“BROTHERMAN DICTATOR OF DISCIPLINE”

CULTURE EQUALS
SUCCESS
FROM THE EDITOR
Social environment and a nurturing
culture remain the key differences in
success for African American graduates
from Historically Black Colleges &
Universities (HBCUs) as opposed to
their peers from predominately white
institutions (PWIs).
According to an ongoing Gallup-
Purdue University study, black graduates
of HBCUs were significantly more likely
to have felt supported while in college and
to be thriving afterwards than are their
black counterparts at PWIs. This is in
stark contrast to the arguments in recent
months that black students’ dissatisfaction
and struggle at PWIs was due to their
academic inability and poor attitudes.
One need only visit many of the
nation’s HBCUs as proof to the contrary,
including of them, the nation’s first-degree
granting, Lincoln University. Lincoln has
always offered a rigorous and competitive
academic environment as well as a
nurturing and socially accommodating
culture to our entire diverse population.
We need only look through these
current pages of the Lion as well as at
the impact our graduates have made
once they have departed our gates, most
advancing to graduate and professional
schools while others immediately making
their mark in their professional careers.
From alumnus and university
trustee Guy Sims ’83, who ushers in
the return of his trailblazing black
comic book and hero, Brotherman, to
recognizing the career contributions of
the late Major League Baseball & Negro
Photo by Josh Hankins
League Baseball Hall of Famer and
alumnus Monte Irvin, these individuals
were successful because they chose
a university that cultivated their gifts
through challenge and affirmation.
Likewise, the university’s concert
choir and its director have garnered
international acclaim while another
generation of alumni professionals and
trailblazers are also acknowledged in the
second annual 40 Under 40 list. Among
the university’s rare four single-letter
fraternity chapters, the Epsilon chapter
of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is the
third to celebrate its first 100 years. The
chapter’s exceptional charter members
and brotherhood were pivotal to the
development of their entire fraternity
and made important contributions
to a wide range of professions.
In addition, two other alumni claimed
FIRST or historical distinctions in
2015. Dr. Jalaal Hayes ’11 became the
youngest recipient of a doctoral degree
in Delaware State University history
while Dr. Soraya (Moore) Coley ’72 was
invested as the first woman and African
American president of California State
Polytechnic University, Pomona. She
is also the first alumna to join 10 male
Lincoln University graduates who became
presidents of colleges and universities
in the United States and abroad.
Among others, celebrity chef Amaris
Jones ’95 is making her mark in the
culinary arena cooking up healthy
renditions of soulful dishes and changing
the lives and health of Hip Hop artist
Rick Ross and others while alumnus
Kash Goins ’94, an actor, director
and writer, continues with his acting
transition to the silver screen in the
latest “Rocky” installment, “Creed.”
These African American alumni
and others continue to highlight the
obvious successes of Lincoln, but
most importantly remind America that
African American students succeed when
institutions invest in the complete student.
Hail, Hail Lincoln!
Eric Christopher Webb ’91
Editor
4 LION