The 146 Points of Pride

ECONOMIC IMPACT

 

1. Through its more than 6,000 students and 1,002 em­ployees, AAMU is ranked No. 16 among the Top 20 largest employers in the Huntsville/Madison County area, according to the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce (2020).  Alabama A&M University (AAMU) has an economic impact of over $350 million statewide and $228 million on the region, according to the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce.

2. In the last decade, Alabama A&M University has expended over $54.1 million on facilities, renovations, upgrades and deferred maintenance.

3. Construction has begun on the $47.7 million University Event Center.  On the horizon are the $7.6 million Welcome Center and the $455,000 William Hooper Councill Eternal Flame Memorial.  Additionally, Bibb Graves Hall was renamed Walter S. Buchanan Hall in honor of the second president of the University.  The multimillion-dollar renovations/upgrades of the Buchanan Hall auditorium was completed, and the auditorium was named in honor of Dr. Henry and Mrs. Nell Lane Bradford.

4.  AAMU was part of a list of prominent donors to a project designed to expand public library presence in North­west Huntsville.  The facility was dedicated in April 2021 in honor of Dr. Robert Shurney, an African-American engineer who devoted 36 years to flight training for NASA.

5.  AAMU is part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Early Assurance Program.  The success of historically black colleges and universities in preparing their graduates make them a fitting source for a sustainable pipeline of students qualified to pursue medical degrees.  Students who participate in the program will be provided a range of support and mentoring opportunities beginning with their junior year.

 

INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND

STATE DISTINCTIONS

6.  Because of AAMU’s significant production of STEM graduates, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office selected AAMU to host “Building a Legacy of Impact Through Invention,” a Black History Month 2020 program attended by African-American inventors Jim West, founder (electret microphone) and Victor Lawrence (signal processing in telecommunications).

7.  The Hundred-Seven, an organization created to posi­tively promote HBCUs, ranked Alabama A&M University #3 in the nation in the production of African American Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors (2020). Alabama A&M University is also one of the top 50 colleges in the U. S. in graduating African-Americans with bachelor’s degrees in computer science, engineering, math and science.

8.  NBA Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley, made a $1 mil­lion commitment to Alabama A&M University, the largest philanthropic commitment from an individual in the history of the institution.

9.  Alabama A&M University is home to a campus branch of Redstone Federal Credit Union. The Ala­bama A&M University Branch powered by Redstone Federal Credit Union is the first credit union branch on a university campus. The AAMU Campus Branch provides face-to-face cash transactions via an ATM virtual assistant. Out of 5,757 credit unions in the United States, Redstone FCU ranks 35^th, with $5.45 billion in assets (2021).

10. AAMU is one of the top 10 HBCUs for graduating black engineers and mathematicians (The Hundred-Seven, 2020), and it is Top 10 Alabama college for online instruction (collegechoice.net, 2021).

11. The College of Business and Public Affairs will launch its Master of Public Administration (MPA) program in fall 2021 and the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences will launch the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in fall 2021.

12. United States Cabinet-level administrators have visited the campus on a wide range of initiatives pertaining to their unique missions. Among them were United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack; U. S. Department of Education Secretaries Arne Duncan and John B. King; former Attorney General Eric Holder. Additionally, Congressman James Clyburn, the highest ranking African American in the United States House of Representatives; Congresswoman Alma Adams, co-founder of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus; and Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District, have served as commencement speakers.  

13. Alabama A&M University, is recognized as a Top 10 Military Friendly School. This distinction, the highest awarded, reveals that AAMU’s commitment to serving the military and veteran community is comprehensive in scope and meaningful in terms of actual outcomes and impact.

14. Alabama A&M University joins the 290 “Storm Ready” institutions as designated by the National Weather Center (2021). AAMU is now part of the Weather-Ready Nation and is fully prepared for the campus’ increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events.  

15. Olmsted and Olmsted was commissioned by the State of Alabama to layout the Alabama A&M University campus in 1928. The firm was started and managed by Frederick Law Olmstead, Sr., designer of New York City’s Central Park.  However, this Olmsted brother had retired when this commissioning took place.

