News Center

Published July 6, 2021

Talons Out! Carl Whitlock and Earnest Wyatt, students at the University of Louisiana Monroe, are among only 18 students selected as R.F. Lewis Scholars as part of the inaugural Universities of Louisiana Black Male Summit. Whitlock is a freshman majoring in Risk Management and Insurance and Wyatt is a sophomore studying secondary education.

Siddharth Gaulee/ULM Photo Services

 

 

The R.L. Lewis Scholars program recruits Black men and provides educational programs, mentoring opportunities, and co-curricular experiences to improve their collegiate experiences and futures. 

 

A delegation from the University of Louisiana Monroe participated in the inaugural Universities of Louisiana Black Male Summit at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to celebrate and exchange innovative strategies concerning Black men in higher education. 

 

ULM students Carl Whitlock and Earnest Wyatt were selected as R.F. Lewis Scholars as part of the BMS. Each of the nine universities in the University of Louisiana System chose two students for the honor.

 

The scholars' program recruits Black men and provides educational programs, mentoring opportunities, and co-curricular experiences to improve their collegiate experiences and futures. 

 

Whitlock, from West Monroe, is a freshman majoring in Risk Management and Insurance. He said the BMS was inspiring.

 

"There's nothing I can't accomplish or do if I stay focused on the light. I am extremely grateful to ULM and the UL System for helping me realize how important it is that I raise the bar and to keynote speaker Mr. Anthony Jack, for telling us about the multiple roadblocks and how to counteract them as they come. The Black Male Summit broadened my horizons and made me more excited about the next years to come," Whitlock said.

 

 

Wyatt, from Monroe, is a sophomore majoring in secondary education. For him, the summit gave him pride and new ideas.

 

"I am very proud and shocked at the same time. All through high school, being told I was not enough and coming here to college and being presented an award makes me very happy. The experience at the summit was exciting and new. I truly enjoyed meeting new people and having a new experience," Wyatt said. "No matter what the world defines you as believe in yourself, keep trying, keep pushing, and never quit."

 

Pamela Higgins Saulsberry, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, said targeted recruitment of minority students, faculty, and staff, is an integral part of the BMS initiative. 

 

“The UL System is seeking to increase the number of college-educated individuals in Louisiana. The inaugural Black Male Summit was a response to that need. If the sought-after increase is to be realized, the recruitment and retention techniques traditionally used needed to be revised. This revision includes keeping what works and being purposeful about making changes in areas where it does not,” Saulsberry said.

 

“Purposeful recruitment of students from underrepresented populations is an integral part of this initiative, as well as the recruitment of faculty and staff so these students will see what they are working to be once they get to college. Each UL system school selected two scholars as part of this initiative,” she said.

 

Bill McCown, Ph.D., Interim Director of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, was impressed with the summit and information presented.

 

"The Black Male Summit helped raise awareness of critical issues that a very important group of our students face. But the summit was also quite 'hands-on.' I was able to immediately apply what I learned to my current teaching and advising. I believe our entire campus will benefit from the knowledge we gained from attending," McCown said. "I look forward to even greater ULM participation next year."

 

Anthony Jack delivered the keynote address centered around his book, "The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges Are Failing Disadvantaged Students." He reminded attendees that students from different socioeconomic, racial, and family backgrounds have different and often unique needs and that "even undreamt dreams can come true." 

 

A panel discussion moderated by ULL's Dr. Taniecea Mallery asked System President Dr. Jim Henderson, Grambling State University President Rick Gallot, University of New Orleans' Director of Experiential Learning and Community Engagement Ryan Bell, and ULM Instructor Jaleesa Harris to recount their work to advance the Black male experience at the Universities of Louisiana.