Premiere Issue - Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

highlights
2 Cheyney
Spirit
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
HOLLYWOOD CAME CALLING
12
MEET NEW CHEYNEY PRESIDENT
MICHELLE HOWARD-VITAL, PH.D.
8
Historic Times
CHEYNEYPRIDE
HOMECOMING—THIS IS OUR HOUSE!
Campus
16 >>CONNECTIONS

Dear Friends,
MICHELLE HOWARD-VITAL
PRESIDENT
As the 11th President of Cheyney
University of Pennsylvania, I have come to
realize that I am standing on the shoulders of giants—
from the vision of Fannie Jackson Coppin through the
legacy of Leslie Pinckney Hill to today—it is an
extraordinary opportunity to follow in their footsteps.
This has been an exciting and fast-paced season at
Cheyney University. We have celebrated our 170th
anniversary. Alumnus Mercer Redcross and his wife
Evelyn have given 170 artworks to Cheyney University
to commemorate our 170 years of excellence.
On campus, we are conversing about the development
of Centers of Excellence in Media and Fine Arts as
well as Aquaculture and Agribusiness. Moreover, we
are developing an Institute for Internships, which will
prepare students to compete for paid internships in
their junior year at nearby corporations and businesses.
I continue to be inspired during meetings on and off
campus by the various constituent groups of the
University who want to help Cheyney become even
more responsive to the needs of the region. I am
committed to facilitate development of the academic
programs and extracurricular activities that will help us
thrive in today’s highly-competitive, global and digital
economy. In order to maintain this contribution to the
intellectual and social life of Pennsylvania, the region,
and the nation, in some respects Cheyney University
has to reinvent itself for the competitive world of
higher education in the 21st century.
We will continue to build on the legacy of courage,
persistence, and love that our proud alumni have built
for us.
Sincerely,
Michelle Howard-Vital
Michelle Howard-Vital
HISTORIC QUAD
ORIGINAL LOCATION FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Cheyney
Spirit
alumni
PAUL TURNER
Dear Fellow Alumni:
I am pleased to greet you as we
conclude the 170th anniversary
year of our university and the
145th of our association. This has
been a year full of challenges and
successes. I, however, look
forward to the fulfillment of the
promises it offers.
This year brought Dr. Michelle R.
Howard-Vital as eleventh president
to our alma mater. The anticipation and culmination of
this event produced a feeling that Cheyney University
will again turn another elusive corner and move to a
higher level. This publication along with the three
previous ones is the fulfillment of just one of her
promises to improve communications between the
university and all concerned parties. Hopefully, it will
limit one from saying, “What’s going on at Cheyney?”
We must encourage her as she moves forward.
Your deeds must also be recognized. Financially, you
have contributed through your association more than
$30,000.00 toward the education of our students and the
enrichment of their college lives. These funds were
disbursed through the Tom Joyner Foundation, national
and chapter scholarship programs, retention projects,
band gifts, and book awards.
You have given unselfishly of your time and energy by
monitoring Student Government elections and activities,
spending Sunday afternoons socializing with students
and merely being available to listen to young folks
during their time of crisis. Chapters have provided
tutoring and instilled cultural enrichment to neighborhood
children and have been of assistance through
guidance to those who might never have been able to
receive it. Additionally, you have been there for each
other during periods of sorrow and moments of joy. You
are to be commended. I am honored to serve as your
president.
Please continue to support your Alumni Association.
Lastly, please have an abundant new year and do
continue to keep positive thoughts and sincere prayers in
your minds.
Yours in the Spirit of Cheyney,
Paul A. Turner
Paul A. Turner ’62, President
Mr. Traynham goes to Washington
COT Member Robert Traynham Becomes CN8 Bureau Chief
2
CN8, The Comcast Network
announced that Robert
Traynham will join CN8 as its
Washington, D.C. bureau chief.
Traynham will report from
CN8’s state-of-the-art Capitol
Hill studio and other
Washington-based events and
landmarks to deliver breaking
news and insider interviews for CN8’s original morning
and issues-oriented programming. Traynham will also
support CN8’s DC-based coverage of “America’s Next
President,” the network’s most expansive political
coverage initiative to date. “We are excited to welcome
ROBERT TRAYNHAM
Robert to the CN8 team and are confident that his
industry expertise and experience will further bolster
CN8’s political coverage during this historic election
year,” said Jon Gorchow, vice president and general
manager of CN8.
Prior to this appointment, Traynham worked for 10 years
in the United States Senate, and he currently serves as an
associate professorial lecturer at The George
Washington University where he teaches courses in
strategy and message development. Traynham holds a
Master of Arts degree in Political Communication from
George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Political Science from Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania.

news
Hollywood
came calling
Throughout Homecoming Week, CU honored the Class of 1972
alumnus Jim Ellis during several activities. Ellis was the inspiration
behind the hit movie Pride, about a swimming coach who turns some
tough neighborhood youth into a national championship swim team.
The 2007 film stars Terrence Howard and comedian Bernie Mac. Ellis
was also the inspiration behind the theme of 2007 Homecoming
Week...
“Cheyney University Pride:
This Is Our House.”
Jim Ellis is honored by President
Howard-Vital at Homecoming 2007.
While a student at CU, Ellis swam competitively in the 50, 100, and
200-meter freestyle. He went on to be a water safety instructor at city
recreation centers and formed an African-American swim team. He
fielded his first team in 1972 and moved on to the Marcus Foster
Recreation Center pool when it opened in the Nicetown section of
Philadelphia in 1980. At its peak in the 1990s, the swimming program
encouraged approximately 150 young men and women to strive for
excellence in spite of prejudice and disadvantages. Most of his top
athletes have gone to college on scholarships. Some have risen to
Olympic-caliber under his mentoring.
Ellis earned a master’s degree from Temple University and worked as
a full-time teacher of mathematics at several Philadelphia-area
schools, including Overbrook, Germantown and Bodine. He hopes
that the film brings more attention to enriching and discipline-building
swimming programs
like the
PDR, which came
to stand for Pride,
Discipline and
Resilience.
President Howard-Vital
presents actor Terrence
Howard with a Cheyney
University pin.
Billboard for the hit Hollywood movie PRIDE based on the inspirational
true story of alumnus Jim Ellis.
3