16. Alabama A&M University was named among the first group of 19 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders.  The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) began recognizing the noteworthy level of engagement that selected Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have achieved with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. 

17. The engineering building, which houses a STEM Knowledge Center for the College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, is named for Arthur J. Bond, former dean and late “Father of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).” Bond was integral in the founding of the organization at Purdue University and has been honored as “Dr. Bond and the Chicago Six.”

18. Based on a Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) report, Alabama A&M University enrolls and graduates the largest number of minority STEM students in the State of Alabama.

19. Through President Andrew Hugine, Jr., Alabama A&M University remains a signatory in the 2021 Presidents’ Commitment to Food and Nutrition Security via the Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH) consortium initiative of more than 112 universities dedicated to ending hunger on college campuses around the world.

20. Alabama A&M University’s forestry program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters and is one of only two programs at HBCUs.

21. AAMU boasts the only accredited (Planning Accreditation Board - PAB) undergraduate Community Planning program among HBCUs in the country and within the state of Alabama. Of the four HBCUs offering the degree, AAMU is the only one that offers both the undergraduate and master’s programs accredited by PAB.

22. AAMU established the state’s first computer science program in 1969 with the assistance of the late alumnus Clyde Foster, who was an administrator on loan from NASA at the time.

23. The International Program Office at Alabama A&M University held the “International Education Opportunities” to provide learners and faculty the tools and resources needed to improve their global competency.  The Office is part of the College of Business and Public Affairs, and it helps the campus community achieve global competency by offering cross-cultural experiences and related global educational opportunities.

24. AAMU houses the Virginia Caples Lifelong Learning Institute (VCLLI) named in honor of the late Dr. Virginia Caples, retired 1890 administrator, professor, and two-time interim president of Alabama A&M University, the first such center at an 1890 institution of higher learning. VCLLI partners with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in the sponsoring of the Successful Aging Initiative in Madison County. The purpose of the Successful Aging Initiative is to address issues impacting Alabama’s Baby Boomers and older adults.

25. The Department of Food and Animal Sciences offers the only Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) certified food science program at a historically black college or university (HBCU) in the U.S. The Food and Animal Sciences Department is the oldest Ph.D. food science program among HBCUs.

26. The Rehabilitative Counseling program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation.  The programs in business are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).  Only 5% of the business schools in the world have this prestigious designation. 

27.  The education programs within the College of Education, Humanities and Behavioral Sciences are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (formerly NCATE). 

28.  The undergraduate social work programs is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

29.  The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is one of five accredited in Alabama by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

30. The Communicative Sciences and Disorders program is accredited by the American Speech and Hearing Association.

31. The Family and Consumer Sciences program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Family and Consumer Sciences.

32. The Nutrition and Hospitality program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Dietetics Education.

33. The programs in Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

34. Three Greek-lettered organizations have provided major contributions of over $100,000 to AAMU for scholarship endowments: (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., $262,520; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., $231,060; and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., $146,471).

35. AAMU has hosted a Nobel Laureate for over 20 consecutive years, the only institution in the country to have such a distinction. The Nobel memorial lecture is named in honor of Dr. Putcha Venkateswarlu Memorial, the late AAMU physicist.  

36. Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University Historic District, also known as Normal Hill College Historic District, has 28 buildings and 4 structures, listed in the United States Register of Historic Places.

37. AAMU ranks second among all HBCUs and in the state of Alabama in land ownership with a record of 2,300 acres, which ranks 28^th nationally.

 

ACADEMICS/FACULTY/STAFF

38. Dr. Teresa Meriweather Orok was selected in 2020 to participate in an intensive regional leadership development program sponsored by the Appalachian Leadership Institute.

39. Dr. Jeanette Jones, professor of biology, Faculty Senate president and AAMU trustee, is listed in the ScienceMakers category of the African-American oral history collection, The HistoryMakers.

40. Music icon and local religious leader, the late Rev. Dr. Henry Bradford, Jr., a professor emeritus who served the institution for more than 40 years, was the arranger for the University Hymn.

