January 26, 2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Bullard Center for Environmental and  Climate Justice at Texas Southern University was selected as one of the eleven “Grantmakers” under its $600 billion Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) program. The program was created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the largest investment in climate action in history.

The Center will work closely with its community-based organization partner, Achieving Community  Tasks Successfully (ACTS), led by Bridgette Murray, which is focused on engaging, educating, and empowering communities impacted by industrial sources of pollution. 

Read more about the grant here.

Texas Southern University (TSU) was awarded nearly $5 million by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to support advances in research and innovation.

The grant is part of the Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) program aimed to provide funds to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), to transform their research infrastructure, including strengthening research productivity, faculty expertise, physical infrastructure, and partnerships leading to increases in external funding. The grant from the RDI program is part of the broader initiative by the ED which has allocated $93 million in grants to institutions nationwide. TSU is one of twenty colleges and universities awarded as part of the RDI program.

Read more about the grant here.

On December 21st, TSU broke ground on its new Flight Academy at Ellington Airport. TSU officials were joined by Sylvester Turner in one of his final events as mayor of the City of Houston.

Houston City Council unanimously approved Houston Airports to use $5.5 million from its Airport Improvement Fund on December 13th to build the Flight Academy.

Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2024 with a completion date anticipated in May 2025. 



Read more about the new facility here.

The Community Engagement Core: Center for Biomedical and Minority Health Research at Texas Southern University hosted its second annual Maternal and Child Health Education and Outreach event on January 26, 2024. The event included lived-experienced panel discussions, sessions, and communal dialogue surrounding the important conversation of Maternal and Child Health.

Road to R1: TSU Launches Video Series on the Research and Innovation

Texas Southern University's Division of Research and Innovation (DRI) is one of 11 HBCUs to hold the coveted Carnegie R2 designation. TSU is on the road to R1 (Research 1) status.

TSU DRI recently kicked off its series of stories on our fantastic research centers that make TSU an elite research institution with the Center of Excellence for Housing and Community Development Policy Research.

See the first installment of the series here.

Charlie W. Coleman, III Appointed as Associate Vice President of Development

Texas Southern University welcomes Charlie W. Coleman, III, J.D., MBA, as the new Associate Vice President of Development. Charlie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position. Charlie has a proven track record of philanthropic and for-profit revenue-driving success. For over 15 years, Charlie has led high-performing teams by creating strong, strategic collaborative partnerships, and he is prepared to enhance Texas Southern’s fundraising as a global leader in higher education. 

Read more about AVP Coleman, III here.

TSU, HISD forge innovative partnership to shape future educators (Jan. 2)

Texas Southern University has 766 new alumni. Thousands of proud relatives and friends packed into H&PE Arena on December 16, 2023 to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates during commencement.

The commencement speaker was Dr. Aaron Thompson, the President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

This marked the second consecutive commencement in which the valedictorian was a member of TSU's softball team. It also marked the second graduating class of TSU's newly-established College of Transdisciplinary Studies.

During the ceremony, a degree was awarded posthumously to Brandon Napoleon, who passed away in November. He was set to receive his bachelor's in Management prior to his death.

For a recap of the fall commencement, click here.

Students Return for Spring Semester: Welcome Back Tigers!

Goose Creek CISD announced TSU Alumnae Tailis Oniwon ('10) as the 2024 Elementary Principal of the Year.

Principal Tailis Oniwon, is a dedicated educator with 12 years at GCCISD, including four as principal at Crockett Elementary.

Tailis holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas Southern University and an M.Ed. in Education Administration from Sam Houston State University.

She is a devoted wife and committed mother of four to Jaliyah, Tyrese, Mia, and Kai and she shares her home with two poodles and a shih-tzu. Inspired by influential educators, she strives to be a positive influence for all students, fostering a love of learning, innovation, and community service. As she passionately believes, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

During her time at TSU, Tailis was Miss Education 2010. Principal Oniwon was also the 2017 TSU Excellence in Education Honoree. Other accolades of Tailis' include District Teacher of the Year for 2016-2017, Campus Teacher of the Year 2016-2017, District ESL Teacher of the Year 2013-2014, and District HAABE Finalist.

Congrats Tailis for continuing to embody Excellence in Achievement!