Welcome to InsideTSU, the weekly newsletter of Texas Southern University!
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
TSU Jazz ensemble, choir and journalism students shine at Monterey Jazz Festival
Alaska Airlines adds to partnership’s fourth year, giving students the experience of a lifetime
More than 20 students from the Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble, University Choir and Journalism department traveled to Monterey, CA, this past week to perform and gain valuable work experience as part of the 65th annual Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF). They participated in a groundbreaking partnership, now in its fourth year, between TSU and MJF.

Unique to this year, Alaska Airlines joined the partnership by providing complimentary air and ground transportation for the students to attend the three-day festival (Sept. 23-25).

“The partnership between TSU and the Monterey Jazz Festival has been invaluable for our students and faculty,” said Melinda Spaulding, TSU vice president for advancement and communications. “We are excited that Alaska Airlines recognizes the value of our TSU students and the transformative difference this partnership will make in their lives. They are providing a stage for their futures, whether they are performing with their voice, instrument, or journalistic creativity.”

While the Jazz Ensemble has performed previously at Monterey, this was the University Choir’s first time to attend and perform at the festival.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to have my students be exposed to a variety of artists that they’ve never been around,” said TSU choir professor Dr. Kiana Williams. “Beyond the performances, this was a wonderful opportunity for them to ask questions of the different artists and corporate entities that were present, and it’s an opportunity for them to see something outside of Texas. For some of our students, that was a first.”
The Jazz Ensemble and University Choir did not only perform at the festival, but they participated in a separate concert at California State University - Monterey Bay (photo above), attended a resume and career-building workshop sponsored by Google, and performed at a private event at the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Meanwhile, the TSU journalism students, who worked as reporters and producers for KTSU2, the University’s student-run radio station, gained incredible work experience as they conducted multimedia storytelling about the festival and their experiences.

On its way to the festival, the University Choir did a pop-up performance of "This is Me" during a layover at the Seattle airport. View the video below:
The videos below were just some of what was created by the TSU Journalism team of storytellers for KTSU2 during the festival:
TSU Travels to Monterey Jazz Festival
TSU & Morgan State perform at California State - Monterey Bay
Jazz Ensemble takes the stage at Monterey Jazz Festival
"TSU in the News" snapshot:

TSU football team dons custom Michael Strahan suits prior to games this season (September 18):

Kim Fain, professor of English, comments on changing role/perceptions of Blacks (and Black history) in Hollywood (September 17):
Political Science professor Dr. Michael Adams co-authors op-ed on common sense gun laws (September 25):

TSU and Morgan State to perform at Monterey Jazz Festival with help from Alaska Airlines (September 21):

Political Science professor Dr. Michael Adams publishes article on the burden of voter suppression on election officials (September 19):

TSU and PVAMU spotlighted in article on student debt and loan forgiveness (September 19):
Homecoming theme announced
It's "Destination Tiger Nation" October 22-29
Texas Southern University will host a full week of Homecoming 2022 activities beginning October 22. 

This year’s annual Homecoming festivities, with the theme “Destination Tiger Nation,” will kick off with a Student/Alumni Get Healthy Exercise event. Other highlights of the week’s events include the second annual midnight breakfast, a pep rally, Homecoming concerts, a step show, the 20th Annual Tiger Paw Scholarship Golf Classic, and the inaugural Alumni Under 40 Brunch honoring Tigers who have made a significant impact on their communities and the TSU community since graduating. 

The week of events, which also celebrate the University's 95th anniversary year, will culminate on Saturday, October 29, with the Homecoming parade, tailgates, and football game vs. Lincoln University (California) in Durley Stadium. The game begins at 2 p.m. 

For more information about Homecoming 2022, “Destination: Tiger Nation,” click here.
Arlington Showdown yields more than a Tiger win
While the Tiger football team delivered an impressive 24-0 shutout over rival Southern University in the annual Arlington HBCU Showdown, TSU achieved some additional successes, including a significant turnout of Tiger fans from across the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex and beyond. During halftime of the game, TSU also announced a $1 million scholarship commitment to students in the DFW region who attend TSU.
Prior to the game, several alumni events were held, including a mixer at the TSU headquarters hotel on Friday evening, and a Tiger Nation tailgating event in the Globe Life Field parking lot across from the game's venue at Choctaw Stadium.
 
Career Fair brings record number of employers seeking to hire Tigers
The Texas Southern University Fall Career Fair was held Thursday, September 22, in the Campus Recreation Center. More than 170 employers were on hand to speak with students and alumni about career opportunities, many offering interviews on the spot. Those employers included Fortune500 companies, law enforcement agencies, government agencies, school districts, non-profits, and many more. 
“That so many companies traveled from near and far to be on the campus of Texas Southern University recruiting our students from all majors to fill in-demand jobs is a testament to the quality of our students and our academic programs,” said LaRence Snowden, assistant vice president for corporate community partnerships. “We look forward to the employment and internship opportunities with which our students will engage as a result of this outstanding career fair.” 

Close to 1,000 students took advantage of the chance to have face time with recruiters in attendance.
TSU selected for IBM cybersecurity initiative
During last week's
National HBCU Week Conference convened by the U.S. Department of Education and the White House, IBM announced its collaboration with Texas Southern University and 19 other HBCUs to help them establish Cybersecurity Leadership Centers.

With 500,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the U.S., the need for expertise is critical: According to a recent IBM Security study, insufficiently staffed organizations average $550,000 more in breach costs than those that state they are sufficiently staffed.

"Collaborations between academia and the private sector can help students prepare for success. That's especially true for HBCUs because their mission is so vital," said Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG. "The Cybersecurity Leadership Centers we're co-creating with Historically Black College and Universities epitomize our commitment to the Black community and STEM education; it also builds on our pledge to train 150,000 people in cybersecurity over three years."

IBM will collaborate with HBCUs across 11 states (TSU is the only Texas HBCU selected) to co-create Cybersecurity Leadership Centers, helping to create talent for employers and opportunities for students.

For more information, click here.
TSU history professor to speak at annual Frederick Douglass Lecture Series
Professor of History, Dr. Karen Kossie-Chernyshev, will be the featured speaker for this semester's Frederick Douglass Lecture Series, presented by the Thomas F. Freeman Honors College.

Kossie-Chernyshev will speak on "Critical Race Theory: A Historian's Response." The lecture takes place Wednesday, September 28, at 6 p.m. in the Walter McCoy Auditorium (PAB, Room 114) in the Public Affairs Building.
TSU Regent presents at United Nations "Diaspora for Development" event
TSU Regent Ron Price, of Dallas, presented this week at the "Diaspora for Development: Leveraging Africa's Sixth Region to Realize the Continent's Promise," hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Union, and the Office of HBCU Development.

Price's presentation was part of a panel discussion called "Academic Perspectives," in conjunction with Dr. Fikru Boghossian of Morgan State University and Dr. Lamin Drammeh with South Carolina State University (pictured above with Regent Price, second from right, and Gary Bledsoe, far left, former dean of TSU's Thurgood Marshall School of Law and current board member of the Office of HBCU Development.

The panel focused on the International Distance Learning Initiative (IDLI). The goal of IDLI, which includes TSU and several other HBCUs, is to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning, and strengthen academic and sociocultural goals among universities across the African continent and beyond to advance educational outcomes for all persons of African descent. Through IDLI, distance learning courses taught by professors at HBCUs are accessible by universities across Africa.
The panel, which was available both in person (at The Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations in New York City, NY) and virtually, addressed questions such as:
  • What are some positive lessons learned from the IDLI initiative in the past three years?
  • How can the IDLI be improved for the future?
  • Is it possible to scale it up (with more HBCUs and students) and if so, how?
  • How can HBCUs and UNDP broaden their collaboration on educational support to Africa?

For more information on the UNDP's work involving Africa, visit here.
Social media phenom, Mr. Steal Your Grandma, is TSU graduate
Houston ISD school teacher by day, and social media icon at other times, Irvin Randle has created a legacy both inside the classroom and on Instagram.

Randle, who graduated from TSU in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in Communications, was recently featured in Texas Monthly for going viral as "Mr. Steal Your Grandma," a 50-something influencer that has also formed a group of similar-minded, middle-aged men known as the "Silver Fox Squad."

Randle grew up in the Third Ward in the 1970s and 80s before enrolling at Prairie View A&M and subsequently transferring to TSU. Eventually, Randle became an elementary school teacher in HISD, a job he still proudly holds while juggling his social media career. He has amassed more than 650,000 followers on his Instagram page.

To read the Texas Monthly feature on Randle, click here.

Photo courtesy of Irvin Randle's Instagram page.
MBA alum creates adventure reality series for kids
TSU alumnus Kam Enemoh, who graduated from the University with an master's degree in Business Administration, has created a soon-to-be aired children's reality series. The show, titled Vince and Zyana, follows the adventures of now 6-year-old twins, Vincent and Zyana (his real-life children), including their travels, pranks, games and music. Vince and Zyana is set to be released in the upcoming year. 

Most of Enemoh's professional experience is in oil and gas trading. When lockdown hit, his business was completely closed. Enemoh saw the influence of online edutainment on his kids during lockdown.

Read more about Enemoh and his show here.

Photo courtesy of Enemoh's LinkedIn page.
TSU cross country runner kicks off season with solid performance
Gonzalez earns SWAC Cross Country Runner of the Week honors
Jose Gonzalez finished 12th overall as TSU men's cross country opened the 2022 season with a fifth-place finish at the 2022 Rice Invitational cross country meet.

Gonzalez finished the race with a time of 20:40.7, which marked a personal best run in a four-mile race.
As a result, the Southwestern Athletic Conference named Gonzalez as its Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week for his outstanding performance.

Newcomer Albert Norman finished second on the team and 21st overall in a time of 21:01.9 followed by Dan Lerma (21:23.3) at 26th. Brian Martinez (21:39.3), Hillary Maiyo (22:27.5), Mark Lerma (22:29.5) and Enrique Mendez (22:29.5) rounded out TSU's top seven finishers as all scored points.

TSU was back in action this past weekend in Stillwater, OK, at the Cowboy Jamboree Classic. Gonzalez repeated as TSU's top finisher in the 8K run as he crossed the tape in a time of 26:24.3. Albert Norman was a runner behind with a time of 26:29 followed by Dan Lerma (27:57.2), Brian Martinez (28:00.8), David Livingston (28:04.9), Brandon Washington (28:06.5) and Mark Lerma (29:26.3).
 
TSU next participates at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas on Oct. 15.
Soccer, volleyball enter SWAC play
TSU's volleyball team enters SWAC play following a tough non-conference slate. The Tigers will face PVAMU on the road on Thursday, September 29, at 6 p.m., followed by additional road contests at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling State the following week.

For more detail, visit the volleyball team website.

Meanwhile, the soccer team earned a hard-fought 3-1 road victory against Alabama A&M on Sunday.

"This was a great Sunday win for us. It's hard to win on Sundays but I think we took advantage of being home and we kept the energy up the entire game," said head coach Lindsay Vera.

Junior Victoria Pucci posted her second goal of the season in the 16th minute of the first half and was assisted by senior Ayana Noel pushing the Tigers to an early 1-0 lead. There was a shot attempt and corner kick by sophomore Kaila Smith followed by a header by junior JJ Binder before the Tigers' second goal was posted in the 26th minute of the match.

The Tigers are back on the road later this week as they continue conference play against Grambling State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Kickoff for Friday's match against Grambling State is 5 p.m. in Grambling, LA.

For more information on Texas Southern University Soccer, follow us on Twitter (@TXSOTigers), Instagram (@TXSOTigers), and like us on Facebook.

Click here to read more about Tiger soccer.