Rachel Ruff, Research Associate and Research & Communications Fellow at the Samuel DuBois Cook Center, was a featured contributor in the Fall/Winter 2025 issue of ESSENCE Magazine, where she authored “Leaders of The New School: How Historically Black Colleges and Universities Are Defying the Odds and Creating a New Class of Innovators.”
HBCU alums are constantly reminding the world that their institutions are not relics of the past but engines for the future.”
The feature spotlights five alumni and two current students whose HBCU experiences have empowered them to innovate across technology, business, and fashion. Through their stories, Ruff captures how HBCUs cultivate leadership, creativity, and resilience—preparing graduates to thrive amid shifting professional landscapes.
Read the story here: Meet The HBCU Students Redefining STEM, Style And Entrepreneurship