.” (source: https://hbcualumni.org)

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Part of HBCU’s ongoing commitment to ensure students have necessary tools to compete in a fast-paced tech world

(CHEYNEY, PA – Aug. 10, 2022) – As part of an ongoing commitment to provide students with the latest technology to perform at the highest academic level, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is providing all 625 students with personal laptops to use throughout their learning journey.

The university will distribute the Dell Latitude laptops to all current students when they arrive on campus for the fall semester and prior to the first day of classes on Aug. 22. Incoming students in subsequent semesters will receive laptops when they are registered and enrolled in classes. Students will receive IT support through Dell and can maintain the latest programs through regular software and maintenance updates.

“We must ensure every student is equipped with the latest technology throughout their learning career at Cheyney,” said Cheyney President Aaron A. Walton. “Cheyney students are competing with the best and the brightest in higher education, and we need to provide the tools that support them every way that we can”

Since the laptops will be equipped with e-textbooks, students will not have to purchase physical textbooks for their classes. According to the College Board, college students spend an average of $1,200 per year on textbooks and other supplies.

“Whether it’s learning in the classroom, working in one of our many labs, supporting an internship program, or communicating with the digital world, we want current and prospective students to know we are here to prepare them to succeed on every level,” said President Walton.

Cheyney previously provided students with tablets, but the university recognized laptops are more suited for students’ needs, including the advanced shift in virtual learning, communication and connecting digitally with professional development opportunities. The university is paying for the laptops with federal COVID-19 relief funding that was made available in response to meeting technology demands during the pandemic.

“The learning environment is constantly changing, and the pandemic accelerated the speed at which we must adapt to new technology,” said President Walton. “Higher education must maintain the same pace as professional industries in order for students to be prepared and succeed.”

With the increasing enrollment in STEM education courses at Cheyney and the opportunity for students to work directly in on-campus private industry labs and bio-med research, the laptops will greatly assist with these areas of learning.

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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.

 

(left to right: Pete Spurio, Tammy A. Bagby, Dr. Bruce Coren, Coach William “Billie” Joe, and Mark Corbin. Photo credit: Fred Goode)

PRESS RELEASE

Former Cheyney Coach & Hall of Famer Donates Advanced Laser Technology for Student Athletes

Coach William “Billy” Joe secures donation with Technological Medical Advancement, helping athletes to return to health and the courts in a shorter amount of time

(CHEYNEY, PA – July 11, 2022) – Coach William “Billy” Joe’s reputation with Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) goes well beyond winning college football championships and being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The 81-year-old has made a commitment to providing HBCUs, such as Cheyney University where he launched his 35-year coaching career, with the latest technology to help student-athletes compete at the highest level.

Joe, who led the Wolves football team from 1972 to 1978, recently joined with Dr. Bruce Coren, CEO of Technological Medical Advancement, and members of Cheyney’s Athletics Department to donate the Diowave 60-watt high power stealth therapeutic laser to the university. The equipment is made by Technological Medical Advancement and is the most powerful and clinically advanced therapeutic laser device in the world, helping athletes return to health and the courts in a shorter amount of time.

Dr. Bruce Coren has partnered with Coach Joe to make the donation. He is donating the laser on behalf of his father, Dr. Ben Coren, who coached at Cheyney for many years with Coach Joe.

“I greatly appreciate Dr. Bruce Coren for allowing me the opportunity to make this donation. Cheyney University made the bold decision to hire me as their head coach when I was 31-years old and I am forever indebted to this wonderful institution,” said Joe. “I will continue to do everything I can to give back to Cheyney because it has given so much to me.”

“Coach Billy Joe has a deep understanding of athletics and knows the importance of providing HBCUs with the same opportunities that top performing collegiate and professional athletes can access,” said Tammy A. Bagby, Cheyney’s Director of Athletics. “We appreciate the coach and Dr. Coren for making this donation that will give us a technological advantage to help athletes get back on the courts quicker.”

The Diowave therapeutic laser is used to manage neuro-musculoskeletal pain from athletic injuries to post-surgical pain as well as accelerate post-surgical injury recover. The advanced technology equipment is valued at $38,000.

“This is a class 4 laser device that stimulates tissue healing and tissue regeneration,” Dr. Bruce Coren said. “It will heal any tissue in the pathway of the laser beam. It will accelerate athletic recovery anywhere from 25 to 75 percent faster than normal healing. Several professional and top collegiate programs have similar technology but not as advanced as what Cheyney now has.”

Mark Corbin, Cheyney’s Director of Public Safety and Director of University Environmental Health and Wellness, joined the donation ceremony. Corbin, a hall of fame running back, played under Joe at Central State University, an HBCU in Ohio, where the team made several appearances in the Division II tournament, including the 1983 national title game.

“It’s a great honor to join with my former coach who made such an impact on me as an athlete and the professional I am today,” said Corbin. “This donation is one of the building blocks to the foundation to Cheyney athletics. It will go a long way to provide the technology we need and give our athletes an advantage.”

