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A monthly newsletter brought to
you by the Howard University Community Association, highlighting
the University's contribution across the District of Columbia and
beyond!
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Commencement 2019:
Kasim Reed Calls Howard University "A Dream
Factory For Our People"
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WASHINGTON – During Howard University’s Commencement
Ceremony on May 11th, Kasim Reed, former Atlanta
mayor and noted Howard alumnus and trustee emeritus, lauded his
alma mater as a “dream factory for our people.”
“Howard was built to be a dream
factory for a people – a place where you can come and be a
pastor, a nurse, a teacher, an engineer, a social worker, a
physician, a scientist, a lawyer, a place where if you had
the grit and the toughness and the intellect, then your lesson
plan could become a dream plan. And that’s what’s happening
today,” Reed told the assembled graduates and their families.
Reed served two terms as the
59th mayor of the city of Atlanta from 2010 to 2018. He earned
his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees and an honorary
Doctor of Laws from Howard University. He applauded members of
the Class of 2019 for their decisions to become a part of
Howard’s rich legacy of leaders.
“We are the place where if you
are an African American lawyer, there is a one-third chance you
graduated from Howard. If you are an African American
physician, there is a one-fifth chance that you went to
Howard. We are a place that has a unique ability to take raw
talent, energy, and grit and weave it into a beautiful mosaic. In
fact, I am looking at it right now,” said Reed.
“Take full advantage of your
physical capacity. I know that as you sit there with your
future ahead of you, you feel like you have all the time in the
world. You don’t,” Reed stated emphatically. “Excellence,
greatness, and passion are where the grind is. Do not
squander your physical capacity to work all day and work all
night when needed.”
This year’s Commencement
Convocation marks the commemoration of Howard University’s
151st graduating class. Howard
University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick said
the ceremony was made possible because of “countless and fearless
leaders” in the past who pursued justice, equality and education. |
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Howard University Researchers Release Manuscript
On Breakthrough
For Antiviral Drugs
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WASHINGTON – Howard University researchers within the Department
of Biology have published a breakthrough manuscript
today on developing broad antiviral drugs that will inhibit
pathogenic viruses from replication. This is a stark
difference from current antiviral drugs that become less
effective as viruses become more resistant. The report, published
by peer reviewed biomedical journal Oncotarget and featured on
the journal cover page, takes a detailed look at the Howard
University team’s innovative approach to isolating antiviral
compounds and the possibility of future drugs that will offer
effective and durable treatment for many pathogenic viruses. As a
proof of concept, the paper detailed the effectiveness of the
drugs against Herpes Simplex Virus-1, a common virus that causes
painful sores on genitals and/or mouth.
"The work of Dr. Ullah and
his research team is a critical breakthrough in the development
of antiviral drugs,” says Provost and Chief Academic
Officer Anthony K. Wutoh. “We anticipate that this work will
ultimately impact the development of medications to treat various
illnesses, including more effective treatments against Herpes
Simplex Virus-1."
Associate Professor of Biology
Hemayet Ullah, Ph.D. leads
the team of student and faculty researchers and identified a host
protein called RACK1, which is often used by pathogenic viruses
for their own replication. “Though the results are preliminary,
they show high efficacy in the lab experimentation. The novelty
of this approach ensures that the drugs will not be only specific
to a single virus but will be effective against diverse
pathogenic viruses that use the same host factor. A number of
human pathogenic viruses are already known to use the same host
factor. What we now need are tests in animal model and in
pre-clinical trials. Hopefully with funding available, we will be
able achieve these goals in 2 to 3 years,” explained Ullah.
Most of the wet lab research
works were completed at the University, citing the modern lab
space inside the Interdisciplinary Research Center as a
facilitator for multi lab collaboration.
To read the entire manuscript, click
here. |
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EAST OF THE RIVER
'WHUR Kings Dominion Kindness
Challenge'
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At a time when so many people
find themselves victims of rude or discourteous behavior, Howard
University Radio (WHUR 96.3) embarked on a campaign
to spur kindness in the DMV.
The radio station asked
fifth graders at schools in the District, Prince George’s
County, and Alexandria to tell us how they go about their day
being kind to others. The responses were
priceless. Here are some of the responses we got to
our 'WHUR Kings Dominion Kindness Challenge'.
-Kindness is about helping
others when help is needed.
-Kindness is being nice and
grateful for what you have.
-Kindness is being fair and
sharing.
-Kindness is picking up
something when someone drops something.
-Kindness means you can help
anybody. Just try.
-Kindness means you have to be
kind to more than one person.
-Kindness means to treat
everyone they way you want to be treated.
Schools submitted two-minute
videos showing fifth graders exhibiting kindness, generosity,
good citizenship, and great character. Their respective school
superintendents chose three schools. Pictured above,
Garfield Elementary in SE, D.C., one of the three
challenge winners.
