DreamWeek 2023 Panel Series: Constellations: Creating Black Communities of Academic and Professional Success

The DreamPanel Series brings together speakers with the goal to further conversations related to important topics that impact our community.

This panel discussion features a conversation among Black men who are part of a network of support for Black men founded at The University of Texas at Austin. Since 2010  the Heman Sweatt Center for Black Males, formerly the African American Research Initiative, has graduated over 20 Black males with PhDs in various fields. This panel discussion aims to provide insights into how Black male professionals can create networks of support for one another through cascade and constellation mentoring.

Langston Clark – Moderator  

Langston Clark is an Associate Professor at UTSA’s College of Education and Human Development and The College of Health Community and Policy. Langston completed his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) at The University of Texas at Austin. Before obtaining his Ph.D., he received his M.A. in Adapted Physical Education from The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Physical Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T). Given his experience as an undergraduate at A&T, a Historically Black College/University (HBCUs), he has developed a passion for the continued development and elevation of minority-serving institutions. Dr. Clark’s research focuses on training Black physical educators, kinesiologists, and Black male teachers at HBCUs. His other research interest includes the intersections of athletics, race, and education. In addition, to his scholarly work, Dr. Clark is the founder and organizer of Entrepreneurial Appetite, a series of events dedicated to building community, promoting intellectualism, and supporting Black businesses.

Panelists:

• Dr. Louis Harrison, Jr.

Dr. Louis Harrison, Jr. a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin. His academic research focused on the impact of race-related stereotypes and the intersection of African American racial and athletic identity development on sport choices and performance. He is an Active Fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology, the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport and the Society of Health and Physical Educators. Among his distinguished awards are the SHAPE America Scholar Award, the Charles D. Henry and E. B. Henderson Awards and the Luther Halsey Gulick Award from the Society of Health and Physical Educators. He was also presented with the Athletic Leadership Award at the Black Student-Athlete Summit at the University of Texas.

• Dr. Marcus Wayne Johnson

Dr. Marcus Wayne Johnson is an Assistant Professor — Curriculum And Instruction ED 3030. His research interests are :Elementary Education; Social Studies; Early Childhood Education; African American Education; Teacher Education; Sociology of Education. Some of his selected scholarly/ creative work include:

• James Brown, Phd

  The University of Texas at Austin retired

  Bio: Dr. Brown obtained his undergraduate education at Princeton University (Princeton, NJ), and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree (major: physics, minor: mathematics) in 1974. He then attended graduate school at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), and graduated with a Master’s degree in 1976, and a Doctorate degree in 1982 (major: applied and engineering physics, minor: quantum electronics). Dr. Brown’s thesis research focused on high current density, quasi-three-dimensional, superconducting Josephson devices.

  After graduation, Dr. Brown pursued an industrial research/development career in solid-state physics and semiconductor engineering, developing expert knowledge in semiconductor/thin-film process integration, advanced lithographic processes, vacuum deposition, and dry/wet etching processes. He became an expert problem solver with excellent communication and teamwork skills through holding progressively more responsible Engineer/Scientist positions in leading high-tech companies Honeywell, 3M, Symbios, Motorola, DuPont Photomasks, and Photronics. Along with his industrial career, Dr. Brown also became a skilled, college-level instructor through adjunct physics/mathematics professor positions at Hamline University (St. Paul, MN), Huston-Tillotson University (HTU), and Austin Community College (ACC) (both in Austin, TX).

  Following a career change in 2006, Dr. Brown returned to graduate school and earned a Master’s degree in education (2010, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX), and a Texas state teacher certification in physical science. Currently, Dr. Brown is a coordinator for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) academic support in the Gateway Scholars program at the University of Texas at Austin. He also serves as an advisor in the McNair Scholars Program at UT Austin. Dr. Brown is the holder of 2 U.S. patents (#5,635,718 and #5,357,589).