Tag: stem

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.”

Keep Dreaming: Langston University Cooperative Extension partners with Tulsa Dream Center to bring STEM opportunities to Tulsa children

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

(This story was originally published in ‘E Roar | Volume 2 Issue 5 on Sept. 12, 2025)

by Ellie Melero

It was a bright and clear Tuesday morning, and Tulsa was just starting to heat up under Oklahoma’s unforgiving summer sun. In the north part of the city, cars drove with their windows down and people walked on sunbaked concrete sidewalks as they made their way to the Tulsa Dream Center.

Despite the early hour, the north campus of the Tulsa Dream Center (TDC) was already a hive of activity. The lobby was filled with people hoping to take advantage of one of the many services TDC provides the community. Across the parking lot, volunteers were getting ready for the twice-weekly grocery giveaway. On the second floor of the Center, there were classrooms full of eager children waiting to see what activity they were about to do with Langston University.

For six weeks in June and July, the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)–a part of LU’s Cooperative Extension and Outreach Programs through the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences–hosted interactive STEM workshops for the TDC’s Dream Academy Summer Camp. The activities ranged from sewing classes to basic coding lessons, and they were always a highlight of the week for the kids.

“The kids, they loved it,” said Pastor Tim Newton, the executive director of TDC. “They’re experiencing things and seeing things that they otherwise wouldn’t have known even existed.”

LU Extension has worked with TDC a handful of times over the past three years, but both groups have wanted to expand the partnership for a while. This year, they took the first step forward by collaborating on TDC’s spring and summer day camps, and the partnership will continue growing as LU Extension grows its footprint in Tulsa.

It all started with STEM Field Day.

a mural inside the Tulsa Dream Center's STEM Center — The activities LU Cooperative Extension puts on are helping TDC kids build foundational knowledge in STEM and teaching them important life skills.

For several years, Extension Educator Shar Carter has organized a STEM Field Day in Tulsa at a local butterfly farm. She works with the statewide FCS team and collaborates with other LU departments, local schools and outside organizations to put on free, fun and engaging educational activities for the kids, such as demonstrations from Langston University’s Drone Technology and Precision Agriculture program.

In 2022, STEM Field Day fell on Monroe Middle School’s fall break, so Carter had an opening for 100 students to attend the event. She reached out to TDC to see if they would be interested, and Pastor Tim wasted no time gathering kids to fill the open spots.

“He was like, ‘I can get you kids,’” Carter said. “And from then on, we’ve been working with the Dream Center. They are just a feeder for so many schools in Tulsa that it just made sense.”

TDC is one of the largest providers of after school childcare in Tulsa, and it serves between 700–1,000 kids daily. The average household income for these families is $27,000 per year. Because of its reach, Carter knew working with TDC would be a strategic partnership for LU Extension.

This spring, Carter approached Dr. Tiffany Williams, the program leader for Family and Consumer Sciences, about an opportunity to grow their existing relationship with TDC. Dr. Williams was immediately on board.

“The needs of the youth as well as the adults who attend TDC closely align with the outreach mission of our cooperative extension program,” Dr. Williams said. “Shar recognized this and developed a partnership with TDC to implement the Children, Youth and Families at Risk program. She thought that would be a great way to really start this partnership between Langston and TDC, and she spearheaded developing that partnership.”

Pastor Tim had invited FCS to be a part of TDC’s spring break day camp in March, so Carter and Dr. Williams decided to do a week-long culinary camp for the kids. They worked with a professional chef to develop the program, and every day they taught the kids how to prepare healthy and delicious meals. They even sent the kids home with leftovers to share with their families.

As is her forte, Carter had fun explaining to the kids how everything from the fractions they used to measure ingredients to the chemical reactions as the food cooked tied back to STEM. For Dr. Williams, the camp was about educating the kids about healthy eating and motivating them to share the knowledge with their families. For Pastor Tim, it was about getting the kids excited to learn.

A row of computers inside the Tulsa Dream Center's STEM center — TDC is one of the largest providers of after school childcare in Tulsa, and it serves between 700–1,000 kids daily. Because of its reach, Carter knew working with TDC would be a strategic partnership for LU Extension.

The culinary camp was such a success that Pastor Tim asked them to come back for the Dream Academy Summer Camp. FCS takes a wholistic approach to education, focusing on teaching people of all ages important life skills, so Dr. Williams and Carter got the other extension departments involved. They did different activities every week, and Carter said the kids didn’t even realize how much they were learning.

“I tie everything that we do back to math, critical thinking and reading comprehension,” Carter said. “I think youth learn better if they’re having fun.”

One of Pastor Tim’s primary goals for TDC’s educational programs is to expand the kids’ minds, and he says the activities they do with LU go a long way toward achieving that goal. Not only does LU Extension make learning fun, but it also exposes them to new things they would probably never interact with otherwise.

