HBCU Review: Meet Alabama State’s First Female President

Plus, Jackson State fires football coach, and more news.

Alabama State First Female President Cashes Out at $300K - Alabama State University first offered Gwendolyn Byrd the position of university president in December, and now the board of trustees has agreed on a $300,000 annual salary when Byrd takes office on Feb. 1.(Photo: Courtesy Alabama State University)

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Alabama State Elects First Female President - Gwendolyn Boyd received a standing ovation when the board of trustee’s announced Dec. 20 that she was voted, in a unanimous decision, to Alabama State University’s next president. Boyd will become ASU’s first female president and the school’s 14th president in 146 years.(Photo: Courtesy Alabama State University)

Jackson State Fires Football Coach - First Grambling dumped its head coach and now rival Jackson State University announced the firing of head football coach Rick Comegy on Dec. 18. Comegy’s contract was scheduled to run through 2014, but after eight years and a record of 55-35 he was let go along with eight other members of JSU’s coaching staff.(Photo: AL.COM /Landov)

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Jackson State Fires Football Coach - First Grambling dumped its head coach and now rival Jackson State University announced the firing of head football coach Rick Comegy on Dec. 18. Comegy’s contract was scheduled to run through 2014, but after eight years and a record of 55-35 he was let go along with eight other members of JSU’s coaching staff.(Photo: AL.COM /Landov)

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FAMU Music Department Supports Anti-Hazing - Forty members from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s chamber ensembles and the “Marching 100” band performed at Miller Grove High School’s anti-hazing workshop. Miller Grove students also got a chance to audition for FAMU’s music scholarship program. FAMU’s marching band was reinstated this year, following a suspension for the 2011 hazing death of Robert Champion.(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

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Xavier University Launches New Doctorial Program - Xavier University and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) teamed up to launch a Clinical Psychology Doctoral (Psy.D.) program on the XULA campus in New Orleans in the fall semester of 2014. The degree will be the first of its kind in the State of Louisiana.(Photo: Xavier University of Lousiana)

Photo By Photo: Xavier University of Lousiana/ Xavier University of Lousiana

Former Senator Wants to Be FAMU President - With the Jan. 8 deadline approaching for FAMU to name its new president, former Florida state senator and FAMU alum Al Lawson announced on Dec. 20 that he will apply for the position. Lawson already has influence at Florida A&M, the school’s gymnasium is named after him. “I don’t know anyone who can do that any better than I can,” Lawson said.(Photo: Courtesy of Al Lawson)

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Former Senator Wants to Be FAMU President - With the Jan. 8 deadline approaching for FAMU to name its new president, former Florida state senator and FAMU alum Al Lawson announced on Dec. 20 that he will apply for the position. Lawson already has influence at Florida A&M, the school’s gymnasium is named after him. “I don’t know anyone who can do that any better than I can,” Lawson said.(Photo: Courtesy of Al Lawson)