After coaching at Cheyney for seven years, Joe was the Philadelphia Eagles’ running back coach for two years, which included the team’s 1980 Super Bowl appearance. He returned to collegiate athletics as the head coach for Central State from 1981 to 1993, where he won five consecutive Black college football national championships and two NAIA National Football Championships. He was also the head coach at Florida A&M (1994-2004) and Miles College (2008 – 2010). He finished his coaching career with 243 wins and currently second only to Eddie Robinson in most wins at HBCUs. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2017. After his last season with Cheyney, he was recognized by his peers as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

After being drafted in the ninth round from Villanova, Joe played seven seasons in professional football, earning Rookie of the Year honors in what was then called the American Football League in 1963 with the Denver Broncos. He would go on to play with the National Football League New York Jets team that in 1969 won Super Bowl III. During the Jets Super Bowl season, Joe tied a league record by scoring three touchdowns in one quarter.

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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.

Cheyney University’s on-campus partnerships with life sciences and technology companies are helping to establish the nation’s first HBCU as a center for STEM education. Through the Life Sciences and Technology (LSAT) Hub more students have access to innovative labs and the ability to learn and work alongside the experts who operate them. The increased attention to STEM experiential learning has allowed students to engage with like-minded individuals across all majors.

Cheyney’s STEM Club was founded in January 2022 to advance that purpose; allowing not just STEM students to share ideas on their various projects but to also host STEM-themed activities for the entire campus. The goal of the club is to bring together students across several majors to experience hands-on activities while practicing lab skills, hearing from guest speakers, connecting with professional organizations, attending conferences, and sharing the love of STEM with everyone.

“Students in STEM are pursuing different careers and were interested in building their skills and were going to the same people asking questions,” said Wilford, president of the STEM Club.

Wilford, a junior who is majoring in computer science with a minor in data analytics said he was originally considering starting a chapter of National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) on campus, but after speaking with Vanessa Atkins, Director of Cheyney’s Life Sciences and Technology Hub, and his peers realized Cheyney needed something more inclusive. Fellow STEM student Kishore Owusu echoed those thoughts.

“I was part of a group of enthusiastic students that felt Cheyney needed a club that would share their knowledge of STEM with the general student body through demonstrations all while exploring the field ourselves and adding on to our knowledge,” said Owusu, who is a founding member of the club.

Throughout the past semester, the club hosted events that included several activities, including demonstrating the chemical reaction known as “Elephant’s Toothpaste,” where hydrogen peroxide is decomposed rapidly producing a lot

of colored foam – it looks like toothpaste, but bigger. They also extracted DNA from fruit, explored the inner components of a personal computer, and participated in a planetarium show, which was the first time many of students had the opportunity to explore the solar system indoors.

The students credit Atkins for her willingness to collaborate with them throughout the process to create the club and her ongoing involvement with all activities.

“Some of our students even learned how to run a planetarium show right here on our campus,” said Atkins.

“Cheyney University has what is needed to help diversify the STEM workforce in our community and beyond.  It is an institution that keeps the students at the forefront of everything,” Atkins said. “The LSAT Hub internship programs with our strategic partners add a unique dimension to the learning process with real hands-on experience in the workplace and the STEM club has a similar theme of hands-on learning, in informal settings.”

Toward the end of the semester, the club hosted a Jeopardy-style quiz game to help students prepare for their finals, exploring subjects like chemistry, biology, anatomy, physics and astrology. This event was such a success that the club plans to host one every semester. Additionally, the STEM Club is already lining up activities and events for the Fall 2022 semester.

Atkins, who has a Master of Science, in science instruction from Drexel University and a B.S. in biochemistry from Jefferson University, came to Cheyney in June 2021. She arrived with an impressive resume that included 14 years at Temple University in several capacities: adjunct instructor, program/project director and two years at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine as an advisor. She heard about the transformative plan President Aaron Walton is implementing to bring Cheyney back to a position of prominence and decided to bring her experience and skills to Cheyney.

“Black Americans make up 11% of the total workforce but only 6% of the life sciences workforce,” Atkins said. “Cheyney’s students are excited about these career opportunities, and our work is focused on making sure they see that these careers are accessible to them. They’re opening their minds and seeing ways to contribute to developing the future through STEM.

Atkins went on to say that STEM opportunities are available and the students at Cheyney are growing in their understanding of the wide variety of career options available to them. Cheyney President Aaron A. Walton recently said the university’s mission of preparing students for 21st-century jobs is advancing.

“We have doubled our percentage of students majoring in STEM in just the past four years,” Walton said during recent announcements about the university’s growth in STEM. “With our on-campus private industry partners, we are again demonstrating how our public-private model is benefiting our university, our students, and the companies with which we collaborate.”

Recently, Cheyney received a $5 million investment from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania  to create a bioscience incubator space at the university called the ‘ThinkUbator.’

