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employee from aaru helping a student put on the V R headset

LU Cooperative Extension and Outreach hosts virtual reality STEM education labs

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

by Ellie Melero

As she stepped into the Pollinator Sanctuary, Andria took a moment to assess her surroundings.

She stood in the middle of a circular path lined with bushes and flowers. Butterflies, bees and other flying insects flitted between the plants, buzzing contentedly and paying her no mind. Her eyes followed the route of a bumblebee as it circled a purple flower to her right and flew over her head, bringing her gaze up to admire the bright blue sky that shone through the crisscrossing wooden beams enclosing her and the insects inside a giant ring.

She returned her eyes to the front and saw six pedestals in front of her. Each held a flower and was labeled with a different pollinator. She stepped forward, reached out, and plucked a bright red and orange marigold from its pedestal. Immediately, a honeybee came and landed on the flower, allowing her to get a good, close look at it. She brought the flower eye-level, and a voice began speaking in her ear, telling her about the daily habits of honeybees.

“Usually, if I saw it in real life, I would get scared,” Andria said. “If I saw a bee, I would run. But since I knew it wasn’t real, I was kind of investigating it, seeing what was on the bug and stuff.”

Pollinator Sanctuary virtual reality experience displayed on a TV screen — The VR Pollinator Sanctuary helped students learn about pollination, the insects that pollinate, and how that process plays into everyday life.

Observing different bees, butterflies and moths up close on the flowers was one of several activities Andria did through the Pollinator Sanctuary Virtual Reality Experience at Langston University on Thursday.

A rising junior at Stillwater High School, Andria is a camper at LU’s 2026 Math and Science Academy. The annual summer camp brings students from all over Oklahoma and surrounding states to the Langston Campus for two weeks to learn about STEM careers, life in college and strategies for taking the ACT. Activities like the Pollinator Sanctuary give the students opportunities to learn about STEM and agriculture in new and exciting ways, which is why Shar Carter is trying to make it more accessible.

Carter is an extension educator with LU’s Cooperative Outreach and Extension Programs (CEOP). She worked with Aaru Entertainment, a virtual reality company based in Tulsa, to bring the Pollinator Sanctuary to Langston for the Math and Science Academy. For two years, she has worked with Aaru to put on similar events around Tulsa with some of the other educational labs they offer, such as a virtual reality space simulation. This summer, she wants to do more.

“We can take them to places, whether that’s botanical gardens or museums, that they might never see in their lifetime,” Carter said. “There’s just so many applications that we can do, and what Dr. (Welsey) Whitaker, Dr. (Alonzo) Peterson and President (Ruth Ray) Jackson have allowed me to do is engage with other departments and adapt it to what they want to do.”

For the Math and Science Academy, Carter wanted it to showcase one of the many intersections of STEM and agriculture.

a student moves around while wearing a V R headset — In the VR Pollinator Sanctuary, students could get a close look at insects and flowers and learn about the importance of pollination and pollinator conservation.

By donning the VR headset, students were transported from LU’s Multipurpose Gymnasium into a state-of-the-art insect sanctuary and observatory to learn about pollination, the insects that pollinate, and how that process plays into everyday life. They looked at bugs and flowers up close, walked through a grocery store with empty shelves where all the food requiring pollination should have been, and learned about pollinator conservation.

For many of the students, this was their first experience with virtual reality, and they were impressed.

“I was excited because I always wanted to try VR,” Andria said. “At first, it wasn’t like how I expected it to be, but it was still fun. It was cool looking around and seeing random things flying around. I think it’s a fun way to learn, especially since it’s kind of like a video game, and most people like video games.”

The experience stuck with the students as more than just a fun activity. Many said they learned things about bees they hadn’t known before, and the impact of seeing the empty grocery store shelves is something many said will stay with them.

Aaiyah, a rising junior at Wiley East High School in Dallas, said the experience was eye-opening.

“It’s showing you how all the pollinators are gonna be gone, and how we’re not really gonna have any food,” Aaiyah said. “Like, in year 2080, we’re really only gonna have bread and wine. It was just really sad because we need to work on it.”

