Dillard University has announced that C.J. Bland ‘86, CEO of Minority Professional Network, Inc. (MPN), will deliver the keynote address during Founders’ Day Convocation on Sunday, October 16 at 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will take place in Lawless Memorial Chapel.

The Center for Racial Justice will host an one-on-one interview and book signing with Dave Dennis Sr. ‘68 and Dave Dennis Jr. for their new book “The Movement Made Us: A Father, A Son, and a Legacy of a Freedom Ride”. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 11 at 6 p.m., in room 115 of the Professional Schools Building. 

The Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture will be holding the two-day Rising from the Depths of Slavery: Legacies of Cultural Expression symposium October 28-29, 2022 beginning on the campus at 2601 Gentilly Blvd. in the Georges Auditorium. Other activities will take place off-campus. The keynote speakers will be Dr. Peggy Brunache in conversation with Dr. Ibrahima Seck.

This week, Tiffany Murphy joined Dillard University as director of residential life. Murphy brings to Dillard more than ten years of experience in housing operations and residential education. Previously, she worked both as an assistant area coordinator and as an assistant director of housing and residence life for a community of more than 2,000 students at the University of Memphis.

Dillard University has partnered with Resource Bank to launch the Resource Bank Scholarship Fund for undergraduate students who are pursuing a business degree. Resource Bank has committed a total of $16,000 in scholarship funds to the University. Each academic year, two qualifying students will be awarded $1,000 in scholarship funds each semester.

Dillard has formed a partnership with PAN Communications, a leading integrated marketing and public relations firm for business-to-business technology and healthcare brands. The partnership is part of PAN’s new BIPOC fellowship program to offer HBCU students a deeper understanding of the integrated marketing and public relations profession in the B2B technology and healthcare industries. The initiative, which is called PAN P.R.E.P. (Public Relations Experience Program), is part of the firm’s PAN Portal Program which creates opportunities for undergraduate senior students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees in communications or journalism in an effort to deliver hands-on work experience in a fast-paced agency setting.

President Rochelle L. Ford has announced, effective today, that the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships has moved to the Division of Business and Finance. The move is designed to provide students with streamlined services to more efficiently manage their accounts. The move is also designed to help students identify external funding sources as well as gain a clear understanding of how to apply for institutional and federal financial aid and scholarships.

Dillard University’s Center for Racial Justice will host the Human Trafficking Awareness Conference September 16, 12-5:30 p.m. in the Professional Schools Building. The keynote speaker will be criminal justice advocate Cyntoia Brown Long who spoke to a packed Georges Auditorium at Dillard in 2020. There will also be a panel discussion featuring survivors, 3-4 p.m.

Today, U.S. News & World Report released their annual college rankings, an event highly anticipated annually by high school guidance counselors, prospective college students, parents of high school students and even employers. Dillard University is one of the institutions that views the U.S. News & World Report rankings, in addition to other college rankings, as an opportunity to expand the national conversation about a hidden area where institutions of higher learning such as Dillard provide a wealth of value–community.

Dillard University has announced that Michelle R. Smith ‘98, Ph.D., M.P.H. has been named director of the University’s Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center (MHHERC), effective September 6. 

Dillard University’s Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center launches its lecture series with the first Black Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, on Tuesday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. in Georges Auditorium. 

Dillard University joins the community in celebrating the life of late mayor Moon Landrieu who passed away at the age of 92. Born Maurice Edwin Landrieu, his political career was marked by his support of civil rights and the pathways he created for African Americans to gain political power throughout the city of New Orleans. Landrieu was New Orleans’ mayor from 1970 to 1978, and he was succeeded by the city’s first African American mayor, Ernest “Dutch” Morial.

Dillard University’s director of human resources, Brittney Richardson, has been selected as an honoree in CityBusiness’ 2022 Women of the Year and Nonprofit Organizations. The Women of the Year award recognizes women whose success and contributions in the community have moved the region forward. 

President Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., APR, has appointed Dorian Williams, dean of the College of Business, and Blair Condoll, assistant professor of political science, to serve as faculty athletic representatives and co-chairs on Dillard’s Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. The committee works in an advisory capacity to ensure that Dillard’s athletes meet all academic eligibility requirements set forth by the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Dillard University President Dr. Rochelle L. Ford has named Mablene Krueger interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Krueger will be leaving her position as the vice president of strategic planning and partnerships at Roosevelt University in Chicago. With over 50 percent of students identifying as African American or Latinx, Roosevelt serves over 4,000 students. Krueger also served as president and provost of Robert Morris University-Illinois which is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. 

The Dillard University Mock Trial Team is featured on three episodes of the “Class Action” podcast, a twelve-part documentary series that followed four teams throughout the 2021-2022 season. Dillard Mock Trial is featured on episodes 5 (“A Ram in the Bush”), 9 (Survive and Advance) and 12 (“The Promised Land”). The podcast followed Dillard Mock Trial during their historic 2021-2022 season run. The team’s journey is chronicled through the voices of DeAndré K. Bell II ‘23, Lejeanne Shelton ‘22, Caitlin Douglas ’23, team president Amaya Ronczyk ’22, and coaches Adria Kimbrough and Judge Kern Reese.

At Dillard, community service fits like a glove. With part of the University’s mission focused on “cultivating ethical leaders” and with a significant part of Dillard’s value resting in connection, service helps members of the community achieve high standards of self. Two weekends in a row, members of the Dillard community took advantage of opportunities to give back. On August 6, Bleu Devils came together for the Mission Day beautification project. The next Saturday, August 13, the newest Bleu Devils joined each other for the SOAR Day of Service. On Monday the 15th, the Royal Court held a back to school giveaway for their fellow Bleu Devils.

NEW ORLEANS—Dillard University president Dr. Rochelle L. Ford has announced that Dr. Linda J. Bell will step into the role of director of the Department of Athletics. Since 2018, Bell has served as director of compliance and the senior women’s administrator at Fort Valley State University in Georgia. In her role, she is responsible for compliance, internal operations, fundraising efforts, strategic planning  as well as oversight of women’s volleyball, women’s basketball and softball. Fort Valley State is an NCAA Division II institution in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) with 12 sports. Bell is also Fort Valley State’s Title IX deputy coordinator for athletics and a member of the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan steering committee.

NEW ORLEANS–Dillard University president Dr. Rochelle L. Ford has announced that Marion Bracy will be joining the University as the vice president for the Division of Facilities and Real Estate Planning. In his role, Bracy will serve as the chief administrator of facilities maintenance, grounds services, and custodial and housekeeping services. Bracy will begin August 22.

Dr. Yolanda W. Page arrived at Dillard as a first year student in 1987. As is the case for so many other Bleu Devils, Page quickly came to love “Fair Dillard,” and that showed throughout her career. She began her academic career as an English instructor at Dillard in 1994. She also served as chair of the English Department and as assistant dean of humanities. After leadership stints at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Page returned to Dillard in 2013 to serve as vice president for academic affairs. The Shreveport native has announced that she will be moving on from Dillard to take over as provost at Savannah State University, the oldest institution of higher learning in Savannah, Georgia and the oldest public HBCU in the state.

NEW ORLEANS — Dillard University will host a “Day of Service: A Gentilly Communiversity Project,” on Saturday, August 13, at 9 a.m., in Pontchartrain Park. Over 400 incoming freshmen will conduct community service projects that will consist of community gardening, distribution of food boxes, and a tour and cleanup of Pontchartrain Park, which was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The community outreach activities are part of the University’s SOAR new student orientation.

NEW ORLEANS—Dillard University is inviting all students, alumni, stakeholders, community members, faculty and staff to be a part of “Mission Day: Campus Beautification,” which is an inclusive effort to embellish the “Jewel of Gentilly”. The event will take place on Saturday, August 6 from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.