Nursing alumna encourages students to carve out new paths in Founders’ Day keynote address

UDC nursing alumna Deneen Richmond (MHA, RN ‘86), one of only a few Black women to lead a hospital in the country as the president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center, encouraged students to maximize their opportunities during this year’s Founders’ Day celebration. The theme of the event was “Our Path Forward: Pride, Progress, Promise.” Read More

Black History Month and beyond: celebrating Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson, grandfather of Black basketball

Sports historian, educator, administrator, coach, athlete and Civil Rights activist Dr. Edwin (E.B.) Bancroft Henderson is celebrated by the University of the District of Columbia as one of its national treasures. Recognized as the “grandfather of Black basketball,” Henderson’s contributions are being immortalized on UDC’s campus through a statue that will be made in his image and a sports complex renamed for him. Read More

UDC-TV program honors Dr. E.B. Henderson

Learn more about Dr. Henderson's trailblazing legacy from his grandson, Edwin B. Henderson II, in an interview with Dr. Sandra Jowers-Barber, director of the Humanities and Criminology Division at UDC Community College and host of UDC Forum. Read More

Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Memorial Fund commemorates the legend

The UDC Foundation moves forward with Phase II of the Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Memorial Campaign and continues to seek donations for student success initiatives. Funds from this campaign will be used to support summer sports camps for youth from Wards 7 and 8 and youth development partnerships. Read More

Master sculptor selected for Dr. E.B. Henderson statue

Classically-trained master sculptor Brian Hanlon was selected to create the E.B. Henderson statue, which will be placed at the Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex at the Van Ness Campus, and unveiled on June 24. Hanlon first rose to national recognition in the early 1990s with the installation of “Olympian.” Hanlon takes a celebratory approach to each commission, and the artist’s goal is to inspire, awe and memorialize.

Save the Date: Dr. E.B. Henderson statue unveiling

Please save the date for the statue unveiling of Dr. Edwin Bancroft (E.B.) Henderson at the Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex at the Van Ness Campus on June 24. Henderson graduated at the top of this class in 1904 from Miner Normal School, a UDC predecessor school. Click here to join the mailing list for more information.

UDC’s first football captain continues to champion the University

Barrington Scott brings a unique perspective and passion as an alumni representative to UDC’s Board of Trustees and Foundation, Inc. Board. As a student, he was the University’s first football team captain and has also been inducted into the UDC Athletic Sports Hall of Fame. Since his time as a Trustee, he has been instrumental in scholarships, alumni support and advocating for student life activities. Read More

• The Dig: The Story of Myrtilla Miner and her role in uplifting the Black scholars of the nation's capital

• February 2023 (held every Saturday through April 15): Annual Vita Tax Clinic
• March 17: HackHBCU

SBPA earns AACSB international accreditation 

AACSB International (AACSB) announced that University of the District of Columbia (UDC) has earned business accreditation for its School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA). Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators and businesses worldwide.

“AACSB accreditation recognizes institutions that have demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curriculum development and student learning,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and global chief accreditation officer of AACSB. “We congratulate University of the District of Columbia and School of Business and Public Administration Dean Mohamad Sepehri, Ph.D., on earning accreditation and applaud the entire SBPA —including the administration, faculty, staff and students—for their roles in earning this respected honor.”

“The School of Business and Public Administration at the University of the District of Columbia, along with our many stakeholders, treasure AACSB accreditation,” said Sepehri. “The work toward this accreditation solidifies our preeminent status among peer institutions. The quality of the intellectual contributions at the University has helped UDC position itself to pursue Research 2 (R2) status and this accreditation is an endorsement and validation of our remarkable progress and achievements.”

"Achieving AACSB accreditation reflects the university’s dedication and determination," said UDC President Ronald Mason Jr. "This accreditation is well deserved and shows the commitment of Dean Sepehri and the SBPA as they continually pursue excellence. I am incredibly proud of our team for accomplishing this goal. The impact of this accreditation will benefit our students for years to come."

