The New Pittsburgh Courtier has learned that after a comprehensive national search, Professor and Vice Dean Jerry Dickinson has been named Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, effective Jan. 15. A Pittsburgh native, Dickinson has built a national, international and local reputation as a constitutional law scholar and civil rights lawyer. He has extensive litigation and transactional pro bono experience in civil rights and civil liberties. Dickinson joined the Pitt Law faculty in 2017 and was appointed as vice dean in March 2023. His teaching and

Rob Taylor Jr. - Courier Staff Writer She has no choice Monica Johnson feeds nearly 900 people in the Hill District, neighboring communities  For Hill District native Monica Johnson, she has no choice but to give back to her community. She doesn’t spend time thinking what people can do for her, she told the New Pittsburgh Courier, a few weeks after providing 878 people throughout the year 2024 with a hot meal, whether it was for Thanksgiving or prior. It’s about what she can do for others. MONICA JOHNSON WELCOMES EVERYONE TO

When the light bulb turns on, it's a wonderful sight. That's according to Anna Hollis Kander, the executive director of Amachi Pittsburgh, who watches the proverbial light bulb turn on time after time with her high-schoolers involved in Amachi's "Ambassadors" program. The Amachi Ambassadors program is geared toward Pittsburgh-area high school students who have an incarcerated parent or family member. It's one of the many programs Amachi Pittsburgh has to help children and families through the tough time—whether it's months or years—of navigating life without their loved one(s) due

ALLEN GREENE (PHOTO BY MARLON MARTIN)  The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that highly accomplished and nationally respected college athletics administrator Allen Greene has been appointed director of athletics at the University of Pittsburgh. He began his role at Pitt on Nov. 1. “Pitt Athletics is the front porch of the University of Pittsburgh, serving as a crucial access point for so many across our campus, our region, our nation and the world,” said Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel, in a statement. “In Allen Greene, we have a proven national leader

In the face of increasing hype and misinformation, Evans encouraged Black investors to pursue a clear understanding of cryptocurrency, noting that education is key. By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia In a recent appearance on Let It Be Known News, Professor Tonya M. Evans—an expert in fintech law at Penn State Dickinson Law and a prominent figure in digital asset strategy—discussed the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, particularly its impact on Black America. As an advisor on fintech policy through her company Advantage Evans, LLC, and a board member of

In some online biographies of Roger Humphries, it states first that he is “an American jazz drummer.” “Just” an “American jazz drummer?” Ask the great sculptor Thaddeus Mosley, and he’ll tell you, “that’s the greatest drummer in the world.” Pittsburgh City Councilman Khari Mosley, son of Thaddeus Mosley, told the story on Sept. 27 to all in attendance where Arch Street meets East Jefferson Street, North Side, just off Federal Street. Khari Mosley’s father found out that Khari’s best friend was the nephew of Humphries, and when Humphries’ nephew said

SHARPSBURG MAYOR KAYLA PORTIS (PHOTO BY NANCI GOLDBERG) The U.S. Census says there are about 180 Black people who currently live in Sharpsburg, PA, or 5.6 per­cent of the borough's pop­ulation. But don't let the small percentage fool you—in the past eight months, African Americans have been making historic moves in Sharpsburg politics. Kayla Portis, 39, a Sharpsburg Borough council member since 2021, made history on July 11 by being appoint­ed Sharpsburg's first Black mayor. And follow­ing an open interview pro­cess with Portis and other candidates on that July 11

Dr. Harvey-Smith is the president of Pittsburgh Technical College, or PTC for short. Today, the school is pretty much no more. The school’s Board of Trustees decided in June 2024 to close the college altogether in August following declining enrollment and a host of investigations and local TV news stories that, according to some at the college who spoke with the Courier, including Dr. Harvey-Smith, portrayed the college in a very bad light. In the fiscal year 2019, the college had a debt of $46.4 million, the

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Larry C. Pickett was selected as Chairman to lead the International Association of Technology and Management (IATM). The selection was made on May 22. The goal of IATM is to foster collaboration among professionals in academia, industry, and research to advance the fields of technology and management.  Pickett serves as a member of the IATM advisory board.  He is also a member of the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Business Innovation Office, where he leads the Project Management Center of Excellence.  He

The people who everyone gives up on are the ones who I’m drawn to.’ When you do good, it seems like good always comes back to you. Andrea Flack-Wetherald could have just let the deadline pass. She could have just turned on the TV, or scrolled through Facebook. Instead, she was determined to fill out a number of questions and even create and submit a video about how much Rev. Cornell Jones deserves the inaugural Fred Rogers Institute Helper Award. Flack-Wetherald, who no longer lives in Pittsburgh, described how, when she