Beginning Friday, May 15, the university’s Office of Graduate Studies will launch the May Graduate Education Campaign to waive the graduate application fee for the remainder of the month.

The campaign serves as a boost to promote all that the university’s graduate programs have to offer. Dr. Edmund Buckner, associate provost research innovation and graduate education, praised the university’s program for its outreach and its striving for excellence.

“We have outstanding graduate programs here at Alcorn, and we want to get that message out to our local communities,” said Buckner. “We also want to grow our graduate programs and provide access to advanced training, which could open opportunities for higher-paying careers.”

The idea, according to Buckner, was presented by a Graduate Studies staff member, a suggestion that showcases alignment amongst faculty and staff to better serve its students.

“The idea for the campaign came from Ms. Demetris Reed, a staff member, during one of our meetings.”

Buckner believes that campaigns like this allow the university to express its care for its students and community.

“This is a must because we should build processes and practices that show students that we want them to attend graduate school at Alcorn and that they are valued.”

Prospective students can apply .

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Through this collaboration, Alcorn State has significantly increased its ability to tell the story of its origin since the University’s establishment on May 13, 1871 — making it the nation’s first public land-grant HBCU.

“91°µÍř’s legacy of educational excellence and impact establishes it as a powerful addition to the Getty Images HBCU Program,” said Cassandra Illidge, vice president of partnerships and HBCU Programs at Getty Images.Ěý “Together, we are expanding access to vital historical narratives and ensuring that the stories of Mississippi and beyond are preserved, elevated, and accessible for generations to come.”

That history includes generations of alumni who have gone on to make their mark across various industries and fields.

Prominent alumni include Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach and three-time Super Bowl champion; Dr. Jacqueline “Dr. Jackie” Walters, OB-GYN and reality star; Timon Kyle Durrett, actor; and Donald Driver, former NFL wide receiver.

91°µÍř is also the alma mater of civil rights icons Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams, and NFL great Steve McNair, among others.

Alcorn’s hallowed grounds have also welcomed some of the most celebrated figures in American history, including boxing legend Muhammad Ali and activist Jesse Jackson.

“Through this collaboration with Getty Images, Alcorn’s visibility will increase significantly, showcasing our history and growth as we approach 155 years as America’s first public land-grant HBCU,” said Dr. Tracy M.ĚýCook, president of 91°µÍř. “The world will now have a front row seat to the traditions and excellence that have defined Alcorn State for generations. This is not just about where we have been; it is about where we are going.”

Through this partnership, Getty Images will manage theĚýpost-productionĚýcosts to restore thousands of images from Alcorn’s Archives, including rarelyĚýseenĚýphotographsĚýtracing back to the early 20thĚýcentury, along with video footage fromĚýfootballĚýgames in the 1970s. This funding comes from the company’sĚýĚýprovided by the Getty Family and Stand Together.ĚýĚýThe newĚýarchivalĚýcontent isĚýnowĚýavailable for licensing via Getty Images’ global distribution platform.

Getty Images’ program partners, Adnet Global, Epson America, Inc.Ěýand Denny’s, will support Alcorn with preserving its Archives throughĚýproper metadata application,Ěýscanning equipmentĚýfor the digitization process and student stipends forĚýparticipation in the program.

Alcorn State extends its sincere gratitude to the ASU Foundation, Inc. for their support of this initiative, as well as to ASU University Libraries, Alcorn State Athletics, Dr. J. Janice Coleman, Al Johnson, Samuel Brown, and Jayden Jones for their invaluable assistance with the archival process.

“91°µÍř has a rich legacy and history that deserves to be preserved and shared with the world,” said Maxine Greenleaf, vice president for marketing and communication at 91°µÍř. “As America’s first public land-grant HBCU, Alcorn has stood the test of time, and this partnership ensures that legacy is seen and celebrated for all that it has meant for those who have benefited from its doors being open and for those whose doors it continues to open.”

