St. Philip’s College (SPC) Professor Emeritus Dr. William C. Davis passed away on March 16, 2022, at the age of 95.

Dr. Davis led a remarkable career as a researcher, food chemist and educator. His career was set in motion when his father took him on a road trip from the family’s home in Valdosta, Georgia, to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. There, the young Davis attended a workshop with George Washington Carver and Henry Ford. Seeing African American professors and scientists in action inspired Davis to become a chemist.

Dr. Davis created instant mash potatoes, soft-serve ice cream and industrial glue. He standardized medical tests for insulin and growth hormones. Working with a St. Philip’s College colleague, the late Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Lanier Byrd, Dr. Davis studied the characteristics of drinking water and co-created the formula for Dasani brand water.

William Conan Davis was born on August 22, 1926, in Waycross, Georgia to Kince Charles and Laura Jane Davis. He graduated from a segregated high school and went to New York City to further his education. He lived with his brother, the late actor and civil rights activist, Ossie Davis, and briefly attended the City College of New York (www.ccny.cuny.edu).

Davis went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Talladega College (Ala.) (talladega.edu) in 1956 and a Master’s of Science in Organic Chemistry from the Tuskegee Institute (tuskegee.edu) in 1958, where he was a George Washington Carver Research Fellow.

He was determined to pursue a Ph.D. in research—an extremely difficult goal for a black student at the time. The University of Idaho (uidaho.edu) was the only institution willing to accept him as a research-track grad student. His thesis was A Study of Sloughing in the Potato Tuber (1965).

With a Ph.D. in hand, Dr. Davis began to explore human health, studying hay fever antigens, learning radioimmunoassay techniques, and spent nearly 15 years as director of United Medical Laboratories in Portland, Oregon. He helped establish a free medical clinic in Portland’s Albina neighborhood before relocating to San Antonio, Texas. From 1979 to 1982, Davis was a research associate in Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (uthscsa.edu) and, in 1983, he became a chemistry professor at St. Philip’s College (alamo.edu/spc).

Dr. Davis served as department chair of Natural Sciences, starting in 1996. He was named professor emeritus upon his retirement in 2009. In 2012, the college science building was named in his honor, the William C. Davis Science Building. On the day of the building renaming ceremony, Dr. Davis awarded the college a $20,000 endowment toward scholarships for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students. 

Davis enrolled in the U.S. Army Officer Training Corps while a student at Talladega College. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he served during the Korean War and was awarded with a Purple Heart in 1953. He will be interred at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio. 

The funeral service, burial, and reception for Dr. Davis are planned for Thursday, April 14, 2022. (Updated 3/31/2022)

Funeral Services

• Colonial Funeral Home
  625 Kitty Hawk Road
  Universal City, Texas 78148
  (210) 658-7037

  Private Visitation: 10:00 am to 10:30 am
  Public Visitation: 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Funeral Service: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Burial

• Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
  1520 Harry Wurzbach Road
  San Antonio, Texas 78209
  (210) 820-3891

Burial: 1:15 pm

Reception

• St. Philip's College
  1801 Martin Luther King Drive
  Sutton Learning Center, Building #10
  Bowden Alumni Center, SLC 3rd Floor
  San Antonio, Texas  78203
  (210) 486-2900

Reception: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

To learn more about the life of Dr. William C. Davis, click here.

  Texoma Hero Program recently announced the recipient of the Texoma Hero Recognition Award for January 2022: Dr. Rev. Charles R. Leslie, Jr. He was honored on Jan. 28 at VFW Post 2772 in Sherman, Texas.  

The Texoma Hero Program was founded by Billy Teague and HOT 107.3 FM in 2015 to recognize local veterans for their continued service to the community after leaving the military. It is also a small way to say ‘thank you’ and pay tribute to all who have and are serving in the armed forces. Dr. Leslie is a veteran of the United States Air Force.

The Philadelphia native graduated from Germantown High School, then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1973. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1977. He then worked on the Alaskan pipeline. He was owner of a woodworking business, Leslie’s Custom Designs, when he decided to pursue education.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and Pastoral Ministries from Alaska Bible College. He moved to Texas in 1986 and earned a Master’s Degree of Theology in Bible Exposition and Urban Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1992. He was awarded, Who's Who of Universities and College.

He began missionary work in Kenya in 1987. He earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Global Missions from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky in 2018.

For the last 35 years, Dr. Leslie’s passion for missionary work has led him to several African countries: Kenya, Cameroon and Burundi; and to Guyana in South America, and Puebla, Mexico.

He’s done mission work in Uganda for 19 years. Today, as CEO of Mission Global Fellowship, he leads mission teams to Uganda. His focus is to mobilize the body of Christ into missions, while teaching and training.

