Forbes Names Howard University as the Top HBCU in the Nation
(From Howard University Newsroom)
WASHINGTON – Forbes magazine has recognized Howard University as the #1 historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the nation, according to its 2024-2025 America’s Top Colleges rankings.
The annual list showcases 500 schools producing “successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt.” The colleges were ranked based on return on investment, average student debt, and outcomes for graduates. The publication also considered freshman-to-sophomore retention rates, on-time graduation, and alumni salaries.
In addition to its ranking as the top HBCU, Howard was also ranked among the top 100 colleges in the northeast (#95). Other HBCUs on the Forbes list include Spelman College, Morehouse College, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Hampton University.
The Forbes ranking comes as Howard University continues to grow its groundbreaking programs amid a surge in enrollment. Last month, the University accepted a record-breaking $175 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies to support its College of Medicine, public health initiatives, and education of health professionals of color. The University is also home to the first U.S. Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Center at an HBCU, funded through a $90 million grant from the U.S. Air Force to conduct research on technological systems and artificial intelligence. Additional research centers have put the University at the forefront of thought leadership in fields including microchip design and validation, journalism, the humanities, disease research, data science and cybersecurity, nanotechnology, health and wellness, business, civil rights, and gender studies.
FEATURED ARTISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS
Christina Harley
Christina Harley is a proud Bruin and a graduate of UCLA’s Theater Arts program. She was very active in the African Student Union at UCLA where she co-wrote, co-produced, and performed in the program “Ebony Suite: A Tribute To Black Music and Dance.”
After graduation, Christina began writing and performing with a sketch comedy group called “Black Women In Comedy” which performed at the Tsunami Theater in Los Feliz, California.
Soon after her work with BWIC, Christina wrote her full-length play, “The Dreamers:Resurrection City,” which centers on an African-American family in a small community on the outskirts of Memphis Tennessee, and begins on April 4, 1968, the day Dr. King is assassinated. Each character of this multi-ethnic cast is confronted with the ugly residue of racism and bigotry, as well as their own debilitating personal demons. However, with identifying the “Dream” for themselves that Dr. King, Cesar Chavez, and Rabbi Heschel so embraced, the citizens in the community discover how to set themselves and each other free, and joyfully go forward with their lives.
“The Dreamers” was completed in the Wordsmiths Playwrights Workshop at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, and was selected by the Fountain Theater for their program, “No Ordinary Flowers-A Festival Of Readings,” celebrating works written by African- American women. “The Dreamers” was then produced through a grant presented by the City of Inglewood. The Dreamers was later produced at the Chicago ETA Theater Arts Foundation, which ran concurrently at Los Angeles’ Zephyr Theater. The LP production starred Emmy Award winning Glynn Turman, Vanessa Bell Calloway, and Art Evans.
The LA production was also presented as a special event of “A Season For Non- Violence,” a yearly festival that recognizes the contributions of artists in the Los Angeles Community that emulate the messages of both Dr. Martin Luther King and Gandhi.
Chicago’s Black Theater Alliance honored “The Dreamers” with a total of eleven nominations, and presented it with the Ira Aldridge Play of the Year Award, and Christina with the Lorraine Hansberry Best Writing of an Original Play Award. “The Dreamers” is published by Smith & Krause Publishers of New York.
A staged reading of “The Dreamers” was presented at the Screen Actors Guild Foundation that starred Glynn Turman and Loretta Devine and was directed by Bill Duke.
On August 29, 2020, the City of Culver City presented a reading of of the play on Culver City TV to commemorate Dr. King’s March on Washington. Dr. Daniel Lee, City Council Member of the City of Culver City” narrated the reading as well as facilitated the panel discussion.
In addition to being a playwright, Christina also won a fellowship to the USC Guy Hanks Screenwriting Program where she completed her comedy ”Graduating Fifth Grade.” A staged reading of the script was performed at the Writer’s Guild of America in Los Angeles, which was directed by Debbie Allen. Ms. Allen also directed a reading of “Graduating Fifth Grade” at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy that starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Jenifer Lewis, Dawnn Lewis, and Ted Lange. “Graduating Fifth Grade” was later optioned by Emmy Award-Winner Taraji. P Henson.
