Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2022
Dr. Terence Fontaine, director of aviation at Texas Southern University, serves as co-host (along with Xavier Samuels, first officer with United Airlines and chair of the Advisory Board for TSU's aviation program) of the HBCU Aviation Directors' Summit, to be held Nov. 3-4 at TSU.
Texas Southern University’s award-winning Aviation Science Management program will host the second annual HBCU Aviation Directors’ Summit on Thursday and Friday, November 3-4, 2022.
The two-day summit includes not only directors from aviation programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S., but also other leaders in the aviation industry, including representatives from several major U.S. airlines. Bradley Mims, Deputy Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as United Airlines president Brett Hart, will also be in attendance. During the summit, the attendees will discuss challenges and share ideas for their flight training and aviation management programs. The inaugural summit was held last year at Delaware State University in Dover, DE.
A primary focus of the summit involves developing strategies for training and graduating more students of color to go into the aviation industry and military to address the growing nationwide pilot and aircraft technician shortage. As such, a significant part of the summit involved discussions with attending representatives from carriers such as Alaska Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. Military representatives include the U.S. Army Cadet Command and the U.S. Naval Air Force.
“Texas Southern University is honored to host this critical summit,” said Dr. Terence Fontaine, TSU’s director of aviation, who also serves as co-host of the summit with Xavier Samuels, first officer with United Airlines and chair of the Advisory Board for TSU’s aviation program. “As we build momentum from last year’s meeting, this gives TSU a prime opportunity to shine a spotlight on the ways we’ve grown our aviation program to the benefit of our students.”
Texas Southern University, with its groundbreaking Aviation Science Management program, is the only school in Texas that offers a combined Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Science Management and, beginning just six years ago, a Bachelor of Science degree as a Professional Pilot. In 2021-2022, TSU entered into strategic partnerships with United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airways, U.S. Air Force JROTC, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, providing critical funding and resources for the program, as well as scholarships and defined career pathways for TSU graduates.
For a full schedule of summit events, visit http://www.2022hbcuaviationsummit.com.
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ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University is a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. The university’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. TSU’s enrollment has a population of approximately 8,600 undergraduate and graduate school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students, many who are the first in their family to attend college. Texas Southern University is committed to transforming lives and achieving unprecedented success at an accelerated pace.
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