GRUNGECAKE TEAM
Hennessy Fellows is one of the nation’s top HBCU programs designed to prepare and propel Black students into leadership roles
This week, The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Hennessy announced the selection of the fifth cohort of Hennessy Fellows, a landmark programme designed to equip the next generation of Black leaders in the United States. The Hennessy Fellows Programme offers financial assistance, training, professional development, and curated corporate development experiences to HBCU students. To date, more than 30 students have successfully completed the Hennessy Fellows program.
The Fellows spent a weekend in Charlotte to launch the fifth cohort, where they participated in leadership, communication, and media relations workshops over the course of three days. Later this year, the Fellows will be in New York City for an intense executive boot camp experience where they will focus on specific competency areas such as executive presence, finance, operations, and influence, as well as business acumen. Sessions will be led by Moët Hennessy executives, industry leaders, and influencers who will provide interactive lectures, simulations, and executive coaching.
Made possible by an approximate $14 million-dollar commitment from Hennessy to TMCF over 10 years, Hennessy plays an essential role in building the pipeline of diverse, executive talent in the country. Although Black employees comprise 14 percent of all US employees, the Black workforce at the managerial level is just half of that: 7 per cent. At Senior-Manager Levels—Vice President and Senior Vice President—it declines further, to 5 and 4 percent, according to McKinsey. The Hennessy Fellows Programme is uniquely positioned to help address these diversity gaps and contribute to building a more diverse workforce.
The 2023 Hennessy Fellows are:
Tia Pope – North Carolina A&T State University; Ph D, Information Technology
William Gaspard, Jr – Southern University Law Center; JD Candidate
Morgan Newton – Morgan State University; MBA Candidate
Hannah Bruns – Howard University School of Law; JD Candidate
Erika Tribble – Howard University; MBA Candidate
Giordan Rose – Savannah State University; MBA Candidate
Latia Boney – Howard University; MBA Candidate
Brandon Moise – Clark Atlanta University; MBA Candidate
Karmyn Tatum – Florida A&M University; MBA Candidate
Cierra Robinson – Morgan State University; Ph D, Higher Education Administration
“Hennessy is committed to the advancement of the Black community and together with The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, we are helping to build the next generation of leaders”, said Jasmin Allen, Senior Vice President of Hennessy US.
“By providing them with the necessary resources, investment, and development opportunities that can help them reach their goals, we continue to ensure HBCU students are positioned for success during their undergraduate years and beyond.”
The Hennessy Fellows were selected after an exhaustive application process. In addition to the all-expenses-paid trips to Charlotte, and New York City for the boot camp, each fellow will receive executive coaching, a scholarship of up to $20,000 per academic year, $10,000 annual stipend for other educational expenses, an opportunity to pitch for a community-related project grant up to $10,000, and access to online training forums, boot camps, networking events, and professional development experiences.
“We are proud to announce this next cohort of Black student leaders who will define and disrupt Corporate America. Each presents a unique set of leadership and communication skills that positioned them as top candidates for the Hennessy Fellows program”, said Harry L Williams, president & CEO, TMCF. “Our partnership with Hennessy allows us to build on decades of work to advance HBCU students and we look forward to Hennessy Fellows becoming the preeminent HBCU fellowship program in the country.”
For more than 35 years, Thurgood Marshall College Fund has awarded more than $300 million in assistance to students attending HBCUs. TMCF has delivered 98 percent of its awards exclusively to HBCUs, and the Hennessy Fellows programme is a continuation of an ongoing investment in Black students and the Black community at-large. For more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply for future cohorts, please visit this link.