In addition to “The Dreamers” and “Graduating Fifth Grade,” Christina’s other works include screenplays: “The Dreamers Movie,” “Jesus Who?,” “Plight of the BBW,” and “Her Name Was Lola.” Plays include “Yield Not,” “Eves,” “The Couch,” and “Tina Bug – A One Woman Show.”
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Grambling State University Launches GR2: Grambling Research and Resource Foundation to Power R2 Status and Strategic Growth (from Grambling Website)
Grambling, LA — July 2, 2025 — Grambling State University proudly announces the launch of the GR2 Foundation: Grambling Research and Resource Foundation, a transformative new nonprofit designed to advance the university’s pursuit of R2 (Research 2) classification, deepen its research footprint, and build long-term financial resilience.
The launch of GR2 marks a strategic leap forward as Grambling State prepares to unveil its new institutional strategic plan in 2026. That plan places research, graduate education, and resource development at the core of the university’s next era. GR2 will be the platform that powers these ambitions—mobilizing philanthropy, expanding public-private partnerships, and cementing the institution’s position as a top-tier HBCU for innovation, impact, and opportunity.
“GR2 is the engine behind our next chapter,” said Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr., President of Grambling State University. “It represents not just a commitment to excellence, but a belief in the transformational power of HBCUs to lead in discovery, technology, and equitable access. As we rise toward R2 status, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, smarter, and more sustainable Grambling State.”
About Grambling State University
Grambling State University combines the academic excellence of a major institution with the supportive atmosphere of a close-knit community, creating an environment where students are empowered to become something more. As the first and only HBCU with a digital library, Grambling State continues to break boundaries and expand what’s possible through curiosity, collaboration, and commitment.
Founded in 1901 in Grambling, Louisiana, the university offers 46 undergraduate and graduate programs across a historic 590-acre campus. With nationally recognized athletics, an acclaimed marching band, and vibrant student life, Grambling State is a place where every individual is seen, supported, and inspired to succeed. Our ethos—Where Everybody is Somebody—reflects the legacy we honor and the future we’re building. Learn more at www.gram.edu.
Deepak Kumar Named Associate Provost and Dean of Research at North Carolina Central University (from NCCU website)
Deepak Kumar is Associate Provost and Dean of Research and Sponsored Programs, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute. As director of BBRI, Dr. Kumar serves as the scientific leader of NCCU’s JLC-BBRI research facilities in Durham and Kannapolis, NC (North Carolina Research Campus-NCRC). He is a cancer researcher and has been funded continuously by NIH since his first faculty appointment 15 years ago, most recently via R01 funding to study social epigenomics in prostate cancer and a U01 grant to study epigenetics of prostate cancer disparities. Throughout his career, he has obtained extramural funding in excess of $33 million in grant funds.
Dr. Kumar is also the principal investigator (PI) of the NIMHD U54 RCMI grant and directs the NCCU RCMI Center for Health Disparities Research (RCHDR). At JLC-BBRI, he is charged with providing leadership for a broadly based research portfolio that includes cancer, cardio-metabolic disorders, neuroscience, and nutrition. Dr. Kumar has the responsibility of providing scientific guidance on the planning, direction, and implementation of NCCU’s research enterprise, as well as providing leadership to individuals and teams of investigators in developing a strategic approach for increasing the innovation and competitiveness of research.
As a scientist, he brings expertise in cancer cell and molecular biology, specifically characterizing miRNAs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and stratification. His lab currently focuses on (1) characterizing molecular targets in prostate, breast, and colon cancer; (2) microRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in prostate and breast cancer; (3) characterizing molecular targets and signaling pathways modulated by micronutrients; and most importantly, (4) enhancing minority participation in cancer research through education and training in cancer research at all levels.
Dr. Kumar has mentored many faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and high school, graduate, and undergraduate students, most of whom are from underrepresented minorities. He has more than r 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, 10 patents/applications, and more than 100 presentations. Dr. Kumar joined NCCU in December 2016, and due to his efforts, since then JLC-BBRI has more than doubled its extramural funding. As PI, Dr. Kumar has received the largest non-title III grant in NCCU’s history ($16.3 million/5 years). In addition, he received a $3.2 million 5-year R01 grant to address social epigenetics in prostate cancer disparities. Dr. Kumar has become the NCCU faculty with the largest amount of extramural funding with more than $20 million as PI.
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