Success Stories
Program Accreditation – the University of the
District of Columbia
has continued to be recognized for excellence in academics are represented by numerous accreditations of individual programs. Accreditation is a peer review process designed to hold higher-education institutions to common standards. The University received word of accreditation of nine education program in March, 2005 from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. This is the first time the department has been recognized by a national accreditation association. Within the last year, accreditation was also bestowed on UDC's Bachelor of Science degree programs in civil engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering; associate degree programs in electronics engineering and architectural engineering technology; and the
Child
Development
Center
.
The University entered into a partnership with
District
Public School
’s Friendship Edison Charter High School in 2004 to launch the first
Early
College
High School
program in the
District of Columbia.
His Excellency Dr. Denis G. Antoine, Ambassador of Grenada to the
United States of America
and (permanent) representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), received an MA in Education from the University of the
District of Columbia
. He also served as a Program Specialist for the DC Government from 1991-1992, as well as an Education Supervisor for DC Public Schools from 1992-1995.
BET's ever popular (and controversial) show, Cita's World, is staffed by graduates of The University of the District of Columbia - Trayce Kenser, producer; Jason Armstrong, associate producer, and Kali Troy, as Cita.
Dr. Carolyn Cousin and Dr. Antonia Nowell were recognized in the December 9, 2004 edition of the Washington Post as leaders in their fields of academic endeavor. Dr. Cousin, a professor and former chair of the University’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, coordinates work with the
Lombardi
Comprehensive
Cancer
Center
to improve cancer education at the university and cancer prevention in the community. Dr. Nowell, a professor of public administration in the
School
of
Business
and Public Administration, has been on the faculty for 25 years. She also directs UDC's Institute for Human Service Delivery, which works with the D.C. Income Maintenance Administration to provide training for staff members and to help people move from welfare to employment.
Gloria Green-Ridley of the University’s Department of Nursing and Allied Health received the 2005 James Davenport Memorial Award for outstanding leadership, dedicated advocacy, and untiring service on behalf of NEA’s higher education members. James Davenport was the first president of the National Council for Higher Education-National Education Association. Green-Ripley is the first African American to receive the award.
Melanie A. Anderson, acting dean of the
School
of
Business
and Public Administration, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) for 2005. Recipients of this award are nominated by their alumni institution for their professional accomplishments. Dr. Anderson is a graduate of
D.C.
Teachers College
, a predecessor institution of the University.
Jeffrey E. Thompson, CPA 1980. Mr. Thompson is a 2004 inductee into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in the field of business, and his unstinting backing of the University. Mr. Thompson is president and CEO of Thompson, Cobb, Bazilio & Associates, PC., an accounting, management, and financial consulting firm headquartered in
Washington
,
D.C.
Clarence Pearson’s leadership of the University of the
District of Columbia
pre-professional and professional architecture programs and on-campus professional practice clinic has significantly increased minority group representation in architecture while also increasing inner city home ownership. In recognition of his service, Pearson was recognized as a Fellow in the Spring 2005 issue of the Magazine of the National Organization of Minority Architects. Over 1,000 students have matriculated through his University programs.
The January 1, 2004 edition of the Washington Post recognized Dr. LaVerne Blagmon-Earl, an associate professor of mathematics at the University of the
District of Columbia
, is one of five recipients of grants to historically black colleges and universities from ExxonMobil. The grants are designed to encourage research in mathematics education and aid in the development of innovative curriculum for educators of students through the 12th grade.
The November 2, 2002 edition of the Washington Post featured a story on a government teacher, L. Nelson Burton, who was participating in a discussion of politics. Leland Nelson Burton is a 1997 graduate of the University. He was a history education major who graduated cum laude.
Since 1997, the
University
of
District of Columbia
's
School
of
Business
and Public Administration has operated Paving Access Trails for Higher Security, or PATHS through an agreement with the District's Department of Human Services. The university designs the curriculum and delivers student progress reports to the agency. In 2004, 167 people who received food stamps were referred to PATHS, and 85 of them found full-time jobs.