41. Alabama A&M University has expanded the online degree offerings to include five degree programs that are fully online. These include the Bachelor of Science in Management, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies, Master of Education in Instructional Leadership, Master of Education in Early Childhood Education and Master of Science in Computer Science.

42. At the Birmingham, Ala., Lawson State Community College site, SACSCOC has fully approved AAMU’s offering of the Bachelor of Arts in social work; Bachelor of Science in computer science; Bachelor of Science in criminal justice; Master of Social Work and the Master of Business Administration.

43. In 2021, AAMU Benefits Manager LaTonya D. Crutcher became president of the 500-member Alabama chapter of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, which is dedicated to higher education HR in Alabama.

44. The Faculty Mentoring Program at Alabama A&M University is an initiative launched to help provide a personal support system for junior level faculty members in their quest to become effective teachers and leaders. The junior level faculty member is paired with a senior level faculty member who shares similar research interests and overall career goals and aspirations.

45. The AAMU College of Business and Public Affairs’ Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Economic Development (CEIED) provides information and resources to small business owners throughout the Tennessee Valley, and partners with numerous business-advocacy entities, including the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce. 

46. The Writing Center (now “The Write Place”), located in the Carver Complex North, offers several innovative workshops on writing, coordinated by Dr. Kem Roper, director.

47. AAMU alumna and assistant professor Charlotte Teague earned a distinguished fellowship allowing her access to the complete works of prolific novelist and writer Alice Walker through 2021.

48. Dr. Tonya Davis, assistant professor in the Department of Social Work, Psychology and Counseling, was selected as a Trusted CI (cyberinfrastructure) Fellow by the National Science Foundation.

49. Alabama A&M University is one of the host institutions in the state for the Males for Alabama Education (M.A.L.E.) initiative designed to attract minority males into the teaching profession. A scholarship program at Alabama A&M University, designed to attract more minority males into the teaching profession, began another round of accepting applications in 2020. The initiative Scholarship is coordinated by the College of Education, Humanities and Behavioral Sciences and its Department of Teacher Education and Leadership.

50. Directed by Dr. Horace Carney, chair of the Department of Visual, Performing and Communication Arts, the world-renowned AAMU Concert Choir counts among its distinct events a performance at the Lincoln Center, marking the first such performance by a historically black college or university.

51. Bandmaster and alum Carlton Wright led the Marching Maroon and White to its fifth appearance in the Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., in 2018. The event was not held in 2019.  The AAMU Marching Maroon and White Band was also the 1st HBCU band to perform at the Alabama Bandmasters Association All-State Concert a year earlier.

 

ALUMNI

52. Accomplished litigator J. Mark Debro serves as the first African-American president of the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association.

53. The Honorable Anthony Daniels, Alabama State Representative, became the first African American and youngest House Minority Leader. He also became the first recipient of the AAMU President’s Distinguished Service Award.

54. Alumni serving or having served as president of colleges and universities are: Dr. Carl Harris Marbury (only alumnus to serve as president of Alabama A&M University); Dr. Nathan Essex, Southwest Tennessee Community College; Dr. Jack Thomas, former English major and AAMU track star, Central State University; Dr. Johnson O. Akinleye chancellor of North Carolina Central University; Norman Cephus, C.A. Fredd Technical College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and Dr. Patricia Sims, J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College.

55. AAMU produces governmental leaders: Kenneth Gulley, Mayor of Bessemer, Alabama; James “Jay” Roberson, Birmingham City Council; John Hackett, Jr., and Susan Joe Rembert-Parks, Fairfield City Council; State Senator Linda Coleman and State Representatives Laura Hall, Mary Moore and Anthony Daniels; James Perkins, Mayor of Selma, Alabama; and Michael Butler, chair, Missouri Democratic Party. Other local governmental leaders include Alex Roberts, who served for more than 20 years as county commissioner for Monroe County (Ala.); JesHenry Malone, former County Commissioner for Madison County, and Fred Wilson, Calhoun County Commissioner. 

