Welcome to InsideTSU, the weekly newsletter of Texas Southern University!
Friday, May 20, 2022



SPECIAL POST-COMMENCEMENT EDITION
Commencement is day of transformation
1000+ Tigers graduate, join alumni ranks
Saturday, May 14, marked a day of transformation for more than 1,000 graduates of Texas Southern University. It also marked the first Spring Commencement back in the Health & Physical Education Building since 2019, due to the pandemic.

Commencement Day at TSU was filled with pomp and circumstance - as well as lots of pictures, smiles, hugs, social media posts, mixed in with words of wisdom from Commencement speaker Kenny Smith, TSU President Lesia Crumpton-Young, TSU Board of Regents Chairman Albert Myres, and Acting Provost Lillian Poats, among others.
Smith (pictured with President Crumpton-Young just prior to Commencement) won back-to-back NBA championships as a member of the Houston Rockets and now serves as an analyst on Inside the NBA on TNT. He spoke on the process of becoming a champion in life, emphasizing the importance of being prepared in all situations.

"I want to dispel a myth, especially in the African American community: You do not have to struggle to succeed," he said. "Struggle comes from the lack of preparation. It's the preparation that gives you the experience to be successful."

To become prepared, Smith told the graduates to identify their skills, master them, and become irreplaceable.

Alluding to the pandemic and recent social turmoil, he said "You are the most prepared group of graduates in the history of graduation based on what you've gone through in the last four years. You don't have to struggle. Do you have to work? Do you have to grind? Yes. Do you have to struggle? No, because you're prepared."
President Lesia Crumpton-Young (pictured on the Tiger Walk with members of the TSU Board of Regents, academic leadership, and the TSU class of 2022) applauded the graduates for their tenacity.

"Your perseverance is a life-altering achievement," she said. "It is a major milestone that will propel you to greater heights. We are so proud of you."

TSU held two ceremonies on Commencement Day. The morning ceremony included graduates of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, College of Liberal Arts & Behavioral Sciences, and Thurgood Marshall School of Law. The afternoon ceremony included the School of Communications, College of Education, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, and College of Science, Engineering & Technology.

To view the recorded livestream for both ceremonies, click here.
Watch videos featuring TSU's Spring 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian
Ashley Gillis, Spring 2022 valedictorian video
Joy Lewis, Spring 2022 salutatorian video
Pictures from Commencement...
TSU graduates enjoy the ceremony after receiving their diplomas.
President Crumpton-Young shakes hands with Montgomery Morris, Mister TSU.
It's all smiles for this TSU graduate entering H&PE Arena for Commencement.
TSU Regent Ron J. Price shares a moment of pride with TSU graduate and Student Regent Aaliyah Fleming.
President Crumpton-Young congratulates valedictorian Ashley Gillis.
Dr. Kevin Granger, vice president of Intercollegiate Athletics, walks across the stage upon receiving his doctoral degree.
Dr. Jason Oby, interim assistant dean and chair of the Music department, carries the mace into H&PE Arena prior to Commencement.
Commencement speaker Kenny Smith offers words of encouragement to the graduates.
For more photos of Commencement, click here.
Hooding ceremonies mark completion for Thurgood Marshall School of Law, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences graduates
On the eve of Commencement, the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences held special hooding ceremonies to mark the graduates completion of their respective degrees.

The COPHS Hooding and Culmination Ceremony for the Class of 2022 was held in Sawyer Auditorium. Graduates were recognized and masters and doctoral candidates received their hoods (see picture above).

The keynote address was given by TSU alumnus Alexander C. Okwonna, Pharm.D., M.Ed., who currently serves as Provost of San Jacinto College - North Campus. Professional oaths for the graduates were administered by Dr. Zivar Yousefipour, interim associate dean for Health Sciences, and Dr. Aisha Morris Moultry, associate dean for Pharmacy Academic Affairs.
The TMSL Hooding Ceremony, commemorated the successful completion of juris doctor degree requirements by the graduates. It was held in H&PE Arena with the Honorable Chukwe Antar Lumumba, major of Jackson, MS, and TMSL graduate in 2008, as the featured speaker.

The TMSL valedictorian is Andrea Villarreal (pictured above receiving her hood).
Additionally, TMSL announced its 2022 James M. Douglas Distinguished Alumnus of the Year during the ceremony, with the Honorable Valencia Nash (pictured above), Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2 (Dallas County, TX) selected.

The TMSL Hooding Ceremony livestream recording can be accessed here.

For more photos of the COPHS ceremony, visit here. For additional pictures of the TMSL ceremony, visit here.
Graduate overcomes obstacles to pursue lifelong dream
If there’s one thing that Tia Whitfield learned while attending Texas Southern University, it’s that speaking up can make all the difference.

Whitfield spoke up when she contracted COVID – weeks before the University transitioned to remote classes in during the Spring 2020 semester, which allowed her professors to help craft an online plan so she could continue her studies, despite the health issues she was going through.

She spoke up during a group study session last fall, pouring out her emotions about her favorite grandfather who had recently passed – and her academic struggles following his death. Other students in the group shared similar stories as a result.

She also spoke up during a challenging statistics class, sitting in the front row, asking her professor questions, and demonstrating to other students that “there is no such thing a dumb question” when you are trying to understand the material. Rich class discussion followed.

