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| The November issue of the AYCGL newsletter provides an update on the Andrew Young Center - Higher Education in Prisons (AYC-HEP) Program, including the Atlanta City Council’s honoring of Judge Winfield Murray, ‘98, and the AYC-HEP Program, and Dr. Taura Taylor’s recent appointment as the AYC-HEP Program Faculty Fellow. Scholar of Distinction, Jerremy Njuguna, shares his story and study abroad experience and the Center recognizes his significant contributions to the Morehouse community. The Center also welcomes Ms. Sage Anderson as the new AYCGL program coordinator. Finally, the newsletter highlights upcoming events, including International Education Week, which will take place November 10-13, 2025. The Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership seeks to extend the legacy of Ambassador Young and expand the footprint of Morehouse into the community and the world. The Center is home to programs designed to inspire and prepare the men of Morehouse to create and implement solutions to social justice challenges and to become global leaders prepared to advance social, economic, and educational equality in the U.S. and abroad. |
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| | | This recurring feature of the Andrew Young Center newsletter highlights an outstanding Morehouse scholar who exemplifies excellence through character, academic achievement, and service to the community. The November issue of the newsletter features Oprah Winfrey scholar Jerremy Njuguna, a sophomore Business Administration major with a concentration in Finance from Portland, Oregon. |
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Growing up in Mombasa, Kenya, my mother would tell me stories of Johannesburg—the “Rainbow City of Liberation.” She spoke of its people, of their resilience, and of the long fight against apartheid. I remember watching the opening ceremony of the South African Olympics and being in awe of Nelson Mandela, the man who had sacrificed everything to free his people—a true revolutionary. In school, I learned about liberation struggles across Africa, from the ANC’s defiance of apartheid to the movements that shaped the destiny of our continent. These lessons instilled in me a deep admiration for South Africa as more than a nation—it was a symbol of resilience, sacrifice, and hope. This past summer, I had the privilege of stepping into those very stories through the 2025 Oprah Winfrey Scholars Study Tour to South Africa, and I can truly say this was a “Journey that Changes Us.” It was not just a study abroad; it was a full immersion into the history, culture, and spirit of South Africa. At Victoria Yards, I saw sustainability and entrepreneurship breathe new life into the community. At the Hector Pieterson Museum, I stood in the shadow of the bravery of young people who dared to confront injustice. Walking through the Nelson Mandela Foundation, I was reminded of the cost of freedom and the enduring strength of leadership rooted in sacrifice. At places like the Cape Slave Lodge and Kliptown Youth Center, I encountered stories of exploitation, resistance, and the power of community as the foundation of liberation. Themes of Blackness, masculinity, spirituality, and economic justice that once felt abstract in textbooks became tangible and alive. The journey forced me to reflect on my own identity—not just as a Morehouse Man, but as a son of Africa carrying a legacy of struggle and triumph. South Africa’s lessons reshaped how I see myself, my responsibilities, and my calling to lead with conviction. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Oprah Winfrey for making this experience possible, and to Dr. Adams, Dr. Stayton, and Dr. Tassie for ensuring every lesson was both taught and felt. I returned to Morehouse carrying not just memories, but a calling to honor the resilience of South Africa by leading with courage, sacrifice, and a commitment to justice wherever I go. My name is Jerremy Njuguna, I am a sophomore, Business & Finance major from Portland, Oregon, by way of Mombasa, Kenya, and I am an Oprah Scholar. |
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| View Jerremy’s short documentary on the 2025 Oprah Winfrey South Africa Leadership Program. |
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| | | The Andrew Young Center is committed to creating and implementing programs that deepen learning and develop leadership through high impact experiences that take students out of their comfort zones, allowing them to grow as individuals and impact the broader community and world. These experiential education programs occur through programs in the United States and abroad. |
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| | AYC-Higher Education in Prisons Program |
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Taura Taylor, Ph.D., Joins the AYCGL as AYC-HEP Faculty Fellow |
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| The Andrew Young Center is pleased to welcome Professor Taura Taylor as the new AYC-Higher Education in Prisons Faculty Fellow. Dr. Taylor brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will benefit the work of the Higher Education in Prisons Program and Andrew Young Center.
