Rhoden Fellows

The Rhoden Fellows Initiative is a two-year training program for the next generation of sports journalists from historically black colleges and universities, headed by Undefeated editor-at-large and former New York Times award-winning columnist William C. Rhoden. The fellowship – established as part of The Undefeated’s mission to develop new voices and serve as an incubator for future multicultural journalists – is open to outstanding undergraduate students at HBCUs. Eryn Mathewson manages the editorial and administrative processes within the program. She edits print stories, produces the HBCU 468 podcast and oversees scheduling and compliance.

Through the lens of sports, the fellows produce stories about race, class and culture and serve as campus correspondents for The Undefeated. There are six students in our second class: Janae Adams, Clark Atlanta University; Allana Barefield, Xavier University; Deja Harrison, Grambling State University; Isaiah George, Morgan State University; Tiffany Hoyd, Howard University; and Tucker Toole, Morehouse College.

Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2019

Janae Adams

Janae Adams
Rhoden Fellow
Janae Adams is a senior mass media arts major from the Bay Area. She is a staff writer for “The Panther” and is a firm believer that drums are better than flats.
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Allana J. Barefield

Allana J. Barefield
Rhoden Fellow
Allana J. Barefield is a senior mass communication major. The Bostonian is a student representative for the NABJ Sports Task Force, and loves writing feature stories because sports are more than just stats.
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Isaiah George

Isaiah George
Rhoden Fellow
Isaiah George is a senior multimedia journalism major from Temple Hills, Maryland. He's a reporter for BearTV at Morgan and is a fan of all the major Washington, D.C., sports teams.
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Deja Harrison

Deja Harrison
Rhoden Fellow
Deja Harrison is a sophomore mass communication major from New Orleans. She is a Gramblinite Sports writer and GSU-TV reporter at Grambling State.
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Tiffany Hoyd

Tiffany Hoyd
Rhoden Fellow
Tiffany Hoyd is a senior media journalism and film communications major from Murrieta, California. She serves as Howard's football manager and color commentator, and enjoys playing spades and listening to R&B.
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Tucker Toole

Tucker Toole
Rhoden Fellow
Tucker Toole is a junior cinema-television and emerging media studies major and journalism. This Chicago native serves as sports editor for the “Maroon Tiger” and is a die-hard Chicago sports fan.
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Rhoden Fellows: Class of 2018

Simone Benson

Simone Benson
Rhoden Fellow
Simone Benson is a multimedia journalism major at Morgan State University. She reports on food access and social justice, and recently helped produce a documentary in Havana.
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Donovan Dooley

Donovan Dooley
Rhoden Fellow
Donovan Dooley is a Rhoden Fellow and a multimedia journalism major from Tuscaloosa, AL. He attends North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University.
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Paul Holston

Paul Holston
Rhoden Fellow
Paul Holston journalism major from Summerville, SC. He attends Howard University and served as 2016-17 editor-in-chief of The Hilltop.
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Miniya Shabazz

Miniya Shabazz
Rhoden Fellow
Miniya Shabazz is a Rhoden Fellow and a junior mass communication major from Laurel, MD. She attends Grambling State University and is a staff writer for The Gramblinite.
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C. Isaiah Smalls II

C. Isaiah Smalls II
Rhoden Fellow
C. Isaiah Smalls, II is a Rhoden Fellow and a graduate of Morehouse College from Lansing, Michigan. He studied Cinema, Television and Emerging Media Studies. He was Editor-in-Chief of The Maroon Tiger.
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Kyla Wright

Kyla Wright
Rhoden Fellow
Kyla L. Wright is a Rhoden Fellow and a sophomore journalism major, graphic design minor from Detroit. She attends Hampton University and writes for the Hampton Script.
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