Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Howse.
Hi Mark, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I met my wife, Tashana, while in graduate school at Florida State University. We shared a love for mathematics and for education. We both have similar stories around how we excelled academically in K-12 grades and are the first generation of students in our families to go to college. We also noticed that many of our friends and peers struggled academically, especially in math and science courses. It was also clear that the quality of teaching and the type of educational environments that we encountered as young students were not consistent with those that we now know are conducive for promoting academic and career success. We both cans share stories less that desirable teaching and learning experiences; but also about that group of few, rare teachers and advisors that inspired us and that opened a door or made a call to support our successes.
We established STELLAR as young professionals while working and lining in Florida. At the time, Tashana was an Assistant Professor, and I was a college administrator. We had fast-growing careers with experiences ranging from high-school teaching to college administration; but we were always mindful of our peers and friends whose career and life pathways were adversely affected by their teaching and other educational experiences. We decided to establish the Stellar Diverse Student Achievement Center (STELLAR) as means to counteract the systematic challenges and failures of the schools and colleges in the education of African American and other diverse students. The work of STELLAR centers on the belief that access to a quality educational experience for African-Americans and other culturally diverse students is not only a right but a necessity in establishing a healthy society. Our fundamental guiding principles are that:
1. Effect education is a function of a student’s total environment and should free and empower young minds;
2. Academic achievements should translate to students’ success as professionals and entrepreneurs; and
3. Given the appropriate support and opportunities, all students can and will achieve.
Guided by these principles, we have teamed up a few other like-minded friends to offer a set of services not only to African American and diverse students but also to the institutions that serve them. In our first substantive effort, we teamed up with the XXXXXX Foundation, the Urban League, and Broward County to offer college-readiness workshops to students in parents. We later worked with the Florida A&M University Developmental Research School to take a bus load of students to watch the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis in 2011, the final shuttle launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Currently, STELLAR is working with NOAA Center for Coastal & Marine Ecosystems which is headquartered at Florida A&M University and the NOAA Center for Earth Systems Sciences & Remote Sensing Technology which is headquartered at The City University of New York. These programs were established to train and graduate students from diverse backgrounds in career fields aligned to NOAA’s mission and priorities. While we are proud of these programs, our greatest pride and joy is a partnership that Tashana established with Orrs Elementary School in the Griffin-Spaudling School District in Georgia. Stellar sponsors their STEM Gems club, which was first established in the spring of 2020. The club is made up of 5th-grade girls who share an interest in STEM fields. As a part of the group, the girls learn about female engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and computer scientists. Funding for all programming is sponsored by Stellar with the help of its business/personal sponsors.
In 2021-2022, Stellar launched its first scholarship, which is fully funded by Dr. Venetta Harris. Dr. Harris is an inspiring emergency physician who has a passion for philanthropy and education. The scholarship awards one 4-year scholarship to a college-bound high school senior based on demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and express interest in pursuing a degree in medicine.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Tashana and I used our personal money to support several STELLAR initiatives early on. The types of support and services that we envisioned for STELLAR students require funding. While we have been able to give, secure and raise funds for the programs that we have provided to date, the matter of funding to provide the scope and breadth of services needed for the targeted population of students is our biggest concern. We welcome support from individuals or organizations that believe in our mission of supporting and impacting the lives and career pathways of diverse students.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mark Howse Dr. Mark Howse is the lead founder and CEO of Stellar Diverse Student Achievement Center, a non-profit organization that he started with his wife, Tashana, with the aim to advance the educational attainments of diverse students. Mark serves as the director and lead consultant for STELLAR and draws upon his educational training and over 30 years of educational experience to support students, as well as the organizations that serve them.
Mark Howse serves as the Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Director of Educational Outcomes and Assessment at the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). Dr. Howse has nearly two decades of successful, innovative higher education experience. He has served in several instructional and leadership positions, including faculty and administrative positions at both public and private institutions.
Dr. Howse holds a Bachelor of Science (BA) Degree from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) where he double-majored in Aerospace and Mathematics. He also earned a Master of Science (MS) Degree in Mathematical Sciences from MTSU. He went on to his doctoral work at the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, earning his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
Tashana Howse
Dr. Tashana D. Howse is the Director of Educational Services for the Stellar Achievement Center (Stellar). She has a passion for providing youth with experiences that maximize their potential as a learner and as a citizen. Dr. Howse’s background comprises over 20 years of leadership in mathematics education. She has experience ranging from classroom public education to developing teachers of tomorrow through preservice teacher education courses. As the co-founder of Stellar, Dr. Howse provides opportunities for supporting students of color in mastering 21st-century skills. Additionally, she provides these students with exposure to STEM opportunities with a focus on developing students’ interest in pursuing STEM careers.
Dr. Howse is also an associate professor of mathematics education at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC). She teaches mathematics content courses and supervises student teachers. She has coached many student teachers into the teaching profession. Her research interests include culturally responsive teaching, student engagement in mathematical practices, the use of technology to enhance learning, and teacher content knowledge.
Dr. Howse received both a bachelor’s and master’s of science degree in mathematics education from Florida State University. She completed her doctor of philosophy degree in mathematics education from the University of Central Florida.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
We are grateful to all of our supporters who continue to help in the advancement of our mission. Our partnerships, sponsorships and donors have helped to empower students and to position them for educational success.
Partnerships:
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University
Leon County Schools
Broward County Schools
Georgia Gwinnett College
STEM Gems
Orrs Elementary
Griffin- Spalding School District
Dr. Vernetta Harris
Generous Donors:
Verg Enterprises
The BQE Restaurant & Lounge
Julius Jenkins
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stellarachievementcenter.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stellarachievement/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StellarAchievement/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/stellar_ac
Image Credits:
Professional Photo taken by: Fuzion Group
