April 2019

Its “Members on the Move” time!
Each month we will be highlighting our awesome Chapter members. This week’s member on the move is Dr. Derek Henson. Dr. Henson is a 91′ (Undergraduate) & 2009 (PHD) graduate of JSU.
Recent Accomplishments:
I recently started my own company – The Henson Consortium. (www.drderekhenson.com). We focus on building communities and economic empowerment via our grant writing, strategic planning and financial services.
Organizations/ Affiliations:
Currently the Vice chair for Arrow Academy of Excellence Charter School in Memphis and a member of the New Olivet Baptist Church.
What is your favorite memory from JSU?
My ultimate favorite memory of JSU would be the first time I marched into Memorial Stadium with the Sonic Boom of the South! The excitement that BOOM brings anywhere is unmatched any world!
What do you enjoy most about being a member of Memphis Alumni Chapter?
I enjoy the family atmosphere that the Memphis Chapter has. We are all connected by JSU but have become “family”. Many of the members are not native Memphians so we have built family bonds through our “Blue Blood” connections.
Favorite rival game to attend:
Well us against everybody would be my first answer! But if I must choose then I would rank them Mississippi Rival – of course Alcorn; SWAC Rival – Southern Ugh! And finally, Tennessee State because of Southern Heritage Classic!
Anything else you would like to add?
My family is an HBCU and 3rd Generation JSU family! My Mom, my aunt, my brother, my nephews and nieces have all attended JSU and two of my sisters attended Mississippi Valley and Dillard Universities. I would tell any student looking to pursue higher education don’t sleep on HBCU’s. You can get a quality education and build life long “Family” bonds that are hardly anywhere else in the world!