CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Dec. 21, 2021) — Thomas More University has joined over 20 local organizations as a member of the Dr. James E. Randolph Medical, Healthcare, and Scientific Leadership Program. The goal of the program is to inspire Black students in Northern Kentucky to become professionals in medical, healthcare, and scientific settings through academic enrichment, leadership development, civic engagement, and mentoring.

The University joins organizations such as St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Gravity Diagnostics, government partners including the Northern Kentucky Health Department, and other educational institutions such as Northern Kentucky University, Gateway Community and Technical College, and the Dioceses of Covington School System in support of students through the Randolph Initiative.

The program started with a digital launch that consisted of partners creating videos showcasing Black professionals explaining their educational and career paths. The videos are presented in local high schools with the intention of encouraging minority students to pursue a degree in the STEM fields. The initiative is set to become an ongoing program at Thomas More University, with the conclusion of the inaugural year resulting in students visiting campus to experience hands-on activities in the classroom.

“Thomas More has an incredible opportunity to join hands with school districts, Saint Elizabeth Healthcare, local industry partners, and Northern Kentucky University as well as Gateway Community and Technical College, in preparing the next generation of leaders in health and STEM fields, thanks to the Randolph Initiative,” says Thomas More University Provost Molly Smith, Ph.D. “John Stanton, director of external relations at Kenton County, brought us together in an inspiring collaboration that activates a shared vision for the well-being of our communities in northern Kentucky. Dr. Bill Wetzel (chemistry) and Dr. Jyoti Saraswat (mathematics), both passionate advocates for careers in STEM and health fields, lead this effort for Thomas More. We plan to host students on our campus this summer and to sustain this initiative through a variety of activities in coming years.”

James E. Randolph, M.D. (1888-1981), for whom the initiative is named, had strong ties to the region. He moved to Covington in 1922 and opened a medical office on Greenup Street where he practiced for 59 years. He was the first Black physician on the staff of St. Elizabeth Hospital. Among notable honors, in 1974, the Eastside Neighborhood Park was renamed Randolph Park and in 1976, Dr. Randolph was awarded the La Salette Academy’s Gold Medal for service to the community. In 1997, he was posthumously inducted into the Northern Kentucky Leadership Hall of Fame.

For more information about Thomas More University, visit www.thomasmore.edu.

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About Thomas More University

For 100 years, Thomas More has created a university for the student who wants to Be More, Do More, Seek More, Win More, Achieve More, and Create More. Since its founding in 1921, Thomas More has provided a mission-driven, liberal arts education that is based in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Students learn to harness the power of human reason to solve problems and discover truth, which allows them to begin the journey to become the person they were created to be. Entering into the second century, it’s time for More. Serving more than 2,000 students, Thomas More aspires to be the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, to build upon the #1 ranking for long term gain in Kentucky (2019 Georgetown study) and share with this generation the transformative power of the Thomas More experience. To find out more, visit thomasmore.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lyna Kelley, director of communications and PR, [email protected], 859.344.3309