Dr. Janet Reed Caldwell, graduate of DC Teachers College, is vice President at Southern Illinois University.
John H. Douglas, a 1972 graduate of
Federal
City
College
, has signed a gift agreement with the University of the District of Columbia Foundation to donate $100,000 to establish the James E. Joseph Endowed Scholarship Fund in Mathematics. Mr. James E. Joseph was a professor that inspired Mr. Douglas during his time as a student. The aim of this fund is to increase the representation of minorities (especially of African descent) in the study of mathematics.
Dr. Thelma Thompson, former English professor at the University of the
District of Columbia
, is the president of the
University
of
Maryland
,
Eastern Shore
.
The chair of the
School
of
Business
and Public Administration Advisory Board is the Vice Chair of American Eagle Outfitter.
The second newest member of the
School
of
Business
and Public Administration Advisory Board is William Cox, editor and publisher of Black Issues in Higher Education, our nation 's largest higher education periodical.
The newest member of the
School
of
Business
and Public Administration Advisory Board is a bagel maker. He is Greg Greenberg of Greenberg's Bagel Bakery.
The Department of Accounting, Finance, and Economics chair, Dr. Tarsaim Goyal, was the first doctoral graduate of the George Washington University Decision Sciences Program.
The first graduate of the Hospitality Management and Tourism program, Wendinesen Habtegiorgis, A.A.S. Hospitality Management and Tourism 2002, B.B.A. Management 2002, is the Assistant Restaurant Manager for the Worldwide Eurest Dining Service.
Clarence Holbert, graduate of The University of the
District of Columbia
, designed the currency of
Eritrea
. His currency design may be seen at the Smithsonian Institution Museum of American History's current exhibition titled, African Voices.
Essita Holmes 1998, BA in Political Science, is a law clerk for the Honorable Audrey J.S. Carrio, Circuit Court for
Baltimore
City
. Ms. Holmes received a JD in 2001 from Catholic University School of Law and an LLM in 2002 from The George Washington University School of Law.
Dr. Ben O. Latigo, Dean of the University’s
School
of
Engineering
and Applied Sciences, received the Ron E. McNair Award for 2002. The national award is given in honor of African Americans that have made significant contributions in aviation, aerospace, and astronautics.
Dr. Portia Holmes Shields is a graduate from
D.C.
Teachers College
, one of the University’s predecessor institutions. Dr. Shields retired in the Spring of 2005 as president of
Albany
State
University
in
Albany
,
Georgia
, a post she filled since 1996.
Randy Payton is the publisher of "African Americans on Wheels." The publication has approximately 900,000 copies in circulation, as well as inserts in all NNPA publications. Mr. Payton is a 1982 graduate of the Department of Journalism.
The Chief of Police in
Atlanta
,
GA
(Chief Richard Pennington) received a Master of Art in Counseling from the University of the
District of Columbia
in 1988.
The
School
of
Business
and Public Administration has two investment clubs, Firebird I and Firebird II.
Brian Thompson, Designer at the US Bureau of Printing and Engraving, is a graduate of the University of the
District of Columbia
.
Dorrett E. Williams, a 1978 graduate, is Section Chief, Direct Investments in the
United States
in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Ivana R. Williams 1997 MPA, is Deputy Chief, Family Services Branch, HIV/AIDS Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
The Honorable Penny Wilrich 1982, JD (Antioch School of Law, a predecessor of the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law). Judge Wilrich is the first African-American woman judge in the Superior Court of the State of
Arizona
. She had previously served as Commissioner for Maricopa County Superior Court in the State of
Arizona
.
UDC Books (Hosted by Cheryl Lewis Hawkins; program featured on UDC Cable TV 98) has interviewed The New York Times best selling author, Eric Jerome Dickey, four times.
USA Today named the University of the District of Columbia one of the top 10 Division II schools in the country for improvement of graduation rate for its student athletes in 2002.
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