Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
First, I would like to thank the
creators and staff at THE BLACK COLLEGIAN
for developing such a helpful and much-needed resource for Black college
students and recent graduates. I remember reading several copies of
this magazine during my tenure at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. from
2001-2006. I later went on to attend graduate school at Michigan State
University and currently work for IBM in Atlanta, Ga. I recently
returned to Mercer and picked up the last two published copies for old
times sake.
Although I am an engineer by training, I
have a strong passion for recruitment, retention, diversity and
professional development issues particularly in the Black community and
among the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
fields.
Something that would be of interest to
me would be to have spotlights or mini features on recent graduates and
their college-to-career transition whether they have a job, are
unemployed, or still in the job search/interview stage. I do enjoy the
highlights from the very well established and successful people you
choose for your magazine and the advice they give. Although these
people have gone through the same issues as Black collegians today, I
think the perspective from the demographic between those extremes would
be useful as well.
I have been with IBM for about 13
months, and I find I am received very well when I am at recruiting
events, mentoring sessions, etc. because I am not far removed from the
Black collegians’ current situation. I feel this type of focus would
bring more life to the articles by seeing how these tips and advice have
played out in real life situations and how others have tweaked them to
work for their particular situation, industry and goals. I’d be willing
to assist with any effort to incorporate this into THE BLACK
COLLEGIAN if needed.
Thanks again for a great publication. I
have a younger sister starting college this fall, and I will make sure
she checks out the Web site and picks up the magazine as well.
April D. Thompson
Dear Editor:
While I very much
appreciate the excellent profile about me that appeared in the October
2007 issue of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN magazine in a section on
“African-American Role Models,” I feel compelled to correct one
mistake. I am a graduate of a historically Black university – Florida
A&M University (FAMU), and not UCLA as was indicated in the article. I
am very proud of the Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering that I
received from FAMU in 1971 – my FAMU experience provided me with an
outstanding educational foundation that has served me very well during
the past 36 years at The Boeing Company.
I was honored in
2006 as the Black Engineer of the Year for Outstanding Technical
Contribution in Industry by the Council of Engineering Deans of
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and in 2003
I was named Distinguished Engineer of the Year by the National
Society of Black Engineers. I feel that our future young
African-American engineers and scientists need to know that graduates of
historically black colleges and universities are making major
contributions to the companies where they are employed, as well as the
nation.
Today, in addition
to being a Technical Fellow at Boeing, where I work to develop electric
power system technologies for aircraft, I am our company’s executive
focal to FAMU and have the privilege of interacting with the students
there and encouraging them in their studies. In addition, I have two
daughters who currently are pursuing degrees at FAMU.
Sincerely,
David Blanding
Dear Sir/Madam:
Many years ago
THE BLACK COLLEGIAN
magazine was the most important magazine subscription during my college
years.
THE BLACK COLLEGIAN
enabled me to launch a successful career start as a student at Southern
University in Baton Rouge.
I live in Michigan and am a member of
Jack and Jill of America Ypsilanti Chapter. We are sponsoring a career
day for about 250 students. We would love to provide a copy of your
magazine to this student population. How can we get 250 copies of your
magazine?
Adrienne Davis
|
