With tuition and fees of $16,896 (at the time of the survey), 探花精选 was ranked only behind N.C. State University as the college offering the best value in the City of Raleigh. 探花精选 also trailed only N.C. State as the most popular college in Raleigh.

Best value rankings are based on an institution鈥檚 return-on-investment (ROI) value, which is the ratio of mean salary in the first six months after graduation to the tuition and fees required to be paid. Most popular rankings are based on the number of applicants per available spot.

Research.com is a leading educational platform that helps students around the nation find the best schools, academic opportunities, and career paths.

The rankings are particularly encouraging coming amid the university鈥檚 challenging financial situation, said Dr. Indrani Singh, Interim Vice President, Division of Institutional / Undergraduate Research and Effectiveness.

鈥� 探花精选鈥檚 recognition by Research.com is a testament to the resilience and excellence of an HBCU committed to student growth and academic advancement,鈥� Dr. Singh said. 鈥淚 congratulate the School of Business, Management, and Technology for its dedication to elevating 探花精选鈥檚 academic and professional standing. May we continue to serve the community and uphold this legacy聽each聽year.鈥�

探花精选 also was ranked No. 13 for Most Popular Colleges in North Carolina for 2024-2025, which puts it in the top quadrant. There are 16 universities within the state’s higher education system and 36 private, nonprofit colleges. These numbers don’t include other institutions such as church-affiliated institutions and for-profit colleges.

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While no historical record can be found showing that Dr. King ever visited campus, there is ample record that he had a connection with at least one of our own 鈥� Millie Dunn Veasey, class of 1953.

Archives from The Pen, the former student newspaper of Saint Augustine鈥檚, show that students were of Dr. King, and other local newspapers showed that 鈥� likely including from Saint Augustine鈥檚 鈥� were among the attendees at civil rights protests in the 1960s. And, of course, the university鈥檚 student center was named after Dr. King .

But historical records 鈥� as well as interviews with Ms. Veasey鈥檚 relatives 鈥� show a more personal connection to Saint Augustine鈥檚. Mrs. Veasey worked with Dr. King and was so helpful that she got a front-row seat at the pivotal March on Washington in 1963. They were close enough that he was a dinner guest at her sister鈥檚 house.

Ms. Veasey, who died in 2018 at the age of 100, is best known recently for having a post office in Raleigh named after her. In January 2025, through the support of Congresswoman Deborah Ross and President Joe Biden, the post office at 2777 Brentwood Road was named the 鈥淢illie Dunn Veasey Post Office.鈥� The renaming honored Ms. Veasey鈥檚 service in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit to operate overseas, during World War II.

That battalion was responsible for ensuring that soldiers received mail from home, thus helping to maintain the troops鈥� morale. Their role in the war is the subject of a movie released by Tyler Perry in December of 2024. While Ms. Veasey鈥檚 role was not specifically highlighted in the film, she was very much part of the battalion鈥檚 heroic efforts.

Millie Dunn Veasey was born in in Raleigh in 1918, and it was to there that she returned after sailing back to the United States in 1945, according to a profile of Mrs. Veasey on the National Park Service website. Mrs. Veasey eventually earned her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees, both in business administration, from Saint Augustine鈥檚 and North Carolina Central University, respectively.

Mrs. Veasey went to work for Saint Augustine鈥檚, holding several administrative positions over a 30-year period, but she was known to the wider community in a different capacity. The supplies details:

Millie Dunn Veasey was also active in the civil rights movement. She participated in sit-ins throughout Raleigh to integrate lunch counters. In 1963, she helped organize a bus trip to Washington, D.C., where she participated in the August 28th March on Washington. As an organizer, she had a front-row seat near the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his 鈥淚 Have a Dream鈥� speech.

On Feb. 21, 1965, Mrs. Veasey was of the Raleigh branch of the NAACP. It was in that capacity that she became personally known to Dr. King. Mrs. Veasey hosted a dinner for Dr. King when he came to Raleigh in 1966. Although some details are lost to history, the dinner most likely occurred as part of a visit Dr. King made to Raleigh to take part in a , to protest the shooting of civil rights activist James Meredith.

Mrs. Veasey鈥檚 niece, Eugenia Moore Pleasant, a resident of Wake Forest, N.C., remembers the dinner; she was there. Now retired, she was a freshman at North Carolina A&T at the time but had come home.