Discover 91°µÍř’s archivalĚýandĚýcontemporaryĚýimagesĚýon gettyimages.com,ĚýĚýAndĚýfor theĚýlatest video clipsĚýfrom Alcorn, visitĚý

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Ceremonies were held in the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex on the Lorman campus.

The morning ceremony honored graduates from the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and the School of Nursing, alongside the returning Golden Class of 1976. The afternoon ceremony recognized graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, and the School of Education and Psychology.

An 91°µÍř graduate celebrates receiving her degree.

More than 86 members of the Class of 1976 returned to campus to mark 50 years since their own graduation.

“We are pleased to have over 86 graduates of the class of 1976 to return home,” said Dr. Marcus Ward, senior vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation. “We celebrate you and we thank you.”

The class presented an endowment check of $138,463.98 and counting to the university.

91°µÍř President Tracy M. Cook and Dr. Marcus Ward, senior vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation, accept a $138,463.98 endowment check from the Golden Class of 1976 during the 2026 Spring Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 9, in the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex in Lorman, Mississippi.

Avantavis Carter, a senior education major from Hazlehurst, Mississippi, and the 68th SGA president of 91°µÍř, introduced the commencement speaker.

Atty. Pelicia Hall, a 1997 Alcorn State graduate, delivered the commencement address at both ceremonies.

She currently serves as president of the 91°µÍř National Alumni Association, a position she has held since January 2025, and was inducted into the ASUNAA Hall of Honor in May 2025.

Hall’s roots at Alcorn run deep. Her late father, Perry Everett and her mother, Patricia Everett, are both 1970 Alcorn State graduates. Her brothers are also alumni.

In March 2017, Hall became the first woman appointed commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. She served through January 2020, focusing on rehabilitation and reentry programming.

91°µÍř President Tracy M. Cook and Provost Joyce Buckner Brown present commencement speaker Pelicia Hall with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the 2026 Spring Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 9, in the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex in Lorman, Mississippi.

Before that appointment, she served as chief of staff for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, lead counsel for the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and special assistant attorney general in the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

She currently serves as executive vice president and chief regulatory officer for ViaPath Technologies.

Hall holds a Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law and brings more than 20 years of legal experience to her work.

Hall challenged graduates to embrace three principles — leave with purpose, practice courageous compassion, and commit to lifelong learning.

“Your degree will open doors for you,” she told graduates. “But your integrity determines whether those doors stay open.”

She closed with a charge rooted in Alcorn’s mission.

“Go forward knowing that Alcorn has prepared you not just to make a living, but to make a difference.”

During the ceremony, Hall was bestowed an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from 91°µÍř, the institution’s highest honor.

Nigel Caesar of Mendenhall, Mississippi, receives the 2026 Student Award of Excellence during 91°µÍř’s Spring Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 9, in the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex. Pictured from left are Dr. Marcus Ward, senior vice president for institutional advancement; President Tracy M. Cook; Provost Joyce Buckner Brown; Caesar; ASU Foundation Board Chairman Dennis Thomas; and School of Business Dean Antwon Woods.

Dennis Thomas, chairman of the ASU Foundation Board of Directors, presented the Student Award of Excellence to Nigel Caesar of Mendenhall, Miss.

As part of his honor Caesar was presented a plaque and a $5,000 award from the ASU Foundation.

Caesar is a Bachelor of Business Administration graduate who maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his time at Alcorn.

A four-member faculty and staff committee selected the award recipient based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, special recognition, awards and a written essay.

“Nigel has distinguished himself as a well-rounded leader,” Thomas said. “His achievements include serving as a Thurgood Marshall College Fund Ambassador, member of the Dean’s Ambassadors Council, vice president of the Real Estate Club and president of the Investment Club.”

Caesar is also a founding contributor to both the Investment Club and the Real Estate Club and regularly hosted corporate and government executives for the Dean’s Speaker Series.

He was named Alcorn’s William Winter Scholar in February 2026.

