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A L U M N I N E W S M O R G A N S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y ALUMNI ON THE MOVE Novelist and poet Robin Ayele, ’94, has published her debut novel, “Broken,” through her own publishing company, Chocolate Angel Publications. “Broken,” a crime story set in Washington, D.C., follows the publication of her first book of poetry, “Chocolate City Chronicles,” in 2007. Ayele received a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Morgan and now divides her time between Hebron, Md., and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “Broken” is available at major booksellers. Leroy A. Battle, ’50, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, has released a second autobiography titled, “And the Beat Goes On: Remembrance of a Cosmopolite” (Cozy Harbor Press, February 2008, $22.95). The new book expands on his first autobiography, “Easier Said,” and tells of his upbringing in Brooklyn, his love of music and his service in World War II. Erika C. Blackstock, ’95, has been named Teacher of the Year at Parkwood Elementary School in Warner Robins, Ga. She is a literacy coach at Parkwood, which is a Georgia Board of Education Title 1 Distinguished School, and is now in her 12th year as an educator. Blackstock was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and earned her bachelor’s degree from Morgan in elementary education. “The best thing about being a teacher is being able to empower children,” she told The Sun News. Mark Branch, ’91, recently appeared in The Washington Post and on ABC’s “World News” and “Good Morning America” programs, to talk about his dual careers: NASA aerospace engineer by day and hip hop DJ by night. Branch tests satellites at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and uses his hip hop nightlife to augment his work as a mentor for youngsters. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Morgan. Denise Brown, ’02, publisher/adviser for MSU’s Spokesman newspaper and Promethean yearbook, has been elected as vice president of membership for College Newspaper Business and Advertising Managers (CNBAM). CNBAM provides assistance and advice to business and advertising departments in college and university newspapers across the U.S. Brown says the organization’s sales staff training has helped many publications greatly increase their revenue and that Morgan can benefit in this way, as well. Nicole Brown, ’00, has been crowned Mrs. Baltimore County United States. Now a systems programmer with the Social Security Administration, she received her bachelor’s degree in information sciences and systems from Morgan. As Mrs. Baltimore County United States, she will promote her platform: “Encouraging Young Women to Enhance Their Talents and Gifts While Striving for Excellence and Transforming Their Dreams into Reality.” Brown is also an active member of the Baltimore Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Bishop John R. Schol has appointed the Rev. Dr. George F. DeFord, ’67, as regional guide for the Annapolis-Southern Region of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Ananda K.M. Leeke, ’86, author of a new women’s self-discovery novel, “Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One,” has launched BAP Living, a social networking site, and BAP Living Radio, an Internet radio show, for women of African descent who self-identify as black American Princesses (BAPs) and educated black women (EBW ). BAP Living is located at http://baplivingforbapsandebw.ning.com. The nonprofit social service agency FamilyLinks has appointed Arita L. Gilliam, ’73, to its board of directors. Gilliam is an expert in adolescent behavioral health and is coordinator for Adolescent Development and Prevention Education at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Shadyside Hospital. FamilyLinks provides mental health and mental retardation programs, youth and family development programs, adult community services, alcohol and other drug treatment and school-based prevention services to children and families throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Kiara D. Hargrove, ’96, a teacher at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore, Md., has received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for 2008. She and another Morgan graduate, Jamal P. Dickerson, ’99, were among 75 K–12 educators who received the prestigious awards at a gala ceremony, during the Milken National Education Conference in Los Angeles in March. Pamela C. Harris, ’88, has been hired as assistant director of Events for the Harris Alumni Center at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her responsibilities include all aspects of planning and managing events held at the Alumni Center. Before joining UNC Charlotte, Harris worked in McLean, Va., as a senior consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., where she managed events for various clients, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Brenda Bowe Johnson, Ph.D., ’62 and ’81, has been elected as president of the Baltimore Opera Guild, Baltimore, Md. She is the first African-American president in the 40-year history of the guild. Dr. Johnson and her daughter are owners of The Language House, Inc., which trains teachers to teach English to non-English speakers and provides specialty tours of the Mediterranean. The Language House operates in Montpellier, France and Marakech, Morocco. Dr. Bowe is also a faculty member in the Teacher Education Department of the University of Maryland University College's School of Management and Technology. Kenneth L. Lewis, ’72, has been elected chairman of the board of directors of City Connect Detroit. The organization was founded by 4 Alumni News • Fall 2008