In addition to helping them build foundational knowledge in areas like agriculture and food science, Pastor Tim said LU Extension is inspiring the students to pursue new interests. He anticipates there will be a long-term economic impact from this partnership as the children grow up and become more motivated, confident and prepared to pursue a higher education.

“As those kids get exposed to those things, they’ll be able to leave here, earn a good education, earn wages, and be able to come back into this community,” Pastor Tim said. “It will change the trajectory of this community, and really, that’s the goal.

Since the spring, the collaborations between LU and TDC have been steadily increasing. Thanks to the cooperative efforts of the statewide FCS team under Dr. Williams’ leadership, Community Resource Development’s Joshua Davis, LU Extension’s leadership team and Pastor Tim, LU and TDC have completed several community projects and begun work planning more

Over the summer, they planted a community garden at TDC’s north campus, which will serve not only as an educational tool for future Dream Academy programming but also to address food insecurity issues in an area considered a food desert.

Dr. Williams has created a nutrition education initiative to teach TDC’s constituents about healthy eating, and she recently launched a nutrition education website that is a prototype for an app.

Carter is working to start a quilting club for community members of all ages, and she hopes to offer more fiber arts programming as the resources become available.

LU Cooperative Extension and Outreach hired a new 4-H educator, Marquisha Thomas, to bring LU’s 4-H and Youth Development programs to TDC.

These are just some of what the group has accomplished through this partnership, and they are continually exploring new ways to collaborate for the good of the community. As Langston University’s Cooperative Extension works to expand its programs around Tulsa, Carter, Dr. Williams and Pastor Tim are excited to see what the future holds.

Dr. Jackson speaks at a podium in full academic regalia

“The Opportunity of Now:” President Jackson celebrates Langston University’s successes, reflects on impact at Opening Convocation

Release Provided By Ellie Melero

Langston University had a lot to celebrate at its Opening Convocation Ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 4.

From national test scores to athletic achievements, President Ruth Ray Jackson highlighted numerous ways in which Langston University students, faculty, staff and alumni have achieved success over the past year during her State of the University address. She also called on the university community to look forward to the great things to come.

“Today, we stand at the threshold of a year filled with promise,” Dr. Jackson said. “We come together to recommit ourselves to the ideals of learning, discovery and service. And we recognize that this moment—the opportunity of now—is a gift we must not take for granted.”

The Class of 2025 took advantage of the opportunities Dear Langston provided them.

Recent biology graduate Daysha Isaac received national accolades while at LU, earning a Scientific Merit Award at the National IDeA Biomedical Research Excellence Conference in 2024.

Graduates from the School of Business scored in the Top 1% nationally on the Peregrine Outbound Business Exam. Graduates from the School of Physical Therapy earned a 100% pass rate on their licensing exams and a 100% post-graduation placement rate, continuing a long-standing pattern of success from Oklahoma’s first accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program. For the fifth year in a row, graduates from the Department of Computer Science have also earned a 100% post-graduation placement rate.

LU students have had success in extracurriculars and cocurriculars as well.

Lady Lions basketball team cheers as they hoist the SAC Championship trophy — The Lady Lions Basketball Team won both the 2025 SAC regular season and tournament championships, the first historically black college or university to win the titles on the women’s side.

The Lady Lions Basketball Team won both the 2025 SAC regular season and tournament championships, the first historically black college or university to win the titles on the women’s side. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams made it to the Round of 16 in the NAIA national tournament this past March.

Seventy-eight student athletes were named to the SAC Commissioners Hall of Fame.

In August, the Marching Pride Band competed in the Pepsi National Battle of the Bands in Houston as well as the HBCU Labor Day Classic Battle of the Bands in Mississippi. In September, the Marching Pride will perform at the Kansas City Chiefs’ season opener against the Philidelphia Eagles.

“These achievements across academics, athletics and the arts reflect the spirit of Langston: determination, creativity and excellence,” Dr. Jackson said. “They show us what is possible when talent meets the opportunity of now.”

Perhaps among the university’s proudest achievements over the past year has been its success in the research field.

Langston University was recognized as a Research College/University (RCU) by the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education Institutions, one of only 216 institutions in the nation to receive this classification.

The university earned its RCU status thanks to the hard work of its passionate faculty, staff and student researchers. From aquaponics and artificial intelligence to horticulture and drone-based livestock management, Langston University conducts a variety of impactful research.

Langston University’s extensive research projects and numerous opportunities for student research involvement have contributed to the success of the university’s science, technology engineering and math (STEM) programs. LU’s STEM programs have not only outpaced national retention rates, but they have grown by 112% in recent years.