“All of this investment is to give students, like the students here at Cheyney, the foundation they need to take advantage of opportunities like the ones that are becoming available right here,” said Governor Tom Wolf at a recent announcement held at Cheyney. “There are many private companies on Cheyney’s campus, and the purpose of the monetary investment into the ThinkUBator program is to expand opportunities in STEM careers:

According to Atkins, as students gain skills and confidence, they tell their friends, who also begin to see there’s a lot more available to them in STEM than they may have thought. For Cheyney University students the STEM club helps them gain exposure, and the Life Sciences and Technology Hub creates opportunities for deeper exploration on the campus of Cheyney University.

Cheyney University alum Dr. Hakim Stovall’s career path has come full circle. Beginning as an intern in the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office at age 16, and spending nine years as a correctional officer while continuing his studies, he has now accepted a high-level role with the Washington, DC Medical Examiner’s Office as a Fatality Review Specialist.

Whether it has been academics or profession, Stovall has always sought to reach the next level. This relentless motivation has allowed him to fulfill his passion for helping others access essential resources so they can have a better path forward.

Stovall earned a B.A. in social relations with a concentration in criminal justice in 2000 and a M.S. in adult education in 2004. He credits Cheyney for creating the foundation upon which he combined his goals with his passion, becoming the first African American male to complete Wilmington University’s Prevention Science Doctoral Program. The program combines educational achievements with real-world experience to find answers to some of the most challenging issues facing our society.

His dissertation was titled, “Tertiary Prevention: Recidivism Reduction and the Effectiveness of Reentry Agency Impact.” He studied the effectiveness of community programs and how supports, such as housing, employment, transportation, childcare and access to food, could help individuals within targeted populations. His conclusion: these programs are necessities to help individuals overcome societal issues and be successful.

“The focus of prevention science is the study of different populations,” said Stovall. “The goal was to identify strategies that can be used to mitigate societal issues, such as recidivism prevention, gun violence, opioid abuse – and how all of these have been impacted by COVID-19.”

Achieving academic accolades is only part of the equation for Stovall’s success. His professional path has included positions in social services, medical examination, and nine years as a correctional officer for the DC Department of Corrections. He worked full-time in corrections while completing the Wilmington doctoral program.

“I worked with the intake process and helped identify barriers for individuals as they were entering the system,” said Stovall. “I wanted to be part of the movement that was giving inmates opportunities and second chances and be part of community integration. I wanted to learn how the system works and gauge career perspectives moving forward.”

His work helped him realize the potential of reentry and recidivism. While applying newly attained knowledge within a professional setting, he successfully implemented the findings from his studies into real-world practice.

Stovall was initially interested in pursuing work in a field that involved law enforcement even before he enrolled at Cheyney. As a high school intern in the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, he saw firsthand the relationship other agencies have with law enforcement. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Cheyney, he accepted a position as a substance abuse case manager with a non-profit organization in Philadelphia. He helped individuals with substance abuse, reentry and mental health. It was through this work that he began to understand the evolution of human services and the various entities involved with the criminal justice system.

“Throughout this process, I came across different programs that encouraged me to go into the adult education perspective, including recovery and workforce initiatives,” said Stovall. “I wanted to be part of the training and education for the targeted population I was helping to serve. I wanted to help individuals become more self-sufficient.”

While working at another Philadelphia-based non-profit as a community support specialist, Stovall returned to Cheyney and earned his master’s degree. Furthering his education while building his professional experience opened more doors for him into human services and reentry services. Stovall credits Cheyney’s network of professionals and support system for helping him to always reach the next level.

“You develop a bond with many individuals while at Cheyney. The experience is unreal,” said Stovall. “I still have a relationship with people I met as a freshman through post-graduation. We operate within a brotherly and sisterly perspective. Everyone still sticks together and supports each other.”

The Stovall family is part of Cheyney’s legacy. Hakim’s dad, Gary, and two brothers, Omar and Jamal, are proud Cheyney graduates. Gary was a non-traditional student and graduated with the same class as Omar. The family has always made education a top priority.

“Hakim was a very hard worker. He was always concerned with achieving good grades and would stay behind classes and discuss his interests with his professors,” said Dr. Vincent Miles, Professor of Social Relations. “I knew Cheyney was not the end of the road for him.

Dr. Miles continued, “Hakim was driven by research. He kept me in the loop after he graduated from Cheyney and would contact me with questions about his work and thoughts on his doctorate program. He applied real-life experiences and never compromised what he learned through his profession and research. He always stuck to it and faced challenges head on.”

As for his new job with the DC Medical Examiner’s Office, Stovall said, “I feel that I have learned so much that I can bring effective strategies to the ME’s Office.”

Looking back on his academic and professional experience, Stovall is most grateful for his ability to connect with individuals young and old, maintaining the same passion throughout this time. Most importantly, he wants the Cheyney community to know they will always have a support system.

“It warms my heart to have the feeling of supporting individuals who want to find their passion by starting at Cheyney,” said Stovall. “We are a family that can help each other navigate in the direction we want to go.”

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