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Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, has announced a historic expansion of its curriculum. The liberal arts college’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program will now include a concentration in cosmetic chemistry for students majoring in chemistry and offer a minor in cosmetic science for students with outside majors, according to a news release. The announcement reportedly marks Spelman College as the first-ever Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to offer such a cosmetic science program. The expansion’s purpose is to provide students with technical knowledge for working in beauty and raise awareness about career opportunities in the ever-growing industry. Moreover, the school’s mission is to “ensure a gendered and racial perspective in product formulation and development” as only 2.5% of the beauty market is occupied by Black-owned brands, the news release notes. “This expansion of our curriculum speaks to Spelman’s innovation and commitment to giving...
Graduate researcher Lindsay Davis made history as the first African American student to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), according to a press release. “It feels good to be a trailblazer,” Lindsay Davis shared in a UTA press release. “I am proud to set an example for underrepresented minorities who dream of using their STEM talents to make the world a better place.” Davis’ involvement in STEM research centers on treatments for tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease commonly impacting the lungs. “We want to understand on a molecular level how FGD operates, since it is the target for further drug development for multiple drug-resistant forms of TB,” Davis revealed in a UTA press release. “Once we discover the mode of action of FGD, researchers can create treatments that more effectively target the enzyme and cure patients with drug-resistant strains of TB.” Davis’ extensive research has propelled mentorship opportunities for two women of color,...
When Dr. Jalaal Hayes started his educational journey, he didn’t know it would lead him on the path to becoming the youngest person to hold a doctorate degree in applied chemistry from Delaware State University (DSU). Dr. Hayes was only 22-years-old when he earned his doctorate degree from DSU in December 2015, and he was the youngest candidate in the Historically Black College and University’s 124-year history. The road to this accomplishment wasn’t always the smoothest for him, and at times, he even doubted he’d make it here. “The hardest part was staying focused and reminding myself of the goal,” Dr. Hayes told AfroTech. “That goal was graduating college, so I just made sure I didn’t have time to get distracted.” Dr. Hayes went to George Washington Carver School of Engineering and Science in Philadelphia. He describes this as one of the premiere science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) schools in the city, since you had to apply and test into it. When he was...
This high school teacher goes above and beyond for his students! According to Good Morning America (GMA), Jonte Lee is a chemistry and physics teacher at Calvin Coolidge High School located in Washington, D.C. who has completely transformed his home kitchen into a chemistry lab to effectively conduct experiments virtually for his students during the pandemic. “The reason why I turned my kitchen into a chemistry lab is for the love of my students,” said Lee in an interview on GMA. After the pandemic hit, it was only right that Lee began to stream those normal lab experiments throughout social media and in the virtual space for his students. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jonte Lee (@jonterlee) In honor of National Teacher Day , GMA highlighted and celebrated those teachers who stepped up and went above and beyond for students adjusting to school at home in the midst of the pandemic. For Lee, the demonstrations have helped students to remain engaged on a personal...
Jay-Anne Johnson is making history. According to WHSV-TV, Johnson will soon graduate from James Madison University (JMU) with a degree in biophysical chemistry. She will be the first Black woman in Virginia history to achieve such an accomplishment. While Johnson said that she was pleased she was able to achieve such a feat, the accomplishment didn’t come easy. She told WHSV-TV that, oftentimes, she would be the only Black student in her classes. “It wasn’t until really like the first couple of weeks of class. You’re looking around and you kind of notice you’re the only student in the class that looks like you,” she told the outlet. While Jay-Anne Johnson is the first Black woman to get a biophysical chemistry degree from the university, Ben Ashamole was the first Black person, ever, to get a biophysical chemistry degree from the university. These accomplishments, while great on their own, also highlight the lack of diversity in STEM courses — not just at JMU, but in universities...
Issa Rae refers to Sienna Naturals’ expansion with Sephora as a “dream come true.” Rae co-founded the award-winning hair care brand Sienna Naturals, which was first envisioned by Hannah Diop in 2012. Diop, reflecting on her own challenges in finding hair products that met her needs, recalls how clarifying shampoos fell short in restoring her hair’s health during her time on the swim team. This firsthand experience played a pivotal role in shaping Sienna Naturals, a brand founded on a proprietary clean chemistry approach that prioritizes scalp health , according t o the brand’s website. The haircare line is powered by hydrating, abiotic, pH-balanced ingredients (H.A.P.I.). “The first impression I want people to have when they use Sienna Naturals is how beautiful their hair is. So that wet-feel design is very intentional,” Diop told AFROTECH™. Photo Credit: Sienna Naturals When Rae discovered Sienna Naturals, she was in the process of learning how to best care for her natural hair...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Since the release of ChatGPT two years ago, everyone has been talking about how artificial intelligence would change the world. Whether it was getting any answer you needed at the drop of a hat or creating any image or video you wanted just by describing it, the hours and money that would have gone into either are no longer an issue because AI does all the work on your behalf. When techies discuss the work AI could help someone do, they always focus on those in white-collar jobs, assisting them in searching or summarizing vast amounts of unstructured data to provide the insights they need or the creations they want. That may explain why many AI companies target the same use cases and markets. However, I believe the power of AI doesn’t just lie in reimagining how we experience our digital and physical worlds. After the pandemic, a term was coined : “ revenge spending” — essentially, people getting...