鈥淭he dinner was in my mother鈥檚 home in Raleigh,鈥� Mrs. Pleasant recalled. 鈥淩ev. Charles Ward, pastor of the First Baptist Church, was there. Ralph Campbell [who had preceded Ms. Veasey as president of the Raleigh NAACP] was there. My mother [Mary Moore] was there 鈥� she was the cook. My aunt [Ms. Veasey] was there.鈥�

The dinner had come about, Mrs. Pleasant said, because Mrs. Veasey had invited Dr. King to dinner while he was in Raleigh. 鈥淗e said he wanted a home-cooked meal,鈥� Mrs. Pleasant recalled. 鈥淲e had fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and cornbread. I forget the dessert 鈥� probably peach cobbler.鈥�

Mrs. Veasey got to know Dr. King well enough that he personally inspired her. In a on the Public Broadcasting Service, she spoke about her impression of the iconic figure: “I found him to be a most remarkable young man, always with dignity,” she said in the documentary. “He was always interested in what you were doing, what the individual was doing, and persuaded them to do more.”

Martin Luther King鈥檚 birthday is celebrated Monday, Jan. 20, a national holiday. As the Falcon community celebrates the day and honors Dr. King鈥檚 towering legacy, we can take pride in knowing that a Saint Augustine鈥檚 University alumna was among those who played an important role in advancing the great leader鈥檚 campaign for justice and righteousness.

The 6888th Battalion in England in 1945.

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She earned a Master鈥檚 in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2024 and is now participating in a program that will allow her to produce health training manuals and other materials, a career path that would combine her education in communication and health.

But Jakeina鈥檚 path has been a lot more difficult than the average Falcon. At the relatively young age of 30, she already has had two heart transplants and a kidney transplant. Now, she needs another kidney transplant.

鈥淗ey y鈥檃ll! I鈥檓 currently looking for a living donor,鈥� Jakeina said in a recent Facebook post. 鈥淚 pray God will see it through. I鈥檓 currently doing dialysis for almost 5 years and I鈥檓 blessed to still be here. 鈥鈥檝e been dealing with health issues all my life and I would like to get over this and move forward and explore the rest of my life. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Just know I bend but don鈥檛 break.鈥�

Jakeina was born with the hereditary condition of cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes the heart muscle to lose the ability to pump blood well. She had her first heart transplant at only four months old. She had a second heart transplant at age 15, and a kidney transplant at the same time.

Now, the medicine that she takes for her heart is affecting her kidney and she needs another kidney transplant.

鈥淏end but don鈥檛 break鈥� is a good description of how she has managed to get through her education and her career, thus far. At both Saint Augustine鈥檚 and UNC-Greensboro, Jakeina sometimes had to ask for alternative dates to take exams or turn in assignments. She had to take a year off in graduate school. But she got all her work done.

鈥淚 always let my teachers know what鈥檚 going on but I made sure to turn everything in,鈥� Jakeina said. 鈥淎 lot of that comes from my mom鈥檚 perseverance. She always told me that when you start something you have to finish it. When I was growing up, she would tell me, 鈥楧on鈥檛 make excuses for yourself鈥欌�t has been like that all my life.鈥�

Growing up in Rose Hill, N.C., as the oldest of three children, Jakeina said she could not afford to give in to her health problems. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a choice but to be like a parent [to her two younger brothers]. Who was going to take care of the household?鈥�

Since graduating from Saint Augustine鈥檚, she has worked a few jobs, including an office worker for Spectrum and an airline flight attendant, but has struggled to keep a job because of her health conditions 鈥� mostly her need for dialysis. She admits she has gone through periods of depression but said she did not let it linger.

鈥淵ou have to get out there and live your life as much as you can, and that鈥檚 what I鈥檝e been doing,鈥� Jakeina said. 鈥淚f you just sit in the house and mope what will that do for you?鈥�

Jakeina Sutton is currently in Stage 4 kidney failure. If you are able to donate a kidney or know someone who can, please call UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, (984) 974-7568.

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Stanford’s selection committee told Gerome that he was chosen in “an incredibly competitive selection process.” The letter stated: “The entire executive board was inspired by your story, accomplishments, and potential to succeed at a top-ranked engineering graduate school.”

The Dec. 5 letter from M. Sebastian Fernandez, president of Stanford Engineering Research Introductions Organization, promised “impactful speakers, panelists, informational sessions, and events for this program to help you reach your potential in the coming years.”