Cheyney
Spirit
alumni
FARRELL METELLUS AND INDIA HARRIS
India and Farrell India Harris and her fiancé, Farrell Metellus,
are both CU graduates from the Class of 2000. They will be married
on Labor Day weekend. India is currently a Senior Accountant NE
Region for NRG Energy, Inc., and Farrell is a Unit Manager for Philip
Morris, USA. While at CU, India was the student representative of
the Council of Trustees and president of her senior class. She also
interned with COT member Sam Patterson during her senior year and
worked for Veridyne immediately after graduation. Farrell interned
with Philip Morris, and he was hired immediately following
graduation.
4
staying connected
Reuben Mills was recently appointed Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools in Camden
New Jersey and is the youngest African American man to serve in this capacity. He received
his baccalaureate degree in Communications in 1987 from Cheyney University.
Jasmine Johnson is now a kindergarten teacher in Norristown, PA. She and her
husband, Julian, are expecting their first child in the spring of 2008. She is a May 2007
graduate in Elementary Education. While attending Cheyney University, Jasmine was a
Keystone Scholar.
Reverend Raymond Paget has been appointed as the new minister at Grand Haven
Community Baptist Church. Paget is a graduate of Cheyney University and the Grand Rapids
Theological Baptist School of Theology. He and his wife, Debbie, have three children and
three grandchildren.
Thomas C. Lane IV has had The Fairfield Township School dedicated for him. While a
student, he played football and was inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame. In addition,
he was president of the NAACP chapter at CU and has been a member of the organization
ever since. He also met his wife, Cordelia, at CU.
Lieutenant General Ronald S. Coleman has been named Deputy Commandant for
Manpower and Reserve Affairs for the U.S. Marine Corps. Lieutenant General Coleman
joined the Navy in April 1968 and was discharged upon his return from Danang, Republic
of Vietnam in June 1970. Upon graduation from Cheyney University in 1973, he was
commissioned as Second Lieutenant in December 1974. Following the Basic School in 1975,
he reported to Camp Lejeune in the 2d Marine Regiment and served as the Regimental Supply
Officer, Platoon Commander, and S-4A.
We Want to Hear from You...
Please send information to be included in the
next issue of Cheyney University Magazine to:
Milt Colston, Interim Alumni Relations Director
Cheyney University, 1837 University Circle
P.O. Box 200, Cheyney, PA 19319-0200
or email: mcolston@cheyney.edu

news
Cheyney hero
forgotten no more
Flanked by members of the PA National Guard are (right to left) Barbara Simmons,
J.D., assistant to the president for Internal Relations and Social Equity and Dr.
Valerie Epps, vice president for Student Affairs and Student Life.
Cheyney University’s O.V. Catto Recognized on 136th Anniversary of his Death
The Octavius V. Catto Memorial Fund honored forgotten
hero, O.V. Catto, on the anniversary of his death, by
unveiling a headstone at his burial site at Eden Cemetery in
Collingdale, PA. Because of his outspoken advocacy of
voting rights for African Americans, Catto’s life was cut
tragically short on Election Day, October 10, 1871. “As we
head into the important election season, we believe this
ceremony is a fitting tribute as well as a way to call
attention to the right to vote and the responsibility of each
of us to exercise that right,” said Carol Lawrence, Catto
Fund Co-Chair.
Cheyney University was represented at the event by
Barbara Simmons, J.D., assistant to the president for
Internal Relations and Social Equity and Dr. Valerie Epps,
vice president for Student Affairs and Student Life.
Members of the O. V. Catto Board of Directors were also on
hand including Councilman Jim Kenney and Raymond
Jumper (O.V. Catto Lodge). The Pennsylvania Color Guard
was also present.
Born in 1840, Catto was a scholar, educator, athlete and
a Major in the National Guard. He was a member of
numerous civic, literary, patriotic and political groups
including the Franklin Institute, The Philadelphia Library
Company, the 4th Ward Black Political Club and the Union
League Association. Catto was a graduate of The Institute
for Colored Youth which eventually became Cheyney
University. He was class valedictorian in 1858. He also
taught at the school, where he served as an assistant teacher,
instructing both boys and girls in algebra, grammar and the
classics. He was promoted to full teachership in 1866, and
in 1869, he was named principal of the boy’s department.
He worked tirelessly in the face of violence and open
hostility for Black participation in the political process and
was murdered on Election Day, October 10, 1871, in front
of a polling place on 7th and South Streets.
Originally buried in Lebanon Cemetery, O.V. Catto’s
remains were transferred to Eden Cemetery on May 14,
1903. The burial site never had a proper marker. Members
of the Memorial Fund, currently in the midst of a $2 million
fundraising campaign to erect a statue on the grounds of
City Hall and to educate the public about this slain hero,
made the decision to appropriately identify Catto’s final
resting place with a headstone.
5

ISAAC MOORE, BUSINESS MARKETING
Isaac Moore, a senior from Pittsburgh, PA majoring in
business marketing, did quite well in his internship at
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. Isaac secured an internship in
AstraZeneca’s Public Policy Department last summer. His
internship was extended because of the excellent quality of his
work. Isaac also interned in Harrisburg for PA State
Representative Thaddeus Kirkland, chairman of the
Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and a CU alumnus.
While at the Black Caucus, Isaac coordinated their 2007 Black
History Month Program (televised statewide), completed over
600 hours of policy related work and wrote a 30-page case study
focusing on Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell’s proposed
Prescription for Pennsylvania Plan.
unlocking the
Isaac is also the President of Beta Gamma Chapter Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity, Inc., a Keystone Honors Scholar and former
member of the Student Government Association. He also
volunteers occasionally with Philadelphia Cares and The United
Way. “I appreciate CU for what it has provided for me—a
cultured learning environment that extends beyond the
classroom and envelops its recipients in academia and
professionalism, thereby jettisoning them out of ignorance and
propelling them towards intellect and prosperity.” Isaac plans to
attend law school in the fall of 2008.
6

JILL TELFORD, ENGLISH
Jill Telford, an English major at Cheyney University, is
a contributor to the bestselling book Chicken Soup for
the Teen Soul: Real Life Stories by Real Teens. She also
published a book of poetry last year called On The Verge,
a book of confrontational poetry. A Keystone Scholar, Jill
is also working on a novel inspired by her life. Among her
many honors, she received the Outstanding English Major
Award from PASSHE.
The article in Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul is actually a
short story she wrote while still in high school, and it was originally
published in Teen Inc. magazine. Jill’s article was chosen for the book from
among 350,000 article submissions by other authors.
“Cheyney University is like a family with a close-knit bond,” she said.
“I have never encountered any other university that offers so many
opportunities, such as studying abroad for free. The professors are also great
because many of them have a passion for CU that is infectious.” A transfer
student from Temple University, Jill is a native of Scranton, PA.
future
for CU
Students
everyday
Homer Lane,
participated in an
exhibit on “Explore
Philadelphia’s
Hidden Past: New
HOMER LANE, POLITICAL SCIENCE
Archaeological
Discoveries in our
Town” at the Independence National Historical Park. His
project is part of the exhibit, “Archaeology is a
Community Resource.” A non-traditional student, Lane
worked as a truck driver his whole life. One day, he took
his granddaughter to a college fair, where he heard about
the Keystone Scholarship at CU, and he enrolled. Lane
has a 4.0 GPA and had his first “professional” employment
as an intern last semester with The Harrisburg Internship
Semester, where he worked in the office of Senator
Shirley Kitchen. “I am very proud to represent Cheyney
University. It seems that by following the path of higher
education, things just keep getting better,” Lane said.
7

CHEYNEY
PRIDE
student
Football players outpace all other
Philadelphia universities
XAVIER BLACKWELL
BRANDON HAWKINS
DOMINIQUE CURRY
Six Cheyney University
Football players were
named to the Philadelphia
Inquirer Academic All
Area Team. Cheyney
University placed more
student-athletes to the
team than every other
school in the
area including
the University of
Pennsylvania and
Villanova
University.
Twenty-four
student-athletes
were selected by
the sports information
directors
of the 28 institutions
from the metropolitan
area. To be eligible
for the team students had
to have a cumulative
grade point average
(GPA) of 3.00 or better
and have higher than a
sophomore standing.
CU’s six representatives are
Justin Allen, Xavier
Blackwell, Tyree Cooper,
Dominique Curry, Erik
Frazier and Brandon
Hawkins.
Justin Allen paced the
Wolves with 100 tackles
and was named All-PSAC
(Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference) East. Allen has a
3.06 GPA.
Xavier Blackwell is a three
year member of the Inquirer
Academic All Area Team.
Blackwell is a graduate of
St. John Vianney High School
in St. Louis, MO. Blackwell
has a 3.28 GPA.
Tyree Cooper has earned All-
PSAC honors all four years
from his safety position. This
year he ranked among the
league leaders in interceptions.
Cooper is also a member
of the University’s indoor
and outdoor track and field
teams. Cooper has a 3.29 GPA,
majoring in criminal justice.
An All-PSAC honoree,
Dominique Curry led the
Wolves in receiving. A native
of Philadelphia and graduate
of George Washington High
School, Curry has earned a
3.07 GPA.
Erik Frazier transferred to CU
from LaSalle University and
quickly became one of the
Wolves offensive threats from
his wide receiver position.
Frazier, a Philadelphia native,
earned a 3.41 GPA while
majoring in recreation and
leisure management.
A communications major,
Brandon Hawkins has a
3.12 GPA. A native of
Brandywine, MD, Hawkins is
a graduate of Gwynn Park
High School. Hawkins was a
2007 All-PSAC selection and
ranked eighth
in conference
in tackles.
JUSTIN ALLEN
8
ERIK FRAZIER
TYREE COOPER

news
Homecoming
celebrated with
Cheyney Pride–
This Is
OUR
House!
Cheyney University cheerleaders pose with CU’s Wolf mascot.
Cheyney University played Lock Haven University
of Pennsylvania for Homecoming on Saturday,
September 29, in O’Shields-Stevenson Stadium.
Students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends came
together to support our Cheyney Wolves football
team and showed their Cheyney Pride – This Is OUR
House! The Cheyney Wolves won the game with a
score of 30-19.
Cheyney University football team lines up for a win.
In addition to football, a variety of events occurred
during this exciting weekend. Throughout the week,
CU honored the Class of 1972 alumnus Jim Ellis
during several activities. Ellis was the inspiration
behind the hit movie Pride, about a swimming coach
who inspires inner-city youth to excel in swimming.
While a student at CU, Ellis swam competitively in
the 50, 100, and 200-meter freestyle. The 2007 film
stars Terrence Howard and comedian Bernie Mac.
CU students especially enjoyed a screening of the
movie and conversation with alumnus Ellis after the
movie.
The 2007 Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet was held on
Friday, September 28 at 7 p.m. in the Ada S. Georges
Ballroom. Alumni also celebrated their fifth and tenth
year class reunions. On Saturday night, students and
alumni enjoyed concerts featuring hip-hop artist Ne-
Yo and the Phyllies Intruders.
President Howard-Vital with the Homecoming Court.
On Sunday, September 30, CU had the official
unveiling of its new Donor Brick Walkway.
9

CHEYNEY
PRIDE
student
Bill Cosby addresses graduates
Comedian, educator and actor Bill Cosby was the keynote speaker for
Commencement exercises at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania on May 12. Dr.
Cosby also received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the
ceremony from CU.
Cheyney University awarded more than 200 undergraduate and approximately 80
graduate degrees to the class of 2007. Additionally, ten students received degrees
as the first graduates from CU’s Master’s of Public Administration program. Gary
and Omar Stovall, father and son Philadelphians, each received degrees at the
Commencement.
BILL COSBY
Cheyney University was proud to welcome Dr. Bill Cosby. He is a successful
comedian, television producer, story teller, author, and film and television actor. His work in the media has
been recognized by his peers and critics, and acclaimed by audiences. Dr. Cosby began his career as a
stand-up comedian and in that arena developed his trademark of using widely appealing humor to capture
audience attention. His “humor for everyone” cast him as a story teller, commenting on the experiences of
life from a personal point of view. Immensely popular on the nightclub circuit, Cosby translated his act to
phonograph recordings and won five Grammys and seven gold records for his comedy albums.
Also during Commencement, Ed Bradley, the late journalist and Cheyney University graduate best known
for his exceptional work as anchor for the CBS television news program 60 Minutes, was
posthumously awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters.
50 th
wedding anniversary
With fanfare, family and
friends, Barbara and
Benjamin Harvey—newlyweds
for five decades—
recently celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary
with a unique vow
renewal service and reception at the
Heritage Clubhouse at Heritage Isles in Viera, Florida.
A number of their college buddies college participated
in the beautiful celebration. Their stories about school
and “Greek” days brought smiles and tears to the eyes
of nearly every guest in the room.
As a young couple, Ben and Barbara met at Cheyney
State Teacher’s College, now known as Cheyney
University. The college campus provided the perfect
setting for Barbara and Ben, during the mid-1950s.
After marrying in 1957, the pair settled in Nicetown, a
historical neighborhood in North Philadelphia. The
Harveys earned undergraduate degrees in education and
graduate degrees in administration and early childhood
education from Cheyney and Temple Universities,
respectively.
As professionals, Ben and Barbara established and
developed excellent careers in the Philadelphia School
District, before retiring and moving to Florida.
10

news
Ride across America
Last summer, Cheyney University
student-athlete, Cole Starkey, was looking
for a distraction. Not only is Starkey a
member of the Wolves cross-country and
track and field squads, he is also employed
as a full-time construction worker,
renovating houses in Bucks County,
Pennsylvania.
“I was burnt out from school and work
and I needed a break,” commented the 23
year old. On June 7 Starkey left
Yorktown, Virginia and headed west. His
destination was his uncle’s house in
Vacaville, California. Four thousand
miles on back roads and lonely highways
gave Starkey a unique view of American
life. Armed with only his bike and an
Adventure Cycling map, the Saucon
Valley High School graduate
completed his trek in just 42 days.
He spent many nights under the
stars in his tent and a few in
churches and hotels along the
way. The only other things
Starkey brought with him on the trip were
clothes, a camera, his cell phone, a radio,
tools and a sleeping bag. He survived
on diner food and the generosity of
strangers. “More than once people
would stop and offer me water and
food” commented the Cheyney
University sociology major. Starkey
is usually the one helping others. He
has served as a tutor, mentor, and
coach, and he also participated in
Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Weather and mechanical problems
plagued his journey. “I learned to be
resourceful, conservative and had the
good fortune to meet some people who
were extremely
helpful and empathetic
with my
adventure,” he said.
In Kentucky, his
bike chain froze.
Two other riders
happened upon him
and got him rolling
again. In Kansas,
Starkey had a bad tire blowout; however,
he was able to patch the tire but had to
endure another 300 miles before he found
a bike shop.
COLE STARKEY, SOCIOLOGY
The extremes of the weather were also
problematic. Severe storms across Kansas,
including seven straight days of rain and
scorching heat in Utah and Nevada never
deterred him. “The thought of stopping
never really entered my mind,” stated
Starkey. “I would never have forgiven
myself if I didn’t complete this
adventure.”
He kept in touch with friends and family
calling every two or three days. He rode
every day except one, when he took time
off and hiked to a waterfall near Telluride,
Colorado, averaging 15 miles per hour and
100 miles per day. “My pace was slow
enough that I could experience America,
commented Starkey. “People all across
the country are, for the most part, very
friendly and willing to help a weary
traveler. In small town America, people
still put other people first.”
Starkey was recruited by Cheyney Track
and Field Coach Tony Wrice. Starkey has
led the Wolves in every cross-country
meet this year.
11

Leading Cheyney University Through the 21st Century with an Emphasis on
Enrollment, Internships and Residence Halls...
S
ince taking the helm, she has already implemented a
campus safety task force and re-established the
importance of Cheyney’s Historic Quad by moving
the Office of the President back to Biddle Hall.
In order to underscore the absolute reality that
enrollment, recruitment, retention and persistence to
graduation is everyone’s business, Howard-Vital has
charged a University-wide Task Force to examine
Cheyney University’s enrollment management
policies, practices and evaluation.
The goal of this task force is to provide a framework
for Cheyney University to identify and implement
best practices in enrollment management. The task
force will meet all year, and it will conclude its work
only when CU’s enrollment has reached 3,000
students.
“This semester, we have also begun making
plans for a public/private venture to
replace our residence halls with newer,
larger, and more private residence suites
and apartments,” Howard-Vital said.
“There has not been a new residence hall built on
this campus for nearly thirty years. This is going to
be exciting, and we will insure that students are
engaged and learn from this venture.”
Among other core initiatives will be the identification
and eventual development of specific Centers of
Excellence for Cheyney University. “These Centers
will be identifying and clarifying concepts as well as
a mechanism for responding to the needs of the
region, our students, and our nation,” Howard-Vital
said. “Our Centers of Excellence
will be interwoven with our
brand and help identify us as a
national liberal arts institution.”
They will lead to increased enrollment,
increased retention and increased positive
visibility for the University.
Also, in summer 2008, CU will pilot a
paid internship program to provide an
opportunity for students who reach junior
status to participate in a paid internship in
a company in our region.
Howard-Vital also plans to create more bridge
programs with local districts to prepare middle
school and high school students for college.
Howard-Vital assumed the presidency of Cheyney
on July 30. Before joining Cheyney University,
Howard-Vital served as interim chancellor of
Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.
She earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in English
literature and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in
English education from the University of Chicago
and a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from the
University of Illinois at Chicago.
BACKGROUND: AERIAL OF HISTORIC QUAD, 1903
13

“With 30 years in higher education, Dr. Howard-
Vital is well-suited to lead America’s oldest
historically black institution of higher
education,” said Robert W. Bogle, chairman of
Cheyney University’s Council of Trustees.
“Her academic experience and distinguished
service to education make her
ideal to guide Cheyney University
into the future.”
She counts good communication skills and
honesty as some of her strengths. Howard-Vital
grew up in Chicago, the daughter of a nurse and
a construction worker. From the age of six, she
knew she wanted to be a teacher and she started
by teaching her two younger siblings how to
read.
Her hobbies include roller-skating, a skill she
shares with her husband of more than 20 years,
Geri Vital. They have a 28-year-old son and a
17-year-old daughter who is now a freshman at
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

CHEYNEY
PRIDE
student
Free heart screening for all athletes
Cheyney basketball player Ed
Braswell receives echocardiogram
testing.
Cheyney University invited all
new recruits in its athletic
program to receive a free
screening for Sudden Cardiac
Arrest (SCA). Last year, CU
became the first school in
Pennsylvania and the first
historically Black college to
screen a complete NCAA men’s
and women’s athletic program
for the risk factors for SCA.
Exercise-induced SCA is
almost always fatal and often
makes news when young,
seemingly healthy athletes die
suddenly after an attack.
“These students are being given the chance to have a
screening that could save their lives and that they probably
couldn’t get at home. As a trainer, you always want the best
for your athletes, and I’m so glad that we’re able to give
them this opportunity. It’s something that I’m very proud to
be a part of,” said Scott Uderman, the head athletic trainer
for Cheyney University.
The Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation was instrumental in
introducing Ultrasound Services, Inc. to Cheyney
University. The Foundation was established on July 1, 2005
in honor of twenty-one year old athlete Danny Rumph, who
collapsed and died from SCA on May 8, 2005. The Rumph
Foundation now works tirelessly to promote education,
screening and awareness of the risk factors for SCA,
including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Cheyney University has again called on the services of the
Play Safe division of Ultrasound Services, Inc., who have
been performing diagnostic ultrasound studies for over
twenty years. With consent from the individual athlete, the
information gathered from the Play Safe studies will be
compiled for the creation of the first national database
tracking athlete heart defects.
Basketball Schedule 2008
14
WOMEN
Sat Jan 5 Edinboro Away 1:00 pm
Sun Jan 6 Slippery Rock Away 1:00 pm
Sat Jan 12 Lock Haven Home 1:00 pm
Sun Jan 13 Shippensburg Home 1:00 pm
Wed Jan 16 East Stroudsburg Away 6:00 pm
Sat Jan 19 Bloomsburg Home 1:00 pm
Wed Jan 23 West Chester Home 6:00 pm
Sat Jan 26 Mansfield Away 1:00 pm
Wed Jan 30 Millersville Home 6:00 pm
Sat Feb 2 Kutztown Away 6:00 pm
Sat Feb 9 Bloomsburg Away 1:00 pm
Mon Feb 11 UDC Home 6:00 pm
Wed Feb 13 East Stroudsburg Home 6:00 pm
Sat Feb 16 Mansfield Home 1:00 pm
Wed Feb 20 West Chester Away 7:30 pm
Sat Feb 23 Kutztown Home 1:00 pm
Wed Feb 27 Millersville Away 6:00 pm
Tue Mar 4 PSAC Quarter-finals
Fri Mar 7 PSAC Semi-finals
Sat Mar 8 PSAC Finals
MEN
Sat Jan 5 Edinboro Away 3:00 pm
Sun Jan 6 Slippery Rock Away 3:00 pm
Sat Jan 12 Lock Haven Home 3:00 pm
Sun Jan 13 Shippensburg Home 3:00 pm
Wed Jan 16 East Stroudsburg Away 8:00 pm
Sat Jan 19 Bloomsburg Home 3:00 pm
Sun Jan 20 UDC Home 3:00 pm
Wed Jan 23 West Chester Home 8:00 pm
Sat Jan 26 Mansfield Away 3:00 pm
Wed Jan 30 Millersville Home 8:00 pm
Sat Feb 2 Kutztown Away 3:00 pm
Thu Feb 5 USP Away 7:00 pm
Sat Feb 9 Bloomsburg Away 3:00 pm
Wed Feb 13 East Stroudsburg Home 8:00 pm
Sat Feb 16 Mansfield Home 3:00 pm
Sun Feb 17 UDC Away 6:00 pm
Wed Feb 20 West Chester Away 5:30 pm
Sat Feb 23 Kutztown Home 3:00 pm
Wed Feb 27 Millersville Away 8:00 pm
Tue Mar 4 PSAC Quarter-finals
Fri Mar 7 PSAC Semi-finals
Sat Mar 8 PSAC Finals

ut
about
and
with Dr. Michelle Howard-Vital...
President Howard-Vital greets
Celebrity Fit Club’s Dr. Ian Smith.
President Howard-Vital and Geri Vital (right) welcome
Congressman Joe Sestak to a Wolves football game.
President Howard-Vital greets alumnae Gaynelle
Lewis and Cheryl Dyson at October Gallery auction.

news
All the world’s a stage
for Cheyney Players
The Cheyney Players perform a scene
from Hamlet (in Thornbury).
“To be, or not to
be: that is the
question—
Whether 'tis
nobler in the
mind to suffer...”
-Hamlet
Act III, scene I
Cheyney University Students Present Hamlet (in Thornbury)
The fall performance of the Department of Theatre Arts’ Cheyney
Players began on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, with the performance of
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (in Thornbury).
The play was directed by Jann Ellis-Scruggs, a professor of Theatre
Arts. A summa cum laude graduate of Cheyney University, she earned
her Master of Arts degree from Villanova University and the Master of
Science degree from Cheyney University in Adult and Continuing
Education with honors. Her television credits include Hack (NBC
dramatic series), The Wire (HBO) and a recurring role on ABC’s hit
sitcom, Hope & Faith with
Kelly Ripa.
The students in the cast,
The Cheyney Players, are
members of Alpha Psi Omega
National Honorary Theatre
Society. The Cheyney Players,
a faculty-directed student
drama organization, produces
three productions each season.
Performances were held at the
Dudley Centre for the
Student performer Christopher Davis greets visitors
Performing Arts, a 300-seat
before his performance.
proscenium theatre, which
houses a state-of-the-art, computerized
lighting system and a newly installed
digital sound system.
“This above all—to thine
own self be true; And it must
follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false
to any man.”
-Hamlet
Act I, scene III
CU students perform a scene from Hamlet (in Thornbury).
15

Campus
>>CONNECTIONS

C O N N E C T E D
CU celebrates 170th Founder’s Day
Alumnus Sulayman
Clark, Author of The
Rains, Served as
Keynote Speaker
Sulayman Clark, author of
The Rains, was the 2007
keynote speaker for Founder’s
Day at Cheyney University.
The event was held on Friday,
November 9 in Dudley
Performing Arts Center.
The theme for the celebration
was “Cheyney Pride:
Demonstrating
Excellence Throughout History.” Founder’s
Day pays tribute to CU’s founder, Richard Humphreys, a
Quaker philanthropist.
Dr. Clark is a 1977 graduate of Cheyney University
and author of The Rains: Voices for American Liberty, a
captivating story of antebellum Philadelphia which
connects actual historical events and legendary figures. In
the fall 2008 Semester, The Rains will be recommended
reading for incoming freshman classes at Cheyney
University. Dr. Clark currently serves as vice president for
Institutional Advancement at Fisk University in Tennessee.
A native of Philadelphia, Sulayman Clark is a writer,
lecturer and university administrator; he earned a master’s
degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from
Harvard University.
President Howard-Vital flanked by faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the
Council of Trustees for an historic 170th Anniversary photo.
During the Founder’s Day ceremony, there was an academic
procession and recognition of students who have received a
scholarship named in honor of CU's founder (Humphreys
Scholars). There were also performances by the Cheyney
University Concert Choir and the Cheyney Players.
Each year Founder’s Day chronicles the events surrounding
the $10,000 bequest from Quaker Philanthropist Richard
Humphreys that established America’s oldest historically
Black institution of higher education in 1837. Born on a
plantation in the West Indies, Humphreys, after witnessing
the struggles of African Americans, became interested in
their plight and thus wrote in his will and charged thirteen
fellow Quakers to design and establish a school to educate
the descendents of the African race.
New athletic director
China Leigh Jude has been named athletic director at Cheyney University, following
a national search. She replaces Gregory Smith, who served in the position in an
interim capacity and will now become the faculty athletic representative.
CHINA LEIGH JUDE
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Before joining Cheyney University, Jude was assistant athletic director and senior
woman administrator at the University of the District of Columbia in Washington,
D.C. Among her goals for Cheyney University’s athletic program, Jude plans to be
more aggressive in recruiting for Olympic sports and to adopt a more holistic approach
for CU student-athletes. “I focus on the three Cs – compliance, competitiveness and
championships,” Jude said. “I have a sincere intent to do right by our athletes.”
17

Campus
>>CONNECTIONS

C O N N E C T E D
Actress and AIDS activist Sheryl Lee Ralph
performs one-woman play
Actress and AIDS activist Sheryl Lee Ralph performed her
one-woman play, Sometimes I Cry: The Lives, Loves and
Losses of Women with AIDS at Cheyney University on
March 26 in the Dudley Hall Theatre.
Sometimes I Cry is a one-woman show written and
conceived by Ralph. This complex and thought provoking
show was inspired by the real life stories of women infected
and affected by HIV/AIDS. Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph also
founded the Diva Foundation in 1990 as a memorial to the
many friends she has lost to HIV/AIDS.
Ralph’s acting credits are extensive. On the Broadway stage
she originated and created the role of Deena Jones in the
landmark musical Dreamgirls, which earned her a Tony
Award Nomination and a Drama Desk Award Nomination
for Best Actress. On television, she has starred in It’s a
Living, the George Foreman series George. From 1992 until
the series ended, she starred as Las Vegas showgirl turned
Anthony’s wife in the hit comedy Designing Women and the
UPN television series Moesha, in which she starred as the
outspoken and loving step-mom, Dee.
Her film credits include Sister Act II, The Flintstones, The
Mighty Quinn with Denzel Washington, and Eddie
Murphy’s Distinguished Gentleman. Her performance with
Danny Glover in To Sleep With Anger won her the 1991
Independent Spirit Award for best supporting actress. She
can also be seen in the HBO original film Witch Hunt, with
Sheryl Lee Ralph: CU student/artist Amir Campbell
(4th from right) and other students present gift to Ms. Ralph
following the performance of her one-woman play,
Sometimes I Cry.
Dennis Hopper, and Bogus with Whoopi Goldberg and
Gerard Depardieu.
As a producer in 1991, Ralph created the criticallyacclaimed
Divas Simply Singing, a staged evening of song
and entertainment featuring some of the most talented
female entertainers in film, stage, television and recording.
This annual event has become one of the most important and
highly-anticipated AIDS benefits in Hollywood.
The Cheyney University shield...did you know?
The shield highlights Cheyney University’s legacy and uniqueness.
Showing the school colors of blue and white, the first image is the university’s informal
name of CU. Next is the “Lamp of Knowledge,” depicting Cheyney University’s tradition
of academic excellence. The Founding Year of 1837 establishes Cheyney University as
America’s oldest historically Black institution of higher education. The image of the
“Dove of Peace” and its thirteen leaves represent CU’s Quaker roots. Since its founding by
Quaker philanthropist Richard Humphreys, Cheyney University has been a university with
honored traditions and an enduring legacy.
Everything comes together to make Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, proudly stated at
the center of the meaningful shield of armor.
19

Donor
STARS
Alumni generosity always amazing
During the Tom Joyner Morning Show, several
students were immediately recognized as scholarship
recipients from the Alumni Association gift. Each
student received $2,500. These students were: Davina
Lloyd, Janelle Massey, Robyn Mays, Jesse Phillips,
Ashlee Reynolds, Lefagous White, Regina Cooper,
and Jonathan Walker. Six other Cheyney University
students were also given scholarship funds during the
program.
TOM JOYNER
Paul Turner, an alumnus of Cheyney University’s class
of 1962, and president of the National Alumni
Association, presented a check of $20,170 on behalf of
the Association to Cheyney President Michelle
Howard-Vital in Orlando, FL, on the nationally
syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. Turner’s
check was presented to support scholarships for
Cheyney University students.
For the last several years, nationally-known, Tom
Joyner, radio host and personality, has provided
leadership for Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) as they raise funds for scholarships
for students. Joyner’s Foundation has raised
more than $55 million to provide scholarships to
students currently attending HBCUs. Joyner, a
graduate of Tuskegee University, often affirms that it
is necessary to “party with a purpose.”
Cheyney University receives $100,000 grant
Cheyney University has received a $100,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for its
James Hughes Scholarship and Retention Program. The goal of the program is to provide
academic opportunities and faculty and peer mentoring to support the personal and
college success of Philadelphia public high school graduates who are selected as James
Hughes Scholars.
In the first phase of the program, fifty-four high school graduates will participate. Of that total, fourteen
students will attend Cheyney University, thirteen will attend other PA State System of Higher Education schools
and twenty-seven will attend the Community College of Philadelphia. The program will consist of three major
components over a six-week period: an information technology boot camp, an academic bridge program and a
two-day college transition summit. “This initiative will greatly improve the number of students, particularly
minority students, who will attend and thrive in colleges and universities in the state,” said Dr. Valerie Epps,
vice president for Student Affairs and Student Life at Cheyney University.
James Hughes was a beloved and respected leader of his community and a founding member of the
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors.
20

making a difference for students
The Power of giving back...
The Power of Giving Back: President Howard-Vital
and Geri Vital announce the Michelle and Geri Vital
Scholarship Fund.
Michelle and Geri Vital
know that philanthropy has
power and that it can
change lives.
The couple recently established the Michelle
and Geri Vital Scholarship Fund at Cheyney
University to benefit students who demonstrate
leadership potential, have insufficient
funds to pay for tuition, and are enrolled in a
full-time, four-year undergraduate degree
program at Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania.
“Giving to educational
causes has high impact for us because of the transformative
nature of education and the way it impacts the learner
and the world,” affirms Dr. Howard-Vital.
Two awards will be given annually during Dr. Michelle Howard-Vital’s tenure as President of
Cheyney University. The award is intended to close a gap in funding for expenses that students
may have to pay out-of-pocket or borrow in order to attend CU.
“The education Michelle and I received provided us with
the necessary tools to have successful and rewarding
careers. We wanted to ensure that young people at
Cheyney have the financial resources they need to succeed
as well,” added Geri Vital.
The need for scholarship support is great and there are many opportunities for giving. To learn
more about contributing to the general scholarship fund, creating an endowed scholarship fund,
or contributing to an existing endowment fund, contact Donna Howard in the Office of
Institutional Advancement at (610) 399-2154.
21

The
campus
becomes
a work of
The Cheyney University campus
is a lot more colorful these days
thanks to an incredible gift from
alumnus Mercer Redcross, III
and his wife Evelyn. The
Redcrosses, co-founders of
October Gallery, have donated
170 pieces of art to CU in
honor of the University's
170th anniversary.
22

The
(left to right) President Howard-Vital receives an
autographed book from alumnus Mercer A. Redcross, III
and his wife Evelyn, co-founders of October Gallery.
works, from a variety of artists, currently grace most buildings
on campus as well as Cheyney University’s Urban Site in
Philadelphia. To date the donations are valued at $83,650,
with 81 more pieces to be installed.
Annually, October Gallery presents its flagship event, the
Philadelphia International Art Expo, the nation's largest
African American Art Expo. This event’s 40,000 attendees
spend nearly 4.5 million dollars on everything from $20
posters to thousands of dollars on original art. The gallery has
been instrumental in establishing value for African-American
art and a consistent platform for artists to showcase their
talent. The Cheyney community was out in full force at last
year's event, with two booths featuring artwork by Cheyney
University students, fundraising programs and information.
Native Philadelphian Mercer A. Redcross, III co-founded the October Gallery with
his wife, Evelyn, 19 years ago. The gallery’s first location was in the Powelton Village
section of Philadelphia. Today, October Gallery is
located in West Oak Lane, where it continues to
promote African-American art, artists and consumer
education.
Redcross has always been a front runner in making art
and art education accessible to all people. Further,
Redcross realized that art is an ideal medium to communicate
culture, history and broad human experiences. As a
result, the Expo’s theme, “Connecting People with Art,”
has been his mantra for years.
Redcross graduated from Cheyney University with a B.S.
in Economics. Afterwards, he earned a Master’s of
Business Administration from Eastern University. He and
his wife, Evelyn, continue to reside in Philadelphia. They
have three children and three grandchildren.
23