Dr. Leslie has pastored for 18 years and taught at Southern Bible Institute & College (Dallas) for 15 years. He led the first mission team from that school. He served on several local boards including Sherman School Board, Dr. Al Hambrick Basketball Foundation, and Sherman Education Foundation.

He worked for Grayson College in Denison, Texas, as an enrollment and academic advisor and retired after 12 years. He began the college’s outreach and recruitment of African American students along with the retention program (Men of Distinction) for all men at the college. He was responsible for the starting the Black History Program at Grayson College in 2013.

Dr. Leslie currently serves as the assistant pastor at New Birth Cathedral of Praise. He serves as VP of the Sherman Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (SIMA) and serves on several boards, including Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE), CAPRO USA (as a mission mobilizer and a board of trustee member), Heart for Ghana Mission and the Grayson Crisis Center in Sherman.

Isaac Rowe, a former member of the TABPHE Student Chapter at Texas State Technical College in Waco, was recently honored as the 2021 recipient of the NAACP Austin Branch 56th Annual Dewitty/OvertonFreedom Fund "Outstanding Leadership" Award. 

Rowe is CEO and founder of The Man In Me, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support men and guide them towards a responsible manhood and fatherhood.

William Buster of Asheville, N.C. will provide the keynote address at the TABPHE State Conference on Monday, Feb. 28 at 12:30 p.m.

This year's conference, which runs from Feb. 28 to March 2, 2022 will be held in Austin, Texas, at the beautiful Kalahari Resorts & Conferences, north of the city. 

Conference attendees who book rooms in December 2021 can enjoy the popular destination at a special TABPHE room rate of $149. 

The African-themed resort includes an indoor waterpark, a variety of eateries and adheres to contemporary safety protocols. It is located within driving distance of the airport, shopping venues, restaurants and Austin city limits. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE. 

William Buster leads the Dogwood Health Trust Foundation’s Education work and Racial Equity investments. He ensures that Dogwood repeatedly lives up to its commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. William provides oversight for the Foundation’s grantmaking and program related investment strategies, which includes leading the design, development, delivery and evaluation of Dogwood’s work. He also provides oversight to ensure grants and program related investments match the strategic direction established by the Board and ensure that programs are achieving the desired outcomes.

Prior to joining the Foundation, William was the Executive Vice President of Community Investments at St. David’s Health Foundation in Austin, Texas. Before that, he was Owner and Lead Consultant for Common-Unity Philanthropic and Nonprofit Advisors. He worked in a variety of positions, including Director of Mississippi and New Orleans Programs and Advisor to the President on Men and Boys of Color during nine years with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Prior to joining the Kellogg Foundation, William was a Program Officer for the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, where his focus included the Appalachian region.

William holds a Master of Arts in Policy and Practice of Development, University of New Hampshire as well as a BA from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University and an Executive Education certificate in Mastering Negotiation from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

More on William Buster: 

Video: https://vimeo.com/124993134

Video: https://fb.watch/8t_tJNJ-4b/

Governor Greg Abbott today announced the State of Texas will invest an additional $94.6 million in federal funds to support higher education. Last year, the Governor allocated $175 million to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to support Texas higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This additional funding in higher education is an investment in job opportunities, our state’s economy, and a brighter future for Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “As we move forward from the pandemic, it is critical that we continue to support higher education to ensure more Texans are trained to face dynamic and unique challenges that will set them apart from others, and make them more competitive, in their field.”

"Higher education is more important than ever to better train and prepare Texans to enter our state’s dynamic post-Covid economy. This funding will help ensure our higher ed institutions are able to equip our students quickly to take their place in the Texas workforce and ensure our global economy continues to prosper," said Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. 

“Investing in our higher education system is the single best way to bolster the workforce that Texas has become known for and accelerate our state’s economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19,” said Speaker Dade Phelan. “We know the value that a post-secondary degree, certificate, or credential can provide in one’s life, and we want that opportunity to be as widely available as possible. This strategic investment will go very far to help return our economy to its former heights and get Texas students the education they need to succeed.”

"Higher education is a crucial component of our economic recovery," Senator Jane Nelson said. "These funds will help students achieve their academic goals and gain access to the opportunities they need to be career-ready."

"The additional funding provided by the Governor's Emergency Education Relief fund provides a pathway for students to acquire the necessary skill sets to pursue meaningful and productive careers and helps ensure that the Texas economy will continue to be a global leader," said Chairman Greg Bonnen.    

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, federal relief funding has been instrumental in helping Texas get back on its feet. I applaud Governor Abbott for directing additional funds to programs that will help Texans get the skills they need to re-enter the workforce after this devastating public health crisis. Texas has, and will continue to have, one of the strongest economies in the world, and it is due in part to the types of educational programs this funding will support. As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, I look forward to working with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Chairwoman Nelson to further addressing the needs of Texans through the allocation of COVID relief funding," said Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 

"This funding is crucial to Texas students' future," said Rep Mary E Gonzalez, PhD. "As we continue our recovery from COVID 19, it is vital that we provide strategic investments that will support student access to higher education, but also meet the needs for a diverse and growing state like Texas."

