In recognition of the legacy of Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb (1924 - 2017), a renowned alumna and pioneer in the field of cancer research, Talladega College announced plans to launch the Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb Honors Program. Dr. Alison Brown, dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, has been named Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb Endowed Chair. The announcement was made on campus during half-time at the men’s basketball game on February 4, 2023.
“Dr. Alison Brown, through her dedication to research and her advocacy on behalf of students who are underrepresented in science, exemplifies the values Dr. Cobb embodied,” Talladega President Gregory J. Vincent said when announcing the award. “Dr. Brown leads with passion and purpose, mentoring student researchers and providing them with confidence-building networking opportunities and exposure.”
Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb, Black Woman Scientist and Trailblazing Researcher Following in the footsteps of Dr. Cobb, Dr. Brown is also known for her cancer research. She has worked on numerous research projects focusing on the mechanisms and prevention of different types of cancer, including breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Recently she has been involved in COVID research.
Also like Dr. Cobb, Dr. Brown was raised in an academic family with strong Talladega roots. Her father graduated from Talladega with a degree in chemistry in 1960. Dr. Brown always embraced math and science, subjects that weren’t often encouraged among girls at the time. She and her four siblings—all majored in biology or mathematics—would often speak in scientific language referring to essentials like water by their scientific names. With two parents teaching high school math and biology, one might even say Brown’s affinity for science is hard coded in her DNA.
Dr. Brown attended Fisk University as an undergraduate in biology then attended Tuskegee for a master’s degree in biology. As a doctoral student in toxicology at University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB) she became enamored with cancer research. At the time, Dr. Brown was the only African American in the program and one of few women researchers. She returns to UAB even now to use some of the specialized lab equipment the larger university has.
Dr. Brown said it’s “huge” being named the Jewel Plummer Cobb Endowed Chair. “Sufficient to say, I'm very honored and humbled and grateful for the award in recognition of the numerous scientific achievements by the legendary Talladegan Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb,” said Dr. Brown. “The funds will allow me to increase the number of students who are able to undertake research and travel to conferences to present.”
Dr. Brown joined the Talladega faculty in 1996, intending to stay only a year. Since then, she has taught and mentored students who have made their mark on the world as scientists, doctors, educators, and even one outstanding Georgia lawmaker—Nikema Williams. She keeps an eye out for students—many of them young women—who have the capability but don’t always see the opportunity themselves.
She said that although the classroom provides some skills, students really thrive when they work with mentors and staff members one-on-one. She explained the research experiences help them develop high-level analytical skills and spur them to read the scientific literature. Dr. Brown believes Talladega’s strong faculty and culture of high expectations are key to the successful science programming at the college.
“Students know they must participate and are strongly encouraged to work at their potential or higher,” she said. She also notes that Talladega’s Division of Natural Sciences continues the legacy of sending students to graduate and professional school. When alumni talk about Dr. Brown, they recall her professionalism and dedication as well as the effort she and Pamela Calhoun, assistant director of the McNair Scholars Program, put into ensuring their success. In the summertime, they required the students to work in labs and conduct experiments. Dr. Brown sent them to out-of-state conferences to make presentations on their research.
“Dr. Brown and Ms. Calhoun didn’t let anything fall through the cracks,” says Dr. Lecia Gresham-Robinson (Talladega Class of 2004), an assistant professor of biology at Tuskegee University.
The alumni all recall the internships they held whether in the lab with Dr. Brown or with top organizations like the CDC and Department of Interior. They fondly note the annual Christmas cards they still receive from Dr. Brown.
Ganae Gaines (Talladega Class of 2009), an assistant principal for the past five years, says Dr. Brown has been an integral part of her life. This former Queen of Talladega recollects that she and her five friends who entered the biology program were young and wanted to do everything fun that college offered.
“Dr. Brown ended that quickly—she had other plans,” said Gaines. “She took the six of us under her wing. Dr. Brown stayed on us. At the time we didn’t get it.”
One summer Gaines worked for Dr. Brown. She was given the task of cleaning out and organizing the lab closet that was filled with an array of petri dishes and animal specimens.
“This experience landed me another job at UAB, organizing stem cell research,” she said. “Dr. Brown always had a bigger plan. She foresaw things for me that I didn’t see myself. She was the mamma and the daddy while we were in that program. I’ve got a master’s degree in educational leadership and am working on a doctorate. I’ve done podcasts and interviews. It all started with Dr. Brown.”
Dr. Gresham-Robinson was able to attend Talladega tuition-free due to Dr. Brown. At the time Dr. Brown was principal investigator of a United Negro College Fund Lily Scholarship Endowment, providing financial assistance and other support to deserving students. She remembers well the work Dr. Brown put in, planning Wednesday lunch meetings that included outside speakers or helping students work on writing skills and prepare resumes. Dr. Brown also took students to plays, helped them learn to interview, and assisted them in getting internships.
Dr. Gresham-Robinson is now co-principal investigator on a six-year NSF project much like the UNCF program that Brown oversaw so many years ago helping students succeed.
She said, “I still lean on Dr. Brown even in my professional career.”
Dr. Makeda Shelton (Talladega Class of 2017) who graduated with a doctor of chiropractic in 2022, echoed that as well and said she owes her career to Dr. Brown who at one point brought in a speaker who was a recruiter for a chiropractic school.
Now, as Dr. Brown steps into this exciting new chapter in her career at Talladega College, she looks forward to inspiring and supporting students who will continue the legacy of Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb—much like Gresham-Robinson, Gaines, and Shelton.
