News & Updates

               The stars aligned for LaTerrian Wiley and Issac Bivins Jr. last Saturday in Hawkins.

                Wiley and Bivins were crowned Mr. and Miss Jarvis Christian College in a ceremony inside the Earl W. Rand Gymnasium themed “For One Night Only The Stars Align.”

                Wiley, 21, of Longview, is a senior chemistry major who is minoring in biology. She plans to attend the University of Texas at Tyler to pursue a doctorate in pharmacy. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Jarvis’ Student Government Association and the National Institute of Health’s Welch Program.

                Wiley also served as Miss Sophomore Class and Miss Junior Class. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also said she had been influenced by her mother, her family, her church family and the example of former First Lady Michelle Obama.

                “This is a great honor, not just for me but for all of those who had a hand in helping mold who I am. I am so grateful,” Wiley said.

                Bivins, 22, is a senior social work major from Dallas. He plans to pursue a masters in social work at Jackson State University. He has been involved in a number of campus organizations, including the Jarvis band, the Student Government Association, the Social Work Association, the Pre-Alumni Association and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

                “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you... More

                Rudolph Brooks and other students moved into a new, enriching living experience this fall at Jarvis Christian College.

                “I like it. I love it. There should be more like this,” Brooks, a junior from Dallas, said as walked the campus with earphones and a visor resting on his cranium. “The Wi-Fi is stable. The building’s design is good. The rooms are larger. It’s been a real nice experience.”

                Brooks is describing life as a resident of one of Jarvis’ new dormitories, which became available to students earlier this semester.

 The college celebrated the dormitories Friday (Oct. 12) with a Consecration and Grand Opening of the 192-bed, $24 million project. It also included the renovation of an existing residence hall, which is timely since Jarvis’ first-year enrollment jumped 90 percent and overall enrollment is up about 5 percent.

The Rev. Chris Dorsey, a member of Jarvis’ Board of Trustees, led the audience in a consecration prayer while other trustees, campus and community leaders touted the project’s significance.

The new facilities have computer and lounge areas, classrooms and a faculty apartment in each building. Each facility will have its own theme.

“This has been a long time coming,” President Dr. Lester C. Newman told the crowd. “We have a true living and learning experience here at Jarvis.”

Dr. Glenell Lee-Pruitt, provost and vice president for academic affairs, echoed Newman’s sentiments.

“This is the consummation of an enriched relationship between academic affairs and student services where learning can take place... More

                Pilar Makee sees her school when she looks at herself.

                “We are small but mighty,” Makee, a feisty, petite international student from Equatorial Guinea, said of Jarvis Christian College. “There is a lot of talent here.”

                The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and Millennium Campus Network (MCN) has endorsed Makee’s assessment. The partnering agencies named Jarvis a Millennium Fellows Campus for the fall semester, based on a wellness campaign being executed by Makee and 19 other Jarvis students who all are Millennium Fellows.

                Jarvis was among 30 colleges – and one of two HBCUs - worldwide selected as a Millennium campus, based on the Jarvis Diabetes Awareness Campaign. This effort targets youth aged 15-22 in Texas, which has the 10^th highest diabetes rate in the country. No other Texas school was selected.

                “This is a large forward leap for what we are trying to do with our diabetes campaign,” said Eric Clark, 19, a sophomore nursing major from Houston.

“It gives us that extra,” Clark, Millennium Campus co-director, said.

                Programs by MCN convene, challenge and celebrate student leadership for social impact. “Opportunities like this get us out of our silos and put us on a global stage,” Kathy Graham, lead Millennium Fellows co-advisor.

                Chestley Talley, co- Millennium Fellows advisor, said: “This is an excellent example of experiential learning like membership in our own pre-professional organizations.”

                The Millennium Fellows are members of the award-winning Jarvis Enactus and Clinton Global Initiative Teams. Jarvis... More

De’Janae, Tookes, a senior at Jarvis Christian College, has been named a 2018 HBCU Competitiveness Scholar, the White House Initiative’s highest student recognition.

Tookes, who serves as president of Jarvis’ Student Government Association, was among 63 students from 54 Historically Black Colleges and Universities recognized as Competitive Scholars.

“I am extremely humbled. I am honored that President (Lester) Newman nominated me. Sometimes small schools like Jarvis go unnoticed. This is not only an opportunity to represent Jarvis, but all small school,” said Tookes, a history major from Austell, GA.

