NEWS & INFORMATION
Spence Hall
Christmas Letter from President Agenia Clark
December 20, 2023 (Nashville, Tennessee)
Dear Fisk Family,
As I reflect on my initial weeks as your president, I am overwhelmed by a profound sense of excitement and gratitude. In this brief time, the passion and dedication ingrained in our Fisk community have deeply impressed me. I have seen it in the eyes of our students, striving for excellence both inside and outside the classroom. I have heard it in the voices of our faculty, generously sharing their knowledge and wisdom. And I have felt it in the unwavering support of our alumni, who continue to champion Fisk's legacy of progress and empowerment.
This holiday season, as you prepare to gather with loved ones, let us remember that the spirit of Christmas transcends twinkling lights and festive cheer. It embodies the values we hold dear: compassion, generosity, and a shared commitment to a better world. At Fisk, these values are woven into the fabric of our community. We see them in the helping hands extended to neighbors, the open minds embracing diverse perspectives, and the unwavering voices calling for justice and equality.
So, as you anticipate sharing laughter and stories around the table, hold close the warmth of Jubilee Hall, the echo of campus conversations, and the shared values that bind us all. Carry the spirit of Fisk with you, spreading kindness and making a difference wherever you go.
May this upcoming Christmas bring you joy, peace, and renewed hope for the year ahead. And may we, as the Fisk family, continue to illuminate the world, guided by the values that define us.
With sincere holiday wishes,
Dr. Agenia Walker Clark
President, Fisk University
Wendy Thompson, JD
Higher Education Leader Wendy Thompson Joins Fisk University as Chief of Staff
December 13, 2023 (NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Higher education veteran Wendy Thompson, the former Vice Chancellor of Organizational Effectiveness for the Tennessee Board of Regents, has joined Fisk University as its Chief of Staff, according to Dr. Agenia Clark, the university’s new president.
Dr. G. Preston Wilson, Jr.
Main Featured, University News and Publications
FISK UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES DR. G. PRESTON WILSON, JR. , FISK ‘10, AS NEW DIRECTOR OF THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS®
Maya Brown
Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
October 31, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nashville, TN – October 31, 2023 – Fisk University is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. G. Preston Wilson, Jr. as the new Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers®. Dr. Wilson’s selection comes after an extensive yearlong search and is set to take effect on January 1st, 2024. He will be following in the footsteps of esteemed musical legends such as Dr. Matthew Kennedy and Dr. Paul T. Kwami, both of whom have previously served as Directors of the Fisk Jubilee Singers®.
Ford Photographs - Nashville Architectural PhotographerGabe Ford
Renovation Gives Fisk’s Historic Boyd House New Life
Bradley Projects and Certified Construction Services Complete $1.4M restoration
Nashville Post
OCT 24, 2023
Fisk University has restored a historic campus building that was once home to one of Nashville’s most influential families.
Dr. Agenia W.Clark
Fisk University Picks Longtime Nashville Leader as Next President
Nashville Tennessean
September 12, 2023
Fisk University has named Agenia Walker Clark as its next president.
The announcement came Tuesday from the school's board of trustees, bringing the yearlong search process to a close. Clark will take up her new post on Nov. 6, according to a news release from the board. She will be the 18th president of the school, and the third female to lead the institution. Fisk is among the highest ranked historically Black colleges and universities in the nation, the release said.
Franklin Library
Fisk University and the Schomburg Center of New York Public Library Awarded a NHPRC-Mellon Planning Grant to Plan a Digital Edition of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg’s papers
July 25, 2023
Fisk University News Post
Main Featured, University News and Publications
The project entitled “Remaking the World of Arturo Schomburg” lays the foundation for ongoing collaboration between Fisk University and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Patricia Rencher
Patricia A. Rencher, Fisk BA ’76, MA, MPA, is Dedicated to Community Education about Care for the Aging.
July 19, 2023
Patricia Rencher, longtime member of the Detroit Fisk Club, is a strong advocate for the care and well-being of the elderly; especially, those in Metropolitan Detroit and in urban areas across the United States. She has published the free quarterly Urban Aging News since May 2015 and has served on Michigan state commissions and councils focused upon aging. Pat, who experienced the role of caregiver for her parents, knows first-hand about the challenges and joys of providing essential resources, support and love for the elderly.
Recently, Pat and her publishing team launched Urban Aging News online to complement her widely circulated paper version. Back issues, from 2015, also are available online. Both versions are provided, free, by subscribing here.
Read more about the outstanding community education Pat Rencher is providing to improve the care and quality of life for the elderly and to support their caregivers and families.
Read here, also, about the free 8th Annual Aging Matters Expo, Thursday, August 10, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with a link to required registration.
Holly Rachel
Fisk University Appoints Holly Rachel as Executive Director for the Darrell S. Freeman Sr. Incubation and Innovation Center
July 19, 2023
Fisk University is excited to announce Holly Rachel as the Executive Director for The Darrell S. Freeman Sr. Incubation and Innovation Center. Holly is a seasoned executive, educator, and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in helping companies and founders realize their goals. Since securing the funding for The Darrell S. Freeman Sr. Incubation and Innovation Center, we have received countless calls from businesses, partner organizations, funders and students inquiring about the programs and opportunities to get involved said, Fisk Executive Vice President Dr. Jens Frederiksen. “With the full-scale upgrade of Burrus Hall now underway we are excited to begin building out the innovative programming that will define the Center.”
