Diversity Excellence Awards presented during 31th annual convocation week

April 15, 2009 -- Today, Arkansas State University-Jonesboro's annual Diversity Excellence Awards luncheon recognized several individuals for their contributions toward strategic diversity initiatives at ASU-Jonesboro. Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, History, was the recipient of the 2009 Campus Excellence Award.

The Friends of Diversity awards were presented to Dr. Rick Stripling, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Jill Simons, director, Wilson Advising Center, Marilyn Brewer, office manager, Office of the Chancellor, Dr. Russ Shain, dean, College of Communications, and Dr. Patricia Guy-Walls, Social Work.

Entertainment at the luncheon was provided by members of the ASU Men's Quartet, directed by Dr. Dale Miller, and members of the ASU Jazztette, directed by Dr. E. Ron Horton.

Dr. Lonnie Williams, associate vice chancellor, Student Affairs, delivered the invocation, and Dr. Robert L. Potts, chancellor, ASU-Jonesboro, welcomed guests to the ceremony. Joe Black, president, Southern Bancorp Capital Partners, gave the keynote presentation.

Joe Black currently serves as president of Southern Bancorp Capital Partners (SBCP), a non-profit CDFI affiliate of Southern Bancorp, a community development financial institution (CDFI) bank holding company serving rural markets in Arkansas and Mississippi. Southern Bancorp is a $1 billion dollar institution and is the largest private sector rural development agency in the nation. Prior to joining Southern, Black served as economic liaison to the First Congressional Office and as program coordinator at the Center for Economic Development.

Black has a bachelor of science degree from Arkansas State University and a master of business administration degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
His affiliations include appointment as a commissioner by the Governor of Arkansas to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. He is a board member of the Coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions, CHRISTUS Health Community Direct Investment Fund, Arkansans for Charity Excellence, and Crossroads Coalition, and he maintains a host of other local and regional affiliations with community-based development groups working toward economic self-sufficiency in less developed markets.


From left, Diversity Excellence Award winners Marilyn Brewer, Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, Jill Simons, and Dr. Patricia Guy-Walls.

Dr. Lillie Fears, Diversity Fellow, Journalism, presented the awards, and Dr. Glen Jones, senior associate vice chancellor, Academic Affairs and Research, and assistant to the Chancellor for Diversity, presented the closing remarks.


Dr. Russ Shain, left,  and Dr. Rick Stripling, right.
 

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