As a musician, Caesar performed euphonium and served as band captain and first-chair section leader of the brass section in the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band.

Upon graduation, he will begin his career with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the insurance brokerage industry.

The 91°µÍř National Alumni Association presented its 2026 Alcornite of the Year award to Ralph J. Holloway of Suffolk, Virginia.

The honor is the association’s highest, recognizing alumni who have achieved distinction through exceptional contribution to international, national, state or community welfare.

Holloway serves as senior benefits manager at ADP and brings more than 14 years of experience in human capital management.

He serves as vice president of the Alpha Phi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and as second vice president of the 91°µÍř District of Columbia Alumni Chapter.

As president of the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Club, Holloway led the fundraising effort that raised $62,000 for the band’s participation in the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

He also serves as secretary of the G.W.C. Brown Legacy Education Fund, which awards $21,000 annually in scholarships to Black youth in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

Holloway earned his Bachelor of Arts from 91°µÍř.

91°µÍř President Tracy M. Cook and Dr. Marcus Ward, senior vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation, congratulate Andre Young, a member of the returning Golden Class of 1976, during the 2026 Spring Commencement ceremony.

President Cook recognized five members of the Golden Class of 1976 whose careers reflect the breadth of Alcorn’s legacy.

Jimmie Giles, named the class’s distinguished member, played 13 NFL seasons from 1978 to 1989, recording 350 receptions, 5,084 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection,1980–1982, 1986, and is a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor. Giles was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Col./Dr. Martha McRavin-Oliver became the first female Alcorn State alumna appointed commander and professor of military science for the university’s Army ROTC program in 1999. During her four years at Alcorn, she commissioned 8 to 10 cadets annually as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army and managed a Department of the Army budget and equipment resources valued at more than $2 million. She retired from the U.S. Army in 2006 after 34 1/2 years of service at the rank of colonel. She currently serves as special assistant to the president and to the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Jackson State University.

Stanley B. Harvey, a native of Port Gibson, Mississippi, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Alcorn State before going on to a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy. In 2016, he was appointed deputy hydrographer of the Navy on the Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command staff, representing U.S. Navy hydrographic interests through international partnerships and liaison with the International Hydrographic Board. He also holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

Major Frank Branch retired from the U.S. Army in 1995 after 19 years of service, including assignments in Korea and Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Storm. He then joined Jim Hill High School in Jackson as senior Army instructor for the JROTC battalion, where he became known for producing what he called “million-dollar babies”, students who earned millions in college scholarships. Under his leadership, Jim Hill accumulated more than $139.9 million in scholarships. His battalion has donated more than 193,000 hours of community service since 1995. Branch has been inducted into the 91°µÍř National Hall of Honor and was named the No. 1 senior Army instructor out of 1,645 nationally. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from 91°µÍř.

Lillian Theresa Harness Brady built a career defined by trailblazing firsts in corporate America. She became the first Black employee to rise to a senior manager position in accounting and finance at Lockheed Martin, overseeing a budget of more than $1 billion. She later became the first Black plant controller at Weyerhaeuser and went on to serve as corporate controller at Neel-Schaffer Engineers and Planners — again as the first Black employee to achieve that level of seniority at the firm. After more than 37 years in the corporate world, Brady retired in 2016 and opened her own accounting firm to provide professional support to small minority-owned businesses.

He also highlighted retired Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders as the first female elected SGA president at Alcorn State. In addition, Sanders was the first female circuit judge in the state of Mississippi.

“To the newest graduates of 91°µÍř, I wish you great success and Godspeed,” said President Tracy M. Cook.

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Ebenezer, Mississippi, native Dae’Brion Wade will receive a bachelor’s degree in agriculture/environmental science during the university’s spring 2026 commencement on Saturday, May 9. Upon graduation, Wade will begin his career as a loan officer with the United States Department of Agriculture in Greenwood, Mississippi.

Securing the job is a significant accomplishment for Wade.

“It feels great to begin my career so soon after graduating,” Wade said.