Competitiveness scholars are recognized for successfully preparing to compete for top opportunities that improve long-term outcomes. Comprised of undergraduate, graduate and professional students, each was nominated and endorsed by their institution’s president. The selections were based on academic achievement, campus and civic involvement and entrepreneurial “go-getter” spirit.

“De’Janae epitomizes the spirit of the Competitiveness Scholar,” Newman said. “She is intelligent, open and honest. She is a great communicator and is committed to the many causes she supports, including initiatives and organizations at Jarvis Christian College and the student body she serves. De’Janae, a natural leader, currently serves as president of the Student Government Association. Nominating her to represent JCC in this capacity was an easy decision.”

Scholars will assemble September 16-18 during the 2018 National HBCU Week Conference, which is set for the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in the nation’s capital. Scholars will participate in workshops designed to enhance leadership, promote personal and professional development and explore areas of innovation and... More

                Jarvis Christian College’s first year enrollment is up 90 percent from 2017, the college announced today.

                Jarvis has 359 first-year students, up from 189 students last year. Overall enrollment at Jarvis is up 4.6 percent with 952 students, compared to 909 last fall. Those numbers are expected to increase when an adult education cohort begins in October, said Eric Stringfellow, Jarvis’ director of communications. Stringfellow said the current freshman class is the largest ever for Jarvis.

                The 2018 numbers represent a 51 percent increase in enrollment since 2013, when Jarvis enrolled 633 students. Dr. Lester C. Newman was named Jarvis president in 2012.

                To what do we attribute our growth?

                “We do the traditional marketing – broadcast, digital and some print coupled with recruiting visits to schools throughout the region. We also think our programs sell themselves. Our Adult Education Program, which includes a site in Dallas, offers classes in business, criminal justice and religion,” Stringfellow said. “The program started with 13 students in 2014 and now has 121 enrolled. Our students are involved in cutting-edge research, including cancer research and diabetes awareness.

                “We believe our brand is strong among those who have been associated with Jarvis and promote us through word-of-mouth to family members and others. When Janie Lee Luftkin was moving her granddaughter, Stacia Foy, into her dormitory this summer, Luftkin pointed out that she had two sisters, a daughter and two nieces who graduated from Jarvis,” Stringfellow said.

                Jarvis... More

Jarvis Christian College has formed a partnership with the University of Texas at Tyler to offer seamless pathways for students to earn degrees and further enhance higher education in East Texas.

“We are forging a relationship that will provide better opportunities for all of our students to advance their education and be better prepared for the 21^st century,” said Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt, Jarvis Christian College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “With this new partnership, students will have an opportunity to choose from an array of academic and career pathways.”

Under the agreement, undergraduate students from Jarvis will be able to transfer into selected undergraduate programs at UT Tyler. The selected programs will not duplicate those offered by Jarvis. Also, UT Tyler students will have an opportunity to pursue majors at Jarvis that are not offered at UT Tyler.

“The partnership is a win-win for both The University of Texas at Tyler and Jarvis Christian College, and especially for students and the region.” said Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We welcome this partnership that will not only further the friendly relationship and collaboration between our two institutions, but also help advance higher education in East Texas.”

The agreement also will allow qualified Jarvis students to begin limited study in selected master’s degree programs at UT Tyler as they complete their bachelor’s degrees from Jarvis.

Jarvis President Dr. Lester C. Newman and UT Tyler President Dr. Michael Tidwell made the partnership official by signing... More

Actor, comedian and singer Mr. Jamie Foxx will receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Jarvis Christian College during the 2018 Spring Commencement activities at 10 a.m. May 5, 2018, in the E.W. Rand Center.

Mr. Foxx was born Eric Marlon Bishop in Terrell, Texas, on December 13, 1967, to Darrell Bishop and Louise Annette Talley Dixon. Shortly after his birth, he was adopted and raised by his mother's adoptive parents, Esther Marie (Nelson) and Mark Talley.

Mr. Foxx began playing the piano when he was 5 years old. As a teenager, he was a part-time pianist and choir leader in Terrell’s New Hope Baptist Church. He attended Terrell High School, where he received top grades and played basketball and football.

After high school, Mr. Foxx received a scholarship to United States International University, where he studied classical music and composition.

