NEWS

• The History degree program, created anew in Fall 2008, completed one year of successful program initiation, organization, and recruitment of history majors.  Currently, the program has twenty-five(25) majors officially oriented into the program, with several others waiting to be formally admitted in the system as history majors.  The program successfully matriculated two majors in Spring 2009 – Ms. Alma Heard and Mr. Will Sims.  Ms Heard has been accepted in the Urban Studies program at Tulane University.  She is pursuing her M.A. in Urban Studies.

• We are also pleased to announce that the History program is utilizing the services of one of its ex-graduates, Ms. Connie Dorsey Abdul-Salaam as an adjunct instructor of history at SUNO.  Ms. Dorsey completed her M.A. in history from the University of Northern Iowa.  She teaches world civilization sections for SUNO evening students.

• Our program successfully completed its first on-site self study evaluation by external consultants.  The History program self-study portfolio of information was prepared and submitted by Dr. Sudipta Das.  Two consultants, Dr. Suzanne Marchand (Louisiana State University) and Dr. Learie Luke (South Carolina State University) visited campus on February 4th and 5th, 2010.  They have since submitted reports evaluating the program as a strong and viable one and praising the work and progress made in the History program since its one year inception. The program intends and is working to improve its standing and achievements before SACS accreditation visit in 2011.

• The History Club, with faculty advisor Dr. Jack, continued its very active year in the second month of the year. Following its co-sponsorship of the Caribbean History Abroad Conference at Sea, January 2nd through 10th, 2010, the History Club, spearheaded by President Erica Evans and Vice-President Vimana Braithwaite, gave a clothing drive for the Haitian earthquake victims on Saturday, January 23, 2010, at McDonald’s in New Orleans East and promoted the “Helping Hands Relief Fundraiser Jam” on Thursday, January 28, 2010 in front of the Knight Dining Hall. The February meetings were used to dedicate the Club to community service at a New Orleans school and to continue to assist Haitian victims. Plans are in the works for a possible summer trip to assist the people of Haiti.