News

North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) celebrated an important milestone this weekend as student teams from across the state gathered at the North Carolina Legislative Complex for the 15th Annual Ethics Bowl. This year’s competition, centered on the theme “Ethics in Leadership,” culminated in a historic first as Johnson C. Smith University became the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) to reach the finals and prevail as champion.

A conversation with Dr. Joseph L. Jones, Author of Black, Not Historically Black: Toward a Pan-Black College and University

At just 18 years old, Johnson C. Smith University international student Chanécia Thompson is already charting a promising path toward a career in technology. Originally from Portland, Jamaica, Chanécia joined JCSU in January 2025 after earning a partial scholarship—an opportunity that filled her with both relief and excitement.

Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) celebrated the return of JCSU alumna, Sulema Castro Salinas ’16, a talented visual artist and educator who brought her visual magic to the James B. Duke Memorial Library for a special event hosted by Dr. Jasleen Kohli, Assistant Professor of Spanish in the Department of Arts and Humanities, College of Liberal Arts. The event showcased Salinas’s artwork, personal journey, and her reflections on culture, creativity, and identity.

Africa has one of the highest rates of international research collaboration, especially with major scientific power houses like the United States. In October, Dr. Alphonso Ogbuehi, Dean of the Johnson C. Smith University College of Business invited Dr. Eugene Okyere-Kwakye, Dean of the School of Business at Koforidua Technical University in Ghana, to the Charlotte-based campus of JCSU. The conversation on campus was an extension of conversations that began in Ghana during a JCSU delegation trip led by President Kinloch July 2025. The conversation that emerged in October at JCSU continues to shed light on international collaborations that may occur in the future. 

Medicine, music, and hands-on STEM education came together at Johnson C. Smith University’s 2025 Homecoming. Beyond the football field and parade route, doctors, medical professionals, and even a live DJ gathered on campus to showcase careers, new technology, and real-world opportunities in healthcare. At the center of it all were two Golden Bull alumni—now practicing podiatrists—who returned to give back and inspire the next generation.

The Johnson C. Smith University community congratulates Dr. Valerie Kinloch, 15th President of JCSU.  The Aspen Institute announced today that President Kinloch has been named a 2025 Aspen Ascend Fellow, a prestigious fellowship and honor.

The College of Business and Professional Studies is opening the doors of opportunity to Johnson C. Smith University students.  On September 10, 2025, CBPS held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the College of Business and Professional Studies Finance/Tech Lab.  The lab is designed to increase student understanding of and facility with finance and financial markets while strengthening student connections to the financial industry.

World leaders in entertainment, education, journalism and business took the stage at Wealthcon in Boston during Essence HBCU  Classic Weekend!  In a panoply of high-profile panels, community leaders  - including Chief Content Officer of Essence Ventures, Michele Ghee, Valerie Mosley of BrightUp and Dr. Valerie Kinloch, 15th President of Johnson C. Smith University - tackled educational empowerment, financial literacy and community engagement. Leaders engaged in candid conversation about the transformative role of education in shaping opportunity, mobility, and leadership.