The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) recently announced the selection of its fifth cohort of Hennessy Fellows — part of a landmark program designed to equip the next generation of Black leaders in America. There have been 40 Hennessy Fellows to date since the program's inception.

Offering financial assistance, training, career development, and curated corporate development experiences to students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the program is made possible by a $14 million commitment from Hennessy to TMCF over 10 years.

Jasmin Allen, senior vice president of Hennessy U.S., said:

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

Promoting Black leaders

The Hennessy Fellows program is a continuation of an ongoing investment in Black students and the Black community at-large.

For more than 35 years, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund has awarded more than $300 million in assistance to students attending HBCUs, while the TMCF has given 98% of its awards exclusively to HBCUs.

The organization cites data from McKinsey that paints a bleak picture:

• Black employees only make up 14% of all U.S. employees.
• The Black workforce at the management level is only 7%
• At the senior manager levels (VP and SVP), it is 5% and 4%

Hennessy also highlighted the essential role it plays in building diverse executive talent in the country, where the program is uniquely positioned to help address these DEI gaps and contribute to building a multicultural workforce.

“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,” added Allen.

Join us in welcoming Cohort V of the #HennessyFellows program! In our partnership with @hennessy, we have been able to foster a powerful community of leaders who are passionate about transformation and breaking into the c-suite! #tmcf #tmcfhennessy #hennessyfellows pic.twitter.com/6XkHtAkgZI

— TMCF (@tmcf_hbcu) March 22, 2023

The fifth cohort of Hennessy Fellows

Selected after an extensive application process, Hennessy Fellows will travel all-expenses-paid to Charlotte and New York for boot camp and have access to online training forums, training sessions, networking events, and experiences for professional development.

Those selected will receive executive training, a scholarship of up to $20,000 per academic year, an annual stipend of $10,000 for other educational expenses, and the opportunity to apply for a community-related project grant of up to $10,000.

Sessions will be led by Moët Hennessy executives, industry leaders, and influencers providing interactive lectures, simulations, and executive training.

The 2023 Hennessy Fellows are:

1. Tia Pope - North Carolina A&T State University; doctoral candidate, Information Technology 
2. William Gaspard, Jr. - Southern University Law Center; JD Candidate 
3. Morgan Newton - Morgan State University; MBA Candidate 
4. Hannah Bruns - Howard University School of Law; JD Candidate 
5. Erika Tribble - Howard University; MBA Candidate 
6. Giordan Rose - Savannah State University; MBA Candidate 
7. Latia Boney - Howard University; MBA Candidate 
8. Brandon Moise - Clark Atlanta University; MBA Candidate 
9. Karmyn Tatum - Florida A&M University; MBA Candidate 
10. Cierra Robinson - Morgan State University; Ph. D, Higher Education Administration

“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 and CEO of the TMCF.

For more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply for future cohorts, click here.