Latest news with #HowardUniversity
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Howard University Steps Up To Place Its Graduates In Lucrative Finance Careers
The HPS Center for Financial Excellence (HPS-CFE) at the Howard University School of Business has a lofty goal: Become a major player in positioning its graduates in the potentially lucrative financial services industry. The HBCU aims to be viewed in the same light as other powerhouse business schools by helping to secure above-average finance roles for its graduates within the next four to five years. That is a desire for Curtis Kidd Telemaque, Ph.D., and director of HPS-CFE. 'The HPS Center was created to intentionally correct the skew from back office only positions to client-facing roles that require a highly technical skillset. As such, the center's strategy has been to merge theoretical financial concepts taught in class with practitioner-led extra-curricular modules.' LOCATING STUDENTS IN ROLES THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FROM The Washington, D.C.-based school is boosting efforts to help HBCU students land future careers in investment banking, alternative finance, and asset management. Black students, especially those from HBCUs, have long not been equally represented in such high-paying roles. Research shows that graduate hiring at global banks, like those based in New York, has just 0.5% of senior investment bankers who are Black. Another report reveals that minority- and women-owned firms manage just 1.4% of the roughly $82 trillion in U.S. assets under management, despite performing on par with industry averages. Now, Howard's business school wants to help change these statistics. SCORING HIGH-PAYING JOBS NEAR TIMES SQUARE AFTER GRADUATION Helping change the narrative are Dylan Thomas and Jessica Barnes. They are now earning or about to earn 'six-figure' salaries working at mega companies near Times Square in New York City. After completing an internship at Barclays last summer, Thomas joined one of Wall Street's most influential investment banks. He was just hired as an investment banking analyst at Barclays, stating his pay is 'definitely more than I have ever made.' 'Essentially, if a tech media or telecommunications company finds itself in debt, they call my team, we lend them some money, and then we charge them for that money that they borrowed,' Thomas told BLACK ENTERPRISE. He says HPS-CFE supplied him with mentorship, exposure, and experience to help find his footing in the financial services industry. Thomas reflected on how current and future students can benefit from a $10 million gift announced in 2021 by HPS Investment Partners and The Kapnick Foundation to create the HPS-CFE. You can learn more about the center and investment here. The project remains in progress, as Dr. Curtis Kidd Telemaque, who became the HPS-CFE director in 2021, continues to work with students. The young analyst shared how the gift could help reduce the recognized disparity between blacks and whites, as well as others working in the industry. 'HPS Investment Partners wants to do their part to take some of that load off us and to invest in our learning and our growth, said Thomas.' He added, 'Any young black professional aspiring to a career in financial services should seriously consider the value in the HPS-CFE as it is.' Thomas and Barnes are among the first members of the graduating cohort of 13, receiving their degrees in May 2025 from Howard. Ten of those individuals have since secured high-finance employment roles in financial services and management consulting. o Barnes, 22, will begin working full-time this October as an enterprise strategy and value associate at Strategy&, the global consulting arm of accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers. Her job: Helping power utility and aerospace companies create strategies for sustaining growth, reshaping costs and business structures, along with integrating IT and digital operations. She will start her new role after completing three corporate internships. GAINING THE RESOURCES TO FLOURISH IN THE HIGH-FINANCE SPACE Barnes says CFE helped enhance her new career journey in many ways. For one, she developed some skills she will truly need professionally. And she says she founded the Howard University Women In Finance Initiative. The community largely connects Black women in the high finance sector. 'It gives women the power of representation and community to achieve their goals in a space that predominantly doesn't have Black women.' She added that the CFE gave her courage to take on the world. 'We really got the backing to just feel like we are equipped with the skills and resources that maybe even if you don't have the answer now, I know I can rely on the network that I was given to get it.' Students from CFE have secured jobs with several high-finance companies, including Partners Capital, Bank of New York Mellon, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, PwC, Vanguard, EY Parthenon, Carlyle, Union Bank of Switzerland, Truist, and MasterCard. Kidd Telemaque added that, generally, they have landed high-paying positions immediately after graduation, with an average starting salary for the most recent cohort at $89K and approximately $10K in bonuses. WORKING WITH BLUE-CHIP COMPANIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Additionally, HPS-CFE is stepping up efforts to boost the low representation of HBCU graduates in high finance. The center partners with a broad range of firms that offer a wide range of services, including private credit management, investment banking, and asset management, to facilitate change. Kidd Telemaque says the firms include HPS Investment Partners, Vanguard, CFI, Goldman Sachs, and Warburg Pincus. 