The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is one of Bethune-Cookman University’s

proudest and oldest institutions – and it recently ranked #2 overall on Nurse.org out of

43 HBCUs that offer nursing programs! Our graduates’ strong average NCLEX-RN pass

rate of 90.50% also earned the program an overall grade of A on RNCareers.org.

Congratulations to our high-achieving students and amazing faculty for their exemplary

performance!

You’ll soon see some big changes at our school’s historic quad as demolition crews get

to work on the former Meigs and Curtis Halls. Each building will take approximately 3

weeks to fully demolish, and the process is expected to be finished by the end of

September. Afterward, new construction will begin in the vacant lot, the details of

which are still under discussion by school leadership.

For much of her 20-year career, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Criminal

Justice, Dr. Kideste Yusef has fought to change the status quo of institutional racism and

discrimination in American communities. Most recently, she has been a leader in the

400 Years of African American History Commission’s “I Fear for My Life” Initiative, which

establishes a national dialogue between young people of color and the police.

In August, Dr. Yusef received the Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Award in

appreciation for her many contributions – including 500 hours of service to the United

States. Read more about Dr. Yusef’s work and her award at Flagler News Weekly.

Tune in to TheCat Radio’s podcast for an in-depth conversation with the leaders of our

College of Nursing and Health Sciences, featuring Dr. Daniel Hollar, Dr. Torrance

Williams, and Dr. Adrian Rolle. From breakthrough research to innovative practices,

these distinguished individuals are at the forefront of their fields, shaping the future

through the transformative power of education and healthcare. Listen to the podcast

online here.

Kevin T. McCrary, Director of the Office of Student Financial Aid and a 1999 graduate of Bethune-Cookman University, recently earned a Financial Aid Administrators Certificate from the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators. McCrary is one of three administrators working at HBCUs around the country and the only one in the state of Florida among HBCU's!

Financial aid plays an integral role in higher education, and McCrary continues to set a high standard through his work and achievement.

We’re proud to congratulate Dr. Ruth Annette Smith on her recognition as one of the 30

Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute.

“Student success epitomizes my purpose and my calling,” commented Dr. Smith. “As

such, I am proudly committed to crafting and advancing the next generation of

hospitality business leaders and trailblazers through pedagogy, research, leadership and

titanium service.”

In August, two Bethune-Cookman University faculty members took the stage at the

2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions for a special session titled How Interfaith

Initiatives Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at U.S. Universities. Together, Rev.

Kenya Lovell (University Chaplain and Director of Religious Life) and Dr. Alice Wood

(Associate Professor, Religion and Philosophy) discussed how and why religious diversity programs are grounded in the mission and values of diverse institutions.

In July, Wildcat and lifelong educator Dr. Allyson L. Watson was appointed Provost and

Vice President for Academic Affairs at Florida A&M University. Prior to joining the FAMU team in 2019 as dean of the College of Education, Dr. Watson spent nearly 14 years on the faculty at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. Upon achieving her new position, she commented, “Our future is bright, and I look forward to leading with

vision, tenacity and innovation.”

Following a 15-year career with Flagler County Schools, alumna LaShakia Moore was

recently confirmed as the area’s Superintendent after serving in the interim role. After

graduating from Bethune-Cookman University in 2004, Moore earned her master’s

degree in educational leadership from St. Leo University in 2017. Although she began

her career as a teacher, she has gone on to serve in a variety of roles, including Principal, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Assistant Superintendent.

Congratulations to Lamont Harrison, who was recently selected for the prestigious

Amgen Biotech Fellowship. A computer information systems major, Lamont will join 14

other HBCU students in professional development training, work with a mentor and

complete a capstone project in the field of Biotech. The program is led in partnership

with HBCU 20x20, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to career resources for

students at historically Black schools.

In August, Sabrina Petit-Homme represented Bethune-Cookman University at the MEAC

vs. SWAC football game as our school’s Cricket Campus Ambassador. Cricket’s HBCU

Campus Ambassador Program was created to help inspire the next generation of Black

leaders, while connecting them with their passions along the way.

As part of a busy summer for our College of Nursing and Health Sciences, 14 students

participated in the “We Invest In Your Needs - Health Projects” (WIN-HP) summer

internship, which invests in the health needs of our community to promote preventive

behavior and decrease health risks. Working with partners like the University of Florida

and Daytona Beach Parks and Recreation, students gained over 160 hours of onsite

experience in health, science, education and administration.