56. Alumnus Mandela Barnes became Wisconsin’s first African-American Lieutenant Governor.

57. AAMU produces leaders in public education, among them current and former superintendents of schools: Eugene White, Indianapolis Public Schools; the late Arlester McBride, Wilcox County Schools; Dee O. Fowler, Madison County Schools; Dr. Fred Primm, Jr., Bessemer City Schools; Woodie E. Pugh, Jr., Clarke County Schools; Allen Perkins, Madison County Schools; the late Dr. Robert Brown, first black superintendent of Greene County Schools in the 1970s (a middle school in Eutaw, Ala., was named in his honor); and Bernadeia Johnson, superintendent of Minneapolis, Minn., schools, 2010-15 (The Selma, Ala., clarinetist met her trombonist husband Robert in the band).

58. Dr. Sherita Moses, a Ph.D. recipient in physics, gained approval from the U.S. Patent Office for a compound she invented, while a student at AAMU, that could potentially save the lives of thousands of thousands of women with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.

59. Dr. Robert Doyle Bullard, distinguished professor and former dean of the Barbara Jordan - Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University, is widely considered “The Father of Environmental Justice.”

60. AAMU’s own “Hidden Figures” Jeanette Scissum was the first African American female mathematician and scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center located in Huntsville, Ala. 

61. CEO Lisa S. Jones of EyeMail, Inc., has perfected the integration of audio and video technology to liven up traditional e-mails.

62. Eboni Major was highlighted in Forbes.com series on the growing role of women in industries mostly dominated by men.  Major is a blender for Bulleit Bourbon, where she has used her skills as an AAMU-trained food scientist.

63. New giving records were set at the 143rd Founder’s Day and Class Reunion Weekend with a check presentation totaling $303,377, including $141,000 from the Golden Class of 1968.

64. Dr. Henry Panion, III, is widely known for his work as a conductor and arranger for superstar Stevie Wonder, as well as for his role as an educator and conductor of the world’s most notable orchestras. 

65. Alabama A&M University Former Trustee William E. Cox, Sr., co-founder of Cox Matthews & Associates, publisher of the nationally distributed higher education publication DIVERSE Issues in Higher Education magazine and others.

66. Dr. Shelia Nash-Stevenson made history in 1994 when she became the first African American female from Alabama to earn a Ph.D. degree in physics. She was also the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in Physics from Alabama A&M University. She appeared on the NBC morning “Today” show in 2019, featuring the Ladies of NASA.

67. Julian Green is vice president of communications and community affairs for the Chicago Cubs. He was also a communications specialist for then Senator Barack Obama.

68. Dr. Hadiyah Nicole-Green (r) gained national attention for her ground-breaking cancer research in her lab formerly at Tuskegee University and now at the Morehouse Medical School, where she is a physicist.

69. Dr. Marquita Furniss Davis served as the first female finance director for the State of Alabama. Currently, she serves as the Deputy Director for Early Learning at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

70. Paul Pinyan (left) is executive director of the Alabama Farmers Federation and general manager of ALFA Services, Inc.

71. Performers and recording artists who are influencing the next generation of vocalists, instrumentalists, rappers and humanitarians: multi-talented Kelvin Wooten; Singer Mitty Collier of Chess Records, who popularized the song “I Had a Talk with My Man”; and Singer Ruben Studdard, American Idol Season 2 Winner.

72. Late alumnus Booker T. Whatley was noted internationally for developing a process of year-round farming for a 100-acre family. The plan attracted the attention of the Wall Street Journal and the founder of Domino’s Pizza.

73. U.S. Army Major General (Ret.) Patrick W. Burden performs global sales and marketing for Boeing in Huntsville, Ala.  He previously served as Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan based in Kabul. Burden is the first graduate of AAMU’s ROTC Program to achieve the rank of General in the U. S. Army.

74. John O. Hudson, III, formerly executive vice president and chief external and public affairs officer at Southern Company Gas Foundation, has been appointed president and CEO of Nicor Gas, the largest natural gas distribution company in the state of Illinois.

