A two-time Alcorn graduate, she steps into the role with experience across agricultural research, outreach and student development.

Dr. Dexter B. Wakefield, dean and director of land-grant programs in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, said her record spans the lab and the field.

“She has a strong research background, but she also knows how to connect with communities in a meaningful way,” Wakefield said. “I’ve seen firsthand how passionate she is about students, agriculture, and helping people solve real problems. That kind of leadership matters in Extension.”

Mason-Montgomery most recently directed the university’s farms, overseeing its small ruminant operations and strengthening agricultural partnerships and student learning. Before that, she served as center director of ruminant research, associate professor of animal science and director of biotechnology, among other roles at the university.

“Personally, this role reflects my roots of being raised on a farm,” Mason-Montgomery said. “I understand firsthand the challenges small farmers face, especially when balancing multiple streams of income just to keep things moving. At the same time, that experience built my appreciation and love for production agriculture, and it continues to drive my work.”

Mason-Montgomery grew up in Millbrook, Ontario, Canada. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture from 91°µÍř before completing a doctorate in life sciences at Mississippi State University, with a concentration in genetics.

Her career has centered on federally funded projects in animal science, experiential learning and agricultural outreach. She has built science-based programs for producers, mentored students and worked with county agents and stakeholders across Mississippi.

“My vision is for Extension to be a trusted, visible and results-driven resource that meets people where they are, whether that’s on a farm, in a classroom, or within a community organization,” she said. “We should continue building programs that integrate research and emerging technologies in ways that are practical and usable for our stakeholders.”

One immediate priority, she said, is strengthening relationships across the Extension system while giving students more chances to take part in Extension programming and community-based learning.

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Woods was one of 77 partners representing 64 academic institutions who participated in a pilot program to contribute to VentureWell’s Science and Tech Innovation Inventory (S&T II). The S&T II tool, informed by approximately 200 research-backed indicators, assesses an institution’s I&E strengths across six key ecosystem areas and provides a roadmap to inform its STEM I&E programs, curricula, and policy development.

Participating faculty in the pilot program were evaluated by a committee that reviewed their acumen and potential to advance I&E and research translation at their universities.

Five individuals were selected to receive funding to launch and expand academic courses and programs, host convenings, support student research projects or pitches, and advance commercialization activities.

“Receiving the VentureWell Institutional I&E Award is a tremendous honor for 91°µÍř and our School of Business,” said Woods. “This $15,000 investment will directly fuel three high-impact initiatives — 1. Ěýa STEM I&E Pitch Competition, 2. an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Series, and 3. an SBDC-Integrated Student Venture Lab. ĚýEach designed to place our students at the center of real-world innovation and entrepreneurial experience. At Alcorn, we believe that the next generation of STEM-driven entrepreneurs deserves access to the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to compete on any stage. This award moves us closer to that reality.”

91°µÍř’s approach to innovation and entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in its land-grant mission of community service, economic development, and academic excellence. As Mississippi’s first HBCU land-grant institution, 91°µÍř is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between STEM education and entrepreneurial practice — particularly for students who have historically been underrepresented in the innovation ecosystem.

“The School of Business has made significant strides in building an I&E framework that is both academically rigorous and community-connected, anchored by the nation’s first HBCU STEM-designated MBA program and the university’s groundbreaking NVIDIA DGX Spark AI Laboratory,” said Woods.

VentureWell’s investment will accelerate those efforts by expanding student engagement, strengthening faculty capacity for research translation, and deepening partnerships with regional economic development organizations such as the MS SBDC Network. Our goal is to establish Alcorn State as a nationally recognized hub for HBCU-driven innovation — where students do not just study entrepreneurship, they live it.

For more information about VentureWell’s S&T II and the full list of awardees, visit .

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The 2026 summer lineup spans a wide range of disciplines and age groups, from fourth graders discovering robotics to undergraduate researchers exploring soil science in the Mississippi Delta.

More than 500 participants are expected across all programs. Enrollment is open now for most camps. Some will begin May 31.

The Upward Bound Summer Residential Phase, funded by the U.S. Department of Education and housed in Alcorn’s University College, anchors the early summer calendar. Running May 31 through July 8, the program immerses 44 rising ninth- and 10th-graders from Adams, Claiborne, Jefferson and Wilkinson counties in college-level coursework, tutoring and leadership workshops — all while living on campus. Students eat in the dining hall, sleep in the residence halls and navigate daily life the same way enrolled students do.

For younger students, the Technology Summer Camps offer six day camp sessions across June and July for students in grades 4 through 12. Funded by Entergy, Nissan and the National Nuclear Security Administration through Alcorn’s Department of Advanced Technologies, the camps put students to work in health physics, geospatial information systems, robotics, digital signal processing and electronics. Sessions accommodate 20 to 25 students at a time. Meals are provided. No travel is required.