'Our position is that companies are able to directly assess talent when they provide instruction or are otherwise involved in enhancing students' practical finance skills.' While disparities are not new to HBCUs, they have led to an outpouring of support for certain HBCUs to attract high-performing talent. 'Due to this support, we can not only expose our students to all areas of finance but also provide practical, hands-on expertise before graduation.' Still, actions to help uplift graduates are not obstacle-free. Kidd Telemaque says one of the center's challenges is overcoming industry perception of HBCU graduates as being less qualified. The HPS-CFE's future ambition to place more HBCU graduates in elevated finance roles stems from the recent success of five Howard students, who won a $1 million grant for the school after winning the fifth annual Goldman Sachs Market Madness competition. It was disclosed that the money will be invested in infrastructure and academic programming for the university. An HPS-CFE participant, Barnes offered some advice to existing students or those considering attending the center. 'Knowledge is power. 'Learn what you don't know and then strive to be excellent. I think that sometimes it's so rare.' RELATED CONTENT: Howard University Appoints New VP Of Enrollment As HBCU Deals With Student Woes Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Analysis: How Trayon White reclaims council seat
Washington (DC News Now) — Ousted Ward 8 Council member, Trayon White, reclaims his seat. White winning a special election this week with 29 percent of the votes. DC Board of Elections report low voter turnout with around 12 percent casting a ballot. T he special election was trigged by White's explosion. The DC Council unanimously voting to remove him in February after finding he broke city ethics rules. White was arrested last year and is currently awaiting trail on federal bribery charges. Howard University professor, Robinson Woodward-Burns, joins Capitol Review on how White was able to do it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Black Voices Are Training Big Tech. But Who's Protecting Them?
Howard University and Google are partnering under the name Project Elevate Black Voices to release ... More data that can be used by artificial intelligence to better understand African American English. It was recently announced that Howard University and Google are partnering under the name Project Elevate Black Voices to release data that can be used by artificial intelligence to better understand African American English (AAE). A media release from Howard University explained that researchers traveled across the United States to capture different dialects used within the Black community, collecting 600 hours of vocal data across 32 states in different dialects, dictions and accents. The project's aim is to address the inherent bias baked into many artificial intelligence-driven tools we use to address difficulties interpreting and understanding Black users who have dialects and diction more common in the Black community. Howard University will own the dataset and licensing, making the data available to researchers and institutions at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and will allow Google to use the dataset to improve its products. In an Instagram post made by pocintech about the project, there were many who were leery of the partnership stating it wasn't a good idea, with some wondering how this partnership would benefit the Black community. It's understandable for some to be suspicious about this type of partnership. There is a long history of tech being extractive, exploitative and harmful to the Black community. The erasure of Black creators who have started trends and viral dances yet are the least protected on social media, racial bias in facial recognition software used for policing and surveillance, and technology that is more likely to flag Black creator's content as 'offensive,' are just a few examples. Though the backlash is warranted, we should also consider the different ways that a robust dataset containing different types of AAE can benefit Black workers and help create better technology. Many companies use tech tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams auto-captioning, AI notetakers, and meeting recording summaries. Having more data about AAE will help to improve these speech recognition tools, which can often misinterpret AAE. In some cases, a dataset like this may make employees less likely to codeswitch because they won't have to worry as much about whether their voice and speech patterns will be understood by workplace AI tools, making these tools more inclusive and accessible. Industries