Speaker Friday, September 15, 2022
Despite the important role they continue to play, many HBCUs struggle with lack of investment, dwindling enrollment and — most recently — fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report Details Barriers Faced by Students at HBCUs – The Annie E. Casey Foundation (aecf.org) –Feb. 6, 2022
In the four years Dr. Jens Frederiksen has been at Fisk, the University has raised over $36,000,000, grown enrollment by over 25%, lowered the discount rate by 12%, and increased the academic quality of the incoming class from the 54th percentile to the 73rd percentile nationally. Alumni giving participation has grown from 21% to 34% and corporate internships have increased to over 40%. Dr. Frederiksen has also played a critical role in a host of initiatives including federal grants and the SACSCOC accreditation process.
Fisk University announced on August 27th, 2020 that Dr. Jens Frederiksen would be assuming the role of Executive Vice President effective immediately. “Dr. Frederiksen will continue to oversee all of our fundraising and enrollment efforts while serving as a key pillar in my administration,” said Interim President Vann Newkirk. “I could not be more excited about continuing to work with Dr. Frederiksen and I feel confident that the next few years will be the best in the University’s esteemed history.” “Fisk University is an exceptional institution with so much to offer this city and this country and I am deeply committed to working with interim President Newkirk to realize the Fisk future,” said Dr. Frederiksen.
Dr. Frederiksen received his undergraduate degrees in economics, political science, history, and philosophy from Vanderbilt University. He also received a Master’s degree in social and political thought before completing his Master’s and Ph.D. in political science all from Vanderbilt University.
More information about Fisk can be found at https://www.fisk.edu/
Latreace Wells, Faculty, Fisk University
Latreace Sankey-Wells is the Executive Director of Career Services at Fisk University. She is responsible for developing plans and programs to assist students and alumni in exploring and implementing career decisions. She oversees the department offerings of career coaching, assessments, graduate school preparation, and career resources. She has previously taught an International Law Fall Symposium: Understanding, Developing and Implementing HBCU Globalization. Sankley-Wells is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University.
Our Current Speaker Schedule
Recent and Future Speakers
| 8/23/24 | Ken Youngstead — Secrets of a Successful Nonprofit Organization | |
| 8/30/24 | No Meeting — Labor Day Weekend | |
| 9/6/24 | Brian Moyer — The Innovation Studio – Launching a Technology Company in a Way that Benefits Nashville | |
| 9/13/24 | Lauren LaViola, The Family Center — Breaking Intergenerational Cycles of Childhood Trauma | |
| 9/20/24 | Leah M Melber, Ph.D. — Enriching Communities: The Impact of Museums | |
| 9/27/24 | Jeff Roberts, Adm of Elections For Davidson County — Your Questions Answered About Free, Fair and Safe Elections | |
| 10/4/24 | Claudia Huskey, Erin Rogus — Voices for Safer TN Nonpartisan Efforts to Reduce Preventable Firearm Tragedies Across Tennessee | |
| 10/11/24 | Darrell Ailshie — District Governor |