Despite the somber feeling she had when she took off the headset, Aaiyah was still impressed by the VR experience.

“You see things, like articles and stuff like that,” Aaiyah said. “But this was like, you actually got to engage with it. To see the future and back and the difference, and to actually take it in.”

Carter and Aaru will host the next virtual reality STEM education lab on the Langston Campus on June 25 as part of the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ HERC Field Day. Carter is working to schedule more around Oklahoma throughout the summer.

rehabilitation counseling students in class

Langston University Rehabilitation Counseling program ranked Top 10 in the nation, Top HBCU program

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

The Langston University Rehabilitation Counseling Program has been named one of the Top 10 rehabilitation counseling graduate programs and the Top HBCU program in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

Langston University rose 8 points in the rankings from 2025 to be named the tenth best program in the United States. Previously tied with Winston-Salem University, LU now sits as the highest ranked Historically Black College or University (HBCU) on the list.

“We are incredibly proud to see our Rehabilitation Counseling program break into the Top 10 nationally,” said Dr. Corey Moore, the founding director of the program. “While the ranking is a high honor, the true reward is watching our graduates enter the workforce fully equipped to lead, and seeing our research translate into better outcomes for the communities we serve.”

Langston University was ranked above programs from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Northern Illinois University, University at Buffalo-SUNY and others.

This accomplishment comes as the program celebrates its 25th anniversary, and LU President Ruth Ray Jackson recently honored Dr. Moore with a Distinguished Service Award for his leadership as the founding chair of the Department of Rehabilitation and Disability Services.

Langston University’s rehabilitation counseling master’s program is available in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Students benefit from small class settings that allow for more one-on-one interaction with the program’s distinguished faculty, and they have opportunities to participate in ground-breaking research at the department’s two federally funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers. Many of the students receive scholarships funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services/U.S. Department of Education, and all students participate in hands-on internships.

“We will use this momentum to further enhance the academic preparation of the next generation of rehabilitation and mental health professionals and to continue translating our high-impact solutions-oriented research initiatives funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research/Administration for Community Living,” Dr. Moore said.

For more information about the Rehabilitation Counseling Program, please visit langston.edu/rehab.

Students pose for a photo in a line in front of chemistry tables and equipment.

From Classroom to Community: Langston University Chemistry Students Gain Confidence Through Community Teaching

Release Provided By Jet Turner

(This story was originally published in ‘E Roar Digital Magazine | Vol. 3 Issue 2 on March 6, 2026)

by Jet Turner

For many years, Dr. Ryan Johnson and the Langston University Department of Chemistry have worked diligently to create service-learning and confidence-building programs in STEM fields for high school students.

Dr. Johnson’s goal has always been to expand this work statewide, but he’s learned an important lesson during his endeavors.

“Externally funded programs are powerful but temporary,” Dr. Johnson said. “When grants end, students lose access to support.”

That’s why the Chemistry Department has shifted its focus to sustainability by embedding this work directly into Langston University’s curriculum, building permanent pipelines that connect LU students to Oklahoma communities.

The Thomas E. English Chemistry Leadership Initiative is a curriculum-embedded service learning program named after Langston University’s 12th president, who emphasized education for community engagement and service.

Langston University General Chemistry I students develop and deliver interactive chemistry demonstrations to local high school students, positioning themselves as experts and leaders. During the Fall 2025 semester, more than 25 LU students presented demonstrations at Frederick A. Douglass High School in Oklahoma City on Nov. 11 and 18.

For some of LU’s chemistry students, this was the first time they felt confident calling themselves “scientists.” That change in mindset doesn’t just help students pass chemistry; it shapes their entire STEM journey and career trajectory, according to Dr. Johnson.

General Chemistry I students designed demonstrations on topics like acids and bases, chemical reactions and states of matter. They practiced extensively, then taught 40-minute sessions to Douglass High School chemistry classes.

“This opportunity was encouraging for me because I got a glimpse of how well I can do in the education field as an instructor,” said Oliviya Greenhoward, a General Chemistry I student last semester. “I was so surprised, appreciative of and humbled by the experience.”

