Dr.s Craig T.Follins, Lawrence Brandyburg, Raphael Turner and Larry Rideaux present strategies on closing the acheivement gap for African American Males.

1. CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
THE COLOR OF SUCCESS
National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development – International
Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence – May, 2008

2. CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP . . .

3. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS OF FOUR
MEN OF COLOR . . .

4. . . . WHOM WE NOW CALL DOCTOR
Dr. Craig Follins
Dr. Lawrence Brandyburg
Dr. Raphael Turner
Dr. Larry Rideaux

5. CRAIG’S JOURNEY

6. THE JOURNEY BEGINS
 Single-parent family
 Low income
 Urban environment (New York City)
 Had first child at age 20

7. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY BEGINS
 High School Dropout (10th grade)
 Low educational expectations from public
school system and the community
 Earned GED in U.S. Army at age 17

8. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY FALTERS
 Enrolled in New York City Community
College
 Dropped out of Community College with
failing grades after four years

9. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY REVIVED
 B.A. degree from Brooklyn College, New
York, after more than 10 years of night
school
 M.A. degree from Texas Southern University
(historically black college)
 PH.D. from University of
Texas at Austin at age 46

10. NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
 Seek out and cultivate relationships with
mentors along the way
 Find caring and nurturing faculty and staff
who
believe that all students
could learn

11. NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
 Identify with a peer group - part of a cohort
(Ph.D.) program
 Surround yourself with positive influences

12. NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
 Continue to work throughout
your educational journey
 Believe in your abilities in
spite of expectations

13. CONTINUING THE JOURNEY
 Currently Executive Vice President at
Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland,
Ohio

14. CONTINUING THE JOURNEY
 Listen – to yourself and to those who believe
in you
 Think – about how you will face challenges
along the way and how you will overcome
them
 Dream – about what you can do in the future
with the help of your family, your peers and
those who believe in you

15. LARRY’S JOURNEY

16. THE JOURNEY BEGINS
 Military Brat
 Stationed in Europe
 Began work at 14 on a USAF military
instillation
 Attended Department of Defense Schools
(DOD)
 Attended 13 schools

17. WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT, LOOK-UP AND
MAKE SENSE OF THE CONSTELLATIONS!
 Introspective and Analytical
 The Hood
 Can anything good come from, “The Hood?”
 Uncle’s lives
 The Dentist
 I have a choice; but how?
 I saw available opportunities and took full
advantage of them in spite of not having
transportation and MONEY!

18. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY BY NIGHT
 Left home to live with grand-parents
 Attended Lamar University – Beaumont
 Thank God for Pell grants
 Grand parents provided food and shelter
 Grand parents made me find a job!
 I was very respectful and understood the
value of their generosity!
 4 ½ years to complete my BS degree
 In spite of very close friends not completing and
the absence of intrusive support services at the institution.

19. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY BY DAY:
 Texas A&M University - Galveston
 Grad School at PVAMU – Master’s
 South Texas College of Law – Asst.
Registrar
 Lone Star College – Tomball
 Assistant Dean of Enrollment Services
 Dean of Enrollment Management
 Dean of Student Development
 Grad School at UT – Austin –
Doctorate
 Lone Star College System Office
 Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for
College
Services
 Executive Director of Achieving the
Dream
 Associate Vice Chancellor for Student
Success

20. PAY ATTENTION TO STREET SIGNS ALONG THE
JOURNEY!
 Have the tenacity to arrive at your
destination, no matter the road-blocks!
 Success and fulfillment comes by hard work
with the intent to improve the lives of others
less fortunate!
 Stay disciplined and focused - not everyone
has your best interest at heart!
 Find someone who is willing to provide you
with accurate directions along your journey!

21. CONTINUE TO LOOK-UP AT THE STARS WHILE ON
THE JOURNEY
 See more 1st generation and low-income students meet
their educational goals.
 Provide solutions for increased scholarships and
transportation for students.
 Assist with promoting the importance of graduating with a
diploma to black males.
 Strengthen the pipeline between secondary and post-
secondary institutions.
Thanks!

22. LAWRENCE’S JOURNEY

23. THE JOURNEY BEGINS
“A CULTURE OF OBSTACLES”
 Products of the community since the 1800’s.
 First in the family from slavery to freedom to complete
college.
 Have taken on a mission to change the course of African
American students in my community and college.

24. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY BEGINS
“FATE AND EDUCATION”
 Never encouraged to get an education.
 Decided to join the military, but was recruited
by Blinn College to run track.
 Motivated to complete education at Blinn
College.
 College importance became ingrained.

25. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY CONTINUES
“GLORY HALLELUJAH I WENT TO PVU”
 The educational/professional journey
became solid after enrolling at PVAM.
 Received Bachelor of Arts in History Degree.
 Became a commissioned officer.

26. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY CONTINUES
“LEARNING THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION”
 Discovered that after you graduate from college lifelong
learning continues
 United States Army Infantry Officers Basic Course
 Supply Officers School
 United States Infantry Officers Advanced Course
 United States Airborne School
 United States Air Assault School

27. NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
 Have Pride In Your Heritage
“I have a dream that one day my four (three) children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character.”
Martin Luther King
 Believe In Yourself
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always
do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
Mark Twain
 Never Ever Give Up
“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an
awful lot of determination, dedication, self discipline and effort.”
Jesse Owens

28. NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
 Continue the educational process
 Look for challenging opportunities
 Always be a team player
 Do it for the love of the game

29. CONTINUING THE JOURNEY
 Currently Professor of
Sociology at Lone Star
College-Tomball
 Newly Elected Faculty
Senate President
 Board of Trustees
Royal Independent
School District
 Board Member Waller
County Appraisal
District

30. RAPHAEL’S JOURNEY

31. THE JOURNEY BEGINS
 Middle Class Family
 Close Family Ties
 Supportive and Encouraging Family
 Small Town Environment (IT TAKES A
VILLAGE)
 Education was an Expectation

32. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY BEGINS
 3rd Generation College Student
 Not a matter of if I was going to college but more a
matter of where I was going
 Dumbing down to fit in with the group
 Family of educators
 No college prep classes in High School

33. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY FALTERS
 No advanced Math or Science courses in
high school
 Changed my major six times
 Director of Occupational Therapy (Leah
Synns) told me each time she saw me that I
would not make it in the program
 Six year plan
 Graduated with a 2.04 GPA

34. THE JOURNEY REVIVED
 Bachelor of Science in Psychology-University of Louisiana at
Monroe
 Masters of Science in Higher Education Administration-Texas
A&M-Commerce
 Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from The
University of Texas at Austin

35. NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
 Having family and friends who are supportive
of your educational journey
 Locate supportive and nurturing mentors who
are willing to help harvest the seed
 Identify and network with peer groups
 Be proactive in seeking opportunities to grow

36. NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS
 Remain confident in your abilities
 Work hard to see your educational journey through
 Listen to your inner voice
 Embrace and pursue your dreams
 Realize the Legacies you are leaving

37. CONTINUING THE JOURNEY
 Currently serving as Assistant Dean
Enrollment Services Lone Star College-
Tomball

38. CONTINUING THE JOURNEY
 Celebrate your accomplishments
 Embrace “Life Long Learning”
 Investigate “Best Practices”
 Continue to dream
 Recognize the power of sowing seed
 Have a Passion to serve and learn
 “Each one reach one each one teach one”
 Be committed to the educational process

39. QUESTIONS?????