NAFEO NATION Leader from 1989 until his death, Elder, Baba, “Doc Arthur E. Thomas,”  HBCU Olympian who carried the torch high for HBCUs and African-ancestored  people, worldwide, without breaking stride and without faltering  for over half a century, ended his earthly race on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at age 84..

To quote one of Doc’s heroes, “Death is something inevitable…When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his country and his people, he can rest in peace.” Having  fought the fight, finished the race, with singular focus, perseverance, and determination, and while  keeping the faith, our Honorable Doctor Arthur E. Thomas can rest in peace. 

Dr. Thomas dedicated his entire adult life and career to championing causes of the poor, the oppressed, and the least of these. He leveraged all of his resources to fight injustices wherever “they reared their ugly head,”  while serving as a NAFEO Presidential Fellow. In that capacity he continued his mentorship that was the hallmark of his life.

A 1962 graduate of Central State University, Dr. Thomas served as an elementary and high school teacher, as well as a football and track coach. He also taught, and directed advocacy programs. While President of Central State University, Dr. Thomas pushed back indefatigably against the “Barbarians at the Gate” of Central State University, and forced government attackers of Central State retreat. The actions of Dr. Arthur E. Thomas  kept open the doors of Central State University and in so doing, kept open the doors of equal educational opportunity, excellence, and equity in Ohio. Central State University is the only public HBCU in the State of Ohio. Said NAFEO President Baskerville, “I was privileged to have been dispatched to assist Dr. Thomas in fighting the Barbarians at the Gates of Central State University as a 3rd year law student at Howard University School of Law.  That experience played a major role in my decision to dedicate my legal service to fighting to sustain and strengthen America’s mission-based HBCUs, and paved the way for Doc’s mentorship for more than 30 years.

While serving as the President of Central State University, Doc served as a Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). At NAFEO, Dr. Thomas secured a $40 million congressional appropriation for a virtual democracy and technology partnership between twenty HBCUs and twenty African colleges and universities.

Dr. Thomas was selected by President Clinton to serve as an official U.S. representative to the first democratic elections in South Africa. During his tenure as President at Central State University, he awarded more than 100 full scholarships to African students from 23 African countries. Ten students were recipients from South Africa in fulfillment of a commitment to Madiba Nelson Mandela.

As Doc battled health challenges, he continued to serve NAFEO in his capacity as NAFEO Presidential Fellow. In this capacity, among other things, Dr. Thomas shaped, advanced, secured funding for HBCUs and PBIs, and for six years directed a NAFEO, HACU, and AIHEC (Alliance for Equity in Higher Education) presidential pipeline initiative, to prepare the next cohorts of HBCU, PBI, HSI, and TCU presidents and chancellors. As a NAFEO Presidential Fellow, Doc continued the mentorship that was the hallmark of his life.  

Doc’s proudest roles were those of paterfamilias and besotted grandfather. Doc struggled to remain here as his body was failing him, to continue these relished  roles. The hearts and prayers of the NAFEO Nation go out to Jeff Thomas, Doc’s son, and his wife, Karen, Attorney Cheryl Washington, Doc’s beloved companion and Fiancée for many years, Doc’s grandchildren, great grandchildren, and the thousands who loved him as their “Dad,” Brother–Nupes and other Brothers–Family, mentor, leader Baba, colleague, Model of Black Excellence and Black Manhood, and friend.

Farewell Dr. Thomas. Farewell Baba, Brother, Mentor, Doc-Doc! Good night Sweet Prince.

Hon. Lezli Baskerville, Esquire, President & CEO, NAFEO;
Founding Director, ECRID Credit Bureau & Lending Corporation, ECRID Credit Union
Director, Black Shopping Channel 
Also on behalf of:

Dr. Wilma J. Roscoe, Interim President & President Emerita, NAFEO
Lieutenant-Colonel Honorable Peter Gibbs, President, Foundation Surety and Insurance Solutions
Dr. Earl Richardson, President Emeritus, Morgan State University
Olympian Torchbearer for Coalition for Equity & Excellence in Maryland Higher Education, et. al v. Maryland Higher Education Commission, et. al; Former NAFEO Board Chair
Dr. George T. French, President, Clark Atlanta University, President Emeritus, Miles College,    Former Chair, NAFEO Board Chair
Hon. Joe Madison,   Legendary Voice in Radio, “Black Eagle,”  and celebrated  human and civil rights activist
Current, Past and Future HBCU Presidents & Chancellors
Doc’s NAFEO  W.K. Kellogg  Leadership Protégés

