Grambling State University received a visit from one of its successful alumna, Cheryl Mango-Ambrose on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
Cheryl Mango-Ambrose visited the History Department to speak to the students on the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
“I was here on campus today to speak to history students about the importance of HBCUs because my argument is that outside of the Black church, HBCUs are the last major autonomously Black institution that has yet to dissipate under the auspices of integration.”
Mrs. Mango-Ambrose is from DeRidder. She earned her undergraduate degree in history and political science from GSU in 2009. In 2012 Mango-Ambrose received her Masters of Arts degree in history from Louisiana Tech University.
Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in history at Morgan State University. Her studies include African American, African Diasporan and Twentieth-Century United States History. Her areas of interest for research are African-American religion and HBCU history.
Currently Mango-Ambrose is working on her dissertation which focuses on HBCUs. She currently works as a research assistant in Morgan State’s history department. Mango-Ambrose teaches two classes at the Community College of Baltimore County, United States and African American history. She is an active member in various student, civic and professional organizations such as the National Council for Black Studies and Morgan State University’s President’s Leadership Circle. Mango-Ambrose also founded Morgan State’s History, African American and Museum Studies Graduate Council.
Mango-Ambrose has also established a scholarship on Grambling’s campus known as the Cheryl Eltonete Mango Book Scholarship for GSU history majors. The scholarship is given annually to two students who prove to be most deserving. She currently serves as the associate editor of the 2014 Compendium of U.S. Government Sponsored Research and Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Mango-Ambrose spoke to the students at Grambling in hopes to inspire them.
“I would like to challenge Grambling students to be as dedicated and committed as I am to HBCUs, especially their alma mater Grambling.”
She expands her time not only to the current students, but prospective ones to come.
“I will be speaking to some Louisiana high schools trying to recruit for Grambling while I am here as well.”
Cheryl Mango-Ambrose currently interns at the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges in Washington, DC