The department of chemistry is expanding the Thomas E. English Chemistry Leadership Initiative this semester and has submitted a research proposal to determine whether this type of teaching experience helps students build confidence in STEM fields.

“The goal is to create a replicable model that can scale across Oklahoma and beyond,” Dr. Johnson said. “A sustainable approach to STEM pipeline development that doesn’t depend on external funding cycles.”

Graphic depicting three LU founders with the words and details for the event.

Langston University to celebrate Founders Week with ceremony, celebrations

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

Langston University is set to celebrate 129 years since its founding with a week of ceremonies and celebrations in Langston and Tulsa. The events will include musical performances, the annual Founders Day Program and an Inaugural Founders Week Celebration Gala.

The Langston University Department of Music will present The Chamber Collective musical performance on Tuesday, March 10. This collection of small ensembles will feature both choral and instrumental performances. The event will be held in the I.W. Young Auditorium on the Langston Campus at 6:30 p.m.

The annual Founders Day Program will be held at the I.W. Young Auditorium on the Langston Campus at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 12. The theme for this year’s program is “Honoring Our Past, Empowering Our Promise,” and the featured speaker will be Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, Founder and Executive Director of the Terence Crutcher Foundation.

Dr. Cruther is an alumna of Langston University, and she is a nationally recognized justice advocate, community leader and social impact advisor. As Founder and Executive Director of the Terence Crutcher Foundation, she leads transformative initiatives focused on public safety, criminal justice reform, economic mobility and community healing. She also serves as a Founding Board Member of Justice for Greenwood, Senior Advisor to Black Tech Street and Advisor to Roc Nation’s United Justice Coalition.

Langston University will end the week with the Inaugural Founders Week Celebration Gala in Tulsa on Saturday, March 14.

The Founders Week Celebration Gala, a black-tie optional event, will include a formal dinner, awards presentation and live music. There will also be a special presentation to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling program, which has since spurred the creation of a bachelor’s program, the formation of the Department of Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, the establishment of two federally funded Rehabilitation Research Training Centers, and the creation of a post-doctoral research program.

The Chamber Collective and annual Founders Day Program are free and open to the public. The Founders Week Celebration Gala is a ticketed event. Tickets can be purchased online at langston.edu/founders-week through Friday, March 6.

Professor Ralph Grayson instructs computer science student Reginald Archibald

Programmed for Success: Langston University’s Computer Science Program boasts 100% job placement rate for graduates, 95% enrollment growth

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

(This story was originally published in ‘E Roar Digital Magazine | Vol. 3 Issue 1)

by Heleen Sheets

Computer science is often ranked among the best college degrees in the United States, and U.S. News & World Report cites diverse career opportunities as one of the many benefits. Among STEM majors, a degree in computer science prepares students to thrive in technology-driven careers. These positions are often in high demand with leading companies who are focused on innovation and growth.

For those interested in computer science, Langston University is an excellent place to earn your degree.

Since spring 2021, the Langston University Computer Science program has boasted a 100% job placement rate. LU’s computer science graduates have all received jobs in their chosen industry, often solidifying their new jobs prior to graduation. In the past five years, Langston University has also realized a 95.5% enrollment growth in computer science.

Reginald Archibald II, Emoree Coley and Jathaniel Wakefield are just three of Dear Langston’s successful computer science graduates. Their preparation in mastering programming, algorithm design, data structures and developing software applications has paid dividends. In 2024, they earned their Bachelor of Science degrees in computer science. Today, they are living their dream with goals of achieving even more.

Reginald Archibald II

As an advisor and developer in commercial analytics for Phillips 66 in Houston, Texas, Reginald Archibald II is off to a great start. In this position, Archibald leverages his technical skills and tools in helping Phillips 66’s commercial business unit make more informed decisions to provide energy and improve lives.

Prior to graduation, he completed two summer internships as a software engineer with Boeing. Archibald also served as the lead computer scientist for NASA Rock On, where he contributed to the integration of a payload into a two-stage terrier Orion Rocket, and specialized in using a minicomputer to collect atmosphere data.

