Spotlight on Excellence
Alcorn State
Becomes a Member of the Wall Street Journal Academic
Partnership Program
Alcorn State University (ASU) is proud to be the first HBCU
to become a member of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Academic
Partnership program. The WSJ Academic Partnership program
helps leading colleges and universities supplement their
classroom instruction with real-world business knowledge.
Alcorn State University’s Master of Business Administration
(MBA) program, an integral part of the School of Business,
provides a quality, continuously improving learning
environment where qualified students from culturally diverse
backgrounds acquire the business knowledge and skills needed
to pursue the career or advanced degree of their choice.
Alcorn’s MBA program is committed to student learning,
faculty development, mission-related research and community
outreach. Students receive the Wall Street Journal to help
them rapidly and successfully transition into a business
mind-set. The curriculum is designed to expose the student
to the broader perspectives needed to effectively manage
change in a globally interdependent, diverse world and
enhance the student’s interpersonal, communication (both
oral and written) and analytical skills necessary for
managers to work effectively in teams and to recognize the
ethical implications of their actions.
What has developed into a stellar and widely sought after
graduate level academic program, the MBA program now has a
new stand alone, state-of-the-art facility from which to
operate. With a first-rate faculty the Natchez campus
provides a new growth industry – Higher Education. The new
facility was dedicated in March 2006. The MBA Program had
been operating in the School of Nursing building, located on
the Natchez campus, for the past nine years. “The
development of the Natchez campus has been a priority”
stated Dr. Clinton Bristow, Alcorn State University
President.
The new facility will provide a safe and pleasant
environment for interactive learning as well as current
technology and library resources for the academic community
and the business community. It will also have an indirect
affect on community colleges in the state of Mississippi.
ASU has articulation agreements with all of the community
colleges in the state by providing community college student
graduates with business classes in their junior and senior
year. Known as the “2 + 2 Program,” a student may attend a
community college of their choice the first two years and
complete the next two years of business at ASU’s MBA
facility.
As a result of the partnership with community colleges,
coupled with the undergraduate and graduate curriculum,
there lies a unique aspect of the MBA program and its’ new
facility. A student from the Copiah-Lincoln Community
College - Natchez could enter the MBA program upon
completion of their undergraduate degree and never leave the
Natchez campus.
The faculty members in Alcorn’s MBA program are graduates of
the nation’s leading MBA and Ph.D. programs, all AACSB
accredited. They include: the University of Alabama,
Oklahoma State University, Florida State University, the
University of Kentucky, the University of Florida,
Mississippi State University and the University of
Mississippi.
“Alcorn State University is a global leader in preparing
diverse students for a global environment, said ASU
President, Dr. Clinton Bristow. ASU is a diversified
university that is composed of students from cultures all
over the world.” As quoted by CNN, December 8, 2003,
“People wise, Alcorn has moved ahead of the class in terms
of its diversity efforts.” “The MBA building signifies
continued growth for Natchez, Adams County and Southwest
Mississippi by having better trained employees returning to
the workplace. Partnerships with the city, county, and
business community helped make the project successful. It’s
your university, states Dr. Bristow.” “Alcorn
is committed to enhancing the diversity of its student
enrollment and is consistently recruiting highly qualified
students who are on the cutting edge. At Alcorn we know you
by your name and your potential (you are not just a person
with an assigned number).”
Dr. Steve Wells, Associate Dean of the MBA program stated,
“My dream is to develop and implement graduate business
programs of high quality. I would like to see Southwest
Mississippi become economically strong and grow so that
young people can stay here, earn a good living, and enjoy a
high quality of life. The new
facility will serve as a hub of economic development in the
Natchez area, providing the academic capacity and the
research necessary to develop and grow the region.
ASU’s MBA Program can provide them with new competencies and
skills needed to be successful in the business world. They
have a golden opportunity here in Natchez to obtain a very
good education, and I would encourage them to take advantage
of the opportunity. The new building is an investment in
the future. The true measure of the quality of any academic
program lies in the quality of the faculty and the
students. ASU’s MBA Program is blessed with both!”
W. Page Ogden, Chairman & CEO of Britton & Koontz Capital
Corporation commented, “Among the characteristics of
successful enterprises is development of a unique approach
to common ways of accomplishing things. Alcorn’s MBA is a
prime example of such uniqueness. MBA programs abound, but
none match the origin, setting, and strategy of the ASU
program. Here, a historically black university has recruited
widely and created a racially diverse program based in an
area of compelling need for the services of its graduates.
