News Archives - Page 9 of 13 - Langston University

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LANGSTON UNIVERSITY APPOINTS A NEW DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Carlos Robinson has been appointed as Langston University’s new Director of Admissions, Recruitment and Outreach Programs, effective February 26, 2018.

Mr. Robinson previously served as the Assistant Director of Recruitment at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) and brings with him more than 14 years of higher education experience. He has a strong background in recruitment and outreach.

In his former position, Mr. Robinson was instrumental in the development of OCCC’s initial strategic recruitment plan for the Office of Recruitment and Admissions, which successfully increased the institution’s enrollment and targeted rural student outreach. Currently, Mr. Robinson is heavily involved in the Oklahoma City community by serving on the board of directors for local non-profits and providing mentorship for at-risk youth.

Langston University (LU) is a public Historically Black University enrolling a close-knit community of under 3,000 students. Langston University is recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability by afforableschools.net and bestvalueschools.com. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County and has urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.

HIP-HOP PIONEER MC LYTE HEADLINES LANGSTON UNIVERSITY’S AWARDS BANQUET

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. –The Langston University community and guests from across Oklahoma gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the MLK Celebration Dinner on January 29, 2018. The night was marked by the powerful keynote presented by world-renowned hip-hop artist, Lana Michelle Moorer, more commonly known as MC Lyte. “Time to get them positive thoughts, up into action, up into action,” Moorer rapped during her keynote speech opener. Her speech challenged the students to live purposefully through growth and leadership. She reflected back and stated that even as a child she knew she wanted to use her influence to inspire others – and on Monday night she did just that.

She advised to never to stop learning and ‘surround yourself with people who believe in you and encourage you to grow.’ She expressed how important it is for young men to become leaders. “A strong man stands up for himself, but a stronger man stands up for others.”

She brought the community to their feet after her thought-provoking speech that themed around the importance of choosing your words wisely and think positively. She charged those in attendance to “use your voice to encourage.” She stressed that “your thoughts become your words, which will always become your reality.”

Moni Otubaga and Eugene Buckman, Jr., were the student hosts for the evening. Students prepared various tribute performances presented throughout the evening, in celebration of a man who forever changed the course of history. The program opened with a powerful performance of the immortal spoken word of Dr. King presented by Langston University student, Berthaddius Bailey. After which a member of the Langston University choir, RonRico Brown performed a beautiful rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

This gathering also recognizes faculty and staff who have contributed to the community selflessly. The recipients of the 2018 MLK Spirit Award were Dr. Sonia Brown, Mr. Pritchard Moncriffe, and Ms. Chellsy Carter.

Langston University (LU) is a public historically black college enrolling a close-knit community of under 3,000 students. Langston University is recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability by afforableschools.net and bestvalueschools.com. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County just 10 miles east of Guthrie and 42 miles from Oklahoma City. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu

Langston University students present posters at the 16th Annual K-INBRE Conference in Kansas.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY BOASTS CONTESTS WINNERS AT THE 16TH ANNUAL KANSAS IDEA NETWORK OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH EXCELLENCE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Dr. Kjoy Abraham, the Langston University Biomedical Research Coordinator, led a team of nine students to present their work at the 16th Annual Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Research Symposium in Overland Park, Kansas, which was held on January 13-14, 2018.

Four of the nine students, Mr. La’Quan Johnson (Senior), Ms. Celeste Cotton (Junior), Ms. Cayla Moore (Junior), and Ms. Corajean Cunningham (Freshman), presented iposters. These posters are interactive, multimedia research presentations that are displayed electronically on large format HD touchscreen monitors. There were 347 participants including invited scientists, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students (undergraduate and graduate) at the symposium. Over 100 students competed in the iposter competition.

During the conference, Langston University student, Ms. Justis Petit (Junior), was selected for an oral presentation in biomedical research. Her abstract was also chosen as one of the best eight abstracts from over 100 abstracts. The title of her presentation was “Effect of Euglena Gracilis Water Extract on Cell Death and Toll-Like Receptor Gene Expression Profiles in Lung Cancer Cells.” During this time, Ms. Petit was given 15 minutes to speak and was able to answer questions about her presentation. Ms. Petit was awarded “Honorable Mention” with a cash award of $100 for her oral presentation at the symposium.