Gerome said he was “thrilled” to be accepted into the program. He added: “This program has been a goal of mine since I arrived in America, and I am eager to extend my understanding of the complexities of graduate school. As an international student, receiving admission to SERIS is a testament to my resilience. I am hopeful that my experience with SERIS will provide me with the foundation and insights necessary for my academic and professional growth.”

The Falcon community wishes a sincere congratulations to Karly Gerome.

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The small number of graduates was due to the fact that the ceremony was held in December, a rare occurrence for 探花精选; Friday鈥檚 event was only the third time in its 157-year history that the university has held a commencement in December. It follows a commencement in May 2024 in which close to 150 graduated 鈥� the largest graduating class in almost a decade.

Despite the smaller-than-usual crowd, the commencement contained the usual lofty oratory, soaring singing, whoops and hollers from parents and even graduates dancing across the stage as their names were called.

Interim President Marcus H. Burgess set the tone in his Welcoming Remarks. 鈥淟et me begin by saying we are very, very proud of each and every one of you,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s I reflect upon the past year, I am reminded of the lessons we have all learned together. This year has demanded creativity, self-sufficiency, and an unwavering commitment to purpose. We have faced challenges that required us to dig deep, to use our resources wisely and to depend on one another. 鈥hese are lessons for life.鈥�

The Commencement Address was delivered by Retha J. Bogier, a member of the 探花精选 Class of 鈥�88 and founder and CEO of Bogier Clinical IT Solutions, Inc. Mrs. Bogier told the graduates of her humble beginnings, growing up in a poor family with eight siblings in the one-stoplight town of Gaston, N.C. She is the only one of her siblings to attend college.

She created a successful business but she worked hard and, relying on her faith, overcame a lot of self-doubt, uncertainty and doubt from others, she said.

鈥淎 lot of people, you know, when you go to smaller universities, people say, 鈥極h, you didn’t go to State,鈥� Mrs. Bogier said. 鈥淚 went where I was supposed to go. 鈥業 went to an HBCU, I went to Saint Augustine University,鈥� I would say. Yes, my degree worked for me, and yours can work for you. It doesn鈥檛 matter where you came from or where you started; it鈥檚 where you’re going to end up, and you have a decision in that matter. You can choose to fight. You can choose to know who you are and whose you are.鈥�

Mrs. Bogier told the students that, with their college degrees, they have the tools to succeed 鈥� if they add faith in God to the mix.

鈥淵ou have everything you need to move forward as you leave here today,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou are equipped for the future. Fight with confidence. 鈥how love. Don’t quit. I heard somebody say that, if you quit, you will never know what God has for you.鈥�

After her speech, Dr. Burgess surprised the audience by revealing that Mrs. Bogier had given a $40,000 alumni donation to 探花精选. The money was designated to offset student debt.

When it came time to confer degrees, which was presided over by Interim Provost Dr. Janelle Jennings-Alexander, relatives of graduating students cheered wildly for their graduates. Some wore T-shirts with students鈥� names on them, or waived flags from the country where they hailed from.

Kristoff Strachan, a senior political science major from the Bahamas, had a large contingent from his home country. They had plenty to cheer about; Strachan, who is the 探花精选 Student Government Association, not only gave the Student Leader Reflections speech but also was presented by Rev. Hershey Mallette Stephens, the Dean of the Chapel and Spiritual Life, with the Julia Cooper award for his contribution to campus spiritual life.

Dr. Tyler Carr, Associate Dean of the School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Allied Health, also received an award from Rev. Mallette 鈥� the Henry Delaney Award.

Music was supplied by Luther Barnes, a 1976 探花精选 graduate, and Charles Clark, who graduated from 探花精选 in 2013. Barnes has evolved into one of gospel music鈥檚 premier male vocal artists, while recording over 25 albums and CDs with The Red Budd Gospel Choir and the Sunset Jubilaires. Clark is a national gospel recording artist and also serves as the Executive Director of Community Health Coalition in Durham, NC.

In his speech, Strachan struck a tone of humility, revealing that his journey through Saint Augustine鈥檚 had a rough start. 鈥淲hen I first started, I didn’t even make it through my first semester,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淭wo years later, I tried again with a little bit more experience and slightly less naivety. This time I finish one entire semester again. I had to pause, through no fault of my own, but I’m here standing at the finish line with all of my graduates. Perseverance is not just a word; it has to be a lifestyle.鈥�

Strachan also stirred a lot of cheers, reminding students that one leg of their lifelong journey had ended.