Agriculture has been part of Wade’s life since childhood. His father and grandfather played integral roles in his early development in an agricultural setting.

“I was born into a family with agricultural experience,” Wade said. “Growing up, my dad had cows and horses that I helped maintain, so naturally, seeing him handle the animals made me want to try it out.”

That early exposure, combined with what he learned as an Alcorn student, led to his initial opportunity as a student intern with the USDA.

Wade was able to put his knowledge to the test, ultimately leading to a full-time role.

“I had a great experience during my time as a student intern,” Wade said. “The job was hands-on. I got to visit farms and learn how farmers managed their cattle, chickens and equipment. I also had the opportunity to assist with loan processing, which provided valuable knowledge for my full-time position.”

As Wade prepares to leave Alcorn, he reflects on his journey and how his time at the university has accelerated his personal and professional growth.

“I’ve grown so much since enrolling here. The knowledge my professors and mentors have instilled in me has prepared me for my upcoming career and life after college.”

Creating meaningful connections with peers is among the many highlights Wade will take from his experience.

“There’s so much I enjoyed about being a student at Alcorn. The university has an amazing environment, which makes it easy to connect with others. I’ve met people from all over the world here on campus. I always felt at home whenever I was on campus.”

As for earning an Alcorn education, Wade’s sentiments are simple but profound:

“It feels unbelievable.”

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Gregory, a Jackson, Miss. native, joins Alcorn after serving as associate professor of graduate education and director of Ed.D. doctoral studies at Belhaven University.

Her career spans every major level of public schools from second grade teacher to elementary and high school administrator.

“I was drawn to 91°µÍř because of its legacy of preparing educators and leaders who make a meaningful impact in their communities,” Gregory said. “This role allows me to bring together my K–12 and higher education experiences to strengthen programs, support faculty, and positively influence students.”

As dean, Gregory oversees academic programs in education, health and physical education and recreation, and psychology.

Her immediate priorities include strategic faculty hiring, increasing enrollment across undergraduate and graduate programs, and improving student pass rates on licensure examinations.

She has also set her sights on launching graduate level psychology programs and an Ed.D. doctoral program.

“I have been intentional about listening, learning, and taking strategic action,” Gregory said. “Most importantly, I’ve felt a genuine sense of connection and purpose in this role. Alcorn truly feels like home.”

Gregory said her years in K–12 schools inform every decision she makes about curriculum and faculty development.

She expects Alcorn graduates to enter the workforce ready to manage classrooms, use data to guide instruction and demonstrate the professional conduct that sustains careers. These are what she calls the soft skills that travel across all professions.

“Treat students like they have your last name,” Gregory said, crediting advice from her mother as the foundation of her professional philosophy. “When we approach our work with that mindset, there is nothing we wouldn’t do to ensure students are supported and successful.”

Gregory said expanding graduate offerings will deepen the school’s contribution to Alcorn’s broader mission of community leadership. She envisions a school where working professionals can return for advanced degrees, micro-credentials and endorsements long after earning their first diploma.

Gregory earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Jackson State University and a Master of Education in elementary education from Belhaven University. She also holds an educational specialist degree in school administration and supervision and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership, both from Delta State University.

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The event has been hosted annually since the early 2000s. Since 2018, it has joined with Mississippi Association of Broadcasters Day and grown to include a Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society Induction Ceremony, a panel discussion featuring representatives from several of the state’s leading broadcast news and radio outlets, and a Media Day Awards Luncheon.

Maxine Greenleaf, vice president of marketing and communication at 91°µÍř, delivered the keynote address.

Drawing from nearly two decades of experience in higher education, Greenleaf has led communications and marketing teams at all three of Mississippi’s public four year HBCUs — 91°µÍř, Jackson State University and Mississippi Valley State University.

Maxine Greenleaf, 91°µÍř vice president of marketing and communication, speaks at the 2026 Mass Communications Media Day.

Greenleaf challenged students to set themselves apart in an increasingly competitive job market.