Mr. Foxx is a Grammy Award-winning musician, producing four albums which charted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200: "Unpredictable," "Intuition," "Best Night of My Life" and “Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses.”

In 1991, Mr. Foxx joined the cast of “In Living Color.” Following a recurring role in the comedy-drama “Roc,” he went on to star in his own sitcom, “The Jamie Foxx Show,” from 1996-2001. His other television performances include roles in “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper,” “Moesha” and “Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story.” Foxx currently serves as host and executive producer of the new Fox game show "Beat Shazam."  

Mr. Foxx’s film career includes “Any Given Sunday,” “Ali,” “Collateral,” “Ray,” “Dreamgirls,” “Django Unchained,”... More

Mr. Jesse J. Holland, Race and Ethnicity writer for the Associated Press, will give the keynote address during Jarvis Christian College’s 2018 Spring Commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2018, in the E.W. Rand Center on the College campus.

Mr. Holland is the author of “Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther?” a companion novel to Marvel’s blockbuster movie, “Black Panther.”

Mr. Holland, a native of Holly Springs, Mississippi, is an award-winning journalist. His book, “The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African-American Slavery Inside The White House,” was named the 2017 silver medal award winner in U.S. History in the Independent Publisher Book Awards and one of the top history books of 2016 by Smithsonian.com.

Mr. Holland is also the author of “Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C.,” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens -- Finn's Story.” He is also the co-creator of the late, lamented comic strip, "Hippie and the Black Guy."

Mr. Holland is a former White House, Supreme Court and Congressional reporter. He teaches creative nonfiction at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, where he received his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from Goucher College in 2012. He also is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Liberal Arts degree with an emphasis in journalism and English, and the former Visiting Distinguished Professor of Ethics in Journalism at the University of Arkansas.

Three human rights leaders will gather on Jarvis Christian College’s campus for “Mission, Vocation and the Call to Social Justice: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. John D. Mangram,” on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Dr. Robert Franklin, Candler School of Theology, Emory College; Dr. Charles Steele Jr., Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) President; and Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr., co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) will lead the Social Justice Conference sessions.

Beginning at 11 a.m., Dr. Franklin will lead a session on “Discerning Your Mission in Life” in the Charles A. Meyer Auditorium.

Dr. Franklin is the James T. and Berta R. Laney Professor of Moral Leadership at Emory University (Atlanta) and is Senior Advisor to the President of Emory University. He served as Director of the Religion Department of the Chautauqua Institution from 2014 to 2017. In 2014, he served as Senior Advisor for Community and Diversity, Emory University (Atlanta). In 2013, he was a Visiting Scholar in Residence at Stanford University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute.

He is president emeritus of Morehouse College where he served as the 10th president of the nation’s largest private, four-year liberal arts college for men from 2007 through 2012. Dr. Franklin was the Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics at Emory University (2004-2007), where he provided leadership for a university-wide initiative titled “Confronting the Human Condition and the Human Experience” and was a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at the law school.... More

Mr. Kevin W. Williams, former Board Chairman, President and Managing Director of General Motors (GM) of Canada Ltd., will give the keynote address during Jarvis Christian College’s Honors Convocation at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2018, in the Smith-Howard Chapel.

As President and Managing Director, Mr. Williams was responsible for leading all General Motors operations in Canada. Prior to this, he served as GM Vice President and General Manager, Service and Parts Operations, where he oversaw all GM Global Aftersales businesses and served as Chairman and Global Process Leader for the GM Automotive Aftermarket Strategy Board.

Mr. Williams has held a number of global senior roles at General Motors, including Chairman, President and Managing Director of GM de Mexico and GM North America Vice President of Quality. He was a member of the GM North America Strategy Board from May 2003 through June 2009. Prior assignments included positions as Global Executive Director, Supplier Quality, Development and Supplier Diversity for Worldwide Purchasing and Executive Director, Supplier Quality and Development for GM Europe, based in Russelsheim, Germany, with responsibilities spanning 22 countries and 1,500 employees.

Mr. Williams began his GM career in 1983 as a reliability analyst at Buick Motor’s division in Flint, Michigan. In 1989, he became the General Supervisor of Production at the Lansing Craft Centre in Lansing, Michigan. In 1991, he was appointed Program Readiness Manager for GM's first electric vehicle program (EV1).

Mr. Williams earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Tennessee State University in 1983 and a master's degree in... More