Category: Press Release

Carlos Robinson

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

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.

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 graphic

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.

LU TO HONOR STATE’S LEADERS AT WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Five outstanding women leaders will be honored at Langston University’s annual Women in Leadership Luncheon on Thursday, April 21, 2016. The following leaders will be recognized for their remarkable achievements in their various professions: Robyn Sunday Allen, RN, MPH, Chief Executive Officer for the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic; Governor Mary Fallin, Oklahoma’s first female governor; Jenny Love Meyer, Vice President of Communications for Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores; The Honorable Vicki Miles LaGrange, first African American to serve as United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma and Avilla T. Williams, President of INTEGRIS Health Edmond.

In addition to recognizing outstanding women leaders, the event also serves to obtain financial resources and support for the University’s Young Women’s Empowerment Institute (YWEI). The luncheon will offer 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.

Cheryl Miller, head coach for the Langston University Women’s Basketball team and legendary WNBA star will be the keynote speaker. She will share her experiences as a leader in the world of sports and her role as a mentor every day. The luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Langston University-Oklahoma City campus located at 4205 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For more information, please contact Dana Hope Chism, Director of Development, at dhchism@langston.edu or at (405) 466-6024.

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 is 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 an effort to create a mentoring program that addresses the need to empower young college women to successfully manage the collegiate landscape and graduate ready to engage the global community.

About Langston University

Founded in 1897, Langston University boasts three campuses located in Langston, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The University offers more than 38 degree programs, including five masters degrees and one doctoral program. To learn more, please visit the Langston University website at http://www.langston.edu.

Cheryl Miller

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY’S WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH, CHERYL MILLER, NAMED AMONG 30 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN COLLEGE SPORTS

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University is proud to announce the head coach of the women’s basketball team, Cheryl Miller, was included among the 30 most influential women in college sports. In February, the Sports Management Degree Guide ranked Miller No. 10 among other legendary coaches including Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer, and Muffet McGraw. The ranking was created to recognize prominent female athletes who helped pave the way for women to participate and excel in intercollegiate sports.

Cheryl Miller joined the Langston Lady Lions in 2014 after a celebrated athletic career. As a four-time All-American, she was recruited as a forward to the University of Southern California. Miller scored a history-making 3,018 career points and claimed 1,534 rebounds. She led the Trojans to an impressive 112-20 record and was named MVP in two NCAA championships. Cheryl Miller won the Naismith Award, Broderick Award, and the 1984 Olympic gold medal. She also served as a sideline reporter for Thursday night NBA coverage on TNT.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer has coached the Langston women’s basketball squad to victory. In her first year, the Lady Lions defeated Our Lady of the Lake for the 2015 Red River Athletic Conference tournament title. This year’s team ended the season with a winning 20-8 record. “Langston University is honored to have such a distinguished coach,” said Langston University President, Dr. Kent J. Smith Jr. “Cheryl Miller has excelled in training our women’s basketball team for success on and off the court. She brings intelligence, discipline, experience, and enthusiasm to our sidelines.”

Langston University is a small, 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. Student-athletes compete for the Lions in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division. Along with basketball, Langston’s varsity sports include cross-country, football, cheerleading, softball, volleyball, and track and field.

Read more about the respected collegiate and WNBA career of Coach Cheryl Miller at the following link: http://www.langston.edu/news/langston-university-names-hall-famer-cheryl-miller-head-women-99s-coach.

Sports Management Degree Guide offers free, online resources for undergraduate and graduate students interested in studying sports business. The website helps guide readers to building successful careers in the in-demand athletics industry. Students can find mini courses, info graphics, articles, blogs, and FAQs to answer questions about obtaining a quality education in sports management. Read the full article titled “30 Most Influential Women in College Sports” at: http://www.sports-management-degrees.com/30-most-influential-women-in-college-sports/.

LU OFFERS REACH HIGHER CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING ADULTS

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Langston University Oklahoma City campus (LU-OKC) participates in the Reach Higher degree completion program. Reach Higher is Oklahoma’s flexible and affordable program that is designed for working adults looking to complete a bachelor’s degree.

LU-OKC offers a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership through an accelerated program. The curriculum consists of skills and theories regarding organizational behavior, ethics, interpersonal skills, management, finance and communication skills.

“This degree prepares students for success in government, nonprofit, corporate and industrial careers. It has been designed to provide the skills needed in Oklahoma’s workforce and will continue to build leaders to drive our economy,” said Alice Strong Simmons, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at Langston University.

Students must have previously earned at least 72 college credit hours from another college and must have also completed general education requirements. It is free to apply and does not require an application fee. The Reach Higher bachelor’s program provides on-campus and online class options, eight-week classes and five enrollment periods per year. The second session for the 2016 spring semester begins March 11, 2016. To learn more about the program and requirements, please visit http://www.langston.edu/okc/adult-students/reach-higher.

Contact LU-OKC today to make an appointment with an advisor to review your college transcripts and determine which course of study is right for you. To arrange a personal visit, please call T’Nisha Law at (405) 530-7500. LU-OKC is located in Oklahoma City at 4205 N. Lincoln Boulevard.

Founded in 1897, Langston University boasts three campuses located in Langston, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The University offers more than 38 degree programs, including five masters degrees and one doctoral program. To learn more, please visit the Langston University website at http://www.langston.edu.

OKLAHOMA STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE SHELTON TO SPEAK AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY’S 119TH FOUNDERS DAY PROGRAM

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By Christina Gray, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University will host the annual 119th Founders Day Program on Thursday, March 10, 2016. The event will take place at 11:00 a.m. in the I.W. Young Auditorium. Celebrating 119 years of rich tradition and the development of young leaders, Founders Day observes the vision that led to the establishment of Langston University in 1897. State Representative Mike Shelton will be the keynote speaker for the program.

Shelton is a native of Oklahoma City and a Langston University alumnus. While studying under a former state representative, Shelton became interested in politics. Shelton mentored and worked with several organizations including the Langston University – Oklahoma City campus. As the Community Outreach coordinator for Langston University – Oklahoma City, he launched the first adult scholarship program for the campus. In 2004, Shelton was elected to Oklahoma House District 97 and currently serves as the Assistant Democratic Floor Leader. He is currently the highest-ranking African-American in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. He previously served as Assistant Minority Floor Leader. Shelton graduated from Langston University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. His professional experience includes working as the district executive director for the Boy Scouts of America; director of community relations for Langston University; and director of community relations for Oklahoma County.

After the program, Langston University student leaders will take part in a ceremonial march to the gravesite of Langston University’s first president, Dr. Inman Page. The event is free and open to the public.

Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Founded in 1897, Langston University boasts three campuses located in Langston, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The University offers more than 38 degree programs, including five masters degrees and one doctoral program. To learn more, please visit the Langston University website at http://www.langston.edu.