鈥淒espite everything that we have gone through, we can say it is finished,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he battle with every assignment is over. It is finished. There will be no more war with roommates. It is finished. The end of all conflict with lecturers and grades has come. It is finished. 鈥oday isn’t just a celebration of academic achievement. Our academic achievement is great, but today is also a celebration of every battle we faced, every victory God has brought us through.鈥�

The December 2024 graduates are as follows:

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Booker Peake

Paris Quarles-Jordan

CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR鈥橲 DEGREE

SCHOOL OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES & COMMUNICATIONS BACHELOR OF ARTS

Athalie Alvarez, Criminal Justice

Portia Bobbitt, Religious Studies

聽Zaryan Crews, Art Jaden Hambric, Criminal Justice

Kristoff Strachan, Political Science **

Jadiyah Washington, Sociology

Akilah Williams, English **

Hirk Williams, Psychology

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Deonte Barnes, Organizational Management

Amarti Bates, Business Administration

Javaughn Dames, Computer Information Systems

Jasmine Hocutt, Sport Management Dale Jackson, Sport Management

Thomas Miles, Sport Management

Tavis Stampley, Business Administration

Terry Warren, Business Administration

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES, MATHEMATICS & ALLIED HEALTH BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Amoria Barber, Biology

Briawna Greene, Exercise Science

Gabrielle Hepburn, Chemistry

Jae鈥橪a Jean-Louis, Public Health Science

Ruth Jepkogei, Biology **

Raven McIntosh, Biology **

Davonya Siffrin, Biology **

Taymar Smith, Biology **

Students graduating with Honors are noted with (*) asterisks.

*Cum Laude 3.40 鈥� 3.59

**Magna Cum Laude 3.60 鈥� 3.79 聽

***Summa Cum Laude 3.80 鈥� 4.00

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The students. who received scholarships of $2,777 each, are as follows:
聽* 聽聽Lashae Johnson
聽* 聽聽Tereyonna Paul
聽* 聽聽Kathy Moses
聽* 聽聽Imani Cosby
聽* 聽聽Holly Millsaps
聽* 聽聽Darryl McCaster
聽* 聽聽Da’Quan Jones
聽* 聽聽Alexandra Hooper
聽* 聽聽Kai’La James

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The commencement speaker will be Retha Bogier, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bogier Clinical & IT Solutions, Inc. with expertise in staffing, clinical and statistical programming, and consulting using SAS and PL/SQL. Ms. Bogier earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Saint Augustine鈥檚 College (now University) in 1988.

She is a member of the 2003-2004 Who鈥檚 Who in Executive Professionals and attended the 2003, 2007, and 2010聽Minority Business Executive Program class at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.聽Prior to starting Bogier Clinical & IT Solutions, Inc., Ms. Bogier gained (CRO) industry experience from PPD, PharmaNet, and ClinTrials Research.聽 During her tenure at these companies, she gained Clinical and Statistical Programming experience in numerous Phase II, IIIb, and IV clinical trials.

Music for the commencement ceremony will be provided by Luther Barnes, Pastor of Restoration Worship Center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. In 1976, Pastor Barnes graduated from Saint Augustine’s College (now University) in Raleigh, North Carolina with a BA Degree in Music Education. He then taught Music in the Nash and Edgecombe School Systems and also taught private lessons in voice and piano.

In 1984, Pastor Barnes left teaching to devote full time to his music ministry. He traveled extensively and played keyboards for a number of years with his father and Sister Janice Brown after they recorded the ever-popular song “Rough Side of the Mountain.” Over the years Pastor Barnes has evolved into one of gospel music’s premier male vocal artists while recording over 25 albums and CDs with The Red Budd Gospel Choir and the Sunset Jubilaires.

探花精选 traditionally holds commencement in May, but the additional ceremony is being added to ensure all of its students have an opportunity to celebrate the completion of their degrees.

鈥淭he December commencement was added with students in mind,鈥� said Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess. 鈥淭he fight for 探花精选鈥檚 accreditation with SACSCOC has overshadowed the outstanding achievements of our students. We want to reclaim our story and focus attention on our academic excellence, not on the University鈥檚 past financial challenges.鈥�

The university will undergo a review of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges聽(SACSCOC)聽at its Annual Meeting Dec. 7-10 in Austin, Texas. If 探花精选 receives an unfavorable ruling from SACSCOC, the university would appeal and its accreditation would be temporarily restored while the appeal process plays out, explained 探花精选 Provost Dr. Janelle Jennings-Alexander.

