Fort Valley State University

The best vocalists from the nation’s Historically Black College and University choirs will gather Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Kennedy Center for an unforgettable performance celebrating the musical virtuosity of African-American conductors: “105 Voices of History.” Chorale Director Alvin Tuck, the event’s national festival chairperson, and senior choir member Lateshia Scott will represent Fort Valley State University at the concert. Tony-Award Winning actress Phylicia Rashad will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

Don’t let the quiet, unassuming demeanor of Dr. James E. Glover fool you. The math scholar’s curriculum vita is packed with credentials and a rich background in computer programming. Glover attended Ivy League schools, worked for the nation’s top aerospace firms and through his designs, skills and knowledge assisted in facilitating safe space shuttle launches for the National Aeronautics and Space Agency. This month, he was hired as a professor and chair of Fort Valley State University’s Mathematics, Computer Science and Computer Information Systems Department.

Bioinformatics, a cutting-edge field which integrates biology and computer science, has enabled scientists to analyze the structure of DNA, develop new treatments for terminal diseases and grow insect-resistant crops. FVSU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science has received a $198,404 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions program to create a state-of-the-art bioinformatics laboratory housed in the W.W.E. Blanchet Computer, Technology and Mathematics Building.

The blockbuster hit, “The Great Debaters,” shined a spotlight on forensic teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities who excelled in spite of exceptional odds. Recently, six of Fort Valley State University’s best orators followed in the legendary footsteps of Henry Lowe and James Farmer Jr. of the 1935 Wiley College Debating Team during the J.C. Hill Forensic Inaugural Spring Semester Invitational Competition held in the C. W. Pettigrew Center. Competitors presented their best persuasive arguments to wow judges and win over the audience.

Fort Valley State University’s College of Arts and Sciences recently named Dr. B. Keith Murphy as its permanent associate dean. Murphy has served as the interim associate dean since Oct. 2006.

“I really enjoy this opportunity,” said Murphy. “Everyday is a new challenge.”

Murphy began at FVSU as an associate professor of English. He earned a bachelor’s degree in radio and television from Morehead State University, a master’s degree in communications from Miami University and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric from Ohio University in 1988.