Taura Taylor, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Morehouse College. She holds a BBA in finance from Howard University and an MA and a PhD in sociology from Georgia State University.
Dr. Taylor’s research interests include the sociology of education, the sociology of the Black family, social movements, and entrepreneurship—all of which converge into her epistemic focus on intersectionality and her novel concept of micro-resistance. Dr. Taylor’s entrepreneurship research is published in Ethnic and Racial Studies, her social movement research in Interface: A Journal for and about Social Movements, and her most recent research examines Black employee ownership and worker cooperatives. |
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Atlanta City Council Honors Judge Winfield Murray, ‘98, and AYC-Higher Education in Prisons Program |
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| Photography provided by Morehouse College. |
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| The AYC-Higher Education in Prisons (HEP) Program joined the Atlanta City Council in celebrating HEP’s beloved Judge Winfield Murray. Councilwoman Andrea Boone (District 10) presented Judge Murray with a proclamation recognizing his transformational work and ongoing commitment to incarcerated students. Judge Murray has taught in prisons for over five years. He teaches and serves as a site coordinator for Common Good Atlanta and offers Morehouse-accredited courses through the AYC-HEP Program.
Morehouse alumni, faculty, students, and friends joined in the celebration. Author Deb Miller Landau, who published a piece about Judge Murray’s work in Atlanta Magazine, remarked, “that Winfield is an educator…in a way that makes the world make sense. He has an uncommon ability to see the world through the eyes of others…He makes [incarcerated students] feel like his equal…teach(ing) them to realize their ideas matter, and he believes it. And as a result, they believe it, too.” Judge Murray shared “…it is befitting that Morehouse College, the only college dedicated to educating Black men in this country, would take up the cause to go inside prisons to ensure that incarcerated men are able to obtain a higher education.”
The Atlanta City Council also recognized the contributions of the AYC-Higher Education in Prisons Program which over the last four years has offered college-level courses to incarcerated students and currently offers Morehouse accredited courses to incarcerated students. |
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AYC-Higher Education in Prisons Program Program Update |
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| Morehouse College is committed to providing higher education in Georgia facilities and the Federal Correctional Institution. The Andrew Young Center - Higher Education in Prisons Program (AYC-HEP) has evolved into an inspiring program that provides higher education in Georgia’s prisons. The AYC-HEP Program is entering its 2nd year of funding from a congressional appropriation of $1,636,000. During the 2024-25 academic year, the program offered seven 12-week “Clemente Cycle” humanities classes offered in partnership with Common Good Atlanta and four 6-week enrichment seminars at three prison sites: the FCI, Burruss Correctional Facility, and Metro Reentry Prison.
This past spring/summer, the AYC-HEP Program offered its first Morehouse College academic credit-bearing courses. The first cohort of men at the Federal Correctional Institute in Atlanta studied in spring/summer 2025 under the leadership of experienced Morehouse faculty, Dr. Nathaniel Norment and the Honorable Judge Winfield Murray ‘98. Upon returning to their communities, these students can apply to college at Morehouse or another two or four-year institution to pursue a degree. AYC-HEP Program courses provide a strong foundation for incarcerated students to pursue and complete a degree.
This fall, the AYC-HEP Program is offering one course at both the Atlanta Transitional Center and Burruss Correctional Training Center. In addition to experiencing Morehouse’s world-class education, HEP students build community with Morehouse College student ambassadors. This year, thirteen Men of Morehouse from across the college serve as AYC-HEP student ambassadors and are engaged in advocacy work on campus and in the community, promoting higher education in prisons. The student ambassadors also engage in peer tutoring and mentoring with HEP students. |
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Professor Mikki Harris, AYCGL Faculty Fellow Leads Community Responsive Reporting Project |
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| An Andrew Young Fellowship project from 2024 is making waves this semester on satellite radio. Sirius XM picked up two projects to air this fall on nation-wide digital broadcasts that were produced by students who took part in a community responsive reporting project.
The collaborative project was funded by the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership and partnered with the Journalism Department at Morehouse College and the News Ambassadors program of the Solutions Journalism Network during Spring 2024. Led by Professor Mikki Harris, the project engaged ten students from diverse disciplines (including Journalism, Computer Science, Africana Studies, International Studies, and Spanish) in producing evidence-based solutions journalism focused on tackling social injustice.
The project trained students in Solutions Journalism methodology, emphasizing reporting that focuses on responses to social issues rather than just the problems themselves. |
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| The two stories produced through this project and picked up by SiriusXM, have brought student voices to a national audience: "For Us By Us: Black Spaces in the Music Industry" by Kairo Jackson '25 and Simone Watson (Spelman) '25 aired on SiriusXM at the end of September. This story explores cultural agency within the music industry and highlights how Morehouse College is creating Black-led spaces in music education and industry. "Fighting Racial Stereotypes In Sports Media" by Rece Allen '25 will air this Fall. This story examines racial stereotypes in sports journalism and features interviews with Jim Trotter, a former NFL reporter, and Vincent S. Pierson, founder of Black Sports Business Academy.
Kairo Jackson '25, an Oprah Scholar and Computer Science major, enrolled in the journalism department's Advanced Multimedia and Visual Storytelling course to explore his passions for music and storytelling. He brought curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to grow, exemplifying the interdisciplinary nature and impact of work made possible through the AYCGL fellowship project. |
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“The course helped me find my voice at a time where I felt lost in my more stringent computer science curriculum and I will be forever grateful for the chance to have participated and the lessons I learned during my experience,” Kairo said. |
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| | | | | | AYCGL Welcomes Ms. Sage AndersonAYCGL Program Coordinator |
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| The Andrew Young Center is pleased to welcome Ms. Sage Anderson as the new program coordinator for center-wide programming.
Ms. Anderson is a passionate program designer focused on creating spaces where young people can find their purpose, power, and potential. She recently joined the Andrew Young Center as the Program Coordinator for Center-wide programs. In this role, Ms. Anderson uses her background in youth development, hands-on learning, and program operations to design and implement experiential education programming.
Before joining the Andrew Young Center, Ms. Anderson created impactful educational programs at the Veritas Schools, a pre-collegiate Saturday school in Atlanta. In this role, she designed and managed experiences that prepared students for academic, professional, and community leadership. Her work has always aimed to connect students to opportunities by linking classrooms, communities, and businesses through exciting, mission-driven projects. At the Andrew Young Center, Ms. Anderson is eager to keep empowering new leaders. She is especially inspired by the Center’s focus on global awareness, social impact, and interdisciplinary learning. Ms. Anderson looks forward to developing programs that help students engage meaningfully with the world around them. |
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| | Mental Health Awareness MonthOctober 2025 |
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| Last month, Silence the Shame held a fundraiser Gala at the Atlanta City Hall entitled, “Brilliant Mind Gala.” Social Justice Scholar and Psychology Senior, Jamarrea Anderson, was awarded the Youth Mental Advocate Award for his work with students in the Atlanta University Center. Jamarrea also is the first Mr. Morehouse in the college’s history. |
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| | AYCGL Leadership Lecture Series with Al VivianOctober 23, 2025 |
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| On October 23, 2025, as part of the AYCGL Leadership Lecture Series, Al Vivian, President and CEO of BASIC Diversity, delivered a powerful and thought-provoking session. Drawing on his family’s legacy—his father, Dr. C.T. Vivian, was a key civil rights leader and member of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s executive staff—Mr. Vivian shared a moving video of his father standing up to police officers blocking voters in the 1960s. He debunked five common myths about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and highlighted how changing demographics will make the workforce increasingly diverse within the next five years. Connecting DEI to both social justice and good business practices, Mr. Vivian outlined three perceived threats the dominant culture may experience when engaging in DEI discussions and offered practical strategies for addressing them. The event drew students, faculty and staff participants, and concluded with a lively Q&A where students posed insightful questions that were answered with depth and clarity. |