“I am convinced many of my experiences would not have happened anywhere else but an HBCU,” Greenleaf told the audience. “I have been in rooms I could only dream of thanks to these institutions.”

Greenleaf began her address with a media law lesson rooted in a high profile defamation case. She reminded students that not verifying information before publication carries legal and professional consequences.

She then pivoted to a candid personal testimony, one that traced a non linear path from Tougaloo College to television reporting to the executive ranks of HBCU higher education, to underscore a theme she returned to throughout her remarks.

“Your path will not always be a straight line,” she said. “You will have bumps in the road along your journey. You will have to pivot and adapt. How will you respond when challenges arise?”

Citing recent federal labor data, Greenleaf noted that the share of unemployed Americans who are new workforce entrants reached a 37-year high in 2025, making the question of professional differentiation more pressing than ever for graduating seniors.

“I completed three unpaid internships before I landed a paid internship,” Greenleaf said. “I took on other assignments to fine tune my skills so I could enhance my resume. How will you set yourself apart from the competition?”

Greenleaf closed her remarks by urging students to lean on their communities and embrace the expanded landscape available to today’s graduates.

“It took a village to help me get to where I am,” she said. “No one travels this road alone. Never be afraid to ask for help.”

TheĚýmediaĚýpanel drew professionals from across the Mississippi broadcast landscape, offering students direct access to working journalists, radio executives andĚýmediaĚýdirectors. Participants included Lee Eldridge, WJTV; Malcolm Innis, WTYJ; Lance Fuller, iHeart; Jon Pollard and Carly Winter, WDAM; RaMona Alexander, FOX40; Keaundria Milloy, WDAM and Alcorn alumna; Amanda Fontaine, executive director of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters; and Crystal McDowell, One Voice.

Alcorn State mass communications students celebrate with trophies and certificates at the 2026 Media Day Awards Luncheon in Lorman, Miss.

Toni W. Terrett, Esq., assistant professor in the Department of Mass Communications, credited the event’s longevity to the consistent generosity of industry partners.

“We are so thankful for the members of MAB and otherĚýmediaĚýprofessionals taking time out of their busy schedules to share their insight with our students,” Terrett said. “MediaĚýDayĚýprovides a unique learning and networking opportunity. Over the years, many students have left the event with job and internship offers. It is an invaluable experience.”

The Lambda Pi Eta Induction Ceremony, held from 9 to 10 a.m., welcomed one new member into the national communication studies honor society. Layken Meadows, a graduating senior from Amory, Miss., was inducted into Lambda Pi Eta. The MAB panel discussion followed from 10 to 11:30 a.m., with the awards luncheon concluding the program from noon to 1 p.m.

TheĚýMediaĚýDayĚýAwards Luncheon recognized 13 students for their contributions to the department’s studentĚýmediaĚýoutlets. Award recipients and their honors are as follows —

Kenaysia Stanton, junior, Pascagoula, Miss.Ěý— Best Student Radio Show, Entertainment Editor

Parys Ward-Wheeler, sophomore, Atlanta, Ga. — Advice Column Editor, Best Overall Student Interviewer

Michael Williams II, junior, Harbor City, Calif. — Most Improved Radio Show

Asia Windham, sophomore, Collins, Miss. — Staff Writer, Best Diverse Radio Show

Quashondra Addison, graduating senior, McComb, Miss. — Staff Writer

A’Zariannne Johnson, graduating senior, Minden, La. — Lifestyle Editor

Lillian Cogdell, sophomore, Sumter, South Carolina — Poetry Editor

India Stenson, junior, Tallahassee, Fla. — Sports Editor

D’Anthony Lilly, sophomore, Brookhaven, Miss. — Staff Writer

Landon Badon, sophomore, Hattiesburg, Miss. — Staff Writer

Alanna Johnson, freshman — Word on the Street Editor

Naleah Fullilove, sophomore, Aurora, Colo. — Entertainment Editor

Demetrion Duvall, sophomore, Akron, Ohio — Staff Writer

Jamyiyah Cotten, senior, Jackson, Miss. — Human Interest Editor

Johnathan Stewart, senior, Virginia Beach, Va. — Editorial Editor

Greenleaf, a native of Itta Bena, Miss., began her career in communications as a weekend anchor and reporter at WXVT, a CBS affiliate in Greenville, Miss.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Mississippi Valley State University and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication with a concentration in public relations from Kent State University.