75. Carolyn Caldwell is president and CEO of Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center, a 389-bed acute care nonprofit medical center in Long Beach, Calif. 

76. Dr. Alease S. Sims of Birmingham, Ala., was a co-defendant in the long-running Knight, Sims vs. Alabama higher education desegregation lawsuit, first launched in 1981.

77. W. Clyde Marsh achieved the highest rank of any graduate of the AAMU ROTC. He retired with the rank of Rear Admiral and served as a former commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as former president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.

78. Adrienne Pope-Kelly Washington (retired) is the first black female to earn the permanent grade of GS-15 in the history of the U. S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, the first black female to hold the position of Director of Security Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD) and the first black female to serve as the Division Chief of Air and Missile Defense Systems in SAMD. She has also headed the South Eastern Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

79. Miranda Bouldin-Frost, president/CEO of Huntsville-based LogiCore, was listed among Fortune’s Top 10 “Most Promising Women in Business.”

80. Michael Ford, a 1998 finance graduate, is corporate vice president of global real estate and security at Microsoft in the Seattle, Wash., metropolitan area.

81. An alumna of the College of Business and Public Affairs, Tchernavia Rocker is chief people and culture officer for UnderArmour.  She was featured (2020) in the 19th anniversary issue of Savoy magazine.

82. Atty. Don Calloway, former member of the Missouri House of Representatives, is a sought-after pundit on a range of television and radio news programs.

ATHLETICS

83. The 2021 undefeated football team (4-0) earned the first SWAC Championship since 2006 and HBCU National Football Champions for the first time in the university’s history.

84. The Men’s Tennis Team won the 2021 SWAC Championship and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament, the first time in the history of the university.

85. Betty K. Austin, alumna and AAMU retiree and first female athletic director, is one of the winningest volleyball coaches in the history of the sport.

86. AAMU annually plays in the Magic City Classic, first played in 1924. The Magic City Classic is one of the oldest and now largest continuing rivalries between historically black colleges and universities.

87. The Alabama A&M University Athletics Hall of Fame inducted eight members as part of its 2019, following a years-long hiatus.  The inductees included Robert Mathis, Kendrick Rogers, Betty Kelly-Austin, Melody Dawson, Terry Batts, Valerie Hervey, James Martin (left) and Hali Andrew Robinson.  Long-time sports photographer Sidney Jackson was recognized by the Hall of Fame Advisory Board as a special contributor.

88. AAMU joined forces with the City of Huntsville and Huntsville Public Schools on a stadium artificial turf project that still enables access to junior high and high school football teams at Louis Crews Stadium.

89. NFL Hall of Famer John Stallworth is a former American football wide receiver who played 14 seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Stallworth, a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., played in six AFC championships and four Super Bowls. He was recognized, along with all HBCUs Hall of Famers at Super Bowl LI (50).

90. Jearl Miles Clark was inducted into the U. S. Track and Field Hall of Fame and is a five-time Olympic winner in track and field, winning two gold and one silver medal.

91. At least eighty (80) former Bulldogs have played professional sports.

92. Some all-time NFL draft picks (19) include: Johnny Baldwin, Black College Football Hall of Fame inductee Robert Mathis, Joe Patton, Fred Lester, Todd Woulard, Howard Ballard, Morris Johnson, Reginald Gipson, Thomas Hopkins, Mike Williams, Raymond Cooley, Frankie Smith, Oliver Ross, legendary Pittsburgh Steeler John Stallworth, Louis Swain, Onree Jackson, Alvin Presnell, Bill Kendricks and Bernard Corbin. Free agent Frank Kearse is an American football nose tackle who has played for the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins.

93. Alabama A&M University Bulldogs were slated to participate in the 2021 Gulf Coast Challenge, a gridiron contest with the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers in the port city of Mobile, Ala., at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. 

94. AAMU will complete construction of a multi-use Event Center in 2022, the new home for its basketball programs.  The facility will also house the AAMU Athletic Hall of Fame.