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| | Four Morehouse Scholars Selected to Participate in the CIEE Leading Change in Latin America ProgramOctober 2025 |
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| In October CIEE selected four Morehouse students to participate in a fully funded spring 2026 semester abroad program through their Leading Change in Latin America Fellowship. This program supports students who demonstrate academic excellence and potential as global leaders. The following students were selected: Computer Science Major, Ryan Mbouombouo, ‘28, will participation in Engineering, Technology and Science Program, Sao Paulo, Brazil Computer Science Major, Aaron Lee, ‘28, will participate in the Open Campus Program, Monteverde, Buenos Aires, Santiago CH Business Administration major, Ethan Dennis, ‘27, will participate in the Sao Paulo Business and Culture Program, Sao Paulo, Brazil Journalism and International Studies major, Mouhamadou Kane, ‘28, will participate Semester in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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| | Social Justice Scholars’ Fall Retreat |
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| This fall, seven new students were selected to join the Social Justice Scholars Program. Students will complete internships at Bear Creek Middle School, the East Lake Foundation, Southern Poverty Leadership Center, Silence the Shame, and R2ISE to Recovery. On Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25, the scholars participated in a retreat consisting of goal setting, team building, and professional development. The retreat concluded with a hike of Stone Mountain. |
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| | | | | | A Conversation with Justice Albie Sachs featuring Oprah Winfrey ScholarsWednesday, November 5, 2025 at 4pm African American Hall of Fame In the struggle against Apartheid, Mr. Sachs was an attorney and activist who was twice detained in solitary confinement and later suffered severe injuries when Apartheid government agents detonated a bomb in his car. In 1994, President Nelson Mandela appointed Sachs to South Africa’s first Constitutional Court. He was an active participant in the writing of South Africa’s highly praised democratic Constitution. |
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| International Education WeekNovember 10-13, 2025 The Office of International Education invites the Morehouse community to join us for International Education Week (IEW)—a celebration that highlights the value of global learning and cross-cultural engagement. At Morehouse, IEW is more than a week of events; it's a reflection of our commitment to developing leaders who think critically, engage globally, and serve with purpose. IEW 2025 will feature interactive, informative, and culturally rich programs designed to help students explore the world, expand their networks, and envision their place in a global society. |
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| | J-Mester 2026: Morehouse in Ireland: Civil Rights and Social Justice Study Abroad Program (2 credits)January 2026 This study abroad experience will explore transatlantic perspectives on as well as parallels between Ireland and the USA. We will examine varied attempts at nonviolent direct action and conflict resolution in Ireland and elsewhere. The itinerary includes field trips to Derry, Dublin, and Belfast. The Morehouse in Ireland Program will be led by Dr. Sinead Younge. |
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| | Office of International Education: Study Abroad 101Every Wednesday at 3pm Leadership Center, Room 440 Learn about faculty-led and academic-term study abroad programs, how to finance study abroad, passports, and the many opportunities to study abroad at Morehouse College in these weekly meetings open to all traditional students. Stay up-to-date on Morehouse study abroad by following the OIE on Instagram: @MorehouseOIE. |
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| The Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership’s video podcast More Conversations was initiated in the fall 2020 and aims to put scholars and subject matter experts in conversation about topics that are important to both the collegiate and broader communities. |
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| | | A Note of Gratitude to Our Sponsors |
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| The work of the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including The Coca Cola Company, Bank of America, Ms. Oprah Winfrey and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, The Julian Grace Foundation, Delta Airlines, the Microsoft Corporation, and the Cigna Foundation. We wish to thank these donors for their sustained support of the AYCGL. |
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