HBCU Highlights

Leah A. Henry is a multimedia producer and on air personality. She is a 2016 graduate of Howard University where she built a strong foundation. Just four short months after she graduated, she started working at WJLA-TV in Washington D.C. where she became an associate producer for “Let’s Talk Live” on NewsChannel 8. She has a segment on WKYS 93.9 (Washington D.C.-Radio One) morning show called “Leah’s Lemonade"  where she dishes her opinion of trending topics, pop culture, and celebrity news. Leah's a trailblazer in her own right and is a mentor and a media and social media influencer.

For more information about Leah, visit www.leahahenry.com

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Howard University, please visit: www.howard.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Dr. Christopher M. Jones!

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Chris's shoes!

An Arkansas native, Chris grew up in the surrounded by an HBCU! He aspired to be an astronaut after learning about Dr. Ronald McNair. Chris holds FIVE degrees, including a B.S. in mathematics and a B.S. in physics from Morehouse College, where he received a full scholarship from NASA and served as student body president; an M.S. in nuclear engineering and an M.S. in technology and policy from MIT, and a Ph.D. in urban studies and planning from MIT. He only applied to Morehouse College for undergrad! Chris worked as an assistant dean for graduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he led efforts that doubled minority enrollment and more than tripled minority applications to MIT graduate programs. Christopher M. Jones is currently Executive Director and Lead Maker of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. He has 20 years of experience in energy and infrastructure, diversity, community development, housing and management. He and his wife live in Little Rock with their three beautiful daughters.

For more information about Dr. Christopher Jones, please visit: https://arhub.org/

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Morehouse College, please visit: www.morehouse.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Torarie Durden!

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Torarie's shoes!

Originally from Adel, Georgia, Torarie was the first black valedictorian of his high school class. He was determined to get scholarships to attend college and he applied for numerous scholarships! He was the recipient of a full tuition academic NASA McNair scholarship to Morehouse College. He is a dual degree graduate from Morehouse College where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Physics and Bachelors of Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).  He received his Masters in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech and a MBA from Harvard Business School. Currently, Torarie is Chief Marketing Officer at Myaderm (www.myaderm.com). Myaderm uses proven pharmaceutical technologies to create innovative cannabinoid products that provide a therapeutic benefit. They produce pharmacist-formulated Cannabidiol (CBD) creams and topical CBD products for skin care. Torarie is a proud father to two sons and proud husband to his wife, a Spelmanite. He's passionate about giving back to others and he's a proud role model to many, including family members who graduated from Spelman! 

Use Torarie's code to receive 25% off of Myaderm products on their website! 

Coupon code “DURDEN”

https://www.myaderm.com/discount/DURDEN

For more information about Torarie, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torariedurden

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Morehouse College, please visit: www.morehouse.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Ramon Griffin!

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Ramon's shoes!

He tells us the story of how his Morehouse brothers are like his family. He is the first male to graduate from college in his family! He gives back to his Detroit community by investing in it. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Morehouse College. His professors poured into him and now Ramon does the same in his career! It's his personal mission to inspire other students to attend Morehouse. Ramon is an educational Leader with 20 years of experience developing academic programs and curricula to promote student growth and success. He currently works as an Intervention Specialist. 

For more information about Ramon Griffin, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramon-griffin-8570a452

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Morehouse College, please visit: www.morehouse.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Dr. Eric Tait, MD! 

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Eric's shoes!

Eric's family has a history of attending HBCU's! He knew at an early age he wanted to pursue medicine and he is a fourth generation medical doctor! He tells us about the importance of attending HBCU's and community. He has a biology degree from Morehouse College. Eric received his M.B.A. in entrepreneurship from the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University as well as his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. Eric is a practicing physician in Internal medicine in a private practice in Houston, Texas. Not only is Eric an internist, he is the founder and fund manager of Vernonville Asset Management. Vernonville Asset Management was born because Eric could not find any investment products that he felt were suitable for his own portfolio. His motto is “if you find a need fill it.” Eric is also President of Pinnacle Physician Management Organization, a Medicare Advantage partnership with Universal American Corp that has generated over $25 million in revenue since 2009.

For more information about Dr. Eric Tait, please visit: https://vernonville.com/

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Morehouse College, please visit: www.morehouse.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Nicole Venable!

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Nicole's shoes!

Nicole's mother took her and five of childhood friends to visit Spelman College and after their visit, they ALL chose to attend Spelman College! She tells us about finding her tribe at Spelman, pledging Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Eta Kappa Chapter and how she values sisterhood and the valuable relationships she made while attending Spelman. While at Spelman, she majored in Political Science and helped to start the International Affairs minor! She studied abroad while at Spelman College her freshman and junior year! Nicole is a socialite and a philanthropist. She established the Lady Von Endowed Scholarship at Spelman College.  She is also the founder of the Black Girl Magic Network, an association of female lobbyists of color. Recognized by The HilI as one of the “Top Lobbyists of 2018,” Nicole has policy expertise on issues ranging from tax reform and trade to health care, energy, labor, and telecommunications. She is currently a lobbyist at Invariant where she ensures her client issues get heard and resolved!