The AgDiscovery 2026: Summer Day Camp, July 13 through 17, is a USDA/APHIS-funded, five-day program for students in grades 7 through 11 from Southwest Mississippi with an interest in animal science and farming.

The AgHope Middle School Camp runs June 22 through 28 for sixth through eighth graders, ages 11 to 14, and is expected to draw 60 participants from across the state. The AgHope High School Camp follows July 6 through 17 for ninth- through 12th-graders, ages 15 to 19, with another 60 participants expected. Both programs are residential, include meals and are open statewide. Contact milson@alcorn.edu for information on either session.

At the undergraduate level, the 1890 Distributed Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates brings eight students from both 1890 and 1862 land-grant universities to Alcorn’s campus June 8 through July 30 for work in crop production, soil health, urban agriculture, forestry and biotechnology.

TRIO programming runs through two separate branches this summer. Talent Search 61 South serves students in Adams, Jefferson and Wilkinson counties with separate tracks for middle schoolers, June 16–19, and high schoolers, June 21–30. Talent Search 61 North mirrors that structure for students in the Vicksburg Warren, Claiborne County and South Delta school districts, both programs run on the same dates. The middle school sessions are day camps. The high school tracks are residential. Both are federally funded, college-focused and free to eligible participants.

The TMCF ASU SOAR Summer Program, funded by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and coordinated through University College, drew 11th-grade students from across the country for a week-long residential experience July 12 through 17. Registration is now closed. Those students will explore majors and career pathways, engage with faculty and alumni, receive guidance on the college admissions process and leave with a peer network that extends well beyond Mississippi.

Rounding out the summer is The Power of Place: Memory and Heritage in the Alcorn Community, funded by the Mississippi Humanities Council and running June 1 through July 31. The program invites administrators, faculty, staff and community members to help document and preserve the living history of the nation’s first public Black land-grant institution. In a year the nation marks America’s 250th anniversary, the University Libraries are centering Alcorn’s own story — hosting community workshops, collecting oral histories and opening the archives to donations of materials connected to the university’s 155-year legacy.

For a full listing of programs, dates, eligibility requirements and contact information, visit or contact Dr. Wandra Arrington, at (601) 877-6138 or warrington@alcorn.edu.

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The division’s 13 category wins yielded 31 certificates, spanning photography, marketing, public relations campaigns, and more.

The CPRAM Conference is Mississippi’s annual gathering for PR and marketing professionals from two and four-year higher education institutions, offering professional development, networking, and the chance to be recognized for excellence in communications, advertising, graphic design, social media and media relations.

“Our team is intentional about showcasing excellence in each project that we present to audiences,” said Maxine Greenleaf, vice president of marketing and communication. “The team’s creativity and ingenuity are reflected in every piece of work submitted and shows the standard we hold ourselves to each day we show up to work. I am beyond proud of what this division has built as a team. I look forward to what we will continue to create for Alcorn.”

The university’s most celebrated recognition came in the Public Relations/Marketing and Branding Campaign category, where the Always Alcorn campaign claimed first place.

The award winning initiative was a collaborative effort led by agency partner Red Cactus alongside Greenleaf; Senior Graphic Designer Deonica Davis; Digital Media Specialist Tommie Green; Melissa Kelly, owner and photographer; and Takafumi Kojima, freelance graphic designer. The Always Alcorn campaign previously earned a Platinum MARCOM Award, a nationally recognized honor in the marketing and communications field.

Green received first place for his Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade photography in the Wildcard Mixed Media category and first place for BraveFest 2025 in the Student Life Photography category. He also contributed to second place finishes for sports photography of the Alcorn-Grambling football game and for the Alcorn State Football Season Ticket Brochure in Wildcard Print, both alongside Greenleaf and agency partner Hypercreativ.

Communications Specialist Larissa Chillous added three awards to the division’s total, earning first place for the Alcorn vs. Southern University sports hype/promo video and second-place finishes for the Thankful Braves social media post and the Alcorn-Grambling sports hype/promo video.

The division’s television commercial efforts drew multiple recognitions. The Alcorn State College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Commercial received second place in the Television Spots category. Filmed by Broadcast Media Group, the project featured on set assistance from Green, Greenleaf, and student workers Kylie Foster and Samuel Brown. Greenleaf wrote the scripts for both commercials. The Alcorn State General Commercial likewise earned second place in Television Spots; Broadcast Media Group produced it with on set support from Greenleaf, Green, and student workers Foster and Brown.

