Start and Go

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

This week we have something special for our listeners. Archie was joined live, on campus, by legendary musicians Sisqo, Smoke and Black, known best for their work as Dru Hill. They talked about their new group Smoke N Black Dragon, their participation in this year's virtual Black Tie Scholarship Gala sponsored by MT3 Properties, the significance of HBCUs, and much more.

Episode Links

• Black Tie Scholarship Gala Tickets
• Sisqo Live
• Smoke N Black Dragon
• MT3 Properties

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

The National Children's Advocacy Center located right here in Huntsville was the first of its kind in the world and still leads the way in the area of multidisciplinary response to child abuse. ED Chris Newlin talks about helping kids and families, the NCAC's role and connection with AAMU, and what's in store for the future. 

About Chris Newlin

Chris Newlin, MS LPC, is the Executive Director of the National Children’s Advocacy Center where he is responsible for providing leadership and management of the NCAC and participating in national and international training and leadership activities regarding the protection of children. The NCAC was the first Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) in the world and provides child abuse prevention and intervention services in Huntsville/Madison County; and also houses the NCAC Training Center, the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, the NCAC Virtual Training Center, and the Child Abuse Library Online (CALiO™). The NCAC is a past multi-year winner of the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Workplace Ethics; 2012 Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year; 2016 Federal Bureau of Investigation Director’s Community Leadership Award recipient; (multi-year finalist), winner in 2016 and 2019 of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Best Places to Work; and a Private Sector Member of the Virtual Global Taskforce.

Chris has more than 22 years of experience working in CACs as a Forensic Interviewer, Victim Advocate, Therapist, Clinical Director, and Executive Director. Chris has provided diverse training related to the Children’s Advocacy Center Model, the multidisciplinary response to child abuse, the international development of Children’s Advocacy Centers, forensic interviewing, best practices in child abuse intervention and response, and additional child maltreatment and exploitation topics in more than 30 countries throughout the world. He has worked in both urban and rural Children’s Advocacy Centers. Chris received his Master’s in School Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and has completed coursework at the Harvard University Business School Executive Education Program.

About NCAC

The National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), located in Huntsville, Alabama, revolutionized the United States’ response to child sexual abuse. Since its creation in 1985, the NCAC has served as a model for the 950+ Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) now operating in the United States and in more than 34 countries throughout the world.

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

AAMU's reputation as a nationwide leader in Forestry Management should come as no surprise after listening to Dr. Kosma Naka talk about the program (the only accredited program of its kind among all HBCUs), the successes of students and alumni, and their partnership with the USDA Forestry Service. And don't forget the AAMU Fire Dawgs, our real-life, self-sustained firefighting team of students!

Episode Links:

Forestry Program

Forestry Program on Facebook

About the Fire Dawgs

Guest Bio

Kozma Naka graduated from the Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania in 1984 with a B.S. in Forest Engineering. He received a M.S. degree in Computer-Science from the University of Tirana in 1986 and a Ph. D. degree in Forestry and Wood Products from Virginia Tech in 1998.

Dr. Naka is currently an Associate Professor of Forest Operations at Alabama A&M University. He teaches Forest Mensuration, Forest Operations, Wood Products, and Forestry Field Techniques. His research includes timber/biomass harvesting, utilization, and impact, hardwood management, and agroforestry. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters, Forest Products Society, Alabama Forestry Council, and Alabama Forestry Association.

Dr. Naka resides in Huntsville with his wife Enkela who is a social worker and an Alabama A&M graduate. They have two adult children: Gilda, and Peter.

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

AAMU junior Amaya Rearden has been busy. Really busy! This junior is flexing her leadership skills and passion for civic engagement to help get out the vote. When she isn't registering new voters on and off campus or speaking on behalf of the Andrew Goodman Foundation, she's studying Communications Media and Political Science as a Presidential Scholar in the Honors Program.

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

When Victoria Shoots heard from two of her former classmates in the same day, about the same idea, she knew something magical was brewing. The alumna and young lawyer was inspired to form a committee of like-minded alumni to launch GIVEcoming, a fun, fundraising effort in lieu of what would have been homecoming season. Not only are Victoria and her friends building enthusiasm and involvement, they also hope to elevate the conversation around the power of HBCU giving and African-American philanthropy.

The GIVEcoming Committee is: Victoria Shoots (‘12, '13) Camille Fulton (‘12) Ciara Coleman (‘11) Brandon Gilmore (‘13) Craig Mitchell (’13) Erica Ihme (’02)

Victoria Shoots is a native of Mobile, AL, and a 2012 (B.S.) and 2013 (M.S.) graduate of Alabama A&M University with degrees in Food Science. While a student, she was most active in the Marching Maroon and White Band as a Dancin’ Diva, University Honors Center, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. After her time on the Hill, she worked in Austin, TX, advocating on behalf of students within the public school system experiencing homelessness. In 2018, Victoria graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, TX. Since law school, she has worked in government relations in Washington D.C. Currently, Victoria is an inaugural John Lewis Fellow with Legal Services of Alabama, working at the intersection of poverty law and social justice.

Episode Links:

A&M Alums form GIVEcoming 2020

Inaugural ‘GIVEcoming’ Fundraising Campaign Offers a Purposeful Twist on the Alabama A&M Homecoming Celebration

Legal Services Alabama

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

Coder and Hackathon winner, pitch competition pro, Boeing TMCF Scholar and intern, and burgeoning entrepreneur... Alabama A&M University Computer Science student Justin Lindberg brings all this and much more to this week's conversation.

Episode Links:

• Justin on LinkedIn 
• The Lituation
• The Yard Think Big Now Pitch Competition
• AAMU Innovation Hub, the Dream Space - Virtual Ribbon Cutting 
• Boeing Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholars
• SLAP (AAMU Poetry Club)
• Google Hackathons and Developer Events
• Article by Justin on Medium

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

Episode 3 features William Barnes, President and CEO of the Birmingham Urban League, talking about the work they’re leading across the state of Alabama, the interconnected nature of HBCUs and the Urban League, and much more.

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

Episode 2 features Lisa S. Jones, Founder and CEO of EyeMail, Inc. Lisa is an internationally recognized thought leader who’s reinventing the future of email communications. She’s also a double alumna of Alabama A&M (BS in Logistics & Procurement, MBA) with some serious Bulldog pride!

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University’s weekly one-on-one with the people shaping our world, hosted by Archie Tucker, VP for Marketing, Communication & Advancement.

Episode 1 features Bryan Hicks, Director of Athletics, talking with Archie about the current state of our athletic programs, achievements, football and other fall sports, and what it means to have Chris Paul wearing Alabama A&M Jordan’s.

Start and Go is Alabama A&M University's brand-new weekly podcast.

Archie Tucker (Vice President for Marketing, Communication and Advancement) will host one-on-one conversations with people shaping our world including students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members from across the state and beyond.

Start and Go premieres Wednesday, September 9, 2020 with weekly episodes each Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode and tell all your Alabama A&M friends!