“What I’ve learned is that when you speak up, people will listen,” said Whitfield. “And it also allows others to release what they may be keeping inside.”

Whitfield, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from TSU on Saturday with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, along with a minor in Administration of Justice, has overcome a lot while at the University. Even her road to get to TSU was filled with obstacles.

Read more of Tia's story here.
"TSU in the News" snapshot:

Dr. Howard Henderson co-authored an article about the need for a Federal Clean Slate Initiative (May 18):

Dr. Howard Henderson quoted in article about whether the BLM movement has influenced police use of deadly force (May 18):

Dr. Rochelle Parks Yancey's research and expertise is featured in article on ten best and worst cities to start a career in 2022 (May 17):

Republic Airways contributes $20,000 toward scholarships for Aviation Science students (May 13):
Re-cap of President Crumpton-Young's Investiture (May 11):
KTSU membership drive ends Sunday
On the cusp of celebrating its golden 50th anniversary, KTSU 90.9 FM "The Choice" is in the midst of its annual membership drive, which began last week and runs through Sunday, May 21.

KTSU-FM is a major component of outreach for the Texas Southern University, providing the community-at-large with non-commercial schedules of public affairs programming, jazz, blues, R & B oldies, gospel, reggae, neo soul, zydeco music and other special programs 24 hours a day. In addition, KTSU also serves as a training platform for students enrolled in the School of Communications.

"This is a momentous time in the life of KTSU," said Ernest Walker, KTSU General Manager. "We are excited to celebrate our 50th anniversary next month, but our membership drive is really what keeps us going. Since KTSU is a member-supported station, membership is our lifeblood. Having a growing, vibrant and active membership base makes KTSU stand out among the variety of options that listeners have."

KTSU membership only requires a minimum $50 annual contribution.

For more information about KTSU membership, visit the membership page, with links to become a new or sustaining member.
Executive MPA student Aria Johnson awarded $5000 Texas Lyceum Scholarship
The Executive Master of Public Administration program (EMPA) at Texas Southern University is proud to announce its first recipient of the $5,000 Texas Lyceum Scholarship—student Aria Alyse-Noire Johnson

As a College Readiness Counselor in the Houston Independent School District, Johnson pursues her passion and purpose work in youth development daily. A native Houstonian with five-plus years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, political campaigns and programs and in education, Johnson has built her career and volunteer efforts around serving her community. Upon graduation, Johnson hopes to transition into a career as a political consultant and establish herself as a leader who helps shape public policy at the intersection of government, big tech and education. Through this fellowship, she looks forward to engaging in research that will bring attention to policy issues impacting urban communities.

The Texas Lyceum is the only nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide leadership organization focused on identifying the state’s next generation of leaders and providing a forum for civil discourse. The organization hosts meetings and conferences, publishes a nationally-acclaimed annual poll, and partners with higher education institutions to offer a statewide fellowship program that promotes research driven solutions at the highest levels of state government. For more than 40 years, The Texas Lyceum has focused on bringing together diverse opinions and expertise to emphasize constructive private sector, public-sector and individual responses to the issues facing the state and the nation.  

For questions about the EMPA program or the Texas Lyceum partnership, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams at (713) 313-7760 or michael.adams@tsu.edu.
TSU partners with six HBCUs/MSIs to share online courses
Texas Southern University has joined a group of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) in an innovative new partnership. The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) announced its HBCU-MSI Course-Sharing Consortium, a collaboration designed to help HBCUs and MSIs enable students to stay on track toward graduation.

“Texas Southern University is honored to be a part of this Consortium,” said Acting Provost Dr. Lillian Poats. “The University is committed to eliminating barriers that prevent our students from graduating on time. We believe this innovative effort by some of the leading minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities can be a catalyst for even more multi-institutional collaboration.”

For more information, read the full article.
TSU alumna lands new role as reporter for CBS in Austin
Paige Hubbard, a TSU alumna who graduated in 2017 with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism, recently joined CBS Austin as a reporter from Sinclair Broadcasting Group's sister station in Beaumont, TX, KFDM/FOX 4 News.

Hubbard's entry into journalism began with an internship at Houston's KRIV-FOX 26. She also served as a production assistant intern at KPRC Channel 2 in Houston.

More information about Hubbard can be found here.

Photo courtesy of CBS Austin.
2017 alumnus running for Maryland House
Cameron Green, Sr., who graduated from TSU in 2017 with a B.A. in Radio, Television & Film, is a candidate for District 40 in the Maryland state legislature.

The 29-year-old Democrat is a resident of Poppleton/Baltimore City and is an educational consultant. The primary election is on July 19, 2022.


Photo courtesy of GreenforBaltimore.com
Down to the wire:
Final home series vs. Prairie View to determine seedings for SWAC tournament
The Tiger baseball team heads into its final series of the season against rival Prairie View A&M with a lot on the line.

TSU can finish as high as first place or as low as fourth place in the SWAC West division. Several teams are crowded in the race for the top 4 seeds in the SWAC tournament, including TSU and PVAMU. TSU won the first game of the series on Thursday 12-2.

All games against the Panthers take place at MacGregor Park and are free to the public. The Friday and Saturday games are both at 2 p.m.

The SWAC tournament takes place next week (May 25-29) at Regions Field in Birmingham, AL.

For more details, visit tsusports.com.
Office of Student Financial Assistance: