Welcome to InsideTSU, the weekly newsletter of Texas Southern University!
Monday, June 6, 2022
Breast cancer screening, wrap-around services provided via $1 million CPRIT grant
Texas Southern University is now providing breast cancer screening, among other services, for African American and other ethnic minority women in Harris, Grimes, Matagorda, Walker, and Wharton counties, as part of a grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

Dr. Veronica Ajewole and Dr. Uche Anadu Ndefo (above, l. to r.), both professors in the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, serve as principal investigator and co-principal investigator for the grant, which is operated through TSU's Breast Cancer Screening & Prevention Center (BCSPC).

The $1 million grant, which TSU secured in fall 2021, also provides patient navigation/barrier reduction services, and evidence-based culturally appropriate breast cancer awareness and education services for a population that has traditionally been underserved and at higher risk for breast cancer.

Click here for the full story, and here for more information about BCSPC.
Students in Future Bankers Leadership Program earn 100% pass rate, key industry certification
For the second consecutive semester, students in TSU’s newly-established Future Bankers Leadership Program (FBLP) achieved an impressive 100 percent pass rate for a key professional certification exam – giving them a distinct advantage as they pursue careers in the finance and banking industry.

The Risk Management Association Credit Essentials Certificate (RMA CEC), which is tied to the program’s curriculum, helps students immediately distinguish themselves in a highly competitive field. The exam covers a variety of subjects, including cash flow, financial statements, projections, management, strategy, customer relations, credit, documentation and tax returns.

The students earned the RMA CEC by scoring an 80 or higher on the rigorous 80-question test.

Click here for the entire story.
TSU retirees honored at luncheon
Close to 100 dedicated TSU faculty, staff and administrators were honored recently on their retirements from the University during The President's 2021-2022 Annual Retirement Celebration held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Houston.

Several retirees had 40-plus years of service with TSU, including Robert Nehs (52 years), Jessie Horner (51), Anna James (51), Emlyn Norman (48), Juanita Morgan (47), Warren Williams (47), Oscar Criner (45), Michele Getter-Taylor (45), Dannye Holley (44), Mary Parrish (43), Mosetta Moye (42), and Jewel Rahimizadeh (42).

TSU President Lesia L. Crumpton-Young provide heartfelt remarks, using the individual letters of "retire" to thank the retirees for being resilient, extraordinary, tried-and-true, inspirational, respectful, and exceptional. LaRence Snowden, Assistant Vice President of Corporate/Community Partnerships and Career Pathways, served as emcee, and attendees were treated to the music of both the TSU Jazz Ensemble and Dr. Kiana Day Williams, Director of Choirs.

For more photos of the retiree luncheon, click here.
Texas Southern University announces partnership to launch India Studies program
Texas Southern University and the Foundation for India Studies announced the establishment of an India Studies program for the TSU Graduate School. This partnership promotes the study of India in the United States, particularly in the Houston region.

The Foundation for India Studies presented the TSU Foundation with a gift that will be used to develop and implement India-focused programs at the University in cooperation with the foundation.

Click here for the full story.
"TSU in the News" snapshot:

TSU law professor Shaundra Kellam Lewis participates in panel discussion on Uvalde shooting (May 26):

TSU, Foundation for India Studies launch academic partnership through TSU Graduate School (May 26):

TSU partnership with Southwest Airlines to grow pool of minority aviation pilots, professionals is featured (May 31 & June 6):

Orientation is the next step to Tranformation at TSU (May 31):
Backyard Party highlights KTSU's 50th anniversary
Tiger Nation is invited to attend a special KTSU 90.9FM 50th anniversary Backyard Party, scheduled for Friday, June 24, beginning at 6 p.m. The event will be held outside the KTSU studio building with free admission.

In addition to food trucks and vendors, there will be live performances from Mary Griffin, Spud Howard, Melanie Covington and Werner Richmond, as well as DJs Chilly Bill Smith, Michelle McKnight, Paul "PD" Davis, and other celebrity guests.

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.

For more information about KTSU, click here.
Aviation student earns her wings
On May 18, TSU student Lubianka Lanza soared through the skies and earned her coveted Instrument Rating. Lubianka, who recently completed her junior year, will begin working on her commercial license this fall. Lubianka, who is the first female student pilot at TSU to earn her Instrument Rating, recently applied for the Southwest Airlines Destination 225 program.