In a very short time the program has combined an outstanding
faculty and motivated students from surprising backgrounds.
The faculty and students are just settling into a new
state-of-the-art complex located in a very old Southern city
high above the bluffs of the Mississippi River. Our
company, a publicly traded entity, has already benefited
directly from the program with our Chief Financial Officer
completing his MBA with honors from the program. This ASU
MBA program deserves national attention. It’s definitely
not run of the mill!”
“The future growth of any community depends heavily on
economic development. A major factor in the economic
development of the community is the continued education of
the workforce. We are extremely proud of the location of the
new ASU MBA facility in our hometown of Natchez, MS. This
now allows our workforce to stay at home and be trained and
educated through the Masters Program. Through the strong
working relationship already established between the
Economic Development Authority and ASU, we expect the
facility and community to continue to grow together in the
future. You could not find a nicer and better equipped
facility in which to learn,” quoted W.W. Allen, Jr.,
Chairman of the Natchez Adams County Development Authority.
Beginning in the fall of 2006, ASU’s will be offering a
graduate degree in hospitality and gaming management. ASU’s
students who successfully complete this rigorous program
will earn an EMBA with a specialty in Gaming and Hospitality
Management. This will be a unique program for a very
vibrant and growing industry.
Student Profiles
Spring 2006
Ivan Ozhereliev,
a transfer student from Voronezh, Russia, received his Bachelors
degree from Alcorn State in May 2005 with a remarkable GPA of 4.0.
Being trilingual (he speaks Russian, English and Spanish) with
additional knowledge of several other languages, this
well-traveled individual is probably one of the most multicultural
students on the whole campus. His decision to come to Alcorn was
not only about experiencing exotic settings and warm climate.
“My ultimate goal is like a renowned French writer Marcel Proust
put “not just to change places, but to change the eyes with
which you look at those places,” said Ozhereliev.
Ivan is currently pursuing his graduate degree at Alcorn’s MBA
program in Natchez. He tutors students at the Writing Center and
planning on continuing his education to eventually become a
university instructor.
Fall 2005
Brandon Morgan, a
junior Mathematics major from Oxford, Mississippi, is planning to
graduate in the year 2007. One of the reasons for him to come to
Alcorn was to be with his close friends that he made in LS-MAMP, a
summer bridge program at Alcorn.
Morgan is an excellent scholar, he has been a Presidential and
Dean’s List Scholar since he has attended Alcorn State University.
He is involved in different clubs and activities on campus. These
clubs and organizations are as following: Beaute` Noire (Alcorn’s
Modeling Squad), SIFE (Student In Free Enterprise), Honor Student
Organization, Math and Computer Science Clubs, the Men’s Club, and
currently, Morgan serves as Second Vice President in the Student
Government Association.
After completing his sophomore year, Morgan attended a summer
internship at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in
Washington D.C. There he performed a research to determine which
fluids could stabilize the arterial blood pressure of soldiers who
are wounded during war.
Adrienne White, a senior English
Education major, became Miss ASU in 2005.
“Becoming Miss Alcorn State University was truly the result of the
hard work and dedication of the members of my campaign committee.
They worked rigorously to ensure that the campus knew exactly who
I was and that I would make a great Miss Alcorn. I chose to vie
for the title of Miss Alcorn because I have always admired the
young ladies who have held the title and I view it as the highest
honor, but I also wanted to make a difference and better the
university that is truly close to my heart. In my opinion, Miss
Alcorn State University is the mechanism by which to be a lady of
distinction and also make an impact on campus-life,” said White.
After graduation, White plans to attend graduate school and
receive a doctoral degree in Educational Administration.
Kimberly Morgan, a senior Vocal Music Education major from
Oxford, Mississippi, hopes to become a professional singer and
perform in major productions and performances all over the world.
“I
have had so many memorable moments during my tenure at Alcorn.
From the times being with my friends, to becoming Miss Freshman,
to participating in my very first coronation, to my first SWAC
football game experience, to becoming Miss Capital City Classic,
probating as a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the night of
being elected Miss ASU, to having the President of my university
deliver the most beautiful introduction of me at my very own
coronation crowning, to the overwhelming joy from my peers giving
me a tribute, to the performance at the 55th
Presidential Inauguration, and to the moment I perform as lead for
the major opera, Porgy and Bess along with performers from all
other the world. My college memories are numerous and
unforgettable. I feel blessed and honored to have seen the things
I have seen, been where I have been, and represented as a part of
the things as told,”- said Morgan.