What Archibald appreciates most about his job is the “great work life balance” and the opportunity to network with fellow professionals.

The most challenging part of his job, Archibald said, is becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable.

”Just using problem-solving skills and networking that I learned from Langston helps me navigate through these real-world scenarios,” Archibald said. “We had conversations amongst peers and professors about scenarios and circumstances we may face in our careers and in the world. These deep conversations not only made me feel prepared in my technical skills and knowledge, but more importantly, my soft skills.”

Ralph Grayson, chair of the computer science department, was instrumental in Archibald’s choice of major. Grayson’s influence continued throughout Archibald’s matriculation, guiding him through internships, projects and coursework.

“I saw how passionate he was about his students’ success,” Archibald said. “He allowed me into his classes my freshman year as a business management major to observe and ask questions of the upperclassmen about their experiences. I was able to witness students who came before me and land amazing careers, and I told myself, that could be me if I buckle down and hit my studies hard.”

Archibald was awarded an Edwin P. McCabe Honors scholarship in addition to becoming an OK-LSAMP scholar. He was also chosen to attend the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute. His other achievements include being named the most outstanding computer science student and the Dr. In Hai Ro awardee for excellence in computer science, and becoming a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Grateful for his faith, his family, and LU faculty and professors, Archibald encourages those seeking to pursue their computer science degree to choose Langston University.

“It’s more than a program,” Archibald said. “It is a family – from professors to the students. We uplift one another, hold each other accountable and recognize our peers’ successes.”

Emoree Coley

Emoree Coley grew up in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Today, she is an Information Technology Analyst with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a part of the Cat Financials program, a two-and-a-half-year rotational program that will allow her to gain experience in different areas of the company before being placed with a permanent team.

Currently, Coley is working with the Cat Vantage Rewards team where she spends most of her time developing and working on tickets in the Salesforce platform. She has also been given the title of Co-Chair for the rotational program, which is a leadership role.

“I have the opportunity to organize events, support recruitment and intern efforts, and represent my fellow members to influence the evolution of the program,” Coley said.

Coley said she loves meeting new people, learning new things, and getting different experiences. The work is different than anything she’s done before, but she said her team makes it easy to figure things out, and she loves the work environment and company culture.

Coley transferred to Langston University from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University because of LU’s computer science program and the opportunities she knew she would have.

”(LU) just felt like the right fit for me, and it definitely was!” Coley said. “The classes covered a wide range of topics and taught me how to think critically and solve problems in different ways. The professors were always willing to help and pushed me to be my best.

“Even though what I’m working on now is new to me, the preparation I received at Langston University has made it easier to adjust and keep moving forward.”

Following in her father’s footsteps, Coley says she couldn’t ask for a better example to look up to. Growing up, she watched her father solve problems, build solutions and love his work. That passion made her want to pursue a career where she could feel the same way. He encouraged Coley to explore computers and technology from an early age. From there, her interest kept growing until she realized this was the path she wanted to follow.

She also credits her mom, grandmother, brother, boyfriend, closest friends and Grayson in helping her down this path.

During her LU journey, Coley achieved many awards and recognitions. Some of these accomplishments include being a USDA 1890 Scholar, a two-time Folds of Honor Scholarship recipient, making the Dean’s List every semester, and a triple scholar recipient (OK-LSAMP, TMCF, ITSMF).

Coley served as a member for several student organizations including Women of Purpose, the Computer Science Club, and LU NAACP. A spring 2025 initiate of the Apha Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she is also proud that as a transfer she completed her bachelor’s degree in three years, and received a full-time job offer before her final semester.

Jathaniel Wakefield secured a job at Paycom in Oklahoma City as a Level 2 Developer and received his first promotion a few months later.

Jathaniel Wakefield

As Oklahoma’s HBCU, Langston University has a legacy of generational enrollment. Jathaniel Wakefield and his family are part of that legacy. His parents, Misty and Jay, met on the Langston Campus while pursuing their education. Two decades later, their son followed in their footsteps.

