Charles M. Blow, an op-ed columnist at The New York Times, selected as graduation speaker

By Andrea Beasley
Grambling State University Media Bureau

GRAMBLING, LA – New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow, a 1992 Grambling State University graduate, will deliver the commencement address at the university’s May 10 event.

"Our first lady mentioned Charles Blow to me and I didn’t know he was a Grambling State University graduate at the time. I knew of him, I’ve read his columns and I’ve seen him on television, but when I realized he’s one of our own and a Louisiana native who excelled on our campus and someone who has excelled in everything he’s done, it was a no-brainer that we would invite him to speak to our graduates at our May commencement,” said Grambling State University President Frank G. Pogue.

Blow, 42, The New York Times’ first visual op-ed columnist, has a reputation for communicating effectively in a variety of ways, including design, graphics, text and words – and doing so with candor, clarity and strong point of view. In 2011, he was ranked #11 on The Roots’ Top 100 most influential people, beating Kanye West, who followed at #12, and Beyonce’ Knowles, who ranked #13.

The Louisiana native joined The New York Times in 1994 as a graphics editor, and he was promoted to lead the entire graphics team as graphics director, a position he held for nine years. In 2008, he started a weekly column at the newspaper that features charts and a guileless edge.

Blow led the newspaper’s graphics team to a best of show award from the Society of News Design for graphics produced during the coverage of the attacks on September 11, 2001. In addition, as graphics editor he led the group to a best of show award from the Malofiej International Infographics Summit for coverage of the Iraq war.

Blow graduated magna cum laude with a bachelors in mass communications from Grambling State University. As a student, he was the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Gramblinite, and the founder of a now-defunct student magazine, Razz.

Noting his amazing range of knowledge and skills, Joice Dunn, the newspaper’s university editor, remembered Blow as being “…pushy when he was editor of the paper,” a leader who “made sure that you turned in your assignment” and an editor who was so well-rounded that “he could do anything his staff could do.”

The opinionated journalist frequently appears on CNN and MSNBC. He is a single parent, living in Brooklyn with his three teenage kids.  Grambling State University’s commencement will be held at 10 a.m. on May 10 in the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

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Media Contact:
Will Sutton
318-533-5337
mediarelations@gram.edu

Carl Wright assumes role as provost and vice president for academic affairs in July

GRAMBLING, LA – Grambling State University College of Business Dean Carl Wright has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Colorado State University Pueblo. His appointment is effective July 15.

"Dean Wright has been a competent, creative and strong leader of our College of Business. The college has made great strides under his leadership,” said Frank G. Pogue, president of Grambling State University. “Though we hate to lose him, it is with great joy that we let him go and wish him well as he embarks on the challenging role of provost at his new institution in Colorado. Still, we’ll always claim Wright as a Gramblinite, and we’ll welcome him back if they don’t treat him well."

Pogue made the announcement to the university community Thursday. Wright joined Grambling State University July 1, 2009 as dean of the College of Business.  Pogue said since that day Wright “has worked tirelessly to advance the College of Business by creating an exceptional educational experience for our business majors through his professional leadership and creative insight.”

“I’m not leaving Grambling State University for any reason other than a great opportunity,” said Wright. “I love this university, and I’ve learned so much as dean and I’ve had some wonderful opportunities to grow as an academic, an educator and a leader with the leadership of President Pogue and the guidance of Provost Connie Walton.”

Wright will be providing leadership to academic programs, research, and outreach involving faculty, students, and staff. He will oversee the quality of programs of instruction and research through collaborative work with the college deans, along with the director of Continuing Education, the University Library, Student Academic Services, Admissions and Records, and Technical Services, addressing issues such as effective planning, good management, and program reviews. In addition, he will responsible for review and approval of all academic programs and policies as well as the appointment, promotion, and compensation of the faculty.

Wright earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Virginia State University, a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Ph.D. in business administration from Jackson State University. He has been dean of the College of Business at Grambling State University since 2009. Prior to that he served as chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance from 2003-2009 and as vice president of business and finance at Virginia State University from 1984-1985.  He has served as an accountant and auditor for Arthur Young & Co. and Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. as well as owning his own CPA firm from 1980-2010.