95. At a capacity of 21,000 seats, Louis Crews Stadium is still the largest such athletic facility in the North Alabama vicinity.   The stadium features a state-of-the-art jumbotron with video capabilities that enhance the game day experience and opportunities for sponsorships.

96. Retiree Barry Wagner from the Arena Football League played for the Orlando Predators, winning his first Arena Bowl Championship, and for the San Jose SaberCats, with whom he won two championships. He is considered the best arena football player of all time.

 

OUTREACH

 

97. The Alabama Cooperative Extension Program, a joint program between Alabama A&M University and Auburn Uni­versity, has extension offices in all 67 Alabama counties.

98. AAMU art professors coordinate SPACES, a program sponsored by the City of Huntsville and the Huntsville Arts Council to bring art and sculptures to public places. 

99. The Small Farm Research Center holds a series of practical workshops designed for the general public through­out each year as part of its unique program targeting begin­ning farmers and ranchers. The Center serves nearly 700 small farmers and over 100 rural entrepreneurs annually.

100. Through collaboration with Huntsville Hospital and Toyota, Alabama A&M University launched a mobile health clinic to provide preventive health care services to local and underserved communities.

101. The Office of Student Affairs’ Beyond Normal Lecture Series augments the University’s mission, vision, and values by showcasing individuals of exceptional accomplishment who share their talents, experiences and perspectives in areas such as globalization, civil discourse, the arts, politics, diversity, and social, community and cultural issues, to name a few. Speakers have included Ilyasah Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X); Dr. Eric Thomas, educator, author and pastor; NFL legend Michael Vick; and Rev. Jamal Bryant.

102. The Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders routinely offers free hearing clinics as part of one of the most sought-after majors at the University.

103. AAMU has been a decades-long partner with the Madison County Commission District 6 to form and sustain community/public gardens to promote fresh vegetables for the community.

104. Ranging from rodeos to dog shows to carnivals, the AAMU Agri­bition Center hosts a number of unique events for the greater Huntsville and Madison County community.

105. AAMU students have provided consistent mentoring services to students at local elementary schools in Huntsville, Ala. AAMU student volunteers have clocked more than 60,000 hours at more than 60 local agencies and schools.

106. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs Unit started a Lunch and Learn session that offers important information to individuals, families, local businesses and organizations.

107. Women researchers at Alabama A&M University (AAMU) will partner with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and other institutions to meet the aims of an NSF-sponsored project designed to foster the growth of women in STEM disciplines. AAMU ADVANCE Leadership Team consists of Dr. Jeanette Jones, principal investigator (PI, 2nd left), Distinguished Professor of Biology; Dr. Tonya Perry (4th, left), Department of Social Work, Psychology & Counseling; Dr. Padmaja Guggilla (far right), Department of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics; Dr. Malinda Swoope (first, left), associate professor of chemistry; Dr. Martha Verghese (2nd from right), Department of Food & Animal Sciences; and Ms. Dianne Kirnes (3rd, l), program manager.

108. The University held its 9th Annual Presidential Schol­arship Recognition and Promotional Tour, virtually visiting dozens of Alabama high schools and engaging area alumni.

109. The AAMU Student Wellness Center boasts state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a bowling alley and numerous health and wellness outreach programs for the community.

110. The Bulldog Pride Committee, headed by First Lady Abbiegail Hugine, celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the “Dancing with the President and First Lady” project in 2021.  The Bulldog Pride Com­mittee pulls together University and community persons in a partnership focused on campus aesthetics, pride and scholar­ship support.

111. Church members, friends and family celebrated the 100^th birthday of Sylvia Elizabeth Parker Scott, who served decades as postmistress for the Normal Post Office on the AAMU campus.

112. AAMU’s 100,000-watt WJAB-FM airs a nationally syndicated radio program, “Return to the Source,” hosted by political science professor and jazz enthusiast Douglas Turner. The show remains a welcome addition to the African-American Public Radio Consortium’s listings.

113. The AAMU Gallery of Art, curated by artist Joe Washington and located in the R.D. Mor­rison Fine Arts Building, is a professional and accessible show­case for on-campus and community artists.

