Free summer program seeks future black male education scholars

NGAAME-P organizers dedicated the program to Benjamin Elijah Mays, a Morehouse College president who once taught Martin Luther King Jr.

Graduate students at the UIC College of Education have an endgame in mind for the education of African American men, beginning with a new, tuition-free  summer program.

The “Next Generation of African American Male Educators, specifically Professors” (NGAAME-P) is a two-week program for black male high school seniors who want to earn a doctorate in education and teach future educators.

“Intentionality is critical for preparing the next generation of African American male education scholars. I am optimistic that if we do this well, the impact will be far-reaching,” said Alfred Tatum, dean of the UIC College of Education.

Fifteen selected students will participate in digital filmmaking, scholarly reading, writing and discussion under the guidance of top education scholars from around the country, including:

• Tyrone Howard, professor of education, faculty director of Center X and director of the Black Male Institute, University of California at Los Angeles
• Marvin Lynn, dean of the School of Education, Indiana University-South Bend
• H. Richard Milner IV,  Helen Faison Endowed Chair of Urban Education and director of the Center for Urban Education, University of Pittsburgh
• Terrell Strayhorn, professor of educational studies and director of the Center for Higher Education Enterprise, Ohio State University
• Michael K. Thomas, assistant professor, instructional systems technology, University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

“This project is designed to re-imagine the field of education and spark the imaginations of African American males who want to become education professors,” said UIC graduate student Marcus Croom, an organizer of NGAAME-P.

“Each young man selected will complete NGAAME-P tasks designed to help him voice, ‘I got next’ as a future education scholar. They’ll have an inside look at our doctoral programs and begin developing their own scholarly agenda.”

Students who complete NGAAME-P will receive assistance with applications to UIC undergraduate programs in education and the UIC Honors College. Scholarship opportunities may be available.

The NGAAME-P summer project will take place Monday through Friday, July 20-31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UIC Reading Clinic in UIC’s Education, Theatre, Music and Social Work building, 1040 W. Harrison St.

Students who will be seniors may apply. The deadline for applications is July 20.

For more information, contact Marcus Croom at mcroom2@uic.edu or (708) 406-9244.