Tryan McMickens, Ed.D., associate professor of higher education and director of the Master of Science in Higher Education program at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), has received the 2024 American Association of University Administrators (AAUA) John Blackburn Award for the NCCU Higher Education Administration Program’s Tuesdays Together National Speakers Series.
Created in 2021 by McMickens, the series aims to expose students to a range of higher education professionals and organizations throughout the nation. Past speakers have included Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., former president of Spelman College; Tressie McMillan Cottom, ‘09 (BA), Ph.D., 2020 MacArthur Fellow and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor; David Wilson, Ed.D., president of Morgan State University and more.
“The NCCU Higher Education Administration Program’s Tuesdays Together National Speaker Series brings my research on higher education leadership to practice,” said McMickens. “It fosters a community where graduate students, faculty and administrators can learn from notable scholars and leaders. I am honored that the AAUA Blackburn Award committee recognized the series, and I am grateful for the NCCU community’s engagement with transformative thought leaders.”
Awarded by the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA), recipients are chosen from among nominations made by administrators from various institutions around the country. It recognizes outstanding examples of college and university leadership activities to create solutions to common problems posed by accrediting bodies, legislation, governance or the institution’s own internal strategic objectives. It is named for John L. Blackburn, an AAUA pioneer, long-time AAUA executive officer and two-time general secretary of the association.
“Dr. McMickens is to be congratulated for this impressive program and the wide-ranging value it has produced for NCCU,” said Jerry Neuner, AAUA Awards vice president. “Such a program also produces self-confidence for the institution and individual students. Meeting national leaders inspires students to measure up to the tasks that will lead to their own advancement.”
McMickens will be formally presented with the award at the AAUA annual conference in Indianapolis on Oct. 14 - 16, 2024.
AAUA is a member-centered association for higher education leaders and administrative personnel. It is the only professional association for individuals who are interested in the entire range of higher education management in the entire diverse set of American colleges and universities.