The federal funds come from Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) dollars that were made available through passage of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

This next round of funding will continue to provide meaningful support to ensure Texas students have the skills they need for tomorrow’s jobs, while bridging access for adults, transfer, and low-income students, and increasing capacity for high-value programs and credentials. This includes:

• $48.1 million to rapidly expand capacity for high-demand and high-value educational opportunities, including $5 million for work-based learning and apprenticeships.

• $28.5 million to accelerate enrollments, support high-potential students, and provide financial aid for critical student populations.

• $10 million to establish the My Texas Future program to provide curated one-stop advising resources to help traditional Texas students and adult learners to connect with higher education opportunities across the state.

• $4 million to expand outreach and engagement of adult learners to meet workforce demands of the state and its employers.

• $4 million to bolster Tri-Agency data information security and accessibility.

“As we transition from pandemic response to economic recovery, a key dilemma our state faces is the significant gap between the skills and credentials many Texans possess, and the needs of employers today and into the future,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller. “This dilemma requires strategic solutions and Texas higher education will play a pivotal role in empowering our state’s talent pipeline. We’re grateful for the leadership and support of Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, Speaker Phelan, and the entire Texas Legislature.”

The Governor’s investment in higher education will help ensure more Texans are qualified for available jobs while providing the necessary aid and supports for critical student populations. This strategic backing of Texas’ students and its workforce will continue to accelerate the state’s economic recovery, improving the lives of Texans.

(Source: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-allocates-additional-94.6m-emergency-education-relief-funding-for-texas-higher-education)

The Honorable Reby Cary, whose legacy as an educator and civil rights champion includes being a founder of Texas Association for Blacks in Higher Education (TABPHE), along with the late Erma Johnson Hadley and the late Ivory Moore. Cary will be honored posthumously on Saturday, Aug. 14, at a ceremony marking the opening of Fort Worth’s Reby Cary Youth Library.

Cary, who died on December 17, 2018, was a tireless voice for civil rights who carried his message as a public school teacher, college and university faculty member, school board member and member of the Texas House of Representatives.

A graduate of I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Prairie View A&M University. Cary was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for 70 years.

After college, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, becoming of the first African American in Fort Worth to be allowed in the ranks of apprentice seaman. He later became a radioman second class and was assigned to the USS Cambria, AA036 (Amphibious Personnel Attack).

His career in education began at Fort Worth’s Dunbar High School where he was a counselor and taught history and government from 1952 to 1967.

Cary, the first African American faculty member at Tarrant County College, was a member of the original TCC South faculty in 1967. He taught history until moving to the University of Texas at Arlington in 1969 as that institution’s first Black faculty member. In addition to his classroom duties, he was associate dean of student life. He was instrumental in the establishment of UTA’s Minority Student Center in 1972 and the dropping of the Rebel mascot in 1974.

That year also saw him move into politics, winning a spot on the previously all-white Fort Worth Board of Education. After four years in that role, he moved on to the Texas House of Representatives, serving from 1978 to 1984.

The Reby Cary Youth Library is located at 3851 E. Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas.

(Source: news.tccd.edu, Photo courtesy of Tarrant County College)

The USC Race and Equity Center is offering a series of professional learning experiences via Zoom for individuals and partner organizations engaged in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s SD&D ecosystem. Each live, synchronous 90-minute session will be highly interactive and focused on racial equity strategies, solutions, and practical problem-solving approaches. Slide decks, video recordings of the live sessions, and all other related materials will be available within one week following each session.

Registration is required for every session in the series.

Balancing Racial Equity with Other Service Design and Delivery Priorities

Wednesday, August 4, 2021, 10am PT/1pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf1

Embedding Racial Equity into Services, Partnerships, and Network Resources

Thursday, September 2, 2021, 12pm PT/3pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf2

Identifying and Correcting Implicit Biases in Service Delivery, Materials, and Partner Selection

Tuesday, October 5, 2021, 9am PT/12pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf3

Leading Productive, Non-Polarizing Conversations about Race and Racism

Monday, November 1, 2021, 10am PT/1pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf4

Reaching Agreement on Terminology and Racial Equity Language Variations

Friday, December 3, 2021, 9am PT/12pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf5

Understanding the Effects of Racism on Racially Minoritized Students’ Experiences and Outcomes

Friday, January 21, 2022, 10am PT/1pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf6

Recruiting Equity-Minded TA/Service Providers and Partners from Racially Minoritized Groups

Monday, February 14, 2022, 11am PT/2pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf7

Holding Networks and Partners Accountable for Demonstrable Progress Toward Racial Equity Goals

Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 9am PT/12pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf8

Measuring Progress Toward Racial Equity Goals

Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 10am PT/1pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf9

Differentiating Racial Equity Communications to Different Partners and SD&D Stakeholder Groups

Thursday, May 19, 2022, 12pm PT/3pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf10

Systematically Soliciting Input and Feedback from Colleagues of Color Across the Ecosystem

Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 10am PT/1pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf11

Using Disaggregated Data to Develop Customized Solutions for Specific Racial/Ethnic Student Groups

Wednesday, July 6, 2022, 11am PT/2pm ET, Register at https://uscrec.info/bmgf12

TABPHE congratulates Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, named the 13th president of Texas Southern University. She will assume her role on July 1.