Join the next generation of media professionals. Learn more about Mass Communication at 91°µÍř at .

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Dr. Girish Kumar Panicker honored among 16 scholars at inaugural Global Malayalee Festival in Kochi, India

An 91°µÍř professor whose conservation research reaches all 193 United Nations member countries has received an international honor from India’s Malayalee community for his contributions to agricultural science.

Dr. Girish Kumar Panicker, a professor of Plant and Soil Sciences and director of Conservation Research at Alcorn State, received the 2026 Global Ratna Jewel Award for Agricultural Science at the inaugural Global Malayalee Festival, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kochi, India.

The Malayalee Festival Federation, a nonprofit organization registered in India, organized the two-day event as a gathering for Malayalees from around the world to celebrate global achievements, strengthen community bonds, and channel diaspora expertise toward Kerala’s development.

Business leaders, professionals, cultural figures, and community champions attended from across the globe.

A highlight of the festival was the presentation of the Global Malayalee Ratna Awards, honoring 16 distinguished Malayalees for contributions across business, science, engineering, finance, technology, politics, literature, arts, culture, and community service.

The award was presented to Panicker by Ambassador Dr. T.P. Srinivasan.

“Malayalees have excelled in every corner of the world,” said Andrew Pappachen, CEO of the Malayalee Festival Federation. “Our goal is to create a platform where ideas, investments, and innovations can flow freely for the benefit of our community.”

Panicker is an Alcorn alumnus who joined the university’s Center for Conservation Research in 1992 as a graduate student and has directed the program for more than three decades.

“It is an honor and privilege to acknowledge Dr. Panicker for this award,” said Dr. Dexter Wakefield, dean of Alcorn’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. “The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences proudly acknowledges this achievement and the global impact it represents. It is not only a testament to a lifetime of unwavering dedication to farmers and conservationists across continents, but also a reflection of the transformative work cultivated here at 91°µÍř.”

Established in 1988 through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the center has built the world’s largest C-factor, cover and management, database for horticultural crops.

The database covers 45 crops and more than 140,000 readings, representing more than $6.5 million in federal investment.

As directed by the federal government, Panicker’s center has distributed its research data to all 193 United Nations member countries since 1996.

“The data supports erosion prediction, nutrient management, and conservation planning worldwide,” Panicker said.

Panicker released the first C-factor research technology in 2001, a 42-page publication archived in the Library of Congress and referenced at land grant universities and in graduate programs globally.

He has presented the technology in 27 countries as a speaker and keynote speaker.

In addition to soil conservation, Panicker’s research includes breakthroughs in blueberry production.

Panicker succeeded in increasing Vitamin C and anthocyanin levels through organic farming systems and developed a slow-release organic fertilizer from animal waste in collaboration with U.S. Army scientists. The fertilizer traps ammonia and prevents groundwater pollution.

Alcorn’s muscadine vineyard was selected by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service as the only vineyard for national soil health studies, placing Alcorn on the National Soil Health Map.

Panicker’s soil health research, conducted over more than 25 years, has been rated “Excellent” by Cornell University’s National Soil Health Lab. Cornell now uses Alcorn’s data to train visiting scientists from around the world.

Through federally funded programs, Panicker has trained more than 60 undergraduate and graduate students in conservation research.

Eleven of his former students have earned doctoral degrees.

He is a Certified Professional Agronomist, a Certified Crop Adviser, and a Fellow of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences.

His previous honors include the 2020 Lifetime Organic Achievement Award from the American Society of Agronomy and the 2023 International Conservation Research Award from the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America, among many others.