Mr. La’Quan Johnson was commended by one of the judges for his excellent work and presentation at the iposter competition.

The Langston University students competed with other undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from ten institutions that included the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and the University of Kansas Medical Center. Other Langston University students in attendance were Ashley Michalski (Senior), Celeste Cotton (Junior), Jennifer Ho (Junior), Brianna Anderson (Junior), Kendall Odle (Sophomore), Corajean Cunnigham (Freshman), and Cayla Moore (Junior). All the LU students in attendance are biology majors. Two additional University faculty members also attended the conference, Dr. Diomede Buzingo, Assistant Professor in the Biology Department and Dr. Sharon Lewis, Associate Professor in the Chemistry Department.

LU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS DEAN TO INTERVIEW FACEBOOK EXECUTIVE TODAY AT THE HOMELAND SECURITY LAW INSTITUTE CONFERENCE

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Media Contact: Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist, (405) 466-6008, cgray@langston.edu

Today at the American Bar Association’s 12th Annual Homeland Security Law Institute Conference in Washington, D.C., Dean Joshua Snavely of the Langston University School of Business will interview Facebook senior executive, Monika Bickert, in a dialogue titled Security vs. Security – A Conversation with Facebook. Ms. Bickert is the Head of Product Policy & Counterterrorism at Facebook, and since 2012 she has served as lead security council, advising the company on matters including child safety and data security.

Dean Snavely and Ms. Bickert will examine industry efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism, as well as Facebook’s relationship and partnership with government and law enforcement. Given recent news and events, they will also discuss the policies for the types of content that can be shared on Facebook and how advertisers and developers can interact with the site. The interview will be covered by C-SPAN and other national media outlets.

Dean Snavely co-chairs the National Homeland Security Law Institute with former Department of Homeland Security general counsels Joe Whitley and Steve Bunnell. The Institute is an annual look at the state of security from infrastructure to immigration, cybersecurity to oversight, as well as the roles of the various federal and state agencies that work for our safety while preserving our constitutional values. This year’s program focuses on cybersecurity and the global relationships necessary to facilitate security, privacy, and commerce around the world.

Langston University is a public historically black college and university enrolling a close-knit community of under 3,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County and has urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LU has been recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability, ranking number three among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., according to AffordableSchools.net. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SELECTED AS THE TOM JOYNER FOUNDATION OCTOBER SCHOOL OF THE MONTH

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Media Contact: Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist, (405) 466-6008, cgray@langston.edu

Langston University was recently selected as the Tom Joyner Foundation’s October School of the Month. As the School of the Month, the Tom Joyner Foundation (TJF) will assist Langston University to raise funds in October. TJF will solicit gifts from alumni, alumni chapters and others to support the University and 100 percent of funds raised go directly to Langston University. They will also continue their efforts and help raise funds for the University for the remainder of the year.

During October, four outstanding Langston University male students will be selected to receive the $1,500 Hercules Scholarship. To qualify, students must be a full-time student, maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher, demonstrate leadership skills and performed community service.

“We are extremely pleased to be selected as their October School of the Month,” said Mautra Staley Jones, Langston University’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Affairs. “The Tom Joyner Foundation is a proud supporter of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the School of the Month program was designed to raise critical dollars to support HBCUs such as Langston University.”

“This is an excellent opportunity to share Langston University’s storied history on a national platform,” said Jones.

Langston University is a public historically black college and university enrolling a close-knit community of under 3,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County and has urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LU has been recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability, ranking number three among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., according to AffordableSchools.net. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. To learn more, visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.

Give online today at http://www.langston.edu/gift-giving.

Residential Life and Housing Services stock photo

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY WELCOMES CLASS OF 2021

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By: Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – The fall semester officially started this week at Langston University. The University welcomed a new freshman class for the 2017 fall semester, and the campus is bustling with excitement! Freshman move-in started last week. New students participated in a series of events including freshman orientation known as Lion Camp. The orientation is designed for incoming students to get acclimated to campus, meet fellow Lions, and begin their academic and co-curricular experiences.

Student leaders across campus helped lead the efforts of the more than 20 events that assisted new students with getting involved on campus upon their arrival. Members of the Student Government Association, Greek Life, and the LU student ambassadors volunteered at the LU movie night, talent show, the amazing race, campus resources panel, and the mixer.

