Rhoden Fellows

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2026

A. Calandrea Carter

Alabama State University

Calandrea Carter is a global communications and multimedia journalist from Montgomery, Alabama. She has studied abroad in Milan and Florence, Italy, broadening her international communications in media and storytelling. As the creator and on-air talent of “Buzz on The Yard,” Carter amplifies HBCU culture and student voices.

Alabama State Stingette is dancing in her mother's footsteps

---

Ciara Latham

Howard University

Ciara Latham is a legal communications student at Howard University. She is a proud native of Columbus, Ohio. During her time at the “Mecca,” Latham has been a staff writer with The Hilltop and served as a director on the Cathy Hughes School of Communications council. When not on campus, you can find Latham working and teaching at her hot yoga studio.

Smithsonian exhibit celebrates the legacy of HBCUs through their archival collections

---

Raigan Lydon

Morgan State University

Chicago native Raigan Lydon is a multimedia journalism scholar experienced in amplifying HBCU-related content. Lydon has covered several HBCU events, including the MEAC Basketball Tournament and the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic, through “The Morgan Show,” a weekly sports talk program, and the university’s digital media team. As the founder of "The Rai Report" she highlights athletes and their achievements.

Coppin State head coach: We may look like underdogs, but we’re going to earn respect  

---

Alauna Marable

Norfolk State University

Alauna Marable, a mass communications and journalism honors scholar from Detroit, is a passionate storyteller dedicated to sports journalism. She serves as Norfolk State University’s sports editor at the Spartan Echo, highlighting the journeys of athletes and the impact of sports within the community.

Much has changed for Norfolk State's vets, but their goal -- to win -- remains the same

---

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2025

Nilea Cosley

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

Nilea (pronounced “Ny Lee”) Cosley, a senior pursuing a degree in mass media arts with a minor in journalism, is a native of Philadelphia. Cosley is a managing editor of the CAU Panther newspaper.

Rhoden Fellowship helped Clark Atlanta student find her voice -- and her purpose

---

Sydney Cuillier

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE

Sydney Cuillier is a senior mass communications and broadcast journalism major from Houston. Cuillier reports and writes about developing sports stories for the Office of Student Media. In 2023, she created “Sydney’s on the Clock,” a sports talk show centered around teams in Louisiana.

Rhoden Fellowship let Southern University student fall in love with storytelling again

---

Madison Firle

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Madison Firle, an expectant Bachelor of Arts graduate in broadcast journalism, hails from San Francisco. As a bilingual student, Firle has also studied in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the Council on International Educational Exchange. Firle serves as a sports reporter during the Bison basketball and football seasons.

For Howard's on-campus recruiting leader, the fruits of her labor are seen on the field

---

Gabrielle Heyward

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY

A resident of the Carolinas via Rock Hill, South Carolina, Gabrielle Heyward is a journalism and mass communication major. Heyward has participated on several school leadership boards, including serving as yard editor for the A&T Register. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and trying new restaurants.

For North Carolina A&T student, Rhoden Fellowship became next step in God's plan

---

Aniyah Robinson

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY

Aniyah Robinson, originally from Wichita, Kansas, is a broadcast journalism major. Robinson provides social media coverage for the Lions’ athletic department, in addition to her dual role as associate editor and reporter for the school’s newspaper. In April 2023, Robinson became president of the Langston University chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

The Rhoden Fellowship became Langston student's family when she needed it most

---

Assata Shabazz

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Assata Shabazz, a proud HBCU legacy alum from the family line of NFL pioneer Robert “Stonewall” Jackson, grew up in a football-loving household and can rock cleats as easily as heels. She actively uses her passion for sports to tell the stories that often go untold.

Mississippi State's India Thorpe won praise for her hair. She wants to win on the track.

---

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2024

Takier George

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Takier George, a 2024 Rhoden Fellow and native of Arlington, Virginia, is a senior majoring in English with a minor in television and film. Takier enjoys writing poems and has had her work published in The Amistad, Howard University's literary arts journal, and The Hilltop, Howard's student newspaper. She is also editor-in-chief of the Sterling Notes Literary Journal.

