Simmons College and University of Kentucky Announce New Partnership

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Simmons College of Kentucky and the University of Kentucky have formalized an agreement that leaders say will expand pathways for their students.

Simmons, Louisville’s only historically Black college, hosted an announcement with UK on its campus Tuesday.

“This partnership will bring people together to allow us to build a trusting relationship that bridges divides that have kept us separated far too long,” said Simmons professor Dr. Lucian Yates III.

The institutions are collaborating to develop teacher education preparation and pre-law and constitutional studies programs at Simmons, leaders said.

Students from both institutions would have opportunities to further their professional and personal development, according to the agreement.

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Dr. Jemar Tisby to join faculty of Simmons College of Kentucky

Dr. Jemar Tisby will join the faculty of Simmons College of Kentucky as a Professor of History beginning October 10, 2022. Tisby will be responsible for teaching, participating in the life of the college, and engaging in collaborative efforts with internal and external partners.

 

As part of his position, Tisby will actively contribute to the scholarly advancement of the field of history through developing original historical research, conducting oral history

projects, engaging in archival research, synthesizing new and classic works, participating in historical societies, and more. It will also be in his scope of work to produce scholarship for the academy as well the public. Public scholarship makes the academic study of history accessible to lay people around the nation and the world. This work can take the form of webinars, video teaching series, podcasts, interviews, courses that are open to the public, documentary film projects, social media content, partnerships with external organizations, and more. It is Dr. Tisby’s hope that these projects will all increase the public profile of historical studies and the institution.

 

Outside of his role as Professor of History, Tisby is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the Church’s Complicity in Racism, and How to Fight Racism. His latest book is How to Fight Racism: Young Reader’s Edition. Tisby has been a co-host of the “Pass the Mic” podcast since its inception eight years ago. His writing has been featured in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the New York Times among others. He is a frequent commentator on outlets such as NPR and CNN’s New Day program. Tisby earned his PhD in history and he studies race, religion, and social movements in the 20th century. He will join the faculty remotely for the remainder of the Fall 2022 semester and will relocate from the Arkansas Delta to Louisville to begin in-person for the Spring.

2022 Graduation Announcement

We would like to recognize our 2022 graduates for their outstanding achievements

Associates of Arts in General Studies

Kelexus Maliani

Jada Smith

Associate of Arts in Religious Studies

Michael Springer

Jared Thomas

Bachelors of Arts in Business Entrepreneurship

Deja Ellis

Tomeca Faulkner

Isaiah Haley

Kia Moore

James Mosely

Korey Mosley

Tayquan Spencer Smith

Kinisha Todd

Taron Walker

Bachelors of Arts in Cross-Cultural Communication

Cheryl Fields

Paulette Johnson

Bachelors of Arts in Music Performance

De’Marco Brown

Brandon Smith

Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies

Tracy Malone

Douglas Townes

Bachelors of Arts in Sociology

Debra Brown

Barbara Gibbs

Latasha Moss

Brown-Forman Foundation announces $50M investment to help west Louisville organizations

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A major investment will pour money into five west Louisville-based organizations that would impact educational opportunities from early childhood through adult learning.

The Brown-Forman Foundation announced the $50 million donation on Tuesday, and it includes a commitment to help the organizations increase their reach in the community.

They include AMPED and the Louisville Urban League receiving $5 million; Louisville Central Community Center and Simmons College receiving $10 million and the West End School receiving $20 million.

A strong Louisville must include a strong HBCU: Opinion

On the first day of Black History Month earlier this year, when America awoke to the news of bomb threats made against historically Black colleges, JP Morgan Chase announced a half-million-dollar grant to Louisville’s HBCU, Simmons College of Kentucky. JPMC is funding Simmons and our partner, Louisville Future of Work, to build data science into our curriculum for two reasons: First, because of national research by the Brookings Institution, which also looked specifically at Louisville, JPMC knows Louisville is right at the top of the list of cities unprepared for an economy where workers must know how to manipulate data. Second, they know that Louisville, with a large percentage of Black residents, has an untapped pool of talent in data-related fields where Blacks are woefully underrepresented.

$500K investment made to Simmons College for Data Science

 

Simmons College of Kentucky is addressing the diversity gap in the data science field with the help of a $500,000 donation from JP Morgan Chase.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, Simmons College president, said any investment in the city’s only historically Black college is one the greatest.

“This wonderful institution, JP Morgan Chase, is saying we’re going to do everything we can possible, not to block you, but to assist you to sit in some places that the data says Blacks historically don’t sit in; that is in science and technology,” said Cosby.

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Simmons College Gets New Highway Signs

On Wednesday, the state unveiled two signs that will be placed along Interstate 65 in Jefferson County.

Crews will install another one on St. Catherine Street, near South Seventh Street, near Simmons College of Kentucky in downtown Louisville.

Louisville and Frankfort are home to the only two historically black colleges or universities in the Commonwealth: Simmons and Kentucky State University.