“I am blessed to receive this award,” Panicker said. “I am an alumnus of Alcorn, and I am glad that I could take Alcorn around the globe.”

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Dr. Debarshi Roy, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, served as a panelist at HBCU STEAM Day 2026, hosted annually by U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., co-founder of the Bipartisan HBCU Congressional Caucus.

The event was held March 25 at the U.S. Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C.

Roy participated in a session titled “Faculty Experience & Grant Competitiveness — What Now?” focused on research growth, research and development infrastructure and institutional pathways toward sustained research classification advancement.

He was selected for his background in securing federal grants and contributions to Alcorn State’s research program.

Being recognized by Congresswoman Adams was “both humbling and deeply meaningful,” said Roy, adding that her acknowledgment showed that Alcorn State’s work is “relevant at the national policy level.”

“This invitation reflects a clear trajectory,” Roy said. “91°µÍř is emerging as a growing research institution. Our faculty are increasingly visible in national conversations; our research work is recognized as contributing to innovation, workforce development, and equity in STEM. It signals that 91°µÍř is not just participating but leading in key areas like AI integration and health disparities research.”

He said he hoped lawmakers left the session understanding that HBCUs are “engines of innovation” that can help strengthen the nation’s scientific and technological workforce with equitable federal support.

Roy has worked at Alcorn for eight years.

During his time at the university, his research has focused on cancer biology, health disparities and the integration of artificial intelligence into biomedical research and education.

His federal grant portfolio includes a pilot project on AI and machine learning tools for chronic disease self-management, funded through the AIM-AHEAD Program — a national initiative to increase participation in AI-driven biomedical research. A collaboration with LSU Shreveport, the project produced community-focused AI literacy modules and engaged underserved populations across the region.

Roy’s broader grant work has funded curriculum transformation, faculty training and cross-institutional collaboration reaching hundreds of Alcorn State students, equipping them with AI and data science skills for careers in biotechnology and biomedical science.

Roy notes that the largest barrier facing HBCU faculty is not a shortage of ideas but structural inequity.

Faculty members often carry heavier teaching loads, have limited grant-writing support and fewer established research networks than their counterparts at predominantly white institutions.

On the question of policy, Roy was direct — sustained federal support for HBCU research capacity, he said, would matter most.

“[We need] dedicated, sustained federal funding streams specifically for HBCU research capacity building,” said Roy. “Not just project based grants, but infrastructure funding, long-term faculty development, collaborative opportunity, grant-writing and administrative support. This would create equity in opportunity, not just competition.”

Roy’s panel appearance came at a key moment for Alcorn State.

The university is actively working toward a higher research classification.

His grant work directly advances that goal by increasing external funding and expanding research participation, among several other required metrics.

Roy said Alcorn State’s identity as a land-grant HBCU shapes his research in a fundamentally applied direction — using AI to address health disparities, integrating it into biological sciences, agriculture and rural health care access, and ensuring underserved communities are not left behind as the digital economy accelerates.

Roy stated that students at HBCUs do not need to leave their institutions to do cutting edge work, and urges them to engage in research early, build data skills and seek mentorship.

“Their backgrounds are strengths, not limitations,” said Roy.

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Wiggins serves as federal co-chairman of the , an independent federal agency supporting economic development across 255 counties and parishes in eight states. President Joseph Biden nominated him to the post in December 2021, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him unanimously in March 2022.

His career spans the public, nonprofit and academic sectors. He previously served as executive director of the Mississippi State Conference NAACP, senior vice president of policy at Hope Enterprise Corporation and Hope Credit Union, and director of the Hope Policy Institute. He also held a faculty appointment as visiting assistant professor of health policy and management at Jackson State University.

Wiggins earned a bachelor’s degree from 91°µÍř and a master’s degree in public health and a doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also holds a certificate in nonprofit leadership from Boston College and has completed fellowships with the Kaiser Family Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

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