Chavez Carter,
a senior, biology (pre pharmacy) major from Summit, MS, had three
unique and enriching summer research experiences, two in which
were done here at Alcorn. He research immunological research
under Dr. Robert Sizemore and Marta Piva. He worked in the STEM
(Science Technology Engineering Mathematic) program as well as the
MBRS-SCORE (Minority Biomedical Research Support- Support of
Continued Research Excellence) program. This summer he preformed
his research in Hattiesburg MS, at the University of Southern
Mississippi supported by the MFGN- REO (Mississippi Functional
Genomics Network- Research Experience Opportunities).
“Coming to Alcorn
has molded me into the young gentleman that I am today. My most
memorable moment was the day I was elected president of the
Student Government Association. I had never put so much of myself
into accomplishing a single goal before,” said Carter.
Fall 2004, Spring - Summer
2005
Alma Rankin, Fayette,
MS, political science major, graduated in May 2005. She decided to
come to Alcorn to fulfill her mother’s dream.
It was also her dream to become the editor of her college
yearbook. That dream became a reality after years of working on
the Alcornite Staff, when she was chosen as Editor-in-chief of the
yearbook. Rankin had a purpose to completely transform the
yearbook, and give the ASU family a new and exciting way to view
the events from the previous year which would capture not only
their attention but their memories as well.
“Now I am currently preparing to take the GRE examination, and I
plan to apply to graduate school at Kent State University in Kent,
Ohio, during the spring semester to get my master’s degree in
Public Administration. After receiving my MPA, I plan to attend
Florida State University’s College of Law. It is my dream to
someday become a Senator for the United States of America and give
back to the university that gave so much to me,” said Rankin.
Margo McLeod,
a junior, accounting and business administration double-major from
Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada, has a perfect 4.0 GPA. While in
high school she searched for a University in United States,
preferably in the South with a golf team. Alcorn State was a
perfect mach for McLeod, she has got athletic and minority
scholarship here.
McLeod became a second president of International and
Multicultural Student Organization in August 2004. She has a lot
of friends among international students and American students, and
of course she is very close with her golf teammates.
“We are just like family. We spend a lot of time together
practicing, traveling going out for dinners, shopping, celebrating
birthdays, and watching movies,” says McLeod.
She is planning to graduate in May 2007. After that McLeod wants
to get some work experience in accounting before going to graduate
school to work on her MBA. She raises her bar really high looking
at such schools as Harvard, Stanford, and Northwestern University
in Chicago, IL. However, she has all the ingredients for success:
she has perfect GPA, she was picked as this year’s Academic
All-American, and plays an active part in the university and
community life.
Aleksandra
Orlova, a senior, mathematics major from Voronezh, Russia, has
been participating in the Golden Girls dancing squad for almost 2 years.
“It’s a great experience. We travel a lot with the Marching Band.
The most memorable trips were: the one to the Battle of the Bands
in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2003 and to a football game in
Washington D.C., in 2004.” Orlova said.
Her dream is to go to the 5 year Master + Ph.D. program after her
graduation in May, 2005, and to become a college instructor. She
applied to several schools but the one she set her hopes for is
Boston University. She’s got necessary teaching experience
tutoring College Algebra and Calculus at the department of
Mathematics during last semester.
Karl Green, Jr.,
a senior, business administration major, of Fayette, MS, interned
at the Army Field Support Command (AFSC) at Rock Island Arsenal in
Rock Island, Ill.
"My goal is to
learn all I can learn from being here on this wonderful
experience. I work for the Logistics Civil Augmention Program (LOGCAP)
headquarters. This departments is responsible for handling all the
contracts for the government to assure that all the contractors
who are performing work get paid and that the money is available
to pay them. It feels great being able to contribute and help
support our troops who are at war, knowing that we're responsible
for getting them what they need to survive. But most of the
information I work with is classified The government is a
wonderful place to work for because there are so many different
opportunities available in whatever you want to do in life," said
Green.