“I am legacy,” Wakefield said. “On top of being a McCabe Scholar and not having to incur any debt for my education, it made for very persuasive reasons to attend.”

The younger Wakefield represented the family name well. Graduating summa cum laude, he quickly secured a job at Paycom in Oklahoma City as a Level 2 Developer and received his first promotion a few months later. Now as a Software Developer, Wakefield is responsible for the software development of new projects and applications. His duties involve testing and verifying functionality and then working with products to ensure their vision is properly applied.

Wakefield says the most enjoyable part of his job is the opportunity to solve complex problems by leveraging the tools and languages developed at Paycom, and to create a product that heavily impacts small and large businesses alike.”

His connection to Dear Langston allowed Wakefield to meet Grayson. He helped Wakefield understand what computer science is as well as how to apply basic concepts to real world scenarios and in industry use cases.

“(Grayson was) very influential and helped me by providing opportunities and challenges to grow and develop my understanding of computer science and how to apply it,” Wakefield said.

For those considering computer science, Wakefield recommends starting early and being responsible for your own development.

“When you start early, it gives you time to understand and work with complex topics like data structures and algorithms, which are used heavily throughout the industry to solve problems dealing with large amounts of data and information,” Wakefield said. “Being responsible helps your drive to continue learning. Computer science is not a career that allows you to quit learning as more and more things are discovered and leveraged to improve performance and understanding.”

Digital rendering of new physical therapy clinic on Langston University's Langston campus.

Bringing Care Home: New Langston University Physical Therapy Clinic Turns Learning into Service

Release Provided By Jet Turner

(This story was originally published in ‘E Roar Digital Magazine | Vol. 3 Issue 1 and featured in the January 2026 edition of Lion Talk.)

Dry air fills Gloire Houmba Mayindou’s lungs as he runs, his worn shoes beating the concrete surface of the park’s basketball court.

The “Diablo Rouge,” Mayindou’s club team, practice on the outdoor court nearly every day in The Republic of the Congo, his home country. Dribble, stop, shoot, rebound, pass… the 5-on-5 drills of the day were as normal and intense as any other day.

The 11-year-old watches as a shot soars overhead, the ball bouncing wildly between the backboard and rim. Realizing the ball isn’t going in the basket, Mayindou jumps to secure the rebound. He suddenly feels hands, followed by a shoulder, hit him in the back as his feet leave the ground, causing them to swing out from under him. He lands shoulder first on the unforgiving concrete. A teammate falls on top of him.

The impact dislocates his right shoulder.

Young Gloire Houmba Mayindou dribbling a basketball on a concrete court in the Republic of the Congo. — Young Gloire Houmba Mayindou poses for a photo in the Republic of the Congo.

“I couldn’t shower, couldn’t dress myself, couldn’t eat, couldn’t move,” Mayindou said. “So, dealing with that pain and then knowing that you cannot go to the hospital to get help, man, it’s mentally challenging.”

Access to healthcare, much less physical therapy, is limited in the Republic of the Congo. Even if you can get to a hospital or other healthcare provider, services are so expensive that most people don’t even consider it an option when they are hurt.

This experience, along with his observations of how many people are living with chronic pain without the assistance they need, drove Mayindou to come to the United States and eventually Langston University to earn his doctorate in physical therapy.

Now Mayindou, a first-year physical therapy student, can not only learn his trade in a program that boasts a 92% National Physical Therapy Exam pass rate and a 100% job placement rate, but he can soon get hands-on experience much more quickly than the average physical therapy student when Langston University completes construction on a physical therapy clinic being built right on the Langston Campus.

Construction has already begun on this Physical Therapy Clinic, which is being funded through Title III grants.

Dr. Elicia Pollard, Dean of the School of Physical Therapy, said this clinic will not only have an impact on students at LU, but on the community as well.

“There’s no physical therapy clinic here (in Langston),” Dr. Pollard said. “If locals want services, they’ll either drive or do without. So, we are going to fill that need there. We are going to be offering this clinic to people who are uninsured or under insured or low-income families. We are going to eliminate potential barriers such as transportation and cost.”

