Fayetteville State University News January 25, 2012 Scholar and FSU Alumnus to Kick off Black History Month Fayetteville State University (FSU) alumnus Charles E. Jones, Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Cincinnati and founding chair of the Department of African-American Studies at Georgia State University, will give the keynote address at the annual campus Black History Month Kickoff on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. in Seabrook Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. The university will also honor Dr. Marye J. Jeffries and Chief Benjamin Nichols (Ret.) at this event. Since 1997, the University has honored individuals who have worked within their communities to ensure equal access for all. Recent honorees include Dr. Stanley Johnson (2011), Dr. Annie McCullough Chavis (2011), Mrs. Doris Ann Shipman (2010), Dr. Malcolm Fleishman (2009), Former Mayor Marshall Pitts (2009), Mr. Moses Mathis (2007), and Dr. Valeria Fleming (2006). Access to higher education is one of the most important rights, and Dr. Jeffries and Chief Nichols, even in retirement, continue to work to ensure that women, minorities, and others have this opportunity. Dr. Jeffries, a former Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at FSU, is former chair of the Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) Board of Directors. Additionally, she is currently working with the LINKs Linking Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with Community Colleges program. Chief Nichols is the former fire chief in Fayetteville, N.C. His work, via community learning circles, led to construction of a fire station on FSU's campus, and the creation of the Fire Science Program at FSU. This program was created to encourage a more diverse Fire Department workforce in the city and includes a 2+2+2 program partnership with E.E. Smith High School, FTCC, and FSU. Members of the FSU Performing and Fine Arts Department will also be part of the program. FSU is the second-oldest public institution in North Carolina. A member of the University of North Carolina System, FSU has nearly 6,000 students and offers degrees in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. For more information, call (910) 672-1474. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.