Levon T. Esters and Marybeth Gasman, Author at HBCU Lifestyle

Levon T. Esters and Marybeth Gasman

Levon T. Esters is an associate professor of youth development at Purdue University and a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Minority Serving Institutions. Levon's research focuses on the STEM career development of underrepresented minorities (URMs), mentoring of females and URM graduate students in STEM, and the role of historically Black land-grant institutions in fostering the STEM success of females and URMs.

Members of the black student protest group Concerned Student 1950 in Missouri

Stepping Up and Speaking Out as a Crisis Management Strategy

HBCU Colleges / By Levon T. Esters and Marybeth Gasman

The recent race-related incident at the University of Missouri resulting in the resignations of the University of Missouri system president and chancellor have spurred numerous protests on college campuses across the country. While some allege that these student-led movements are unnecessary and divisive; the timeline of events that precipitated Jonathon Butler’s hunger strike at Missouri …

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You female students on the campus of Prairie View A&M University.

Creating a Culture of Advocacy for Black Women at HBCUs

HBCU Colleges / By Levon T. Esters and Marybeth Gasman

The proliferation of violent acts against young Black men is not only tragic but has become too common. With that said, the most recent violent incident against an African American involved the arrest of a Black girl at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina. This incident highlights the disturbing violence against Black girls, …

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HBCU Rally for Unity participants from Morgan State and Bowie State Universities gather in front City Hall in Baltimore, MD.

HBCUs’ Role in the Social Justice Movement

HBCU Colleges / By Levon T. Esters and Marybeth Gasman

Quite often, critics question the relevancy and value of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to contemporary society. More troubling is that many of these criticisms are not supported by data, or even worse, data that is used is often misconstrued. These criticisms exist even though it is well documented that HBCUs play a major …

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Claflin University students and faculty in group photo.

Setting the Record Straight Regarding Student Enrollment at HBCUs

HBCU Colleges, HBCU News / By Levon T. Esters and Marybeth Gasman

A common narrative shared among the popular press and social media is the declining student enrollment among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). However, for many HBCUs, not only has the 2015 academic year brought an increase in the number of student applications, but some of the largest freshmen classes in years. Increases in both …

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