Ishmael Simmons,
a sophomore, mass communications from Milwaukee, WI, participated
in the 2005 “Stomping on the Yard” Essay Scholarship Contest and
was selected as a finalist.
“Although I didn’t win, I found the contest a challenge for myself
on a personal level. Before coming to Alcorn, I would have never
thought to compete for anything. Since I have been at Alcorn, I
gained the confidence and courage I felt to enter the contest,”
said Simmons.
He is currently a member of the Beaute’ Noire Model Squad here at
Alcorn and have just recently tried off for the Alcorn State
University Cheer Squad. If all goes well then come this fall he
will be on the field cheering the Braves on.
Kimberly
Thornton, a junior, music education major from Detroit, MI,
was recruited to come to Alcorn State University and offered a
full music scholarship. She sings soprano at the Concert Choir.
Thornton was among other Concert Choir members who performed at
the presidential inaugural ceremony in Washington D.C. She enjoys
singing different types of music.
“I like gospel music of course, spirituals, classical, and choral
music,” said Thornton.
She sang solo “If I can help somebody” at The Spring Southwest
Mississippi Writing Conference with the choir Ladies in Order
of the Fine Arts Department.
She is planning to graduate either in Fall 2006 or in Spring 2007.
After graduation she would like to start teaching music somewhere
in the South, preferably in Memphis, TN. Also she is planning to
go back to school to work on her masters.
Lawrence Woods,
Alan Williams and Javeyeta Collier, all from Alcorn State
University were among six students who interned last summer for
the Army Field Support Command (AFSC) at Rock Island Arsenal in
Rock Island, Ill.
Lawrence Woods,
who is a senior, industrial technology major interned in the
Centralized Munitions Directorate, Joint Munitions Command. He
rotated through several different jobs during his experience
there.
“I’m trying to be a project manager,” Woods said while completing
his internship. “That’s my goal.”
In my next move, I want to be an item manger.”
As an item manager, “I know that every day that I come to work,
I’ll be responsible for somebody in the war, and of the soldier
doesn’t get his ammunition, then I fail. That’s important to me.”
Woods also has a desire to deploy to Kuwait sometime in the
future.
One of the things that he likes about the army is the number of
opportunities that are available.
“I definitely would like to work for the army because there are
different avenues that you can take. There are so many programs
that you can go into, and the sky’s a limit.”
Alan Williams,
who is a junior, business administration major, worked with AFSC’s
Contracting Directorate.
“I work with different contractors every day that are doing things
in Kuwait – doing things all across the world. My business
administration background definitely helps me because in the
future I want to be in management,” Williams said.
“This is an experience of a lifetime. Not only am I learning about
the military, nut I’m learning about military life and I’m
learning about civilian life. I am also learning about how
corporate America works.”
Javeyeta
Collier, who is a senior, accounting major, worked with AFSC’s
Contracting Directorate. She evaluated and studied bid proposal
submitted by small businesses and contractors.
“Working for the army – I know I contribute to the soldiers in the
field in the sense that we make sure that the government – the
rates that they are charged, the prices are fair and reasonable.
And we make it possible to have enough money to purchase the
ammunition that they have in the field,” Collier said.
She appreciated the efforts that the program sponsors and command
have made to make students feel comfortable.
Marla Hughes,
a junior, computer science/mathematics major from Liberty, Miss.,
interned for the U.S. Department of Defense in Maryland this
summer.
Hughes worked as a programmer, using various programming
languages, C, C++ and Java. Most of the information she worked
with was classified, she said. This was her third summer interning
there.
Hughes plans to join the Department of Defense in the future as a
full-time employee.
Carla Hughes,
a senior, criminal justice major from Liberty, Miss., interned for
the FBI this summer. She was located in Quantico, Va., doing
research for the behavioral science unit. Hughes also plans to
pursue her further career with the FBI.
Chrystyna Tate,
a senior, technology education major from Chicago, Ill., interned
for the Argonne National Lab and U.S. Department of Energy, the
Offices of Science, located in Darien, Ill.
“We were troubleshooting and studying further development
construction of a Longmuir Through. We made sure that the barrier
and the motor of the through worked correctly,” she said.
In addition to the research, Tate developed an education module
for the same topic.
Trinica Wells,
a senior, political science/pre-law major from McComb, Miss.,
interned at the University of Arkansas the William H. Bowen School
of Law.