Maryland’s first Black family-owned wine company is expanding! As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Boyd Cru Wines is led by married couple Matthew and Jon’ll Boyd, who pursued separate career paths for over a decade before collaborating on a shared business venture in the wine industry. For over a decade, Jon’ll worked in the event planning industry, while Matthew built his career in the pharmaceutical and chemistry sectors. In the wake of COVID-19 in 2020, Jon’ll’s industry came to a standstill, leading to a greater focus on what became Boyd Cru Wines in April 2023. “I think the pivotal point for us came right about during the pandemic because that, of course for me, brought my event planning business to a very quick and fast halt as you can imagine with people not being able to gather,” Jon’ll told the Washington Business Journal. “It afforded us an opportunity to delve deeper into the wine industry, and simultaneously, I think at that time, I was seeing that there was some shifting...
Lady London chose to pursue rap after being accepted into medical school. While speaking on Revolt’s podcast, “The Blackprint,” the rapper born Zaire Miylaun Stewart reflected on the pivotal moments that led to her transition into music. She boasts two degrees, starting with a bachelor’s from Howard University, where she double-majored in sports medicine and chemistry. Lady London holds her time at the Historically Black College and University in high regard. “I was a rambunctious teenager. I went away to school because I was always told I had to go to school..and if I was going to be a part of community it had to be the Black community. So I went to a HBCU. I wanted educational goals but I didn’t think I would come out with so much experience of life. I know there’s like this whole thing where they say like ‘PWIs are the real reality of school because 72% of the world is white. The reality is if you learn how to make it in these communities and at Howard, if you can make it at...
At the center of the District of Columbia-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area lies Maryland, the Free State. A symbol of political freedom and four HBCUs, all of them were established during or before the year 1900. Located in Baltimore, Bowie and Salisbury, these Maryland-based universities, like many of their counterparts, are publicly supported. They have a combined annual economic impact of over $1 billion. Together, they’ve also created over 10,000 jobs for the areas local to the institutions. The history of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have taught us that creating opportunities and environments that champion higher education for Black students is not only fruitful for admitted youth but for surrounding communities. Here are the four HBCUs in Maryland. Bowie State University Bowie State University (BSU), named after its home city, was the first HBCU in Maryland (1865). Located in Prince George’s County, BSU is in the northeastern region of the state. The...
A degree in engineering opens the door to a wide variety of career opportunities across numerous industries. Whether you’re interested in designing innovative technology, improving infrastructure, or working in sustainable energy, an engineering degree equips you with the technical skills and problem-solving abilities necessary to succeed in today’s job market. Let’s explore some of the most popular jobs you can get with an engineering degree. Mechanical Engineer Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most versatile fields within engineering. As a mechanical engineer, you could design, analyze, and manufacture mechanical systems, including engines, machines, and tools. Mechanical engineers work in a range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing. If you enjoy working with physical systems and solving complex mechanical problems, this might be the path for you. Civil Engineer Civil engineers design, build, and maintain infrastructure...
McDonald’s franchisee Herbert J. Thomas III is honoring his family’s legacy through his entrepreneurial endeavors. Herbert became an McDonald’s operator in 2020 and a year later had the chance to become and owner. Today, he maintains two restaurants in Ithaca, NY, and two in the Auburn area. “I’ve been up there for the last two and a half years. Lots of opportunity,” Herbert, 44, told AFROTECH™ in an interview. “The restaurants have not been able to live up to my expectations yet. However, there’s been a lot of of work, a lot of improvement, a lot of successes that we’ve had over the last couple of years.” Family Business Understanding Herbert’s path to Auburn requires looking at his early exposure to franchising , which began with his parents, Nellie and Herbert Sr., who own and operate several McDonald’s restaurants. The couple had been familiarized to this pathway from two family uncles who Herbert said were some of the first African Americans to purchase a McDonald’s. Nellie had...
When most people think of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), southern schools like Morehouse, Spelman, and of course Howard immediately come to mind. This is understandable, given the history of when most HBCUs began to pop up around this country. Before the Great Migration sent many Black people north in search of prosperity, the bulk of Black Americans lived in the South. So, when white colleges and universities barred Black students from attending, the community answered the call and began to create institutions of higher learning , and eventually also fraternities and sororities. However, the first HBCU was actually Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1837. Overwhelmingly, most HBCUs are located in the South, with a sprinkling of schools in a few northern states. But, there is an HBCU on the West Coast, and it’s located in California. The Only HBCU in California Even though there’s just one HBCU in California, it’s an integral one. Charles R. Drew...
A historic Black-owned beach in South Carolina is quickly becoming one of the hottest luxury vacation destinations in the states, and it is currently the only incorporated Black beach to sit in the U.S. During the early 1930s, Atlantic Beach was founded by a group of Gullah Geechee as a haven for Black people who were not allowed to occupy the same beaches as white people in South Carolina. Defying Jim Crow laws, the strip of primarily Black-owned coastal properties, dubbed “The Black Pearl,” broadened the enterprises of coastal Gullah Geechee people. A host of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and novelty shops were developed just miles from Myrtle Beach. Now, two trailblazing founders are on a mission to continue honoring the rich history that makes up the area. Although they are business partners, Tiffany Bailey Lash, Ph.D., and Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Ph.D., MBA, have a relationship that is rooted in sisterhood. Together, the HBCU alums and friends are on a mission to revitalize and...