WASHINGTON – Even in the midst of the global pandemic, Howard University Graduate School has remained at the forefront of graduate education of African-American and international students. The Graduate School produced 96 students who received Ph.D.’s this year and a record 105 Ph.D.’s in 2020.

“It goes without saying that this has been a very challenging year as we managed through a global pandemic as well as the turbulence of social justice and political issues,” said Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D., Howard University provost and chief academic officer. “The degree achievements of our latest master’s and doctoral candidates is a testament to their commitment and to the resilience of the Howard University Graduate School.”

The Howard University Graduate School has 29 Ph.D. programs, eight M.D./Ph.D. programs, and 24 master’s programs. The Howard University Graduate School is among the nation’s largest producers of African-American students who complete doctorates in science, technology, engineering and physical sciences.

“Howard University is recognized as a leader in graduate education with preeminent faculty and considerable stature in research and professional communities,” said Graduate School Dean Dana A. Williams, Ph.D.  “Year after year, the Graduate School produces an outsize number of the nation’s African-American master’s and Ph.D. degree recipients. Howard also continues to lead the nation in on-campus doctoral degrees awarded to African-American students.”

Dean Williams also stressed the importance of the international composition of Howard University’s graduate study body, with recent graduates originating from 18 different countries. For example, Chan Kyaw, a 29-year-old international student from Burma, graduated this year with a Ph.D. in physics from Howard University. In his doctoral work, Kyaw examined photonics crystals and terahertz radiation.

“The physics department is a very good department,” Kyaw said. “I knew everyone in the department. Obtaining the doctorate was difficult and challenging, but Howard supported me.”

Lauren Thompson, 33, earned her doctorate this year in clinical psychology. She examined the impact of police brutality on African-American young adults. Her research documented how exposure to police brutality videos on social media causes psychological distress.

“I defended my dissertation in front of my friends and family last week,” Thompson said at her recent graduation ceremony. “There is a whirlwind of different emotions that I’m feeling now, and I accepted a post-doc position last week. This is an experience I’m never going to forget.”

For more information about Howard University graduate programs, visit here.

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.