Howard University elects its first transgender student body president

---

Lawrence Goss

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

Lawrence Goss, a 2024 Rhoden Fellow and senior broadcast journalism major who hails from Atlanta, has worked as an anchor at Rattler Take, the school’s news platform. He holds an active leadership role with three on-campus organizations and serves as the lead sports editor for the school's newspaper, The Famuan.

The seeds others planted throughout my life led me to Florida A&M and my future

---

Kamryn Jackson

RHODEN FELLOWS

Kamryn Jackson is a former Rhoden Fellow. She played volleyball in high school and knew she could stay connected to sports through writing about them. She loves all things TV, film and, of course, sports!

For Howard women's swimming and diving team, championship is 'for all those who paved the way'

---

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2023

Alexis Black

North Carolina A&T State University

Alexis Black is a senior multimedia journalism student from Prince George’s County, Maryland. She is a contributor for The A&T Register, a student reporter for Aggie News and a student-athlete with N.C. A&T’s cheerleading program.

If I could go back in time, I’d choose my HBCU, North Carolina A&T, all over again

---

Jaicee Christian

Alabama State University

Jaicee Christian is a senior mass communications student from Birmingham, Alabama. He has covered sports for the communications club at Alabama State University and wrote for The Hornet Tribune, the campus newspaper at Alabama State.

At Alabama State, I found a passion for working in sports instead of playing them

---

Monet Heath

Howard University

Monet Heath is a senior journalism major and sports administration minor from Detroit. She is a reporter for Spotlight Network, a training organization at Howard for students majoring in broadcast journalism, TV production, audio production and film.

Lessons learned at Howard have helped me navigate an unusual college experience

---

Zoey Hodge

Hampton University

Zoey Hodge is a junior journalism major from Charlotte, North Carolina. She works on the social media team for Hampton University men’s basketball. When she isn’t out on the courts documenting the team, she also manages the content creation organization Hampton Quarterly, which focuses on fashion and HBCU culture.

Hampton University helped me discover the career I really want

---

Scott Lipscomb

Xavier University of Louisiana

Scott Lipscomb is a mass communications student from Prince George’s County, Maryland. He does postgame interviews for the Xavier men’s and women’s basketball teams and helps edit and produce for XU Media, Xavier’s student media outlet. He has also contributed content to the WHUR radio station website.

From Bowie to the Big Easy, embracing my HBCU experience at Xavier University

---

Pam Rentz

Florida A&M University

Pam Rentz is a senior broadcast journalism student from Charles County, Maryland. She is the managing editor of FAMU’s campus newspaper, The Famuan.

My new friend, nostalgia, is hitting hard as I graduate from Florida A&M University

---

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2022

Keion Cage

Rhoden Fellows

Keion Cage, a native of Houston, Texas, is a strategic communications student with a minor in leadership studies. He currently serves as the associate editor for The Hampton Script, a student-run newspaper. Cage has written for SLAM Magazine and VYPE Media – a regional high school and youth sports platform.

At Hampton, I found a home away from home and a true sense of brotherhood

---

Alexis Davis

Rhoden Fellows

Alexis Davis is a former Rhoden Fellow. She loves styling suits with sneakers and can name any sneaker you show her. She quit basketball to cheer in high school but hopes the women's basketball coverage she does now makes the sport forgive her for going to the other side of the sideline.

Washington Spirit stars Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune enter their fashion era

---

Sarah Jones-Smith

Rhoden Fellows

A senior broadcast journalism major from Orange County, Calif., Sarah Jones-Smith writes for The Hilltop, Howard University’s student newspaper, and her writing has been published by The Los Angeles Wave, and more.

At Howard, I gained a sense of community and the camaraderie I had been longing for

---

Kianah Robinson-Chery

Rhoden Fellows

Kianah Robinson-Chery, a senior journalism major and cinema studies minor, worked for a year in videography and photography for the Hampton University band’s media team.