“We anticipate the final enrollment of our freshman class will be between 650 and 700 students,” said Langston University President, Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr. “I am proud of the outstanding leadership and efforts shown by the LU faculty, staff, alumni, and community volunteers who helped students with their transition into college life.”

Langston University student-athletes from the LU football team also assisted students with moving into their new homes across the Langston campus. “Our goal was to ensure a stress-free move-in for the incoming students and their families,” LU Athletic Director, Donnita Drain Rogers said. “We know how special the first few days are for our new students, so we wanted to help make their first college experience a great one!”

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Langston University has experienced record freshman class enrollment.

Young Women's Empowerment Institute 2017

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY HONORS FIVE OUTSTANDING WOMEN

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Five outstanding women leaders were honored at Langston University’s annual Women in Leadership luncheon on Thursday, April 20, 2017. The following leaders were recognized for their remarkable achievements in their various professions: Ms. Beverly Binkowski, Division Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma; Mrs. Kelly Dyer Fry, Editor of The Oklahoman; Mrs. Lou C. Kerr, President and Chair, of the Kerr Foundation, Inc.; Mrs. Joel-lyn McCormick, Langston University alumna and Assistant U.S. Attorney; and Mrs. Ramunda Lark Young, Langston University alumna and Co-Founder and Partner of Mahogany Books.

In addition to recognizing outstanding women leaders, the event also provides support for the University’s Young Women’s Empowerment Institute (YWEI). The luncheon offered local leaders the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the YWEI mentoring program and a chance to hear how lives have been changed through participation.

About the Young Women’s Empowerment Institute

YWEI is a mentorship program for freshmen female students attending Langston University. It is designed to prepare them for the next stages of life and career through empowerment, support and connections. YWEI is dedicated to the advancement of young women in the workplace and committed to leadership, communication and skill development. Initially derived from a partnership between Langston University and the Central Area of The Links, Incorporated, the program was created to empower young college women to successfully manage the collegiate landscape and graduate ready to engage the global community.

Founded in 1897, Langston University (LU) boasts three campuses located in Langston, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LU has been recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability, ranking number three among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., according to AffordableSchools.net. Langston offers more than 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT CHOSEN AS A 2016 HBCU ALL STAR

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities recently named Langston University senior biology major, Nicholas Simon, a 2016 HBCU All-Star.

Simon was among 73 students across 63 HBCUs in 24 states, the District of Columbia, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Virgin Islands selected out of 300 applicants. The All-Stars, comprised of undergraduate, graduate and professional students, are being recognized for their accomplishments in academics, leadership and civic engagement.

“I believe that all of my hard work has paid off,” Simon said. “Everything I have done for my school and community has provided the opportunity for me to represent Langston University on a national level.”

Over the next year, Simon will help promote and create outreach opportunities for his fellow students about the value of education. He will also participate in the White House HBCU Week Conference, national and regional events, and webinars with Initiative staff and other professionals on a range of disciplines that support a spirit of engagement and personal and professional development.

“We are proud of Nicholas and the work he has accomplished to receive this prestigious honor and know he will represent the University well at the White House HBCU Conference,” said Dr. Kent J. Smith, president of Langston University.

Nicholas Simon, an honors student from currently serves as president of the campus NAACP chapter and co-chair of the Langston University ambassador program. This past summer he conducted biological research for NASA at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California as part of an internship program.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among so many talented scholars. I am excited to have a chance to learn more about other HBCUs and collaborate to help build and grow our institutions,” Simon said.

Langston University is a public historically black college enrolling a close-knit community of under 4,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County and has two urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LU was recently recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability, ranking number three among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., according to AffordableSchools.net. Langston offers over 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY PARTNERS WITH MILLWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University is pleased to announce the recent relocation of its Oklahoma City campus. Langston University’s Oklahoma City campus has moved to a new location that formerly housed the Millwood Arts Academy and summer classes are in session. The partnership between Langston University and Millwood Public Schools will enable both institutions to provide greater outreach and higher education opportunities to citizens in the surrounding communities.