Tennessee State Museum
Fri, Jun 16, 2023 - Feb 25, 2024
All day
FULL DESCRIPTION
In the early 20th century, businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald partnered with famed educator Booker T. Washington to establish a project known as the Rosenwald School. Between 1912 and 1937, roughly 5,000 of these schools for Black children were constructed throughout the South — 354 of them in Tennessee. A brand-new exhibit from the good folks at the Tennessee State Museum, in partnership with the John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library at Fisk University, aims to examine the immense impact of Rosenwald Schools in Southern Black communities, focusing in particular on 16 Rosenwald communities in our state. Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee is a 4,000-square-foot exhibit focusing on the stories of alumni, educators and their descendants. It’s an important piece of American history that connects deeply to the civil rights movement, and it’s a topic worth dedicating some thought and consideration to as we head toward this year’s Juneteenth holiday. The exhibit opens on Friday, with a special opening reception to take place at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. But no worries if you can’t make the opening reception — you’ve got eight months to visit the museum and check it out before it closes. June 16-Feb. 25; opening reception 9:30 a.m. June 17; at the Tennessee State Museum, 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
D. PATRICK RODGERS
Honorands Katalin Karikó (clockwise from top left), David Levering Lewis, Michael Mullen, Jennifer Doudna, Hugo Noé Morales Rosas, and Tom Hanks join President Larry Bacow and Provost Alan Garber in Harvard Yard following the Morning Exercises. (Click on the picture to enlarge it.)
Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
David Levering Lewis, Fisk ‘56, is One of Six Recipients of Harvard Honorary Degree
The Harvard Gazette
May 25, 2023
Recipients include a Nobel laureate, an actor, a biochemist, a historian, a co-founder of Radio Bilingüe, and a decorated military leader
Harvard presented six honorary degrees during Thursday’s Commencement ceremony in Tercentenary Theatre.
Cravath Hall Interior
Executive Search Firm Announced for Fisk University Presidential Selection Process
Media Contact:
Maya Brown, Fisk University
Mcbrown@fisk.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nashville, TENN., April 3, 2023 - The Presidential Search Committee solicited qualifications for an executive search firm through a Request for Proposals process. Many responses were received and following consideration of several highly respected search firms, the Presidential Search Committee recommended, and the Board of Trustees approved, the selection of Russell Reynolds Associates (Russell Reynolds). Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leadership advisory firm, with 600+ consultants in 48 offices, who work with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across all industries and regions.
Russell Reynolds will assist and guide the selection process and help Fisk University find a transformational leader who can meet today’s challenges and anticipate the digital, economic, sustainability, and political trends that are reshaping the global educational environment.
Over the past two weeks, Russell Reynolds has had an opportunity to meet with the President, cabinet members, faculty and students to gather the thoughts of the Fisk community regarding the characteristics of a new president. The next critical step in our process is to synthesize all the comments of the Fisk community and create a candidate profile, which is essential to a successful presidential selection process.
Please click the button to provide any thoughts regarding the criteria of a new president:
Additionally, the presidential search webpage will be up soon to provide a continuous hub of news and information related to the presidential selection process so that you will be informed as the selection process unveils.
Thank you for your continued support of Fisk University.
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Posted on DFA 4/3/2023
Grant Hill
Fisk University Announces Commencement Speaker, Grant Hill
Fisk University Website
March 23, 2023
Fisk University is absolutely delighted to announce that this year’s commencement speaker, May 1, will be NBA legend, team owner, author, and broadcaster Grant Hill. Grant’s incredible 19-year playing career is only matched by his impressive business success post-retirement.
Posted on DFA 4/3/2023
Fisk University Invites the Public to Ribbon Cutting for the Roland G. Parrish Career Planning & Development Center, April 22
By Earnestine Cole
PR Consultant
The Dallas Weekly
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening of the Roland Parrish Career Planning & Development Center will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2023, 11:00 a.m., at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremonial groundbreaking for the Center was in 2018. Catalyst Builders Inc. In Nashville, provided the civil engineering, landscape, architectural planning and design services.
Posted on DFA 4/18/2023
Fisk Chapel
Fisk University and Vanderbilt University Team Up for New Postdoctoral Fellowships
Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
March 24, 2023
The Graduate School and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Vanderbilt University in Nashville has partnered with historically Black Fisk University to create a groundbreaking new postdoctoral fellowship program.
These fellowships have been designed to offer opportunities for recent Vanderbilt Ph.D. graduates to build their teaching and scholarship portfolios, receive mentoring from faculty at both institutions and allow time for publishing their dissertations or preparing other research papers. Fellows will be considered by Fisk for faculty positions, with the goal of leading to tenure-track positions.
Posted on DFA 4/3/2023