HBCUs and The Morehouse Mystique: Season 2 Episode 5 President David Thomas

Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV Season 2 Episode 5 Season Finale Episode Title: HBCUs & The Morehouse Mystique Guest:   Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV is a podcast that explores all things diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related. In each episode, Oscar and his guests have lively discussions around DEI topics, explore the latest research on the topic, and discuss the implications so that listeners will be more knowledgeable about the topics and be able to apply the insights to their lives.   Show Summary: Historically Black Colleges and Universities like Morehouse help young Black men search for excellence to understand who they are and their capabilities. Through the assistance of the former, Black men explore their potential without the shadow of being a person of color or oppression that lowers their confidence and self-esteem. Furthermore, it takes them away from being forced to answer other people’s questions about who they are and pushes them to focus on discovering themselves.   Young Black men come to Morehouse College, a private historically Black men's liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia, in the most crucial period of their adult development. Its impact on the community is vast because it represents something that the country needs. In addition, it serves as the Good Housekeeping Seal of male excellence as college degrees are increasingly becoming a currency in society.   In this episode with Dr. David Thomas, the 12th President of Morehouse College in January 2018, you’ll learn more about the journey and challenges of HBCUs and how they open huge opportunities to Black men. Discover what other plans they have to expand the growth of Morehouse College for their students.     3 Exceptional Highlights:   Don’t just research what you are passionate about. Instead, understand what the minefields are that will be in front of you. Then ask yourself if you are committed to pursuing excellence in the context of those frictions. You can’t achieve the American idea without achieving the Morehouse idea. If we can create a joint offering, we can satisfy many of the needs of our students at a level that we could not afford to do by ourselves. Show Highlights:    What is the Morehouse Mystique?   11:51 Dr. Thomas   I don't believe in the Morehouse Mystique. Morehouse is an idea in the same way that America is an idea that we have decided is worth waking up every day and attempting to perfect.   What are the biggest challenges that HBCUs, including Morehouse College, face?   26:22 Dr. Thomas   Affordability is the biggest issue that we face, followed by the way that for the last thirty years, many historically Black colleges have managed the pressure on their finances is to defer work on physical and technological infrastructure.   The challenges for us are developing the full array of resources needed to make our students viable for the opportunities in the 21st century. What is the path forward that you see for HBCUs and Morehouse College?   29:22 Dr. Thomas   The future for HBCUs is finding ways while preserving our distinctive brands to collaborate, to multiply the effect of our individual resources. What are the accomplishments that you are most proud of that you’ve been able to do in such a short time?   31:36 Dr. Thomas   I think that we've done a good job of putting Morehouse back in the imagination of our community, and our constituency, as a college.   People see Morehouse as a force in shaping the 21st century, and our students, our alumni, and our faculties feel that. What’s next for Morehouse College?   32:24 Dr. Thomas   We are launching the first Morehouse online degree program targeting men with some college credit, but have never finished.    Call to Action: Subscribe to Diversity Matters and get exclusive access to all episodes of Beyond the Mill, which is my live diversity dialogues talk show that I host on campus at Rutgers University-Camden.    Episode Sponsor