How Hampton University opened my eyes to the HBCU lifestyle

---

Cayla Sweazie

Rhoden Fellows

Cayla Sweazie is a women's and college sports reporter. She is a former HBCU athlete (Go Bears) with a passion for giving student-athletes a platform to share their stories.

For Laila Edwards, accolades are 'cool,' but being a role model is more important

---

Calvin Sykes

Rhoden Fellows

Calvin Sykes is a graduate student in sports science at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Fla. A native of Miami, Sykes was the sideline reporter for the Florida A&M Rattlers football from 2018-2020, program director for the school’s radio station WANM FM 90.5, and has written for HBCU GameDay.

Reflecting on FAMU's Rattler resilience

---

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2021

Ashton Edmunds

Rhoden Fellows

Ashton Edmunds, a senior mass media arts major from Tallahassee, Florida, is the sports editor for The CAU Panther newspaper, an intern for The Atlanta Voice News Network and also an inaugural Turner Diversity Fellow at WarnerMedia.

It's hard to believe how much I've grown on my journey at Clark Atlanta

---

Jayla Jones

Rhoden Fellows

Jayla Jones, a junior business management major from Chicago is a game and feature writer for the Prairie View A&M athletics department. She has written for the student newspaper, The Panther, and enjoys telling athletes’ stories.

PGA golfer Cameron Champ's Prairie View scholarship is part of his family's legacy

---

Parker Owens

Rhoden Fellow

Parker Owens is a senior communication studies major and journalism minor from Broward County, Florida. He is a news and sports writer for Morehouse’s The Maroon Tiger and a contributing writer for NewsOne.

At Morehouse, I learned to listen, appreciate and tell others' stories

---

Jonathan Scott

Rhoden Fellows

A U.S. Navy veteran, Jonathan Scott is a sophomore journalism and communications major from Brooklyn, New York. He anchors and produces for The Scripps-Howard News Watch, on WHOV-TV, Hampton's broadcast station, and is the production assistant for the Hampton University Athletics' TV show, Respect The H with Eugene Marshall, Jr.

Quarterback Deondre Francois working to get another shot at the NFL

---

Marissa Stubbs

Rhoden Fellows

Marissa Stubbs is a junior broadcast journalism scholar from St. Petersburg, Florida. She is the assistant sports editor for The Famuan, Florida A&M’s school newspaper, and a sports reporter for athletics.

FAMU athlete's graduation journey shows the resiliency of many this last year

---

Alex Williams

Rhoden Fellow

Alex Williams is a sophomore broadcast journalism major and sports administration minor from New Orleans. She is a sports writer for Howard’s The Hilltop newspaper, along with being the sports editor for Her Campus magazine (Howard chapter).

How a Howard University senior turned a family clothing business into his legacy

---

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2020

Whitney Bronson

Rhoden Fellow

Whitney is 2019 Rhoden Fellow and a senior journalism major from Cincinnati. She works at Hampton’s on-campus radio station, WHOV 88.1 FM. She is also a play-by-play commentator for women’s basketball games and a color commentator for football and men’s basketball.

I learned to persevere and gained confidence from my Hampton experience

---

Arthur Cribbs

Rhoden Fellow

Arthur is a 2019 Rhoden Fellow and a junior journalism major from Los Angeles. He works with the Department of Athletics at Howard and served as the production manager with Spotlight Network.

I'm 100% black and 100% Japanese and I found my true self at Howard University

---

East L. Dockery

Rhoden Fellow

East is a former Rhoden Fellow (2019-2020) and a senior multimedia journalism student at North Carolina A&T. She is from North Carolina (“the 336” to be specific). She is the creator of On-Screen w/ East Laureen, a visual podcast where she interviews various people within the sports & entertainment industry.

Chris Paul again focuses on HBCUs — this time it's about nutrition

---

Nathaniel Easington

Rhoden Fellow

Nathaniel is a 2019 Rhoden Fellow and a senior journalism major and history minor from Evanston, Illinois. He has written both sports and news for The Hilltop and the Ghanaian Times. Having grown up a die-hard sports fan of everything Chicago, he is a firm believer that the Bears will be in Super Bowl contention this year.

