HOWARD STUDENT EARNS MASTERS DEGREE BY STUDYING BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE

Quinn Conyers

Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) - A Howard University student recently combined passion with entrepreneurship and interest in Black Enterprise magazine to earn a graduate degree. Quinn Conyers successfully defended her thesis, "The Focus of Black Enterprise magazine after the Civil Rights Movement" on April 9, 2008 on the campus of Howard University in Washington DC.

Studying Black businesses as a focal point of scholarly investigation has been a largely under-examined field in academia. Conyers decided to examine the magazine because of her enthusiasm in business ownership and interest in the Civil Rights Era.

Looking at the August anniversary issue of the magazine from 1970 to 1980 allowed her to examine the following research questions. What needs did BE define as motivation to launch its magazine? How did BE address those needs through the magazine? In what specific ways did the magazine facilitate and stimulate entrepreneurial development?

Using Historical Descriptive Analysis as a methodology Conyers concluded that the magazine upheld its original mission of providing resources and information to Black entrepreneurs and professionals. She also found that the magazine was socially responsible by highlighting unfinished Civil Rights business. Her study concluded by noting Black Enterprise magazine added to the forward mobility of Blacks in the areas of wealth building, personal finance, higher education and business ownership.

Conyers is proud of her graduate degree and wishes to present her finding to Earl Graves Sr. personally or at the magazine's annual entrepreneurship conference. She has reached out to the staff of Black Enterprise several times and is committed to do so until she has the opportunity to present her research. "I have been intimately involved with this research for over a year, nothing would make me happier to reveal the impact of BE to Mr. Graves in person," says Conyers.

Conyers is planning for graduation on May 10, 2008. She is adamant about presenting her research at conferences and speaking about her research findings. Throughout her academic career at Howard, Conyers has consistently devoted her self to engaging, enlightening and empowering all people she comes in contact with. She hopes her advanced degree will provide additional speaking, television hosting and entrepreneurial opportunities. Conyers is ambitious, hard working and dedicated. She believes just because you earn a degree does not mean the learning process stops.

Conyers earned her B.A in Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She is the founder of Speak2Society LLC, a professional speaking firm specializing in entrepreneurship and motivation. Her future goals include speaking full time and hosting a national talk show geared toward youth and young adults. For more information, interviews, questions, or speaking request, please email Conyers at info@speak2society.com.