“The campus relocation is a result of the University’s desire to position our LU-OKC campus for future growth and curricular development. In doing so, Langston University is uniquely suited to offer greater opportunities for degree attainment to the residents of OKC and surrounding communities. As an added benefit of the relocation, we were able to double our instructional space and realize significant cost-savings for the University. The new campus location is leased to the University at approximately 60 percent of the previous facility cost,” said Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr., President of Langston University.

The move is a culmination of collaborative efforts among President Kent J. Smith, Jr., Alice Strong Simmons, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for LU-OKC, and Cecelia Robinson Woods, Superintendent of Millwood Public Schools. Both the Oklahoma Board of Regents for the Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges and the Millwood School Board have approved the campus relocation.

“I am eager to partner with Langston University, as they have a long-standing history of producing scholars and outstanding alumni prepared to compete in the global market. This partnership will expose our students to a higher education environment beginning in pre-kindergarten through their senior year of high school, said Cecelia Robinson Woods, Superintendent of Millwood Public Schools.

There are many benefits to this move which include alignment with the University’s strategic goals to provide higher education access to more students, the ability to educate a larger student population and meeting the changing workforce demands in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

“We are very proud of this partnership as there are not many school districts and universities that can boast of this type of collaboration. Through this non-traditional adult learning environment, we can provide convenience and attainability of degree programs to parents and teachers of Millwood Public Schools. Furthermore, the partnership allows us to provide early exposure to higher education for children,” said Alice Strong Simmons, Associate Vice President of the Langston University Oklahoma City campus.

The LU-OKC campus is now located at 6700 N. Martin Luther King Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111.

Langston University is a public historically black college enrolling a close-knit community of under 4,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County just 10 miles east of Guthrie and 42 miles from Oklahoma City. LU was recently recognized as a top institution of higher learning for affordability, ranking number three among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., according to AffordableSchools.net. Langston offers over 40 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Visit us online at http://www.langston.edu.

ELAINE POWELL, FORMER WNBA PLAYER TO LEAD LU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM AS NEW HEAD COACH

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

OKLAHOMA CITY – Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr., President of Langston University (LU), announced today the appointment of former WNBA player Elaine Powell as the new head coach for the women’s basketball team.

“We are excited about Coach Powell joining the Langston University Athletics Department as she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team. She has inherited a program with a longstanding history of excellence and we know from her track record, she will ensure that our legacy is preserved,” said Dr. Smith.

Coach Powell joins LU Athletics having previously served as an assistant coach for women’s basketball programs at Alabama A&M, Ohio University and Grambling State University. She spent nearly a decade playing in the WNBA, where she earned numerous awards and honors. Under former coach and Detroit Pistons player Bill Laimbeer, she was a three-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock. Prior to her professional basketball career, she was a student-athlete at Louisiana State University (LSU) where she was a Kodak All-American and finished her career as LSU’s 11th all-time leading scorer with 1,163 points. She was the first player in LSU history to be drafted into the WNBA.

“Elaine Powell is a proven leader whose dedication and commitment to excellence has shown in her work while coaching at numerous NCAA Division 1 programs for more than 8 years. Prior to her collegiate coaching career, she was a student athlete at LSU, so she comes from a championship pedigree, which is what we strive for here at Langston University. She has served those institutions admirably, investing a great deal in the student athletes. We look forward to her bringing that same enthusiasm, devotion and student centric approach to our program,” said Donnita Drain Rogers, Athletic Director for Langston University.

Coach Powell succeeds Cheryl Miller, who had a record of 49-12 and two NAIA Tournament appearances during her two-year stint.

The Lady Lions finished the 2014-15 season with a 29-4 record, and won the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Championship over Our Lady of the Lake. The Lady Lions finished the 2015-16 season with a final record of 20-8 and received a third straight bid to the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship tournament in Independence, Missouri. Langston received three selections to the Red River All-Conference team; and two students were named to the NAIA Women’s Basketball All-America honorable mention team for their efforts.

“Cheryl Miller has been a tremendous asset to the University’s sports program and we appreciate all of her efforts to strengthen our women’s basketball team. She was a role model both on and off of the court to the players and entire University community. We wish her well in her future endeavors,” said Dr. Smith.

Langston University is a public historically black college enrolling a close-knit community of under 4,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County just 10 miles east of Guthrie and 42 miles from Oklahoma City. Langston offers over 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. To learn more, please visit the Langston University website at http://www.langston.edu.