My senior year, I had to step up my journalism game

---

Kevin Parrish Jr.

Rhoden Fellows

Kevin is a 2019 Rhoden Fellow and a junior mass communications and print journalism major from Baltimore. He's a reporter for The Spectrum student newspaper and is a big fan of the Washington Wizards.

Bowie State to offer one-of-kind courses in animation

---

Randall C. Williams

Rhoden Fellow

Randall is a 2019 Rhoden Fellow and a senior journalism and communications major from outside of Chicago and Columbus, Ohio. He is a former Bloomberg intern and is the sports editor for the Hampton Script. He 100% believes that “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is the greatest cartoon of all time.

My family is rooted in black colleges and now I am, too

---

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2019

Janae Adams

Rhoden Fellow

Janae Adams is a senior mass media arts major from the Bay Area. She is a staff writer for “The Panther” and is a firm believer that drums are better than flats.

Past and present HBCU football stars honored at hall of fame induction

---

Allana J. Barefield

Rhoden Fellow

Allana J. Barefield is a senior mass communication major. The Bostonian is a student representative for the NABJ Sports Task Force, and loves writing feature stories because sports are more than just stats.

Dillard athletic director Kiki Baker Barnes is blazing a trail she wants others to follow

---

Isaiah George

Rhoden Fellow

Isaiah George is a senior multimedia journalism major from Temple Hills, Maryland. He's a reporter for BearTV at Morgan and is a fan of all the major Washington, D.C., sports teams.

Gazmine Mason is out to prove 'black girls can bowl too'

---

Deja Harrison

Rhoden Fellow

Deja Harrison is a sophomore mass communication major from New Orleans. She is a Gramblinite Sports writer and GSU-TV reporter at Grambling State.

Shakyla Hill helps team win Serbian League title before playoffs postponed due to the coronavirus

---

Tiffany Hoyd

Rhoden Fellow

Tiffany Hoyd is a senior media journalism and film communications major from Murrieta, California. She serves as Howard's football manager and color commentator, and enjoys playing spades and listening to R&B.

GHOE vs. Yardfest: The best HBCU homecoming is ...

---

Tucker Toole

Rhoden Fellow

Tucker Toole is a 2020 Morehouse College graduate. This Chicago native was sports editor for the “Maroon Tiger” and is a die-hard Chicago sports fan.

New CW show 'March' gives the world an authentic look into the HBCU band culture at Prairie View A&M

---

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2018

Simone Benson

Rhoden Fellow

Simone Benson is a multimedia journalism major at Morgan State University. She reports on food access and social justice, and recently helped produce a documentary in Havana.

There is so much to love about my HBCU, Morgan State

---

Donovan Dooley

Rhoden Fellow

Donovan Dooley is a former Rhoden Fellow and a multimedia journalism major from Tuscaloosa, AL. He attends North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University.

Losing N.C. A&T not only hurts the MEAC, it's huge for the culture

---

Paul Holston

Rhoden Fellow

Paul Holston journalism major from Summerville, SC. He attends Howard University and served as 2016-17 editor-in-chief of The Hilltop.

The HBCU campuses immortalized on TV and in movies

---

Miniya Shabazz

Rhoden Fellow

Miniya Shabazz is a Rhoden Fellow and a junior mass communication major from Laurel, MD. She attends Grambling State University and is a staff writer for The Gramblinite.

Charlamagne tha God: 'My narrative has completely changed'

---

C. Isaiah Smalls II

Rhoden Fellow

C. Isaiah Smalls, II is a Rhoden Fellow and a graduate of Morehouse College from Lansing, Michigan. He studied Cinema, Television and Emerging Media Studies. He was Editor-in-Chief of The Maroon Tiger.

In Atlanta, a baseball game narrows the gap between cops and the community

---

Kyla Wright

Rhoden Fellow

Kyla L. Wright is a Rhoden Fellow and a sophomore journalism major, graphic design minor from Detroit. She attends Hampton University and writes for the Hampton Script.

Detroit’s Midnight Golf Program teaches lessons of the game and life

---