For more information about Nicole, please visit: http://invariantgr.com/team/NicoleVenable.html

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Spelman College, please visit: www.spelman.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Grammy nominated musician, Tia Fuller! 

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Tia's shoes!

Tia Fuller grew up in Colorado but after watching episodes of A Different World, she researched Spelman College and set out to attend Spelman!  While at Spelman, she was a general music major and her professor encouraged her but always told her that she was "coming along!" Well, she's come a long way for sure! She was a member of Beyoncé's all girl band and toured with them for years! Tia was nominated for a Grammy for best jazz instrumental album! Tia is a force to be reckoned with in the worlds of jazz, pop, R&B, and more. Currently, she balances the worlds of performance and education, fulfilling a demanding schedule as both a busy touring and recording artist and a full-time professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. She leads the college’s Rainbow Big Band and All-Stars, the Esperanza Ensemble, repertoire class, jazz improvisation, two jazz combos, and the Christian McBride Ensemble. In addition, she produces and directs groundbreaking large production ensembles focusing on the works of major pop innovators Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, and Micki Miller. 

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Spelman College, please visit: www.spelman.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Nayo Jones!

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Nayo's shoes!

Nayo was actually visiting Clark Atlanta University and during her visit, she toured Spelman College! Once she entered the gates, she felt like she was "home!"  While at Spelman she majored in economics and she was pushed not only by her classmates to excel, but one of her professors actually called her one evening to push her! She didn't always know that she would pursue music as a career! She was born in Chicago, Illinois into a family of musicians and destined to be in show business.  As an accomplished jazz musician and music educator, her father William “Doc” Jones groomed and nurtured her natural ability from a very young age.  Currently Nayo is based in New Orleans, LA where she performs regularly with her band “The Nayo Jones Experience”.  In addition to her own show, Nayo also tours alongside New Orleans iconic jazz trumpeter, Kermit Ruffins as a featured vocalist.

For more information about Nayo, please visit: http://www.nayojones.com/

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Spelman College, please visit: www.spelman.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Dr. Kelly Bolden, MD! 

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Kelly's shoes!

Dr. Kelly Bolden, MD was influenced by her mother, a Spelman Alumnae, to attend Spelman College! Her father worked at NASA and she was able to meet Mae C. Jemison at a young age and she knew that she wanted to pursue engineering and medicine.  Kelly was awarded a full tuition academic scholarship (Women in Science and Engineering) to attend Spelman College. She graduated with honors with a dual degree in Chemistry from Spelman College and Chemical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She received her medical doctorate from Baylor College of Medicine and went on to receive extensive training in general surgery at Emory University, followed by plastic surgery training at the world-renowned University of Texas at Southwestern. She then received state-of-the-art training in microsurgery at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore with an emphasis on cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery.

Outside routine clinical practice, Dr. Bolden’s passion is providing advanced surgical techniques in breast reconstruction to underserved communities both domestically and internationally. She is an Assistant Professor at Howard University Hospital providing support to the Cancer Center and Bariatric Center of Excellence, and she participates in international mission trips promoting breast health with an emphasis on African nations. She is presently medical director of Cultura Plastic Surgery.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of For Love of Children (FLOC).

For more information about Kelly, please visit: https://www.culturamed.com/kelly-bolden\

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Spelman College, please visit: www.spelman.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

HBCU Highlights presents Dr. Alyx Porter Umphrey, MD. 

HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Alyx's shoes!

Originally from Arizona, Alyx fell in love with Spelman after attending her cousin's Morehouse graduation.  She received a full tuition Presidential Scholarship to attend Spelman! She loved her experience at Spelman, including pledging Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Eta Kappa Chapter.  After graduation, she was inspired by Dr. Ben Carson and pursued medicine. She is the most senior black female neuro-oncologist in the country!  Alyx is a philanthropist and she created two scholarships at Spelman! Alyx and her husband own a non-profit, ElevateMeD.  Their focus is creating financial assistance for bright and talented medical students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.  In so doing, they attract students toward a career in medicine with the cost no longer being a detractor. ElevateMeD connects scholars with mentors and organizations who share our mission and vision of diversity in medicine.

For more information about Alyx and donate to her foundation, please visit: https://www.elevatemed.org/

For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com

For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com

To make a donation to Spelman College, please visit: www.spelman.edu

For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com