Author: Jessica Halsey

The Deans’ Panel: A Moment for Reflection and Forging Ahead

by Jessica Halsey

In February of 2022, Tuskegee University hosted a plethora of events during Black History Month. Black History Month serves as a means of highlighting events of the past, events that have paved the way for the present. However, Black History Month also serves to remind us that the actions we currently take will pave the way for the future. Tuskegee University wrapped up Black History Month with a panel including the deans from each college on campus. This panel was an opportunity for each dean to showcase their respective colleges as well as the work being done for the years […]

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How Tuskegee University’s Researchers are Diversifying the Field of Genetics: Introducing Isra Elhussin and Jason White

by Jessica Halsey

For decades, the Black community has been underrepresented and ignored in the medical field. There are historical precedents, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment (conducted by the United States Public Health Service), that have contributed to the fear (among the Black community) of receiving treatment from those meant to protect them. Additionally, much of the medical treatment available has been curated using the medical data of the majority (white) population, which diminishes benefits of personalized medical approaches on the Black community. This is cause for alarm, considering that cancer is a leading cause of death in the Black community. Thus, […]

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Our Vacant Buildings: Preserving Tuskegee University’s Tangible Heritage

by Jessica Halsey

Walking around the campus of Tuskegee University, one cannot help but notice the many vacant buildings surrounding them. Students can be seen walking in and out of Thompkins Hall, while the architecture of Carnegie Hall stands idly by, waiting to be used. The Yard, which is notably the confluence of the campus, is surrounded by buildings that are both online and offline. The campus is therefore a mixture of buildings; buildings that are alive, full of students and faculty, and the skeleton of what the vacant buildings used to be. This is extremely alarming due to the rich history of […]

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USAID’s Agreement with Tuskegee University: A Showcase of Our University’s Potential

by Jessica Halsey

Tuskegee University has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide our students with opportunities in water, nutrition, resilience, and agriculture programming work in the USAID. Furthermore, this will create external opportunities such as internships, fellowships, research programs, and additional career opportunities. This partnership will also aid in furthering diversity within the USAID, underlining the Biden-Harris Administration’s aim to increase Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA). On November 11, 2021, representatives of USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) visited Tuskegee University’s campus to celebrate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The RFS […]

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Dean Prakash: An Advocate for Arts and Sciences

by Jessica Halsey

Tuskegee University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the largest college across the university. It houses a diverse range of departments. It covers some of the most foundational fields of science/knowledge, encapsulated in its name Arts and Sciences. To get a better grasp of what is going on in CAS, we sat down with Dr. Prakash, Dean of the College, for an interview about the state of CAS. Thinking about the job description of a college dean, many may imagine someone sitting at a fancy, dark brown desk, making decisions concerning the educational well-being of the college. However, after […]

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The Need for Black Humanists: What Tuskegee University’s College of Arts and Sciences Has to Offer

by Jessica Halsey

In a world characterized by its placed importance on the fields of science and mathematics, the humanities are often perceived to be lackluster and unprofitable. Specifically for black students, they are often encouraged to memorize math formulas and understand bodily functions rather than analyzing a novel written a number of years ago. Not only has society deemed these two areas to be separate entities (rather than two elements that work together), but it has minimized the importance of the humanities; this is detrimental to the progression and well-being of society. Tuskegee University’s College of Arts and Sciences is the university’s […]

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