But walk with them into the chapel in Moran Hall on the Oakwood University campus in Huntsville, Ala., and they remember the heat and humidity -- and joy -- to be found in the post-war, segregated South.

OU Professor Emeritus E.E. Rogers, at left; current Oakwood Professor James Melancon, and Don Blake, Oakwood class of '53, who holds a doctorate in sociology and is a retired vice president of the Hartford Insurance Group, remember chapel programs in the auditorium of Moran Hall on the Oakwood campus. Melancon and Blake graduated in the auditorium on May 31, 1953. (Courtesy of Oakwood University/Tim Allston)

"I tell you, you won't find a fraternity anywhere in the world that enjoys itself as much as we do," said Melancon, who, at 87, still teaches classes at Oakwood.

Dr. Everett Roper, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems, has been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) Fellows for Innovation and Change. This year's cohort will bring together emerging leaders from a variety of sectors to advance creative solutions and change in education from pre-k to higher education. 

The SEF Fellows for Innovation and Change program is designed to promote innovative research, policy development, and programming to improve education for low-income students and students of color. Through this program, SEF hopes to strengthen the pipeline of talented professionals who will play an important role in achieving improvements in education.

This fellowship will begin in the fall of 2013, and Roper will serve for a term of three years. As a Fellow for Innovation and Change, he will receive:

*  A feature on SEF's website

*  Invitations to attend SEF convenings and contribute to SEF project work

*  Invitations to publish solution-focused research or policy briefs

*  The potential to accelerate important work in partnership with SEF and to address pressing educational challenges with collective power.

  WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 28, 2013)--The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) mourns the loss of Dr. James Hawkins, the former Dean of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC). He passed away on Monday in Macon, GA after a heart attack. He was 64.

Hawkins was a professor and administrator at FAMU for more than 30 years, mentoring scores of journalists among them a former president of the National Association of Black Journalists, Kathy Times, a former national student representative, Georgia Dawkins, and a former national convention chair, Elise Durham.

"Dr. Hawkins leaves behind a legacy of good works through service. He worked to ensure that FAMU students received a first-rate education, gained exposure to journalism and media through internships and other training, and then developed nurturing relationships with colleagues, mentors, and peers as members of the National Association of Black Journalists," said NABJ President Gregory Lee, Jr.

Hawkins graduated from Oakwood College and Ohio State University. He began teaching at FAMU in 1977 as an assistant professor in broadcast journalism. While teaching, he continued reporting for The Associated Press and the Oakland Tribune over the summers. In 1982, Hawkins was named director of the journalism division which became the School of Journalism, Media and Graphic Arts. (...)

"Organizations like NABJ would be nothing without faithful members like Dr. James Hawkins whose love of the organization compel them to do good by others, not for personal gain, but because of the difference it makes," Lee said. "NABJ will surely miss Dr. Hawkins and his sheer generosity of spirit."

NABJ extends condolences to Dr. Hawkins' family, friends, colleagues, and his extended FAMU family.