The closest clinics to the town of Langston are in Guthrie, which forces those who seek assistance to drive upward of 20 minutes for care.

The clinic is not designed like a typical medical facility with a labyrinth of halls and little rooms. The Langston University Physical Therapy Clinic will have an open concept with only a few rooms with doors for private needs. This allows for the area to be reconfigured for different patient populations and research needs.

Digital mockup of Langston University Physical Therapy Clinic interior. Features a wooden floor with treadmills against a glass wall.

Digital mockup of Langston University Physical Therapy Clinic interior. Features the lobby area.

Digital mockup of Langston University Physical Therapy Clinic interior. Features a turf-grass area with free weights.

Digital mockup of Langston University Physical Therapy Clinic interior. Features a patient sitting on tables with a clinician.

Dr. Anthony Sylvester, Director of Clinical Services at Langston University, has been instrumental in the development and design of this clinic since its inception. As a two-time Langston University graduate with experience running small, rural health clinics in addition to 25 years of experience as a clinical instructor, he understands the importance of ensuring the space is being used to its fullest potential to optimize client and student outcomes.

Because of his experiences, Dr. Sylvester understands how unique this clinic is to Langston University.

“This isn’t typical of other physical therapy schools,” Dr. Sylvester said. “I think we’re going to be pretty unique in reference to what most schools, a lot of PT schools, will have. We’ll have that daily experience here. Students will see a patient they’ve worked with progress through their care.”

The Physical Therapy Clinic will also offer opportunities for students to participate in research, different forms of patient care, community events and much more.

This level of experience is why students like Mayindou come to Langston University to study physical therapy.

“The first time I learned that they were building a clinic, everyone, at least all my classmates, we are all so excited,” Mayindou said. “That’s kind of a dream come true. In our field, there’s nothing better than experience. To work with a patient one-on-one is a different thing.

“I call it a blessing.”

Langston University School of Business alumna found her voice at 72 years old

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

by Gerard Lewis, Public Relations Intern

Beverly Huggins Kirk, a Langston University alumna, master quilter, educator and cultural historian, found her public voice later in life; now she urges seniors across America not to wait for certainty before stepping into purpose.

“Uncertainty has a way of making people pause, but I’ve learned that waiting for the ‘right time’ can quietly become a decision to stay silent,” Kirk said. “My message to seniors is simple: Today is the time to act.”

In 2026, with leadership priorities, economic pressures, and growing concern about aging, loneliness and relevance, many seniors have reassessed their place in a rapidly changing world. After decades in corporate America, Kirk discovered her creativity and calling had intensified.

At a stage where many have been encouraged to slow down, she leaned forward, transforming quilting into a powerful medium for faith, healing, history and legacy.

“Life didn’t become quieter for me at 72,” Kirk said. “It became clearer.”

That reassessment became a turning point.

Kirk is an LUSB alumna and the founder of Scissor Tales Guild, Oklahoma’s first African American quilt guild.

Kirk is the founder of Scissor Tales Guild–Oklahoma’s first African American quilt guild–and the creator of “A Maker of Quilts,” a limited-edition, 26-page, full-color booklet that weaves together quilt photography, personal reflection and cultural storytelling. Her quilts address themes that resonate deeply today, such as resilience across generations, healing after loss and grief, and faith in uncertain seasons.

“America is like a quilt,” Kirk wrote in the booklet’s opening pages. “Many patches. Many stories. Held together by something stronger than we can see.”

Although innovation, leadership and creativity can often be associated with youth, Kirk represents a growing but often overlooked truth: some voices are meant to rise later. Her message aligns with that of the mission of Langston University’s School of Business—to elevate purpose-driven leadership across the lifespan.

“Beverly Kirk embodies what so many seniors need to see right now,” said Dr. Daryl Green, dean of LUSB. “In a time when uncertainty can paralyze people, she chose expression over fear. Her work reminds us that our later chapters can be our most influential.”

Kirk’s work speaks to a generation navigating transition in an era defined by disruption, reminding people they can reinvent, reengage and lead at any age.