Additional honors included first place for Alcorn State Windscreens in Environmental Design, awarded to Greenleaf and Hypercreativ, and third place finishes for sports photography of the Alcorn-Southern football game and for the Alcorn State Day of Giving in Wildcard Electronic, the latter recognized alongside Greenleaf, Green, B Graphics Firm, Melissa Kelly, and former employee Marriel Hardy.

Other four year universities competing in the Senior Division include Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi College, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, and the University of Mississippi.

Through its annual competitions, workshops, and professional development programming, CPRAM honors exceptional work in public relations, marketing, and communications across the state’s community colleges, junior colleges, and universities.

A full listing of winning award entries include —

First Place

Public Relations/Marketing and Branding Campaign

Always Alcorn

Red Cactus, Deonica Davis, Tommie Green, Maxine Greenleaf, Melissa Kelly and Takafumi Kojima

Wildcard Mixed Media

Macy’s Day Parade 2025 Photography

Tommie Green

Environmental Design

Alcorn State Windscreens

Maxine Greenleaf and Hypercreativ

Student Life Photograph

BraveFest 2025

Tommie Green

Sports Hype/Promos Video

Alcorn vs. Southern University

Larissa Chillous

Second Place

Television Spots

Alcorn State College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Commercial

Broadcast Media Group, Maxine Greenleaf, Tommie Green, Kylie Foster, and Samuel Brown

Television Spots

Alcorn State General Commercial

Broadcast Media Group, Maxine Greenleaf, Tommie Green, Kylie Foster, and Samuel Brown

Wildcard Print

Alcorn State Football Season Ticket Brochure

Maxine Greenleaf, Tommie Green, and Hypercreativ

Sports Photograph

Alcorn vs. Grambling Football Game

Tommie Green

Social Media Non-Sports Post

Thankful Braves

Larissa Chillous

Sports Hype/Promos Video

Alcorn vs. Grambling

Larissa Chillous

Third Place

Sports Photograph

Alcorn vs. Southern Football Game

Tommie Green

Wildcard Electronic

Alcorn State Day of Giving

Maxine Greenleaf, Tommie Green, B Graphics Firm, Marriel Hardy and Melissa Kelly

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The Policy Center was formerly known as the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center.

“Mr.ĚýFairleyĚýhas spent his career as a public servant and changemaker dedicated to community development and federal policy, which are assets that will serve him and the institution well in this role,” said Cook. “His appointment positions NPRC to make a greater impact on the agricultural community primarily our underserved farmers and rural communities in Mississippi and beyond.”

Fairley brings a record that moves across federal agriculture policy, community banking, nonprofit leadership and HBCU administration.

He most recently served as special assistant to the dean at 91°µÍř’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS). While in CAAS, he led initiatives to expand the college’s agricultural programs and operations.

In 2021, he was appointed state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Mississippi. Fairley was the first African American to hold that post.

In that role, he oversaw more than 60 service centers, managed a workforce of more than 200 employees and directed an annual budget exceeding $10 million. He was responsible for the distribution of $1 billion in federal funding to support Mississippi’s agricultural sector.

He launched the first cohort of the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program in more than 20 years. This initiative created a direct pipeline from historically Black colleges and universities into full-time federal roles.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he reformed agency operations to improve efficiency and access for farmers statewide.

Fairley also served as a field representative for U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson. His work focused on broadband access and constituent services.

He has more than seven years of experience in community and economic development banking from his roles at Hope Credit Union and Regions Bank.

Earlier this year, Fairley was selected for the Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program, joining 101 participants from across the country in a six month cohort focused on leadership development and civic engagement. Now in its third year, the program draws on the Obama Foundation’s Hope to Action curriculum and centers themes of democratic culture, public health, climate sustainability, and arts and civic life.

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead the National Policy Research Center,” said Fairley. “Every chapter of my career has pointed toward this work, and I believe purpose and preparation have aligned in this moment to serve the farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners whose labor sustains our nation. I look forward to advancing rigorous, evidence-based analysis that strengthens American agriculture and the people who power it.”

In his new role at the Policy Center, Fairley will direct strategic planning, research initiatives and stakeholder engagement. The center’s primary focus will be on agricultural innovation and policy solutions.

A native of Sunflower, Miss., Fairley holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from Mississippi Valley State University and a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport.

He has served on the board of the Sunflower County Freedom Project. It is a nonprofit dedicated to developing young leaders in the Mississippi Delta.

He received the 2020 Higher Purpose Award for his contributions to regional business development.

Fairley resides in Indianola, Miss., with his wife, Felicia, and their three children.

