Latest news with #AlabamaA&M
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU makes history with its first female lead football announcer
Alabama A&M University has made history by naming Thai Floyd as the first woman to serve as the football team's full-time play-by-play announcer. Alabama A&M is an HBCU in Huntsville, Alabama, and competes in the SWAC. Floyd will call Bulldogs games throughout the 2025 season. A proud Florida A&M alumna, she brings years of experience as a broadcast journalist. Most recently, she worked as a digital media specialist for Alabama A&M athletics. According to her biography, Floyd has covered sports at every level. That includes high school, college, and professional events. Her work has appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia, HBCU Legends on Sports Illustrated, and ESPN's Andscape. She has also worked for ESPN+ and ESPNU as a sideline reporter and play-by-play commentator. Her assignments have included FBS bowl games and the Celebration Bowl. Floyd expressed her deep appreciation and sense of purpose for the opportunity: This opportunity is a dream realized, and I'm deeply grateful to be trusted with it. To be the first woman to serve as the full-time voice of Alabama A&M football - and possibly the first to hold this role at any HBCU - is bigger than me. It's about legacy, representation, and reminding young Black girls that we belong in every room, every booth, every broadcast. She went on to honor one of her biggest inspirations: I've looked up to Tiffany Greene for over a decade - she's poured into me, inspired me, and paved the way. Now, I just hope to continue the work she started and be that same light for someone else. With this historic appointment, Floyd not only becomes a trailblazer for Alabama A&M in the SWAC, but also a powerful symbol of progress across the HBCU and sports media landscape. The post HBCU makes history with its first female lead football announcer appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU and PWI schools from Alabama set for hoops exhibition
Alabama A&M University, a proud HBCU, will take part in a major basketball event this fall. The Bulldogs will face Samford University in an exhibition game at Boutwell Auditorium on Monday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. A Platform for HBCU Pride This event gives Alabama A&M a chance to shine on a big stage. Head coach Donte Jackson is looking forward to the opportunity. The game will highlight HBCU basketball talent and help build momentum before the regular season. Basketball Takes Over Birmingham The Alabama A&M vs. Samford matchup kicks off a full week of games at Boutwell Auditorium: Wednesday, Oct. 15 – Auburn vs. Oklahoma StateThursday, Oct. 16 – Alabama (Women's) vs. Florida State Last year, Boutwell hosted its first men's basketball game in over 45 years. The event featured Alabama vs. Wake Forest and marked a historic return to hoops in the venue. Alabama A&M University welcomed Donte Jackson as its new head men's basketball coach in 2025, signaling a new era for the program. Jackson, a respected figure in HBCU basketball, brings a winning pedigree from previous successful stints at Grambling State and Stillman College. Known for his disciplined approach and ability to turn programs around, Jackson is expected to elevate AAMU's competitiveness in the SWAC. His hiring has generated excitement among alumni, fans, and recruits alike, as the Bulldogs look to build a championship-caliber team under his leadership on and off the court. Get Your Tickets Fans of Alabama A&M and HBCU basketball can purchase tickets now at Don't miss this chance to support HBCU athletics and enjoy top-level basketball in the heart of Alabama. The post HBCU and PWI schools from Alabama set for hoops exhibition appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
HBCU Coach's Style Lands Her on Essence Festival Panel
NEW ORLEANS - On the sidelines, Alabama A&M head women's basketball coach Dawn Thornton is more than a strategist-she's a whole vibe. Thornton's presence is impossible to ignore, whether calling plays or calling attention with her bold game day fashion. Her signature looks have racked up over seven million views on Instagram this season alone. Now, the world beyond HBCU basketball is taking notice. Coach Thornton is set to join BeautyCon's highly anticipated "Play the Game, Get the Look" panel at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans on July 5, a celebration of how style, beauty, and confidence intersect-both on the court and in culture. This year's Essence Festival is especially meaningful, marking the 55th anniversary of Essence Magazine under the theme "Made Like This." BeautyCon's platform is spotlighting women from the South who are shaping beauty narratives and pushing back against outdated, one-dimensional standards. Thornton embodies that mission perfectly. "My style is definitely an extension of who I am," Thornton shared. "It's confident, intentional, and sometimes a little extra-in the best way. That's how I coach, too. I'm big on presence and energy. Your preparation is your separation. Confidence isn't just taught-it's modeled. I want my players to always see that in me." For Dawn Thornton, fashion isn't just about aesthetics-it's a form of leadership. Her dynamic looks send a clear message to her HBCU student-athletes: You can be powerful, poised, and unapologetically yourself. "I want my players to know it's okay to stand out, to take pride in how you show up, and to lead with confidence on and off the court," she said. "You don't have to dim your light to lead. There's strength in owning who you are. If I can show up in a bold outfit and handle business, it shows them they can do the same in any space." In an industry where Black women are often pressured to shrink themselves to fit outdated expectations, Thornton refuses. "There's this idea that coaches, especially Black women, have to look or act a certain way to be taken seriously. I don't subscribe to that," she said. "I show up as myself-fully-and I coach with passion and excellence. That alone shifts the narrative." The "Play the Game, Get the