LUSB students and faculty sit at desks in a classroom

Langston University School of Business students score in the Top 1% in Peregrine Outbound Business Exam for second semester in a row

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

by Gerard Lewis, Public Relations Intern

For the second consecutive assessment cycle, Langston University School of Business (LUSB) seniors scored in the top 1% nationally on the rigorous Peregrine Outbound Business Exam.

LUSB’s graduating seniors performed nearly 20 percentage points above national Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Program (ACBSP) benchmarks on the Peregrine Outbound Business Exam for Fall 2025 in a fully proctored classroom setting and under stricter testing conditions than in the spring. This performance follows LUSB graduates’ success on the Peregrine exam in Spring 2025.

Dr. Daryl Green, Dean of LUSB, said the students’ success reflects the hard work of the faculty and the students’ remarkable resilience.

“For the Fall 2025 term, our business seniors once again ranked in the top tier nationally on the Peregrine Outbound Business Exam,” Dr. Green said. “This time, under fully proctored, in-class conditions. Their average score of approximately 78.6% closely aligns with our Spring 2025 results, which were taken online and unproctored. This consistency confirms the integrity and authenticity of our students’ learning outcomes.”

Every year, graduating business students take the Peregrine Outbound Business Exam, a rigorous assessment administered by over 500 colleges and universities around the world. The exam evaluates students’ mastery across core business disciplines such as finance, economics, management, marketing and business ethics.

LUSB graduates excelled in several core disciplinary areas.

In Information Management Systems, graduates averaged 84%, which is significantly higher than the national benchmark. In Economics, graduates averaged in the low-mid 80s, which is about 20 points above ACBSP norms. In Quantitative Research & Statistics, students averaged 81%. In Legal Environment, students scored in the low 80s, outperforming most of their regional peers. In Marketing & Finance, students scored in the high 70s.

Ashley Dillard, director of Client Solutions at Peregrine Global Services, commended LUSB’s performance over the past two semesters.

“Langston University demonstrates an exceptional commitment to the growth,” Dillard said. “At Peregrine, we partner with many institutions focused on continuous improvement, and it is gratifying to collaborate with leaders like Dean Green who are deeply dedicated to the advancement of their students and academic programs.”

LUSB has made several strides to improve student learning outcomes and increase educational opportunities in recent years. Some of their recent accomplishments include increasing LUSB enrollment by more than 20% since 2024; partnering with Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business to launch a 4+1 program for LU students to earn master’s degrees; and hosting national events such as the HUxPNC Entrepreneurship Summit.

Langston University remains committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities for Oklahoma and beyond. Anyone interested in applying for LUSB, or any other LU program, can apply online at langston.edu/apply-now.

Dr. Mambula sits at his desk wearing traditional Nigerian clothes

Langston University Business Professor presents for Renewed Hope USA

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

by Ellie Melero

Dr. Charles Mambula was one of four economics professionals chosen to speak at the Renewed Hope USA General Meeting at the end of October, providing him the exciting opportunity to contribute to the discussion and share insights about how to grow and develop the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Renewed Hope USA is a group concerned about the economic, infrastructural and social development of Nigeria. It is a group of Nigerians in the Diaspora from the United States, and it seeks to promote Nigeria’s Renewed Hope AGENDA. This includes finding ways to reform the economy to deliver sustained inclusive growth; focusing on education, health and social investment as to development; enhancing infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth; and strengthening national security for peace and prosperity.

Dr. Mambula, who’s originally from Nigeria, is an associate professor in the LU School of Business. Because of Dr. Mambula’s previous work with similar groups, including ones with special interest in poverty alleviation, social and infrastructural development, and education, Renewed Hope USA invited Dr. Mambula to share his thoughts on how Nigeria can grow through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“The presentation was basically to identify some of the progressive Foreign Direct Investment that is currently being carried out by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team, while showcasing opportunities within the USA space and other parts of the world that Nigeria can take advantage of to help with the AGENDA for a better country,” Dr. Mambula said.