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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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He was recognized at the Mississippi Top 100 dinner and program May 13 at the Country Club of Jackson. The event ran from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Mississippi Top 100 annually recognizes leaders in business, government, education, culture and community who have made a positive impact across the state in the past year. The Magnolia Tribune selects honorees from each category.

He was appointed president by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees, effective April 1, 2024, after serving as interim president since July 8, 2023.

Cook brings more than 25 years of administrative experience in education. He served as a superintendent, principal and athletic director in the Jefferson and Claiborne County school districts before returning to Alcorn in 2015 as chief of staff. He later served as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management before assuming the presidency.

He has received several honors during his career. In addition, he was recognized among Alcorn’s 40 Under 40 in 2012 and inducted into the Alcorn Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. He received the in 2023, the Doctoral Leadership Initiative Honoring Excellence Award in 2024, , and was named among Our Mississippi Magazine’s Most Influential African Americans in 2025.

A native of Fayette, Mississippi, he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from 91°µÍř and specialist and doctoral degrees from William Carey University.

Other honorees include Dr. Blake Thompson, president, Mississippi College; Willie Simmons, MDOT transportation commissioner and Alcorn alumnus; Camille Scales Young, managing principal, Cornerstone; and Wyatt Waters, water colorist and gallery owner, among others.

He is married to Dr. Crystal N. Smith. They have two children, Kennedi and Casey.

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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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She was a licensed practical nurse (LPN) then. She learned patience, compassion, and how to truly see people beyond their diagnoses. She learned how to advocate for those who could not always speak for themselves. She learned that small things — listening, showing up consistently, treating someone with dignity — could make the biggest difference in a life.

“Those patients became like family,” she said simply.

She is from Greenwood, Mississippi, where the Delta air sits heavy and the distances between a person and a doctor can stretch far and long. She knows what it means to need care and not quite be able to reach it. She watched her father learn that lesson, too, slowly and then all at once.

He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The healthcare system that was supposed to help him felt, she said, like something you had to fight your way through — fragmented, rushed, hard to understand. There were moments where things were not explained clearly. Where it felt like they were just trying to keep up.

Six months after his diagnosis, he was gone.

She was still in 91°µÍř’s Master of Science in Nursing program, working toward her degree, when she lost him.

“There were days I did not feel strong at all,” she said.

She did not let it stop her.

Shantwana Patterson holds an 91°µÍř diploma cover in a graduation portrait ahead of the university’s Spring 2026 Commencement on May 9.

It has been nearly eight years since Patterson first put on scrubs and walked into a long-term care facility as an LPN. She had not planned the whole journey out. She only knew she wanted to help. In time, wanting to help was not enough for her.

“I kept finding myself wanting to do more,” she said. “To understand more. To be more involved in their care.”

The decision to pursue her MSN-FNP degree at Alcorn was not a single moment. It built up over time — of patients she could not do enough for, of questions she could not answer, of a realization that she did not want to stay comfortable.

“It felt scary,” she said. “There was doubt, fear of failure and wondering if I was ready. But deep down, I knew I owed it to myself to try.”

It felt, she said, like choosing purpose over fear.

Greenwood Leflore Hospital, the institution her community has long depended on, recently filed for bankruptcy. In a region where access to quality healthcare was already precarious, the news landed like confirmation of something people there had quietly feared for years.

“Communities like mine need providers who understand them,” she said, not just clinically, but culturally and personally.

She plans to aid communities similar to her hometown.

Shantwana Patterson, MSN, FNP, poses in a white lab coat and coral scrubs with a pink stethoscope against a pink background, leaning on a medical tray stand.

She is not a woman who makes much of hardship. What kept her going, she said, was her faith, her support system, and knowing her father believed in her.

“I leaned on God, my family, and the people around me who reminded me why I started,” she said. “I carried him with me through it all.”

There was no single turning point for Patterson.

“I remember getting to a point where I realized I had already come too far to give up,” she said. “I had to remind myself that I was capable and that I was called to this.”

Shantwana Patterson, center, poses in coral scrubs in a graduation portrait, holding a red rose bouquet spelling “NP” surrounded by nursing textbooks.

On Commencement Day, Shantwana Patterson will walk across a stage at 91°µÍř with a Master of Science in Nursing degree — a degree — she earned the hardest possible way, not in spite of loss, but through it and because of it.

She wants to open a practice someday where patients do not feel rushed. Where things are explained clearly. Where no one leaves confused or unseen.

“I want my patients to feel heard, valued, and confident that someone is truly advocating for their health,” she said. “That’s the provider my father needed,” she said. “That’s who I’m going to be.”

Shantwana Patterson will receive her Master of Science in Nursing degree with a Family Nurse Practitioner option at 91°µÍř’s Spring 2026 Commencement.

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