“Dr. Crumpton-Young is the leader TSU needs to usher in a new era of greatness. Her vision for TSU will shift our graduates forward on the path toward even greater academic excellence,” said Albert H. Myres, Sr., chairman of TSU’s Board of Regents.

Dr. Crumpton-Young – an established senior administrator, executive and tireless advocate for students – was chosen as the sole finalist following a nationwide search. She will succeed Kenneth Huewitt.

Dr. Crumpton-Young has a distinguished career in higher education, including her most recent post as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. A native of Texas, Dr. Crumpton-Young’s academic career includes teaching and senior leadership posts at Tennessee State University, University of Central Florida, Texas A&M University and Mississippi State University. She served as program director in the Education and Human Resource Directorate of the National Science Foundation and received the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) from President Barack Obama in 2010.

Her leadership at Morgan State led to an increase in cutting-edge research, scholarship and creative activity. She initiated new hiring strategies to diversify faculty, introduced and broadened participation in high-demand academic fields and led initiatives to obtain seven-figure transformative gifts to support student and faculty success, and increased diversity, equity and inclusion.

Dr. Crumpton-Young earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and a doctorate degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University (College Station), and a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee State University. She holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in engineering.

TABPHE congratulates Dr. Mordecai I. Brownlee it, the next president of Community College of Aurora. Dr. Brownlee will assume the presidency on July 15, 2021, succeeding the soon-to-be-retired Dr. Betsy Oudenhoven.

Dr. Brownlee, an inclusive educator who is committed to the intellectual and economic empowerment of diverse communities, brings an impressive resume in advancing student access, expanding student support services, and empowering academic pathways at several public and private higher education institutions, including St. Philip’s College (San Antonio), the University of Charleston in West Virginia, Blinn College District (Brenham), and Houston Baptist University.

Dr. Brownlee rose to the top of a field of impressive candidates during the nationwide search process. The nine-member search advisory committee carefully screened over 80 high quality applicants and conducted open forums to actively engage the community.

“Without a doubt, that candidate was Dr. Brownlee. His impressive background and progressive leadership style make him the best fit to advance CCA’s vision, mission, and values,” said Colorado Community College System Chancellor Joe Garcia.

During his tenure at St. Philip's College as vice president for student success, Dr. Brownlee championed strategic enrollment and student success initiatives that led St. Philip’s to record enrollment and four of the largest degree and certificate awarding classes in the college’s 123-year history.

Throughout his career in higher education, Dr. Brownlee raised millions for student scholarships and academic programs – some of which went to new programs designed to retool individuals to fill high-demand employment opportunities. He has also played an instrumental role in securing several multi-million-dollar capital construction projects.

In his spare time, Dr. Brownlee serves as an adjunct professor at Morgan State University School of Education & Urban Studies and the University of Charleston School of Business and Leadership where he teaches business management, human resources, social justice, and community college leadership. He also dedicates time as a columnist and nationally recognized speaker covering a broad range of critical higher education topics including education technology; financial literacy and student debt; community college innovation; progressive legislation; and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Among his many accolades, Dr. Brownlee was twice awarded the Trusted Leaders Award by the faculty and staff of St. Philip’s College and in 2018 received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award. Recently, EdTech Magazine featured him as one of the 30 most interesting voices in higher education who are shaping the conversation around technology and education.

Dr. Brownlee’s service on community, state, and national boards includes serving as the director of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Community College Institute; Co-Founder of the Rising Leaders Institute for the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE), member of the My Brother’s Keeper White House Initiative in San Antonio, Community College Chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), ApplyTX Advisory Council, and a member of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

The 87th  Texas Legislature concluded its regular legislative session on May 31, 2021. Legislators faced unique and unprecedented challenges this session due to the pandemic and severe winter weather event that created additional obstacles to the traditional legislative process, unforeseen issues with the state’s energy infrastructure, and pressures on the state’s budget.

Although the Legislature grappled with many priority issues facing the state, lawmakers provided important investments in Texas higher education, prioritizing students and policies that will support the state’s economic recovery and long-term economic competitiveness.

Click here to read the THECB Legislative Update.

(Source: THECB)