North Carolina Central University News January 31, 2014 NCCU Professor Jim C. Harper Joins Executive Council for the Study of African American Life and History Dr. Jim C. Harper, associate professor and chairman of the Department of History at North Carolina Central University, has been elected to serve on the executive council of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, based on Washington, D.C. Harper, a member of the NCCU faculty since 2000, said he is honored to join the ASALH's 20-member governing board. "The association is approaching its 100th year in existence, so it's a historic moment to be part of the council," Harper said. "We will be setting the stage for the next 100 years." The nonprofit organization was founded in 1915 by Carter G. Woodson to promote greater knowledge of African American history through education and research. In 1926, Woodson established Black History Week. The week was expanded to become Black History Month in 1976. Harper, who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from NCCU before receiving a Ph.D. from Howard University in 2004, said history students from around the country benefit by presenting research at the annual ASALH conference. Harper has worked with graduate and undergraduate students to help them prepare their presentations for the past 14 years. Other activities of the national organization include operating a professional speaker's bureau, establishing partnerships with national and local agencies, and publishing a Black History Theme Learning Resource Package each year. Members of the ASALH executive council serve three-year terms. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree 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.