Look" panel will dive deep into how beauty trends born in sports culture influence the wider world, especially in Black communities. The conversation will also explore how looking and feeling good feeds into the mindset of winning-on any stage. The connection between Dawn Thornton's HBCU hoops gameday fits and her coaching philosophy is seamless. "Game day is a whole vibe, and my look is part of the energy I bring," she explained. "Sometimes the goal is to make a bold statement. Other times, it's about feeling grounded and confident in my own skin. Either way, it's part of the game plan. How I show up visually matters just as much as how I show up mentally." Essence Festival and BeautyCon will run July 3–6, with daily events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The event promises a vibrant mix of culture, conversation, and community, celebrating Black women in all their power, beauty, and brilliance. The post HBCU Coach's Style Lands Her on Essence Festival Panel appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Big Ten squad to host two HBCUs this season
Two HBCUs will step onto a major stage this college basketball season as Alabama A&M and Bethune-Cookman both appear on Indiana University's 2025–26 non-conference schedule. Each team will travel to Bloomington, Indiana, to take on the Big Ten powerhouse early in the season. Alabama A&M begins new era Alabama A&M opens Indiana's season on November 5. The Bulldogs are entering a new chapter under head coach Dontae Jackson, who takes over after a successful stint at Grambling State. Last season, A&M finished 10–22, but Jackson brings a reputation for building tough, defensive teams. He aims to inject a winning culture and boost recruiting through his SWAC connections and national network. Bethune-Cookman closes out November Bethune-Cookman faces Indiana on November 29. The Wildcats are coming off a 17–16 campaign under head coach Reggie Theus, a former NBA All-Star with deep coaching experience. Theus has steadily elevated the program's credibility and competitiveness. With several key players returning, BCU looks to continue its momentum and won't shy away from the Big Ten spotlight. Why These Matchups Matter For both HBCUs, these games offer more than just competition-they bring visibility, financial support, and a chance to measure up against top-tier talent. Facing Big Ten teams helps prepare HBCU programs for their conference slates while giving players national exposure. These games also highlight a growing trend. Big Ten schools increasingly schedule HBCUs in non-conference play, often providing much-needed financial boosts for smaller programs through guarantee game payouts. Embracing the Challenge With proven coaches like Jackson and Theus leading the way, Alabama A&M and Bethune-Cookman are ready to represent the HBCU community with pride. Expect both teams to compete hard and make the most of their national stage this season. The post Big Ten squad to host two HBCUs this season appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Business Journals
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
How Crystal Mullen-Johnson turned tragedy into triumph
Company: Strive Counseling Services Title: Founder, CEO Locations: Birmingham and Demopolis, Alabama UNLOCK EVERY ARTICLE Get Started For Only $9 GAIN ACCESS TO EVERY LOCAL INSIGHT, LEAD AND MORE! Become A Member UNLOCK EVERY ARTICLE Get Started For Only $9 GAIN ACCESS TO EVERY LOCAL INSIGHT, LEAD AND MORE! Become A Member From the Birmingham Business Journal. Growing up as the daughter of a social worker and an entrepreneur, Crystal Mullen-Johnson knew starting her own company was in her future. Following a family tragedy when she was 14, the lack of mental health resources available to her motivated Mullen-Johnson to start her company, Strive Counseling Services. With locations in downtown Birmingham and Demopolis, Mullen-Johnson and her team of counselors provide adolescent, play, adult and couple therapy, as well as telehealth services. How did that hard childhood experience shape your professional career? My mom, unfortunately, passed away. We buried her the day before my 15th birthday. I love my mom; we spent so much time together and (losing her) really changed the trajectory of my life. What was missing during that critical stage of my development after my mom died was a therapist; no one guided me to get grief counseling. I knew I wanted to attend my mother's alma mater, Alabama A&M, so I pursued social work, pursued getting my master's degree and learned the model of establishing a business. That became my career track, and from there I pursued mental health. What are some recent trends in counseling you've noticed? There is a significant increase in African-American men seeking out treatment; it's a taboo conversation, mental health, and sometimes we are unlikely to seek treatment. Men are taught in boyhood to be tough and not cry but ... I have seen an increase where men are becoming more comfortable having conversations about how to overcome mental health challenges with someone that doesn't necessarily look like them. I (also) see a growing trend of therapists becoming independent practitioners as opposed to working within a group ... which I think provides more opportunities for people to select a business they want to work with. How do you take care of yourself outside of the office? Self-care is something I preach, teach and learn. My spirituality is my foundation for living, and I love journaling. I enjoy reading; I have a book club called Nurture and it's a group of professional women that gather together and we select a book once a quarter to read. I also love golfing, playing tennis and line dancing. What's a fun fact about you that not many people know? I was selected by American All-Star Dancers to perform at Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego with the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers. Sign up for Bizwomen's free daily newsletter for news about businesswomen across the country and business intelligence to help you grow your business, advance your career and simplify your professional life.