For questions about the Aviation Science Management and Professional Pilot program, please contact Dr. Terence Fontaine, director of aviation, at (713) 313-1867 or terence.fontaine@tsu.edu.
TSU alumnus expands his multi-media career
Julio Peterson III, a TSU alumnus who graduated in 2017 with a B.A. in Music (Vocal Performance), recently published his first children's book, which comes on the heels of a successful children's video series, "Mr. Pete's Playhouse," he created at the outset of COVID-19. The new book, "Khari Goes to the Fair," was inspired by a popular event in his hometown. The book follows the young, main character Khari, a name that translates to “King” in Swahili, as he explores the wonders of St. Croix’s Agriculture and Food Fair for the first time.

Peterson, who is a Houston ISD elementary school teacher, created “Mr. Pete’s Playhouse” on YouTube in 2020 as an innovative way to teach his Houston students remotely during the pandemic. It has since expanded and songs from the series are available on Spotify and Apple Music.

"Khari Goes to the Fair" is the first book in what will be a series titled “The Adventures of Khari." It was released ahead of the Agriculture and Food Fair, which is normally held in February but was delayed until May 2022. Peterson is a native of St. Croix.

Petersen recently completed his fifth year as an HISD educator, where he won the Beginning Teacher of the Year Award in 2019 on his campus.

More information about Peterson and his book can be found here.

Photo courtesy of The Virgin Islands Consortium.
New Klein ISD police chief is two-time TSU alumnus
On May 23, the Klein ISD (TX) Board of Trustees named Marlon Runnels as its new police chief. Runnels, who earned his B.S. ('14) and eMAJ ('16) degrees in Administration of Justice from TSU, will assume his new responsibilities on July 1, 2022.

"I want to share in this professional accomplishment," said Runnels. "My degrees and experiences at TSU helped me achieve these goals."

For more about Chief Runnels, click here.

Photo courtesy of Klein ISD.
Black Restaurant Week founder and TSU grad is wed in Atlanta
Warren Luckett, a TSU M.B.A. graduate who founded Black Restaurant Week in Houston several years ago, recently wed Karinn Chavarria at his home in Atlanta. Luckett, who operates a wine distribution company and has been involved in culinary pursuits throughout his career, and his new bride were featured in a New York Times article profiling their relationship. The couple now resides in Atlanta, where they have continued Black Restaurant Week - and added a Latin Restaurant Weeks.

For more about Luckett, who earned his TSU degree in 2013, and his wife, click here.

Photo courtesy of Warren Luckett.
Former IRS director joins Dallas law firm
Damon Rowe, the former executive director of the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Fraud Enforcement, has joined Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins, Crouch & Ungerman in Dallas. Rowe, who earned his J.D. from TSU's Thurgood Marshall School of Law, will focus his practice on white-collar defense, federal tax disputes and governmental regulatory litigation. He has expertise in cryptocurrency, financial crimes, civil and criminal tax, money laundering, fraud, internal investigations and the Bank Secrecy Act.

Rowe began his IRS career in 1998 as a special agent and held numerous leadership positions for the agency, including as special agent in charge for both the Los Angeles and Dallas field offices. Prior to serving in this role, Rowe was executive director of the Office of International Operations for the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division.

“After two decades of public service, I felt the time was right to return to my Texas roots,” says Rowe, in a statement. “Meadows Collier is respected nationwide as a leader in managing complex tax litigation and successfully defending clients in cases involving innovative claims and significant financial exposure. This is the right fit for me and I’m excited about the opportunities.”

Photo courtesy of Damon Rowe.
4 TSU baseball standouts earn invite to HBCU All-Star Game
Four Texas Southern baseball student-athletes were invited to participate in the second annual MBP HBCU All-American Game, which was held in Atlanta on Friday, June 3, at Truist Park.
 
The showcase, which debuted in 2021, was created to support former legendary Major League Baseball star Henry "Hank" Aaron's life-long passion to increase minority participation in baseball both on and off the field across Major League Baseball. In addition to the game, a youth clinic, homecoming experience and a home run derby were held at the home of the Atlanta Braves. TSU junior first baseman Gabriel Vasquez earned top honors in the home run derby, slugging six homers off 10 pitches in the derby finals. More information about Vasquez and his accomplishment can be found here.
 
TSU standouts Jeremy Gaines (UT) and Johnathon Thomas (OF) competed on Team Marquis Grissom while Vasquez (1B) and Brian Williams (P) played on Team Marvin Freeman. Team Grissom emerged victorious, 6-2.

For more details, visit tsusports.com.
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