HBCU Research Magazine

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HBCU Research Magazine ...

Our Mission

HBCU Research is the first research-lifestyle magazine to highlight the groundbreaking research emanating from HBCUs and its influence on the national research and development landscape. Written in an informative and engaging format, the magazine is designed to spark imagination and inspire collaborations among academia, government, industry, and the community.

First published in 2017, HBCU Research Magazine has released
8 issues:

  • George Washington Carver and His Enduring Legacy

  • 2017 Year in Review

  • The Race to Engineering

  • Your Ships Are Coming In: The Student Issue

  • The Politics of Research & the Federal R&D Funding Issue

  • AgriTECH & The Future of Agriculture

  • The HBCU Response to Coronavirus

  • HBCU’s and the Response to COVID-19

Key Personnel 

Sandra Long

HBCU Research Magazine, Editor and Publisher
HBCU Research AI Summit, Chair

  • Publisher and Editor: HBCU Research Magazine and ROSA Magazine.

  • Government Service: Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer, Maryland Lottery; Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce including Co-Chair State of Maryland Banking Procurement and Small Business Lead for the Maryland Mainstreet Program, and Launch of first U.S. Arts & Entertainment District. 

  • Conference Planning:  Federal Contracting Academy. 

  • Corporate Experience: Founder and CEO, SLA Worldwide (BNA, BWI, PHL, KCI, Union Station), proprietary brands (Vino Fiesta, Lily Palmer Flowers, Everything Travel, Brothers Barbeque); Wealth Advisor, Equitable Securities, Prudential Bache, and Dean Witter. 

  • Boards & Commissions:  Airport Minority Advisory Council PAC (AMAC), Westminster Home Connection, UMBC Research Park (Past) 

J. Howard Henderson 

Senior Summit Planner

  • HBCU Experience:  VP for Institutional Advancement, Edward Waters University. 

  • Conference Planning:  Oversaw planning of national conferences, local galas and other events with the NAACP and Urban League.   

  • Civil Rights Leadership:  President & CEO, Greater Baltimore Urban League; Director of Administration and Finance and Principal Advisor to NAACP President Benjamin Hooks. 

  • Government Service:  Appointed by West Virginia Governor John D. Rockefeller as the Director of Employment and Training in the Office of Economic and Community Development.    

  • Flagship Programs:  Launched Raymond V Haysbert Center for Entrepreneurship to support the creation and growth of small and micro-businesses.  Created a college readiness and servant leadership program with a college completion rate 2.5 times that of Baltimore City.    

Estelle Young, PhD 

Summit Planner

  • HBCU Experience:  Assistant Professor Bowie State University and Morgan State University; MSU BEAMS Team Lead (IHEP Building Engagement and Attainment for Minority Students). 

  • Federal Grant Writing, Coaching & Pre-Submission Reviews:  Awards:  25.6 million dollars; Award Rate: 47%; Federal Agencies: DoED (Title III, TRIO), NSF (Noyce), HRSA (BHWET). 

  • Grant Writing Training Institute:  8-part pre-recorded seminars and templates with Grant Professionals Certification Institute Accepted Education Program (GPCI AEP, 6.75 CEU). 

  • Program Design & Grant Management:  Nursing Retention Program tripled Black graduation rates within three years reaching parity with white rates. 

  • Education/Certifications:  Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University), Grant Professional Certified (GPC); Grant Professionals Association Approved Trainer; Noel Levitz Retention Excellence Award. 

Simona Tirdova

Managing Editor 

Known in the fiction world under a pen name Zara Miller, Simona is an accomplished Amazon best-selling author with a background in creative and non-fiction writing.  She began her career as a creative writer for the Harvard-led publication, The Teen Magazine. As a writer for Georgetown University's Creator Institute, and Publishing and Media Specialist at Manuscripts LLC, Simona interviewed high-profile figures like Grant Faulkner, CEO of NaNoWriMo. Her work has been featured in many literary journals, including Tint and Synchronized Chaos. As an endorsed artist by the National Writers Union, she is the author of the YA novel "I Am Cecilia '', and co-creator of the audio drama "Midnight Express" for a worldwide platform Headfone with over 15 million listeners. Simona studied international affairs at Middlesex University London, bringing a global perspective to her writing and editorial work.

Ruiyang Zhang

Graphic Design Manager

An esteemed Graphics Design Manager and a distinguished alumnus of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), one of the premier graphics design schools in the country, Ricky brings a wealth of experience and a keen eye for innovation to our team. With a career spanning over a decade, he has honed his craft in both the corporate and creative sectors, making him a versatile and dynamic leader.

Ricky leads our talented design team with unparalleled expertise, driving the creative vision for HBCU Research. Under his direction, our team excels in creating and refining the visual identities of our brand—from the magazine’s stunning layouts to our engaging social media presence and diverse creative materials. His creative genius is evident across various platforms, where he skillfully transforms conceptual designs into captivating publications that resonate with our audience.

PUBLISHING COMPANY

HBCU Research Magazine is in the publishing division of SLA Worldwide. The other publication is ROSA magazine.