“Langston’s impact is broadening thanks to faculty who teach, mentor, and research with passion and purpose,” Dr. Jackson said.

Langston University President Ruth Ray Jackson (left) and Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Assistant Provost and Director of DEI Christopher Smith sign an education agreement creating the Early Assurance Program.

A tenet of Dr. Jackson’s presidency has been to forge and strengthen partnerships between Langston University and organizations which work toward the same goals. To that end, working with groups such as Tinker Air Force Base, the Wm Conrad Veterans Memorial Gardens and OG&E provide LU students with opportunities for internships, scholarships and professional development. A recent partnership with the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education created new pathways for LU students preparing to study occupational therapy in graduate school.

The university has recently made several investments in its facilities and programs with the goal of providing students, faculty and staff with better environments that will promote the continuation of LU’s academic, extracurricular and research success.

The university has invested millions of dollars in heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades across the Langston Campus. It has also invested in a complete roof replacement at the Oklahoma City Campus, and it is working to increase its program offering at the Tulsa Campus.

“These investments are not just about bricks and mortar,” Dr. Jackson said. “They are about creating the best possible learning environment for our students and working environment for our employees — places where excellence can thrive.”

As Dr. Jackson reflected on Langston University’s successes this past year, she also reflected on the importance of Dear Langston as Oklahoma’s HBCU and an 1890 land-grant institution.

As part of its land-grant mission, Langston University trains teachers who will shape the next generation, reaches out to underserved communities through health programs, contributes to Oklahoma’s economy through business and technology, enriches culture and preserves history through the arts and humanities, and uses research to solve problems and improve the lives of families and communities.

Dr. Jackson charged the students, faculty, staff and alumni to embrace “the opportunity of now” and continue to strive for success.

“Being a land-grant university means we don’t keep knowledge to ourselves,” Dr. Jackson said. “We teach, we research and we share so that the work we do here makes life better far beyond our campuses.

“Langston University is not only Oklahoma’s HBCU—we are a nationally recognized and respected institution. And this year, we will once again prove that the best of Langston is still ahead.”

SGA Student President Nathaniel Rakestraw Edwards and SGA Vice President Hannah Wall talk with an Air Force officer

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SIGNS NEW AGREEMENT WITH AIR FORCE SUSTAINMENT CENTER

Release Provided By Welcome

by Jet Turner, Assistant Director of Communications

Langston, Okla. – Langston University signed an agreement with the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base on Monday, giving students the opportunity to gain real-world experience through internship and learning opportunities, leading to a potential path to employment upon graduation.

When Langston University Student Government Association President Nathaneal Rakestraw-Edwards heard news about the signing, he was excited about the opportunities this will give current and future students.

“There are many students with so much potential at Langston University,” Rakestraw-Edwards said. “As a student, this deal is very important in ensuring that we are getting the connections necessary to set us up for our future. I am excited to share with the student body whatever internship or employment opportunities are available through Tinker Air Force Base.”

The Air Force Sustainment Center has partnerships with universities throughout the nation, which typically focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

However, this partnership with Langston University is the first “hybrid” partnership of its kind, expanding upon the STEM relations Tinker Air Force Base has with other institutions to include business majors, environmental scientists, project managers and more.

“This allows us to cast a net to attract prospective employees, particularly students and, in this case, Langston University students, for them to consider Tinker Air Force Base as an option to start their careers,” General Stacy Hawkins said. “As a nation, we cannot afford to leave anybody off the table when it comes to attracting and retaining talent.”

This relationship between Langston University and Tinker Air Force Base is not new, as numerous alumni participated in internships and cooperative education programs that led to fulfilling and gainful careers at the Air Force base and beyond.

The signing re-engages and formalizes Langston University’s partnership with Tinker Air Force Base and strengthens the bond between the two organizations.

“Everybody wins,” said Langston University President Ruth Ray Jackson. “Langston University students have the opportunity to supplement their academic studies with real experiences that allow them to see the theory and innovation in action. The Sustainment Center has access to a diverse pool of talent that is familiar with the role, scope and mission of the organization. Oklahoma wins as more Langston University graduates will see remaining in the area as a viable alternative to leaving the state to begin their careers.”

The signing of this partnership agreement signifies the power of collaboration, and the opportunities it will unlock in the realms of research, education, service, and workforce development are endless.

Langston University SGA Vice President Hannah Wall said Langston University’s growing partnerships proves the institution’s commitment to ensuring students are properly prepared and equipped for the work force.

“Creating opportunities such as this shows how much Langston is willing to put into their students to not only give us quality education, but also versatility to stand out amongst the sea of people we will compete with later in life,” Wall said. “Langston University is not like other Universities and Colleges; it is an institution that prides itself on creating long lasting success within each of its students no matter the challenges they face.”