A L U M N I N E W S M O R G A N S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y ALUMNI ON THE MOVE Michigan grant makers in 1998 to tackle the problem of chronically underfunded federal government human services programs. Lewis joined the law firm Plunkett Cooney in 1993 and now serves on the firm’s board of directors. His areas of legal practice include civil rights, commercial litigation, education law, labor and employment litigation and municipal law. Regina Lynn, ’93, was named a “Woman on the Rise” by the National Organization for African- American Women (www.noaw.org). Lynn, of Plainfield, N.J., is an entrepreneur and owner of two growing small businesses. She became a certified referring travel agent in 2007 and has websites at www.dsttravel.com and www.discoverserenitythroughtravel.com. At Morgan, she was enrolled in the Honors Program and received her bachelor of science degree in mathematics. She also has an M.A. in counseling. Lynn Munford, ’01, has been named victim’s assistance liaison/public information officer for the Rosenberg Police Department in Rosenberg, Texas. The department selected her from 59 candidates because of her experience in social services and communications, including public and media relations, stated Rosenberg Police Chief Robert Gracia. Munford earned her bachelor of science degree in telecommunications from Morgan a M.A. in communication from Texas Southern University. Albert H. Miller, ’82, has taken a position as client relationship executive with the accounting and consulting firm Parente Randolph, LLC. His role at the company will involve “managing strategic pursuits and articulating meaningful ways to add value to a client’s business.” Former MSU student leader Tawan M. Perry, ’04, has authored a book titled “College Sense: What College and High School Advisors Don’t Tell You about College” (iUniverse Publishers). Perry was a first-generation college student who says he found success at Morgan through trial and error. With “College Sense,” “I just wanted to inform students of potential challenges and opportunities I didn’t know about before I came to college,” he says. Perry is now Assistant Dean of Student Life at Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC. His book is available in stores and at www.iuniverse.com. Angela Owens Waller, ’01, is the U.S. Coast Guard’s civilian recipient of the 2008 Department of Defense Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Role Model Award. Waller, a Coast Guard electrical engineer, received two additional honors for receiving the Role Model Award: a CO Coin, which is her commanding officer’s highest honor, and a display at the National Museum of Women in D.C., which included her community service activities. Waller is one of 15 members of her family who have graduated from Morgan State University. Geneva J. Williams, ’70, has received her doctorate in education leadership and policy studies from Wayne State University — another step in her mission to effectively lead social change. As founding president and CEO of City Connect Detroit, Williams, a funding expert, has secured more than $80 million for metropolitan Detroit organizations, for efforts such as lead poisoning prevention programs, after-school programs, transportation projects and community/economic development initiatives. Ive Arlington Swan, ’67, was promoted to associate justice of the newly created Supreme Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Swan came from humble beginnings to serve as U.S.V.I. assistant attorney general, deputy attorney general and attorney general. He went into private practice in 1981 and remained there until his confirmation for the Territorial Court and later the Superior Court. Clarence E. Crawley, ’60, was honored by the Montclair Democratic County Committee of New Jersey for his service to the Democratic Party. Crawley retired from IBM Corporation as a financial business planner in 1992, after a 25-year career, and has received numerous commendations from Essex County, N.J., the state of New Jersey and the federal government. Since retiring, he has begun an acting career. He has done a TV commercial and joined the Screen Actors Guild. James A. Ward Jr., ’59, of Detroit, Mich., was profiled in the Sunday Free Press newspaper, in a special section called “Taking the Buyout.” In the article, Ward, a former human resources manager for Ford Motor Company, discussed how he took an early retirement to become a community activist. Ward also spent two years in the early 1970s as production manager for the Motown songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland, the Free Press reported. Allison M. Dunn, ’98, has been promoted to Strategic Global Account Director of Johnson Controls, Inc., with responsibility for accounts in North America, Latin America and the Middle East. She received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Morgan and is now an M.B.A. candidate at the Johns Hopkins University. Former newspaperman Paul Evans, ’70, has authored a book titled “Songs of My Soul: Poems by an American Man of Color to Commemorate the 2019 Harlem Renaissance Centennial.” The 488-page paperback was published by iUniverse in June. Brittany A. Parker, ’08, has been accepted into the Master in Film Program at Columbia University. She was one of only 64 students chosen from the thousands who applied. Parker is a graduate of Morgan’s bachelor’s degree program in English, with a concentration in film and television writing. She aspires to write award-winning screenplays depicting African Americans in a positive light. Alumni News • Fall 2008 5
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