鈥淎 hearing on the appeal would most likely take place in February 2025,鈥� Dr. Jennings-Alexander stated. 鈥淭he result of that hearing could be restoration of 探花精选鈥檚 accreditation without interruption. We are confident we have a good chance of ultimately prevailing but we do not want students who are able to graduate now to go through a period of uncertainty unnecessarily.鈥�

Dr. Burgess emphasized that 探花精选 has made significant process in the past year toward gaining financial stability and positioning the university for future success. This progress includes:

• Completing four financial audits for fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, ensuring transparency and accountability in our financial practices.
• Securing a critical agreement with Gothic Ventures, ensuring operational continuity for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year.
• Implementing a comprehensive cost optimization strategy alongside a robust financial sustainability plan to better position the university for the future.
• Strengthening and improving oversight of essential financial policies, procedures, and internal controls, laying the groundwork for responsible governance.
• A partnership with 50 Plus 1 Sports that retires 探花精选鈥檚 debt with a $70 million cash infusion and, for decades to come, provides ongoing revenue streams.

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The program is being led by Dr. Sarah Straud, 探花精选鈥檚 Biology Program Coordinator, and Dr. Tyrell Carr, Associate Dean for the School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Allied Health.

鈥淭his opportunity expands the ability of Saint Augustine鈥檚 University to offer scholars cutting-edge and relevant experiences for competitive entry and matriculation in the scientific workforce, graduate school and/or professional school centered on the life sciences,鈥� Dr. Carr stated. 鈥淚n addition, this opportunity will strengthen and expand our program offerings in the biological and biomedical sciences as it relates to integrative and interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) education and research.鈥�

The Science Education Alliance is a project of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), a biomedical research organization and philanthropy with a mission of unlocking the fundamentals of biology and building an open, inclusive future for science.

The year-long research experience is called SEA-PHAGES and involves isolating and characterizing novel viruses that infect bacteria. Dr. Carr and Dr. Straud attended a meeting about SEA on Nov. 21, 2024, at North Carolina Central University in Durham.

Although SEA-PHAGES has been in existence since 2008, HHMI is piloting and developing a program involving the 10 HBCUs of North Carolina, collectively known as NC10. The program has several phases that can be thought of as 鈥渆xperiences鈥�:

Experience 1, an undergraduate student from each NC10 institution will be provided with a $7,000 stipend and housing to engage in eight weeks of SEA-PHAGES research at North Carolina Central University in Summer 2025.

Experience 2, which is tentative pending final approval, calls for the SEA-PHAGES trained undergraduate student to then engage in a year-long research experience under the mentorship of faculty at their home institution with stipend and funding support from HHMI.

Experience 3 (also tentative), in the summer of 2026, the same undergraduate student from Experiences 1 and 2 will engage in an 8-week research experience in the Laboratory of an HHMI Investigator at their institution. This experience will come with a stipend and housing support.

At Saint Augustine鈥檚 University, Dr. Straud will serve as the Faculty Lead for the SEA-PHAGES research project experience in BIOL 133L 鈥� Principles of Biology Part 1 Lab and BIOL 134L 鈥� Principles of Biology Part 2 Lab. The SEA-PHAGES experience at Saint Augustine鈥檚 University is slated to begin in the Fall of 2025. In addition, Dr. Straud will serve as one of the Research Mentors for Experience 2 along with Dr. Carr.

The other institutions participating in NC 10 are N.C. Central University, Shaw University, Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina A&T University, Johnson C. Smith University, Fayetteville State University, Bennett College, Livingstone College, and Elizabeth City State University.

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Speakers at the 鈥淔irst Generation Celebration,鈥� held Thursday, Nov. 21, in the theater at the MLK Student Center, lauded students for being pioneers and exhorted them to be strong and to be appreciative of the opportunity they had been given and to take full advantage of it.

Ophelia Johnson, a professor of Film and Interactive Media, set the tone in the invocation: 鈥淲e gather here today with hearts full of gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate this program which uplifts and empowers first-generation college students. We are grateful for students who are trailblazers in their families, pursuing education with courage, determination and hope.鈥�

The keynote speaker was Dr. Linda Hubbard Curtis, CEO of H&C Independent Educational Consultant LLC. Dr. Curtis also held several administrative positions at Saint Augustine鈥檚, including vice president of academic affairs, before retiring. Dr. Curtis stressed that the students were blazing a path not only for themselves but for future generations as well.

