Black grad student office now on campus

Founded in 1990 at the University of Michigan, the association is a not-for-profit organization run by students and devoted to improving the status of African-Americans seeking graduate or professional degrees. The organization's 1994 national conference was held in May on campus.

Dr. Phyllis A. Gray-Ray, associate professor of sociology and researcher at Mississippi State's Social Science Research Center, is the association's executive director. She said the need for a centralized administrative structure has been among the young organization's most urgent needs.

"In an attempt to address this shortcoming, the association's executive council requested that Mississippi State house the national administrative offices until 1997," she said.

Gray-Ray said a major part of the association's mission is to complement the work of individuals and institutions who are promoting graduate education among traditionally underrepresented groups.