Companies or businesses participate in FDI when they invest in a company or business based in another country. For example, when foreign auto manufacturers open plants in the United States, that’s a form of FDI.

In his presentation, Dr. Mambula explained the benefits of FDI and shared his ideas for how Nigeria could promote FDI. As an expert on the topic, he was excited for a chance to present on FDI to an international audience. The General Meeting also offered an opportunity for Nigerian government officials and people close to government to have an opportunity to learn about his work.

Most importantly, he was excited for an opportunity to potentially contribute to the continued development and growth of his home country.

“I believe the global village idea for such a gathering will positively foster public engagement, showcase capacities and capabilities, and more importantly, promote opportunities for more collaborations,” Dr. Mambula said.

Ozetta Parker smiles while sitting at a table

Reflecting on Progress: Ozetta Parker remembers Langston University in 1946

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

(This story was originally published in ‘E Roar Digital Magazine | Vol. 2 Issue 7)

by Ellie Melero

Music, laughter and conversation filled Langston University-Tulsa’s front lobby on the Tuesday of Homecoming Week as students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and their families flocked to the campus for its annual Homecoming Block Party on Oct. 7. Sitting at a table in the middle of the lobby, happily chatting with anyone who wanted to stop by, sat 98-year-old Ozetta Parker (née Walker).

As Parker looked around at all the activity, it amazed her how much things had changed at Langston University since she was a student in 1946.

Parker grew up on a farm near Tulsa in the 1930s as one of nine kids. She enjoyed farm life, especially the big homemade meals her mother would prepare, but education was always a major focus in her community. So when her older sister Pauline moved to the city, Parker began staying with her during the school year so she could attend Booker T. Washington High School.

Ozetta Parker sits in front of a Langston University alumni banner — Parker enrolled at Langston University in 1946 with a major in home economics.

In the city, Parker and her siblings walked everywhere they needed to go, and they didn’t go out at night. They lived in a tight-knit community where everyone looked out for one another. Her teachers were strict, but Parker could tell they cared. When Parker graduated from high school in 1946, Pauline encouraged her to attend college and study home economics.

“She liked my cooking,” Parker laughed.

Langston University didn’t have a campus in Tulsa back then, so Parker made her way out to Logan County. She lived in Sanford Hall–which was a women’s dorm at the time–and studied home economics.

Life at LU was different than what Parker was used to. The rural campus felt almost isolated from normal society, and Parker thought her dorm room didn’t have much space. She especially missed her mother’s cooking. But there was a lot about life at Dear Langston that she loved, too.

The university offered plenty to do as far as providing students with social activities. Students went to sporting events and church regularly, and when there were dances, they were well attended. Parker met a lot of people and made a lot of friends.

“They had entertainment for us,” Parker said. “They had a little place where you could go dance. I don’t know what they called it … but you go there and socialize when you had the time.”

Although Parker spent a lot of time studying in her room or in the library, she said she enjoyed her classes. Her home economics courses taught her about a variety of things, including cooking, proper housekeeping and sewing. She learned she really enjoyed sewing. She loved drawing her own designs and then using them to create items like aprons and dresses.

Ozetta Parker and her son, Zach, sit on a bench together — Parker passed her love for Dear Langston down to her children, and she brought them to Homecoming every year.

Parker loved her time at LU, but she had to leave after two years. She moved to Oklahoma City, found work, got married, started a family and moved back to Tulsa, but she never forgot about her time at Dear Langston.

For years, Parker would return to LU with her family for every Homecoming. She loved connecting with old friends and seeing how much the campus and university continued to grow. But as she got older, the trip out to Langston became harder to make, and she stopped going.

This year, her son saw an advertisement for the Homecoming Block Party at LU-Tulsa, and they were both excited to attend their first Langston University Homecoming celebration in several years.

This provided her the opportunity to remember not just what Langston University meant to her, but what it can mean to everyone.

“Education is what’s going to help us make this world a better place,” Parker said. “(Langston University) is a good place to go to learn and socialize and entertain and leave a legacy for the children behind us to go as high as they can.

“Learn as much as you can and help each other.”