As preferred expressions of sympathy, please send a contribution to  the Delta Zeta Alumni Foundation Inc,  https://dzalumnifoundation.org/become-a-sponsor

Alternatively, please send checks payable to the Delta Zeta Alumni Foundation Inc., Dr. Arthur E. Thomas Scholarship,  7452 Portbury Park Lane Suwanee, GA 30024.

Just released during Women’s History Month, the new book “InnovateHERs” highlights a select number of high-achieving women for being–as the name suggests–innovators. Among the women featured in the book is Dr. Lezli Baskerville, the President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO).

More specifically, an InnovateHER is a woman who uses entrepreneurial traits and skills to create a positive impact in the world and achieve a greater personal purpose. To see the complete list of female innovators–including Dr. Baskerville–with photos and bios, click the following link below. Also, after reading Dr. Baskerville’s bio, we encourage you to click to the two NAFEO social media channels where you can “like” the news of her noteworthy inclusion in “InnovateHERs” book.

InnovateHERS.org

Just released during Women’s History Month, the new book “InnovateHERs” highlights a select number of high-achieving women for being–as the name suggests–innovators. Among the women featured in the book is Dr. Lezli Baskerville, the President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO).

More specifically, an InnovateHER is a woman who uses entrepreneurial traits and skills to create a positive impact in the world and achieve a greater personal purpose. To see the complete list of female innovators–including Dr. Baskerville–with photos and bios, click the following link below. Also, after reading Dr. Baskerville’s bio, we encourage you to click to the two NAFEO social media channels where you can “like” the news of her noteworthy inclusion in “InnovateHERs” book.

InnovateHERS.org

NAFEO is elated that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson,  whose parents graduated from HBCUs, is under consideration for Justice of the United States Supreme Court.  It is clear that Judge Brown Jackson possesses an outstanding education, the requisite judicial experience and temperament, and is a person of great rectitude.  As the daughter of HBCU alumni, we know that she would bring to the High Court independence and an understanding of our interdependence as citizens of the United States.

Judge Brown Jackson is an eminent lawyer and judge on the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia which is  second only to the United States Supreme Court in terms of prestige and prominence. She possesses a unique lens through which she would view the impact of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, socio-economic status and geography on the cases that will be  brought before the High Court, many of which will impact higher education.

The American postsecondary education systems are stratified, and have a wide range of institutions that offer 2-year, 4-year, graduate and professional degrees.  Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson attained her degrees from some of the most well-resourced institutions in the world. That experience is important to the perspective she would bring to deliberations and decision-making on the Supreme Court. So too, would she ring her experiences as a Public Defender who zealously represented men and women of least advantage, primarily persons of color,  before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to ensure their right to counsel in a criminal proceeding was neither denied nor compromised.

We are at a critical juncture in our great nation’s history. There are ongoing debates about the value of a postsecondary education.  State legislatures are imposing gag orders on faculty, limiting their freedom and flexibility to teach.  Discussions are ongoing about how to make public higher education systems more inclusive and reflective of the populations of the states in which they are located.  There are questions about how to end the vestigial impacts of decades of de jure discrimination in higher education by the states that operate historically White and Black university systems. These issues are likely to be argued before the Supreme Court.  We want someone like Judge Brown Jackson to hear oral argument, engage in deliberation with other justices and impact a decision in a case of particular interest to NAFEO, Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College.  The case challenges the consideration of race among a range of other important criteria, in attempting to attain an excellent, diverse student body. Attaining a diverse student body has been repeatedly recognized by the Supreme Court as a compelling government interest. The High Court has upheld diversity plans in higher education that consider an applicant’s race along with other admissions criteria, that are narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling government interest  in diversity.