like healthcare, customer service and the legal sector, which may use speech-to-text tools for things like clinical documentation, customer sentiment analysis, and to transcribe legal documents could particularly benefit from Project Elevate Black Voices. Many companies use tech tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams auto-captioning, AI notetakers, and ... More meeting recording summaries. The criticism that can be seen online is not completely unwarranted. There are very real tensions around who will have access to the dataset in the future and some are worried that the data could be extracted and exploited to the detriment of the community that it was designed to benefit. The value of this type of rich data outside of improved speech recognition tools is a preservation and archive of Black American culture during a time when Black history is being actively erased. In the wrong hands though, this type of data could be used in nefarious ways, furthering the use of Black AI influencers and digital Blackface, training AI products without the compensation or credit (and in some cases the knowledge) of those whose data was used to train these products, and expanding the use of surveillance technology that disproportionately harms and targets Black people. According to Howard's media release about the partnership, 'The Howard African American English Dataset 1.0 will initially be made available exclusively to researchers and institutions within historically Black colleges and universities to ensure that the data is employed in ways that reflect the interests and needs of marginalized communities, specifically African American communities whose linguistic practices have often been excluded or misrepresented in computational systems.' It's understandable to question how this data could be used to further the harm that Black communities already face. While the initial intentions in collecting this data may be benevolent, it's imperative to understand how easy it is for data to be wielded for corrupt and capitalistic purposes. It is a great move that the data will be available to HBCU institutions, but a word of caution: Black-led, Black-founded and Black-owned organizations and institutions are not immune to harm and extraction—one could argue that within these systems, harm is more insidious and is sometimes more challenging to spot and combat. Organizations and institutions that are primarily Black or led by Black people can still engage in practices that are oppressive and harmful. Audre Lorde taught us that, 'the true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations we seek to escape, but that piece of the oppressor which is planted deep within us.' We must be careful that when we are trying to reclaim equity and repair broken tools that we do not recreate newer versions of the same harmful systems.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
SNICKERS® Returns for Third Year as Official Chocolate Bar of the Orange Blossom Classic
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Orange Blossom Classic Committee is proud to announce the return of its partnership with Mars Wrigley, as SNICKERS® enters its third consecutive year as the Official Chocolate of the Orange Blossom Classic (OBC). The 2025 Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic will take place over Labor Day Weekend, culminating with the highly anticipated matchup between Howard University Bison and Florida A&M University Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. With this year's theme, "Built on History. Fueled by Pride", the event continues its tradition of celebrating HBCU excellence, heritage, and culture—with SNICKERS delivering an added layer of fan-favorite flavor and fun. This multi-year collaboration blends community, culture, and college football with the unmistakable satisfaction of SNICKERS, enhancing the game day experience for thousands of fans who gather to celebrate HBCU legacy and pride. "We are excited to welcome back SNICKERS for year three of this special partnership," said Kendra Bulluck-Major, Executive Director of the Orange Blossom Classic Committee. "Their consistent commitment to enhancing the fan experience and supporting the HBCU community aligns perfectly with our mission to honor tradition, fuel scholarship, and celebrate culture. We look forward to another weekend of unforgettable energy—with a satisfying twist." From tailgates to Fan Fest to halftime celebrations, SNICKERS will once again bring moments of joy and indulgence to fans throughout the weekend, reaffirming Mars Wrigley's commitment to delivering everyday happiness through its beloved portfolio of brands. "The SNICKERS brand is delighted to be part of the Orange Blossom Classic for the third year in a row," said Gabrielle Wesley, Chief Marketing Officer, Mars Wrigley North America. "SNICKERS will show up to bring fans a delicious boost of satisfaction, especially during halftime, to keep the excitement going into the second half." Known for its iconic combination of caramel, peanuts, nougat, and milk chocolate, SNICKERS remains a crowd favorite. Whether enjoyed in the stands during halftime or shared as a post-game treat, SNICKERS will add a memorable flavor