114. The campus’ “Be the Match” Walk, a worthwhile event organized to further increase awareness of bone marrow research, is coordinated by the First Lady’s Bulldog Pride Committee.

 

RESEARCH AND GRANTS

 

115. Unique among HBCUs, AAMU RISE (Research, Innovation, Science and En­gineering) is a separately organized 501c3 Foundation whose purpose it is to execute government contracts for research and development on behalf of Alabama A&M University.

116. There are more than 25 specialized research laborato­ries and three outdoor research stations and forest sites, where agricultural, environmental, forestry and wildlife research is undertaken by students and faculty members in the College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences.

117. Alabama A&M University’s Bulldog Transit System (BTS) added four additional electric buses to its fleet continuing its effort begun in 2020 to transition to state-of-the art zero emission buses while gradually replace its aging diesel fleet.

118. AAMU scientists presented research in early 2020 to the U.S. Army that indicated that Optical Raman Spectroscopy can use an aging missile’s propellant to determine whether the missile is still useful. AAMU’s team of physicists includes Dr. Ruffin, Dr. Anup Sharma, Dr. Carlton Farley, Dr. Aschalew Kassu and Dr. Michael Curley. 

119. A team of six Alabama A&M University scientists have been awarded a major grant through the Department of the Army. AAMU scientists Wubishet Tadesse, Zachary Senwo, Dedrick Davis, Venkateswara Sripathi, Govind Sharma, and Dawn Lemke were awarded a new Research and Development Cooperative Agreement grant totaling $5 million over a four-year period from the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). 

120. AAMU was awarded a three-year $2.96 million grant in 2020 from DoD's National Defense Education Program to fund STEM education, outreach and workforce initiatives. Dr. Paul Ruffin, AAMU alum and physicist, is Principal Investigator.  

121. Alabama A&M University food scientists and students are collaborating with local brewery Straight to Ale on a new beer that would make AAMU the only HBCU to have its own beer brand.

122. The Small Farms Research Center received a $1.2 mil­lion grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agricul­ture (NIFA) to grow and assist the next generation of farmers, provide risk management education and financial literacy training to small and limited resource producers.

123. Alabama A&M University’s Cooperative Extension received a $1 million grant award for the Supplemental Nutri­tion Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed). SNAP-Ed is a nutrition education program committed to empowering limited resource families to make wise food choices, to select and prepare safe foods, and to consume a nutrient dense diet of healthy foods.

124. The Department of Social Work, Psychology and Counseling received a $225,000 grant from the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD). Alabama A&M University was the only HBCU to receive an ACDD grant award.

 

STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERISM

125. Students in the College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences used classroom, lab and leadership skills to build the formula race car dubbed “SuperLucy.”

126. AAMU team members Chaz Holder, 19, a mechanical engineering major from Indianapolis, Ind.; Justin Lindberg, 21, a computer science major from Chicago, Ill.; Dermyrius Lindsey-Lewis, 21, a computer science major from Mobile, Ala.; Dominique Spence, 21, a management major from Albany, Ga.; and Deja Strong, 21, a social work major from St. Louis, Mo., were all part of the Moguls in the Making business plan pitch competition.  The contest was designed to meet a need in the city of Detroit.  The students came up with the concept of a mobile grocery store.

127. AAMU’s Students Learn Students Vote Coalition hosted the inaugural National HBCU Voting Summit, partnering with the nonprofit Andrew Goodman Foundation.

128. The student’s Civic Engagement Initiative was featured by Forbes.com, and campus facilitator and Ms. Monica Clarke accepted a national honor for nonpartisan student voter engagement presented by the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition.                 

129. The decade-old First Lady’s Scholarship Initiative, launched by First Lady Abbiegail Hugine and a team of volunteers, achieved its $225,000 mark.