The 150 student winners received
tickets to Kings Dominion, complete with parking passes,
lunch, and fast passes to avoid long lines at the amusement
park. The teachers received WHUR t-shirts, wrist bands,
and other goodies.
'Maya Angelou Festival'
On June
1, the Sixth Annual Maya Angelou
Festival was held in Ward 7’s Maya Angelou Public
Charter High School (PCHS). The
event featured community-based information and
education programs along with family fun activities,
speakers and multiple health
screenings. Representing Howard were the Howard
University Hospital (HUH), the HUH CARES WIC Family Centers,
the HU Department of Nutritional Sciences, the College of
Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, and the College of
Dentistry. Maya Angelou PCHS is one of the sites for the
Howard School-Based Behavioral Health Care Project. |
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Howard University Cancer Center
Honors Union Temple’s
Rev. Willie F. Wilson |
WASHINGTON – The Howard University Cancer
Center will honor Rev. Willie F. Wilson, the
longtime pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church in
Anacostia, with its “Brother’s Keeper” Award for his leadership
and support of the annual Walk2Win 5K prostate
cancer community walk.
The Howard alumnus will be
honored on June 15 at the first annual Men's Health
Conference: From One Brother To Another A Conversation About Our
Health, presented by the Cancer Center.
“Washington is No. 1 in the
nation in prostate cancer; and it particularly affects African
Americans,” Rev. Wilson says. “We began supporting the walk six
years ago because it was very important to bring about change,
heighten awareness, and raise funds around prostate cancer. The
men in our church are very enthusiastic about the walk each
year.”
Walk2Win The Fight Against
Prostate Cancer (W2W) 5K is a community walk held every June in Washington,
DC. Each year the walk raises $5,000 which is used to support
the Men Take Ten Program which in addition to
education and outreach around prostate cancer, provides
access to free prostate screening for uninsured men and, if
needed, diagnostic testing including a biopsy.
The Men’s Health conference
will feature a panel of experts engaging in a conversation
with attendees about health issues that face men today and what
they can do to overcome them. Men from all ages are encouraged to
attend.
The event will take place June
15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Walter E. Lester Auditorium
at Howard University Hospital, 2041 Georgia Ave., NW.
It is free to public and provides lunch. The Men’s Health
Conference is sponsored by Amerigroup, Bayer and Myriad.
Register for the conference HERE.
Why do we need to fight prostate
cancer, especially in greater Washington, DC?
· Prostate cancer is the most
common type of cancer in men, regardless of race or ethnicity.
· Black men are up to 60% more
likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men of other
races.
· Black men are more likely to
develop prostate cancer at an earlier age and to have aggressive
tumor growth.
· 30,000 men die from prostate
cancer in the US every year.
· The District of Columbia leads
the United States in the number of men diagnosed with prostate
cancer and the number of deaths from prostate cancer.
The Howard University Cancer
Center provides free prostate and breast cancer screening
services to uninsured men and women living in the DC Metropolitan
area.
For more information, call (202)
806-2878 |
Howard University Professor
Appointed To Commission On The Value Of Postsecondary Education
WASHINGTON – Howard University Professor of
Counseling Psychology Ivory Toldson, Ph.D., has been
selected for the Commission on the Value of Postsecondary
Education, a new panel created by leaders of The Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation to take a closer look at the
economic returns of education after high school. Toldson is one
of 30 higher education leaders, business representatives and
foundation experts who will review the value of undergraduate
certificates and degrees regarding where and what students are
studying, how much their education costs, and their post college
earnings.
“With higher levels of scrutiny
of college cost, against the backdrop of a rapidly changing
occupational landscape, it’s time to provide guidance to higher
education leaders and consumers on how postsecondary education
can continue to drive our economy,” explains Toldson.
According to the commission, its
primary goal is to provide useful information to help colleges
and universities take a critical look at their contribution to
economic opportunities for the modern student, and to make
changes in policy and practice to improve their contributions. As
the only panel member representing a Historically Black
Colleges or University (HBCU), Toldson’s research and
knowledge places him in a unique position to speak on the
challenges students of color may face when achieving degrees and
realizing their economic benefits.
“College attainment among
African Americans has the potential to resolve racial gaps in
wealth, however, we must be thoughtful about the connections we
make between a college degree and long term financial success,”
says Toldson. “On the commission, it is important for me to
represent the students who make the greatest sacrifices to finish
college, but also might have the most to gain.”
Within the next year, the
commission will share its findings after exploring options for
gauging the economic outcomes for students earning certificates
and degrees. |
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Founded in 1867, Howard
University is a private, research university that is comprised of
13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120
areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional
degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence
in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes
Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one
Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22
Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American
Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. www.howard.edu
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Howard
University Community Association ph: 202-806-2489 &
202-806-2661
Office
of Off-Campus Housing & Community Engagement ph: 202-806-9216
Howard
University Hospital Community Relations ph: 202-865-4238
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HOWARD
UNIVERSITY
2400 Sixth
Street NW
Washington,
DC 20059
Phone:
202-806-6100
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