“Well, we studied one semester of law school in a month. We also
attended that Arkansas Bar Association meeting, and learned what
the law is like,” Wells said.
Wells was among 25 participants in the program. She was the only
student from the state of Mississippi. She is planning to attend
Loyola School of Law in Chicago, upon her graduation.
Natasha Johnson,
a senior, accounting/finance major from Indianola, Miss., interned
for the FBI’s Finance/Commercial Payments Division this summer.
During her internship, she had a chance to learn about some
financial procedures in the FBI. After her graduation, Natasha
plans to be employed a full-time employee with the FBI, and earn
her Master’s in Public Administration/Economics degree.
Elena Chueva,
a junior, communications major from Voronezh, Russia, has been
playing for Women’s Soccer Team for over 2 years.
“I’ve been into sports all my life. I can’t make it without it.
However, I’ve never really played soccer before I came to Alcorn.
I really enjoy playing and I am also great friends with the girls
in our team.” Chueva said.
Chueva is multi-talented: she works as an on-air announcer at 91.7
WPRL The Gold radio station and maintains her GPA as high as 3.93.
Upon her graduation she is planning to apply to either Law School
or MBA Program in Natchez, MS.
Stephanie
Miller, a freshman, elementary education major from Biloxi,
Miss., is interested in teaching, childcare, business and biology
the most. Miller had a full academic scholarship. She wants to go
graduate school upon completing her Bachelor’s. She has a dream of
opening up her own child care center. She wants to develop a
curriculum for the center, teach kids and also manage the
facility. Having big family and dealing with her younger siblings
inspired her dream. Speaking of family ways, one of the reasons
Miller chose Alcorn State University is that her mother is an
alumnus. She told her daughter that she really enjoyed Alcorn.
“People at Alcorn are very nice, they really make this campus.”
Miller said.
Nathaniel
Hughes, a sophomore, nursing major from Starkville, Miss., is
not only an excellent student with full academic scholarship, but
a distinguished athlete, a “big play” receiver for the Braves, and
a trek runner.
“I had one of my biggest games at Southern during my freshman
year. It was very memorable. We won 36:34. For a moment I felt
like a professional player,” Hughes said.
He was recruited by Coach McKenzie, but even before that he knew
he would come to Alcorn State University to continue “the dynasty”
of his grandparents, parents and many relatives Alcorn State’s
alumni.
Hughes wants to go to a medical school after completing his
bachelors, most likely to the University of Mississippi Medical
Center. However, if an opportunity to pursue a professional
athletics career presents itself he will pursue it.
Brittany
Villard, a freshman, music education major from Chicago, Il is
into music and psychology. She wants to combine these two subjects
in graduate school and to become a music teacher in future.
Villard plays clarinet for the Alcorn State Marching Band for the
concert season, and she is also in the marching band flag court
for the marching season. She is socially active and interested in
different aspects of university life. She is part of college
Democrats on Campus.
“It’s my second semester at Alcorn but I am still learning things
about university life and all the activities. I just found out
about National Council of Negro Women and I want to become a part
of this organization,” Villard said.
Tiffany
Blackmon, a senior, biology/pre-medicine major from Greenwood,
Miss., is a senator of the Alcorn State’s Student Senate.
Blackmon is planning to participate in McNair Scholar Program,
University of North Texas, Fort Worth, this coming summer. The
program she looks at is Research and Biomedical Sciences for
Public Health. Blackmon thinks that this internship will be a
great experience that will prepare her for working on her graduate
degree in Public Health.
“I am interested in working in the community, educating people
from low income areas how they can take better care of their
health. I am still deciding what exactly I want to do. I want some
hands-on experience. That’s why internships are important, they
help you to figure out what you want to do or don’t want to do,”
said Blackmon.
Naheerah King,
a freshman, computer science major from Vicksburg, MS, had
searched through a lot of schools before coming to Alcorn State
University. She came here for a visit and was pleasantly surprised
to see that people on campus actually cared and were interested in
having her here as a student.
“I am glad I didn’t go far away,” said King.
She would like to spend this coming summer interning as a computer
analyst in Vicksburg, she wants to get some experience dealing
with computers, learn to correct computer problems.
King likes to stay busy: she plays saxophone in the Band, and she
is a member of the Student Government Association (SGA). As she
said, she would like to be a part of as many organizations as she
can and definitely join a club that would help her understand her
major better.