Colorado State University – Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students. Wright will continue on the Grambling State campus until June 30. He will join his new university team at Colorado State University Pueblo July 15. 

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Media Contact:
Will Sutton
318-533-5337
mediarelations@gram.edu

The Gramblinite wins in nine categories of The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Region 12 college newspaper contest

GRAMBLING, LA – Grambling State University’s campus newspaper, The Gramblinite, received nine awards during the Society of Professional Journalists Region 12 Mark of Excellence Awards this month.

The Gramblinite won five first place awards, including first place for Best All Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper. Justin Madden is the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. Ciley Carrington, 23, a senior art major from Los Angeles and one of the newspaper’s two photo editors won first place in Sports Photography for “Losing makes quarterback cry,” a November 23 photo of starting quarterback D.J. Williams crying after his football team lost a game.

“Every point counts,” a story about the impact of the football team’s kicking game won first place in Sports Writing (medium). It was written by Tierra Smith, 20, of Houston, a sophomore mass communications major. “Suspensions creates backlash; Orchesis in crisis,” a story about the university’s dance company by Madden won first place in the General News Reporting (Medium) category.  Jeremy Smith, 21, from Jacksonville, Florida., a double major in mass communications and education, won first place for General Column Writing.

The newspaper won other awards:

• General Column Writing, 3rd Place, Dani Savage
• General News Reporting, 2nd Place, Madden, “Tech Talk opinion article produces heated backlash”
• Sports Column Writing, 2nd Place, Kevin Keise
• Sports Writing (Medium), 3rd Place, Smith, “Going pro: G-Men make it to the NFL”

“These awards indicate the great experiences and opportunities mass communication and other majors have working on our student newspaper,” said Edward Welch, acting chair/head of the university’s Department of Mass Communication. “We’re proud of this staff, and we encourage others to get involved.”

The SPJ regional conference was held last weekend (Friday, April 5-Saturday, April 7) at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media and the Overby Center of Southern Journalism and Politics at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. SPJ is divided into regions of the United States. The Gramblinite competed in SPJ’s Region 12, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

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Media Contact:
Will Sutton
318-533-5337
mediarelations@gram.edu

Two Grambling State University students are the first students from historically black college to win Houston advertising foundation awards

By Andrea Beasley
Grambling State University Media Bureau

GRAMBLING, LA – Two Grambling State University students are the first HBCU students to receive scholarships from the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston (AEF- Houston).

Richard Klein, chairman of the AEF- Houston, said Erina Love and Justin Madden were chosen from a pool of about 300 applicants to each receive a $2,000 scholarship, making it “the first time any HBCU has won a scholarship. He said they competed with students from universities in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Klein said the organization created an HBCU-specific scholarship for the first time last year without success, but the scholarship committee was impressed with the Love and Madden applications. “We couldn’t give it away because no one fit the requirements,” he said about last year’s scholarship pool.

Audrey Gilbreath, president and chief executive officer of Gilbreath Communications, contributed money for the first Gilbreath Communications Education Fund scholarship, which Love won. Gilbreath, a 1979 Grambling State University alumna who asked the group to open the scholarship opportunity to any HBCU student, said she saw a need for more HBCU students to get help as they consider advertising and marketing careers.

“I came up through the ranks when not a lot of African Americans were participating in the club,” said Gilbreath, referring to the AEF- Houston. An Arizona native who has been a member for 10 years said “it’s important in the communications field that we encourage our students to participate.”

Both students were elated to receive the news recently, each saying the scholarship award is a blessing.

“There was always a semester at Grambling when I had a delinquent account,” said Madden, 22, a senior mass communication major from Los Angeles, Calif. “I always owed them something. This scholarship was like the light at the end of the rainbow.”

Out of the sixteen scholarships awarded, Madden received the Saurage Research Academic Distinction Scholarship, named after marketing research strategist Susan Saurage-Altenloh. “When I get into grad school I’ll have $2,000 I can put towards my education and that’s less money out of my pocket or my mother’s pocket,” added Madden, who is editor-in-chief of The Gramblinite campus newspaper and who has been an active member of the university’s Student Government Association (SGA).

