Call Me MISTER Director to Appear on Tavis Smiley’s Radio Talk Show

Oct. 14, 2009 - PRLog -- The Call Me MISTER program was created at Clemson University and is currently under the direction of Dr. Roy Jones. In 2006, Representative James Roebuck (D), Chairman of the House Education Committee, championed the bill for the state of Pennsylvania.  Representative Roebuck was instrumental in bringing the program to Cheyney University.  Students receive full tuition, room, board, a work replacement stipend. The Call Me MISTER program provides undergraduate and graduate level scholarship and support. Support includes but not limited to workshops, Praxis Preparation, packages to attend national, regional and local educational conferences that will enhance their knowledge, professional network and skills as educators.

For every year they receive the scholarship, they are required to serve in a classroom in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  However, due to recent State budget cuts, the program’s future is in jeopardy of continued legislative support.  Cheyney University is one of only four HBCUs nationwide to join the national program.

Call Me MISTER is a teacher leadership program that provides participants with the tools necessary to succeed as pre-service teachers and become professionals in the classroom as educators. The mission of the program is to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader, more diverse background, particularly among the lowest-performing elementary schools.

Earlier this fall, Cheyney University’s Call Me MISTER program made national headlines in announcing Dr. Bill Cosby as the Honorary Chairperson for the Call Me MISTER Advisory Council.  The program was also featured in an article published by the Associated Press.  

Recently, the program’s Director, Mr. Jean was invited to participate as a panelist in the “Just For Men: Increasing Male Involvement in Education CALL TO ACTION”, an event hosted and sponsored by the School District of Philadelphia on Saturday, October 24, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This event will be moderated by E. Steven Collins of Radio One and the Cheyney University Call Me MISTER students will participate as ushers and audience members.

For more information on Cheyney University’s Call Me MISTER program, please contact the Office of Public Relations and Marketing office at 610.399.2515 or Mr. Howard R. Jean, Director for the Call Me MISTER program at 610.399.2515 or email hjean@cheyney.edu

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Cheyney University is the nation’s oldest historically Black institution of higher education. It is also the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE.) Now celebrating its 26th year, PASSHE comprises Pennsylvania’s 14 public universities, with a combined enrollment of more than 112,500, making it the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. At its inception, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania successfully provided free classical education for qualified young people, and today the university offers baccalaureate degrees in more than 30 disciplines and six master’s degree programs. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.cheyney.edu.