GED to engineering degree: the rise of a first-generation Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholar
One Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 25th-annual Leadership Institute took an unconventional path to higher education and career success. Marcus McClean, a senior mechatronics engineering major at Morgan State University (Morgan), is a first-generation college student from Atlanta. As a trailblazer for his family, he made his own path to a degree. […]
From Flint water crisis to fiscal reprieve: a Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholar’s path to success
As one Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending Leadership Institute put it, growing up in Flint, Michigan meant that bottled water was often stacked higher than opportunity. Brandon J. Poplar, a senior law studies major at Delaware State University, was born in Pontiac, Michigan and raised in Flint during the water crisis. “It shaped […]
First-generation Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholar turned setback into service and success
One Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 25th-annual Leadership Institute landed a coveted internship at Google after his first year at Alabama A&M University (Alabama A&M) but the experience didn’t end as he’d hoped. Riley Roberts, a senior computer science major, is direct in his assessment of how he felt after the internship. […]
Day two of Leadership Institute began in a big way
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) 25th-annual Leadership Institute commenced in earnest on day two, leading off with a morning plenary about strategic listening in leadership communication from presenting sponsor Wells Fargo. The plenary concluded with an investment of more than $1.9 million from the company. Wells Fargo has served as the presenting sponsor of […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholar combines creativity, love of psychology and analytics to give others a voice
For one Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 2025 Leadership Institute, the road to her aspirations was anything but a straight path. Kimi-Lee Knight, a senior applied mathematics major at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), was previously more recognized for her abilities in music and writing than math. That didn’t stop […]
TMCF scholar went from no network to leading multi-million dollar projects
One Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 2025 Leadership Institute said he went from not having a network to leading multi-million dollar projects in the energy sector. Kamron Wright, a senior mechanical engineering major at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and first-generation college student, grew up in Dallas with very few mentors or […]
Leadership Institute launches with a high-energy start
The more than 500 students attending the 2025 Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute quickly experienced the dynamic energy of the four-day event for students of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The opening ceremony and initial sessions took place on Wednesday, Oct. 1. TMCF yard ambassadors led participants in a roll call of […]
Wells Fargo serves as presenting sponsor for 2025 Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute
Wells Fargo proudly continues its enduring support as presenting sponsor of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s (TMCF) Leadership Institute, the organization’s signature professional development program serving students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Wells Fargo has served in this role for more than a decade. The 2025 Leadership Institute will take place from Oct. […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund board member recognized as one of Fortune’s most powerful women
A member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Board of Directors was recently recognized as one of Fortune’s most powerful women. Toni Townes-Whitley, the CEO of SAIC, was named to the list and rose in the rankings from the previous year. Townes-Whitley is one of only two Black women in the CEO role of […]
Fourteen Thurgood Marshall College Fund member schools recognized as Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders
The U.S. Department of State recently announced its Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders for the 2024-25 academic year. Fourteen of the 20 honorees are Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) member schools. Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders are selected based on their engagement with the Fulbright program. The initiative was established to recognize and commend the strong partnership […]
Scholar who discovered the Thurgood Marshall College Fund on social media found financial relief
One student attending the upcoming Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) 2025 Leadership Institute first learned about the organization on social media. Her commitment to pursue opportunities through TMCF led to financial relief and career prospects. Grace Ogunmodede, a senior majoring in information science and systems at Morgan State University, first learned about TMCF during her […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund awards $16 million in grants to eight HBCUs to advance capacity building and innovation
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) recently announced that eight of its member institutions have been selected to receive $2 million each as part of the Project HBCU Capacity Building: Maximizing HBCU Institutional Performance through Investments in Research, Operations, and Innovation initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The multi-year initiative represents a $25 million investment […]
New Data Reveals Disproportionately Low R&D Funds Awarded to HBCUs
Despite being powerhouses of economic mobility and innovative research, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continue to receive a disproportionately low share of federal research and development funding. A new report published by the Center for American Progress and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) highlights disparities in federal research and development funding for HBCUs […]
Third-annual Black Thriving in America report dives deep into Black life experiences
A new report examines the wellbeing of Black Americans through decades of research and surveys. “Black Thriving in America: 2025” is a product of Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s (TMCF) Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center (Payne Center) partnership with the Gallup Center on Black Voices. The report officially releases on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 1 […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund selects new chief development officer
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) recently selected a new chief development officer after a national search. Jonathan Sandville, who most recently served as a commissioner of the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission at the State Bar of California, will lead development activities at TMCF. “After a comprehensive nationwide search, I’m delighted to welcome Jonathan […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund partners with Google to offer no-cost cloud and AI training to HBCU students
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is partnering with Google to bring its popular Google Career Launchpad program to students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), historically Black community colleges (HBCCs) and predominantly Black institutions (PBIs) to help them develop in-demand cloud computing and generative AI skills. “This is a phenomenal opportunity for our […]
Spelman College wins 7th annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneurial pitch competition
Spelman College students took top honors in the seventh annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneurial pitch competition, where 50 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) developed innovative and impactful solutions to address economic mobility challenges in Detroit. The winning team will be featured on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” on Sept. 25 to speak […]
TMCF lauds additional support for historically Black colleges and universities by Trump administration
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) extends its sincere appreciation to President Trump, Secretary McMahon and the Trump administration for declaring their intention to deliver an additional $435 million in Title III funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in FY25 over last year’s funding. This allocation reinforces the administration’s commitment to the sustainability […]