NAFEO provided its perspective during earlier phases of Students for Fair Admissions v. President & Fellows of Harvard College. While we are uncertain of the decision Judge Brown Jackson would make as a member of the Supreme Court, we are certain that her presence would enhance the hearing, processing, deliberating, and decision-making by the Court. It would  ensure for the first time that the perspective of a Black female would be represented in shaping the future of the Academy and the American workforce, executive, service and diplomatic corps. As with every other class of persons,  Black women bring to everything in which they are engaged a unique lens shaped in part by their experiences as Black women. This added diversity on the Supreme Court would ensure a more robust exchange of ideas and decision-making on all matters regarding moving America closer to realizing her Egalitarian Ideal— closing the education, employment, economic, wealth, health, sustainability and justice gaps in America.

HBCUs Primary Source of Black Lawyers & Judges As we are celebrating NAFEO’s largest class of female HBCU and PBI presidents in 2022, with 47 female presidents, we are certain that the presence of Judge Brown Jackson on the Supreme Court, would enrich it immensely. Among other things, data suggest that the mere presence of a Black female on the Court would increase the confidence of Black females who appear for the High Court. Black females who are represented before the High Court would have a greater sense justice might be possible.

HBCUs graduate 50%  of  Black lawyers, more than 50% of whom are female. They graduate  80% of Blacks who have become judges. The 6 HBCU ABA-approved law schools, out of 203 such schools in America, graduate one-quarter (25%) of the  of nation’s Black lawyers. These lawyers would most assuredly stand taller when appearing before the most diverse Supreme Court in the nation’s history.

Diversity is especially vital to the Supreme Court that is ultimately responsible for meting out justice in America. It is a cornerstone of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.  Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson possesses “The Substance of Things Hoped For” in a Supreme Court Justice. ’She Evidences Great Things Seen and Unseen.’  Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson deserves a seat on the highest court in the land.  She has the education.  She has the experience. She has the temperament.  And she has a lens through which to view cases unlike any other Justice in the United States Supreme Court.

In the beginning of March 2022, the Department of Education announced state-by-state breakdowns of funding for colleges and universities provided in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) approved by a bipartisan Congress, championed and signed into law by President Biden. ARP provided one of the largest one-time infusions of funding ever in American colleges and universities. These funds were provided through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) over the past year.

The American Rescue Plan provided:

• Approximately $11 billion to Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs)
• More than $10 billion to over 1,000 community colleges
• Approximately $5 billion to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs)
• More than $2.7 billion to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Almost $1 billion to Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs)
• More than $190 million to Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

The Department of Education expects at least half of these funds will be used to provide direct financial relief to students. In addition to funding provided under previous coronavirus relief legislation, these funds are already being used by colleges and universities across the country to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are already having a significant impact on institutions and students:[1]

[1] This language is from the public  report released by the U.S. Department of Education March 8, 2022.

• A recent survey of college presidents by the American Council on Education found HEERF enabled:
  • 93% of colleges to provide direct financial support to students at risk of dropping out
  • 81% of colleges to keep student net prices similar to pre-pandemic levels
  • 70% of colleges to continue to employ faculty, staff, and other employees otherwise at risk of unemployment
  • 63% of colleges to keep students and faculty safe by purchasing COVID-19 tests, health screenings, and health care
• Thousands of colleges and universities all across the country are using HEERF to keep students enrolled and on track to graduate, as well as make college more affordable, by providing emergency grants, discharging outstanding student debt or unpaid balances, and eliminating transcript withholding practices.

Factsheet by State/Territory:

While these investments were tremendous, sorely needed investments in some of the most under-funded American colleges and universities, other recipients of the funds have not submitt4d reports that indicate that they are under-funded in relation to the standard-bearer institutions of the states. Indeed, some of the institutions are the standard-bearers. Some MSIs are the flagship historically White well-resourced institutions of the states that enroll twenty-five percent of one of the recognized races or ethnicities under MSI designations such as Hispanic-serving Institutions  and Asian American, Native America, Pacific Islander-serving Institutions.

NAFEO member institutions, their allies and champions, will educate policy makers and pricy shapers about the dangers of legislating the HEERF formula going forward. To do the same would eliminate the need-criterion contained in the current legislated formula for the HBCUs, TCUs and all of the MIS. Need must NOT be legislated into any formula used for investing public dollars in HBCUs, TCUs and MSIs going forward….Stay Tuned!

All Hail & Salute the Fabled Females of Foresight, Fortitude & Faith on the Frontlines of America’s HBCUs and PBIs.