Blackwell wins Earl B. Higgins Award
by Kathy WhitakerOffice of Diversity
Jerry Blackwell, associate dean for student services and community outreach, College of Health Professions, received the Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity Award. This annual award recognizes the contributions made by employees of MUSC as they relate to diversity.
Jerry
Blackwell
Blackwell is a native of Greenville. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Charleston in 1973 and his master in education degree 1992 from The Citadel. He is a doctor in health administration candidate at MUSC and expects to complete his degree in May.
Blackwell has been with the university since 1984. From 1984 to 1990, he was responsible for starting the first universitywide recruitment program and admissions counseling office; developing the University Student House Program; and creating the Health Professions Advisors Workshop.
From 1990 to present, he has served in the Recruitment and Counseling Program for the College of Health Professions (CHP) where he revamped the CHP admission process so less emphasis is placed on standardized tests and more emphasis is placed on success criteria such as non-cognitive characteristics and personal interviews. An increased enrollment of students from rural and or underserved areas of South Carolina resulted from this change.
In 1993, Blackwell worked with the late Dr. Earl Higgins to develop the dual degree program with Claflin University. The purpose of this program was to establish a track that would allow students to move from their primary institution to the College of Health Professions and receive degrees from both institutions. He is presently working with Dr. Monnique Singleton to establish the dual degree program at Voorhees College and South Carolina State University.
He was appointed as the diversity officer for the College of Health Professions in 1998 and serves as the Dean’s Office liaison to the College of Health Professions’ Association of Black Health Professionals.
When asked about his goals for diversity here at the university, he said: “The goal is simple. The faculty, staff, and students of the Medical University of South Carolina should represent the people of South Carolina. To that end, we have made tremendous progress in the last five years. Dr. Bell is a wonderful role model for young people aspiring to the health professions. And Dr. Greenberg, as provost and now president, has provided great leadership to the university’s efforts. It is an exciting time at MUSC, a time full of growth and potential. We will succeed for the single and fundamental reason that it is the right thing to do.”
The selection committee for the award included representation from all six colleges, the President’s Office, Student Government Association, the Multicultural Student Union and the Office of Diversity. The committee members are Walker Coleman, President’s Office; Beverly Carson, College of Medicine; Cynthia Perry, College of Health Professions; Steve Brown, College of Pharmacy; George Tempel, Ph.D., College of Graduate Studies; Jean Leuner, Ph.D., College of Nursing; Gwendolyn Brown, DMD, College of Dental Medicine; Kelby Hutchenson, president, Student Government Association; Melvin Brown, president, Multicultural Student Union and Kathy Whitaker, Office of Diversity. The committee made its selection based on narratives outlining the nominees’ contributions to diversity in the following categories:
- Student recruitment, retention, enrichment and/or relations
- Employee recruitment, retention, enrichment and/or relations
- Diversity community relations and/or image
- Advancing other aspects of diversity including women’s issues, international students, and accommodating the disabled
The award will be presented at a reception on April 12.