On February 24, the White House recognized faculty and staff members at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as "Champions of Change," including
R. Rennae Elliott, Ph.D., chairperson of the Communication Department at Oakwood University. Dr. Elliott and the other honorees have worked with students, families, and policymakers to build pathways to graduation at their respective institutions. The event featured a panel discussion moderated by actor and E! News Co-Host, Terrence Jenkins, remarks from Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx.
Elliott currently serves as the chairperson and an associate professor of the Communication Department at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. In addition to classroom teaching and academic advising, she serves as coach of Oakwood's Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) team, a post she's held for over 17 years. Influenced by her mentoring and advising, the team has won two championships and placed in the top four on five occasions. In 2014, HCASC named her Coach of the Year. Elliott's committee posts include the University's Quality Enhancement Plan, Rank and Continuous Appointment, and the Dean's Council.
Other White House honorees included: A. Deloris Alexander, Ph.D., Auburn, Alabama; Abayomi Ajayi-Majebi, Ph.D., PE, Wilberforce, Ohio; Frank A. James, Little Rock, Arkansas; Freddie T. Vaughns, Ph.D., Bowie, Maryland; Gregory Goins, Ph.D., Greensboro, North Carolina; Herbert W. Thompson, Ph.D., Daytona Beach, Florida; J.K. Haynes, Atlanta, Georgia; Robert A. Johnson, Jr., Ph.D, Princess Anne, Maryland; Tanya V. Rush, Baltimore, Maryland; and Tommie "Tonea" Stewart, Ph.D., Montgomery, Alabama.
The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. Click here to learn more about the White House Champions of Change program.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Wednesday, February 25th 2015 at 3:59PM
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