130. Alabama 4-H at Alabama A&M University brought a virtual classroom to Alabama featuring “Swift Coding” for elementary, middle and high school students. Facilitated by Ed Farm, the 90-minute sessions were held via Zoom on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

131. Each year, Miss Alabama A&M University engages her fel­low students, as well as faculty, staff and alumni, to actively participate in the annual Christmas Angel Tree program, which primarily focuses on bringing cheer to the children of prisoners. Moreover, the University ambassadors, Echoes, attracts hun­dreds of children to its annual Trunk of Treat event held in the vicinity of Louis Crews Stadium.

132. Alabama A&M University emerged as the 2021 Home Depot Re­tool Your School Tier 1 grant winner of $75,000, representing the third time that the university has won the top award. Primarily, a well-coordinated voting and social media campaign helped AAMU surpass other HBCUs. The funds will be used for a renovation project involving the University’s historic bell tower.

133. AAMU will partner with Propel Center, a new global campus headquartered in Atlanta that will support innovative learning and development for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide. AAMU will collaborate with Propel Center and the entire HBCU community to bring leadership and career development programming to its students.

 

HONORING OUR OWN

134.  During the 2021 virtual Founder’s Day activities, Alabama A&M University recognized several dedicated faculty and staff members. Salam Khan received the Overall Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service (College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences) and Mrs. Carlquista Slay received the University Staff Employee of the Year (Health and Counseling Center). 

135. Electronic Media Communications (WJAB Radio/TV) produces and airs FrontPage, the official broadcast news program of Alabama A&M University. The purpose of the FrontPage is to highlight the accomplishments of faculty, staff, and students.

136. The Bulldog Pride Committee honored its founder during a year-end program in May 2021.

137. The “Normal Legacy Society”—established by Presi­dent Andrew Hugine, Jr., to recognize lifetime contributions of $100,000 or more to AAMU—contributed more than $1.2 million. The members include: the late Dr. Henry Bradford, Jr., and Mrs. Nell Bradford; Dr. Belvie Brice and Mrs. Doro­thy Brice; the late Ms. Bertha M. Jones; Dr. Ernest and Mrs. Marion Knight; the late Mrs. Ella Byrd McCain and the late Dr. John McCain; the late Rev. Lucien M. Ran­dolph; the late Ms. Velma Walker; the late Mrs. Geneva Wright and the late Mr. Elbert Wright; the Tom Joyner Foundation; Atty. W. Troy and Mrs. Sue Massey; Huntsville Hospital; Mr. Ronald and Mrs. Patricia McIntosh; Mr. DeWayne O. Carter; the City of Birmingham; Dr. Andrew and Mrs. Abbiegail Hugine; and Mr. John and Mrs. Mildred Davis.

138. Within the last decade alone, the 21-year-old Black Tie Scholarship Gala has raised more than $1.5 million. During this period, over 100 scholarships have been awarded to deserving students.

139. The Alabama Historical Association, elected officials, alumni and the AAMU family participated in the unveiling of a replacement historical marker on the corner of Meridian and Chase streets.

140. The Stevenson (Ala.) city council and community held a historic sign unveiling in commemoration of the Freed­men village (circa 1865), where Dr. William Hooper Councill, founder of Alabama A&M University, began his career in education.

141. Local and elected officials joined AAMU faculty and staffers in the ribbon cutting for the new entrance to the Ernest L. Knight Reception Center. Dr. Knight is a philanthropist and member of AAMU’s Class of 1953.

142. AAMU Founder William Hooper Councill was initi­ated posthumously into the Alabama Lawyers Association Hall of Fame.

143. HBCU Digest awarded President Andrew Hugine, Jr., the Male President of the Year Award at a ceremony held at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture in Baltimore, Md.

144. Alabama Cooperative Extension’s Tamara Warren received the coveted Award of Excellence for her work in family and consumer sciences.

145. Jerome Saintjones, director of AAMU’s Office of Marketing and Public Relations, wrote the lyrics to the official school song of J. F. Drake Community and Technical College.  The song was introduced during the HBCU’s 60^th anniversary kickoff activities in 2021.

146.  President Andrew Hugine, Jr., was interviewed by a CBS News reporter on the challenges public HBCUs face in receiving fair funding from states.