CU students participate in annual career fair.
PREPARING
STUDENTS
FOR THE
REAL WORLD
The Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), formerly “Career Services” has moved back to
the Marcus Foster Student Center after almost four years in Burleigh Hall. The department’s goal for the 2007-
2008 year is to complete the establishment of a center that will be a reservoir of information and support for
Cheyney University students in their pursuit of internships, graduate education and career positions.
Over the last year CCPD has achieved the following milestones:
• Significantly increased the number of students accessing opportunities via the Wolf Career Network
• Hosted a major spring career fair (April 10, 2007)
• Conducted professional development workshops for students
• Increased employer participation through career fairs, campus interviews, information sessions and workshops
• Gathered new graduate employment data to benchmark CU against regional and national new graduate stats
• Assisted students and alumni with successful job searches to land competitive career positions and internships
• Published two career articles in the annual HBCU Career Guide distributed at HBCUs across the United States
• Joined the National Association for Colleges and Employers and assumed a role on the Corporate Sponsorship
Committee for the Eastern Region
2007–2008
• Received a grant from PASSHE to develop internships
• Engaged employers and added staff to roll out the CU Internship Institute for Spring and Summer 2008
• Hosted 13 professionals from the Black Executive Exchange Program (BEEP) at CU on October 30–31st
• Hosted 51 employers for the Fall Career Expo for October 4, 2007
The Center is now headed by Marcia Robinson. Robinson has experience from a variety of leadership roles in
career centers for the last eight years. Her roles have included job development, career counseling and
corporate relations. Robinson has been consistently recognized for innovative programming involving
employer partners and students at Westwood College, California State Polytechnic University (her alma mater)
and Temple University before coming to Cheyney University in September 2006. Robinson has over a decade
of industry experience in the hospitality, aviation and technology sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Administration and a MBA with an emphasis in Strategic HR Management. Robinson is
currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Business Leadership and writes frequently on career, employment and
entrepreneurship issues for online magazines. She is a member of the National Association of Colleges and
Employers and the National Career Development Association. Robinson’s passion for successful outcomes is
driven by her belief that there are no limits to how a person’s life can be enhanced through education,
professional development and meaningful work.
24

Cheyney introduces unique business
collaboration with Herban Farms, LLC
President Howard-Vital gets a tour of
the Greenhouse from Michael Derro,
President of Herban Farms, LLC.
Venture combines fish farming and basil production in an aquaponics greenhouse
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and Herban Farms, LLC officially dedicated a 12,000-foot,
state-of-the-art aquaponics greenhouse, located on the CU campus. The project is a unique and innovative
business venture that integrates aquaculture and agriculture to support the commercial
production and sale of basil for Herban Farms and tilapia fish for CU. This represents one facet of
CU’s future role in preparing students for careers in urban biology and entrepreneurship.
This collaboration will allow the University to use the facility for student training and for
conducting research on biological methods to increase the efficiency of production for both plants
and fish. The objective of the project is to develop programs in urban aquaculture and fish
nutrition/physiology and to provide training in various scientific areas. The success of this project
could lead to the establishment of similar facilities around the Commonwealth and the creation of
jobs.
Cheyney University has developed an academic/professional specialization in this field over the
past two years with the establishment of its Aquaculture Research Education Center (AREC). The
center is supported by the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Aquaculture and Aquatic
Sciences and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.
Herban Farms LLC was formed in 2004 to grow, pack and ship living basil and fresh culinary herbs
to the regional food service industry. The greenhouse has the capacity to produce approximately
12,000 aquaponically-grown living basil plants each week, with expected revenue of $900,000
yearly. The facility is expected to expand in the future to include other herbs such as oregano, mint
and parsley.
25

ensuring
the
future
PRESIDENT’S CABINET
Michelle R. Howard-Vital, Ph.D., President
Bernadette Carter, Ed.D., Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
Charles Colbert, Ed.D., Vice President for Finance and Administration
Valerie Epps, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs and Student Life
Eric R. Almonte, J.D., Executive Associate to the President
Barbara A. Simmons, J.D., Assistant to the President for Internal Relations and Social Equity
Cathine Garner-Gilchrist, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Education
Tara Kent, Ph.D., Dean of the Keystone Honors Academy
Janet Manspeaker, Ph.D., Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences
Lut Nero, Ph.D., Dean of the Leslie Pinckney Hill Library
John Williams, Ph.D., Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education
Sharon Cannon, M.Ed., Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development Center
COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES
Robert W. Bogle, Chairman
Senator Vincent J. Hughes
Gary N. Horton
Lorna D. Horsey
Lynette Brown-Sow
Dongkyu Bak
Senator Robert Wonderling
Robert Traynham, II
Samuel Patterson
Reverend Dr. Joseph D. Patterson, Sr.
PASSHE Chancellor Judy Hample
Ex Officio
UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
Irvin D. Bailey, Chairman
James E. Andrews, Vice Chair
Richard Sims, Treasurer
Elsie Erwin, Secretary
David B. Alston
Rodney T. Carter, Esq.
Theodore P. Erwin
Willie F. Johnson
Wilbur L. Kirkland
Samuel Patterson
Carmen Martinez-Skinner
President Michelle Howard-Vital
Ex Officio
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Kenneth M. Jarin, Chairman
Aaron Walton, Vice Chair
C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni, Vice Chair
Representative Matthew E. Baker
Marie Conley Lammando
Paul S. Dlugolecki
Daniel P. Elby
Ryan Gebely
Representative Michael K. Hanna
Senator Vincent J. Hughes
Kim E. Lyttle
Joshua A. O’Brien
Joseph M. Peltzer
Guido M. Pichini
Governor Edward G. Rendell
Senator James J. Rhoades
Christine J. Toretti Olson
Gerald L. Zahorchak
1837 University Circle
P.O. Box 200
Cheyney, PA 19319-0200
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ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
CHEYNEY, PA
PERMIT NO. 5