Please click here for more information.

SEAS students win second place at AMIE Design Challenge

The UDC School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) team placed second in the 2023 Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE) Design Challenge held at the Gaylord Resort on February 10. The Design Challenge was part of an industry collaboration with AMIE to demonstrate emerging technologies and how they are used to solve real-life problems. Each university team was judged on their design, problem-solving, communication and business model.

Team UDC had a competitive project called "SPEED HEAT," a low-cost induction heating— a small tuturbine-based heater in the shower head. The SEAS students who participated are Takia Coulter, Benedict Frimpong, Khoa Pham, Ibrahim Abdul-Malik, Jeston Lobo,Tewelde Semere, Jordon Williams and Ciero Kilpatrick (team captain). Dr. Ji Chen, UDC assistant professor in mechanical and biomedical engineering and Dr. Hongmei Dang, assistant professor of electrical engineering, were faculty advisors on the project. UDC won $8000 ($5000 for student retention and $3000 for students) in prizes.

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences faculty member awarded at 37th Annual BEYA STEM Conference

Dr. Bryan Higgs was recognized as a BEYA Modern-Day Technology Leader at the 37th annual BEYA STEM Conference, held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center from February 9-11. Modern-Day Technology Leaders are men and women who are demonstrating outstanding performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The BEYA STEM Community “offers K-12 students, college students, corporate, government, military professionals, business, and industry employers with three days of learning, networking, celebrating excellence, and showcasing STEM career opportunities.”

First-year civil engineering graduate student places second in xTech competition

Lirane Mandjoupa, won second place and a $5000 prize in the U.S. Army xTech HBCU Student Competition finals on February 10. The competition finals were held at the 2023 Black Engineer of the Year Award Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics Conference. Mandjoupa presented her work on climate change: "Ground-based remote sensing for Airdrops precision system: A data acquisition approach to mitigate supply chain and climate change risks." The faculty advisor was Dr. Max Denis, assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering programs. The top three winners will potentially have an opportunity to develop a prototype or seek a patent for their designed solutions.

According to U.S. Army, the xTechHBCU competition “provides a structured and focused entry path for eligible undergraduates to submit novel concepts and technology solutions directly to the U.S. Army. Participants receive detailed feedback from Army and DOD stakeholders; and will have access to training, mentorship and networking opportunities through the xTechHBCU Student Accelerator program.”

In addition, five UDC seniors were finalists in the competition. Presenting on the theme of health and wellness were Glacia Martin, Hans Matthew Baes, Jamelia Ancel and Juan Estevez. Dorian Davis presented on artificial intelligence.

Mechanical engineering graduate student wins first prize at ERN Conference

Marzieh Savadkhoohi, an NSF-CREST supported Ph.D. candidate, won first prize at the Emerging Researchers Network (ERN) Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), which was held in Washington, DC from February 9-11.

This event was hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Inclusive STEM Ecosystems for Equity & Diversity (ISEED) Programs and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Human Resource Development (HRD).

The conference aims to help undergraduate and graduate students enhance their science communication skills and better understand how to prepare for science careers in a global workforce.

Savadkhoohi, whose faculty advisor is Dr. Pawan Tyagi, professor of mechanical engineering, hopes to complete her degree this summer and become UDC's first mechanical engineering doctoral graduate.

Observe Black History Month with the Red Cross, National Pan-Hellenic Council and UDC

To help keep blood on the shelves this February and throughout the winter, the DC community is encouraged to make an appointment to donate blood on Saturday, February 25, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with the National Pan-Hellenic Council and UDC. The drive will take place at Windows Lounge, Van Ness Campus, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. People can make appointments at RedCrossBlood.org with the sponsor code: DC NPHC. For more information, please click here.

USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jewel Bronaugh visited the UDC Van Ness Campus on February 14, where she received an overview of UDC, the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), and toured the 20,000 square foot green roof.

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