to every part of the OBC experience. As anticipation builds for this year's Classic, fans can expect more than just a football game—they'll enjoy a vibrant celebration of Black excellence, culture, and community. Join us in Miami Gardens for the 2025 Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic—where we're Built on History. Fueled by Pride. For details on tickets, hotels, and official events, visit Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter at @OrangeBlossomFB. To become an OBC sponsor, please contact info@ ABOUT THE ORANGE BLOSSOM CLASSIC Founded in 1933 by J.R.E. Lee Jr., son of Florida A&M University's president, the inaugural Orange Blossom Classic welcomed 2,000 fans to a "blacks-only" ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida—where FAMU defeated Howard 9-0, establishing the foundation of HBCU classics. After a 43-year hiatus, the Classic was re-established in 2021 with a mission to increase exposure and access for HBCUs. Now in its fifth year, the OBC draws thousands of fans, students, alumni, and families to South Florida, celebrating culture, competition, and the future of Black excellence. ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M'S®, SNICKERS® and BEN'S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles — Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom — inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet. For more information about Mars, please visit Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Media Contact:Derek Ross | 398209@ | 919.423.5617Orange Blossom Classic Media Relations View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Orange Blossom Classic Committee
Forbes
6 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Over 80% Of Adults In The U.S. Experience Loneliness: Study
Lonely Christmas. Private Collection. Creator: Freiwirth-Lützow, Oskar (1862-1925). (Photo by Fine ... More Art Images/Heritage Images via Getty Images) A study of close to 50,000 people living in the United States revealed that at least 80% of them experience some degree of loneliness. The study findings further revealed that women and white individuals are far more prone to loneliness than their male and non-white counterparts, which puts them at a greater risk of suffering from depression and poor physical health outcomes as well. In a press release, lead author of the study, Oluwasegun Akinyemi, a senior research fellow at the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC, said: 'The magnitude of the impact was striking, particularly that over 80% of adults reported some level of loneliness. Young adults, women, the unemployed, and people with less formal education were more likely to report loneliness. Loneliness not only impacts the elderly – it cuts across all age groups and backgrounds.' 'People who felt lonely 'always' had a fivefold increase in depression risk, 11 more poor mental health days, and 5 additional poor physical health days per month compared to those who never felt lonely. These effects were consistent even after accounting for age, race, gender, and other factors,' he added. 'Although loneliness increased the risk of depression for all racial/ethnic groups, Black and Hispanic individuals reported comparatively lower odds of depression across all levels of loneliness, pointing to potential cultural or social buffering mechanisms,' Akinyemi and colleagues noted in their study, which was published in the journal PLoS One. The researchers highlighted that adults who always felt lonely were far more prevalent among white study participants. Out of the 47,318 U.S. adults who participated in the study, more than 73% were white and female (62%). Most of them were between 18 and 64 years old. While young people reported high levels of loneliness as well, those above the age of 45 reported a slightly higher prevalence of loneliness. 'Our study highlights that loneliness is not just an emotional state—it has measurable consequences for both mental and physical health. Addressing loneliness may be a critical public health priority to reduce depression and improve overall well-being. Conducting this research allowed us to explore the lived experiences of many individuals in vulnerable situations. What stood out most was how strongly loneliness affected every aspect of health, underscoring the urgency of tackling this hidden epidemic,' the study authors added. 'Interventions like social prescribing, community building programs, and integrating social connection screening into routine care can help. Technology-driven tools can also connect isolated individuals, especially in rural or underserved areas,' Akinyemi explained. But he noted that a major challenge is that people believe admitting they feel lonely will be perceived as a weakness or social failure, which could discourage them from seeking help in the first place. 'This silence could worsen health outcomes and delay interventions that could prevent long-term harm,' he added. 'We hope this study prompts national action to recognize loneliness as a modifiable risk factor, like smoking or obesity. Our next steps include evaluating interventions and studying how digital tools and cultural factors shape loneliness in diverse populations.'