Love, 23, the newspaper’s campus editor who is an SGA senator, plans to focus on taking grant writing courses because she intends to go into non-profit organization work. “The greatest thing that separated me was how I am going to use my mass communication degree,” said Love. “Instead of going the regular route of working with a big corporation, I want to work at a non-profit.”

The scholarship recipients were chosen by board members and members of the organization’s advisory council, Houston-area professionals in “advertising, communications, interactive marketing, journalism, radio/tv, commercial art, public relations or related fields.”

AEF- Houston is a non-profit corporation and is the scholarship foundation of the American Advertising Federation of Houston. Annually it offers 15 $2,000 scholarships, and some internships, to students. Applicants are judged based on their academic and personal backgrounds, campus and professional experiences and financial need. Gilbreath described Love and Madden as  “outstanding students not only in school but also in community service.” She said “they did everything, which made it hard, which is a good thing.”

Scholarship winners will be honored and recognized at an April 17 monthly luncheon of the AAF-Houston.

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Media Contact:
Will Sutton
318-533-5337
mediarelations@gram.edu

By Tierra Smith
Grambling State University Media Bureau

GRAMBLING, LA – The City of Grambling and Grambling State University are teaming to start a community garden with fresh vegetables for citizens and students.

The university received a Keep Louisiana Beautiful grant of $3,300 for the project in a statewide competition for grant money from a $55,000 fund to combat litter and beautify northern Louisiana.

“Student volunteers will learn about gardening from community volunteers who are familiar with the process,” said Roy L. Bedford, director of the Office of Service Learning at Grambling State University. “The volunteers will participate in light tilling, fertilizing, planting and fence building.”

Kassandra Merritt, 18, a freshman mass communications major from Montgomery, Ala. is one of the students who signed up to take advantage of a chance to receive service-learning hours.

“I am excited about the community garden because it’s a chance to receive service learning hours,” said Merritt. “Plus it looks good on job and scholarship applications.”

Connie Walton, the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, decided the service learning office would administer the grant, providing students with a chance to earn service-learning credit. Students are required to obtain 80 academic-based hours and 80 community hours as a graduation requirement.

Bedford said the community garden will improve the quality of life for students while stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance and providing nutritious food. The garden will be home to fresh greens, peas, tomatoes, squash, onions and beans. 

“The community garden project is designed to allow 50 or more students to work with establishing the garden,” said Bedford. “Students will have the opportunity to work with all aspects of the planting process from tiling the soil to actually harvesting the vegetables after they have reached maturity.”

ArdeannWilliams, 21, a sophomore social work major from New Orleans, signed up on Thursday to volunteer with friends.

“I have gardened before but my thumb seems more like a black one than a green one,” said Williams. “I usually kill every plant I plant. Now that I think about it, I don’t think they should want me volunteering.”

Williams is optimistic that the community volunteers will help her learn the proper care of plants and make the experience more enjoyable than her past attempts.

Tuesday will be the first day work starts in the garden, located on College Avenue west of the university’s Washington-Johnson Complex.  “The city is providing the land and assisting with the clearing and beautification process,” said Bedford. The land is owned by the city and a request to use land was processed through the office of Mayor Edward Jones a few weeks ago. The mayor could not be reached for comment.

Volunteers will start at 9 a.m. and continue to get as much work done as possible by 5 p.m. Students will not be excused from classes, and they asked not to sign up during scheduled classes. Bedford said it is important that citizens and students sign up in advance so the office can prepare and provide a good briefing before the project starts.

Citizens and students are asked to sign up in Charles P. Adams Hall, Room 118, on the university’s campus by Monday at 4 p.m. Volunteers can also contact the service learning at 274-2547.

Bedford said volunteers are needed to maintain the garden and the frequency of weeding and more depends on the amount of rain and the growth of the vegetables. “We hope to have a large majority of the student body will take advantage of the opportunity to give back to the community through this project,” he said. “There is enough work to find something for all to do.”

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Additional Information:

• Community Garden Photo Gallery

Media Contact:
Will Sutton
318-533-5337
mediarelations@gram.edu