鈥淵ou are first generation, so your children will not be,鈥� Dr. Curtis said. 鈥淵ou have the proper tools to guide them, to give them the benefit of an experience of how it was when you were in college; to educate them on financial aid, how it is to live in a residence hall, how it is to deal with professors, how it is to navigate yourself on a college campus, how it is to have that third eye when you want to be safe and sound on a college campus.鈥�

Adonis Blue, who serves as Saint Augustine鈥檚 New Scholars Coordinator, told the students that he was a first-generation student himself. He recounted how his mother had worked three full-time jobs to put him through college. He added: 鈥淔or me, it worked out that education was key to, you know, having a life where I’m able to raise a family, to have a lifestyle that鈥檚 comfortable. So take these years very seriously.鈥�

According to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), 56% of college students are first-generation. The current percentage at Saint Augustine鈥檚 is unavailable, but the university has always had a large number of first-generation students.

The event was organized by the 探花精选 TRIO Center of Excellence. TRIO is a set of federal programs that provide services to help low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities access and succeed in higher education: academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, and financial guidance. Dr. Bridgette McAden, who serves on the staff of the 探花精选 TRIO program, was the mistress of ceremonies.

Dr. Antonio Stephens, Director of the 探花精选 TRIO Center of Excellence, led students in a pledge at the end of the event in which they committed to upholding nine tasks, including:

1. I pledge to honor the journey I am on, embracing the challenges and celebrating every achievement.
2. I pledge to be a trailblazer for myself, my family, and my community, opening doors for future generations.
3. I pledge to have unwavering faith in my potential, knowing that I am capable of achieving greatness.

Before leaving, students munched on cupcakes topped with the message: 鈥淚鈥檓 first!鈥� The event got good reviews from the students.

鈥淭his was great!鈥� said Michel Shevchenko, a freshman from Haiti majoring in business administration. 鈥淚 enjoyed the program.鈥�

鈥淚t was a very good experience to hear words of encouragement,鈥� added Nicholas Black, a senior from Fayetteville majoring in exercise science.

Kristoff Strachan, a senior from the Bahamas majoring in political science, appreciated the event鈥檚 larger significance: 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 good for the school to have a reception for first-generation students, especially since it鈥檚 an HBCU. What a difference education has made for Black people! A college education makes a world of difference.鈥�

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Dr. Anu Gokhale

Dr.  Anu Gokhale, a professor and chair of the Computer Information Systems Department at Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选), is helping to expand the world鈥檚 knowledge of potential bias in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based predictive and automated decision-making systems. She has authored a peer-reviewed on the subject that was published recently in the highly regarded journal AI & Society.

The goal of Dr. Gokhale鈥檚 research was to investigate the adage that, while humans are fallible, computers are impartial with no implicit bias. Toward this purpose, the author used the Delphi research technique to achieve three objectives: (1) identify and categorize the sources of flaws in algorithm design; (2) validate a framework for auditing AI-powered systems; and (3) propose strategies for resolving the sources and mitigating the flaws in algorithm design.

The findings include scientific and technical strategies to build Machine Learning (ML) models that resolve the sources and mitigate the flaws in algorithm design. The article emphasizes that the overarching goal of STEM professionals should be to design sociotechnical systems that broaden participation in the economy and lead to best outcomes for all subgroups of people.

鈥淲e collectively bear the responsibility to build a more inclusive AI community that would be better equipped to address implicit bias in algorithm design and ML model outcomes,鈥� the article found. The study cautions that AI, if unchecked and not properly governed, could have significant, tangible and long-lasting adverse effects for specific segments of the population.

For Dr. Gokhale, it was her first solo-authored article in a peer-reviewed journal since arriving at 探花精选 in 2022. 鈥淚 am deeply humbled and honored to uphold the visibility and reputation of Saint Augustine’s University,鈥� she said.

Dr. Janelle Jennings-Alexander, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs called the publication of the article 鈥渢ruly impressive.鈥� She added: 鈥淢aintaining a rigorous schedule of academic engagement and publishing a single-authored paper in a reputable journal, especially during these challenging times, is no small feat and a significant achievement.鈥�

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