NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

We are excited to introduce the newest doctor. It is Kylie Hoffman, Ph.D. We are so proud of you reaching the highest education milestone there is.

Well done, Mr. Smith. Today we celebrate Jaren who earned a Master's degree from Howard University this spring. You have a bright future ahead of you. 🤩

More congratulations go out to our Howard University graduates. Today, we offer a hearty well done to Neil Crosby for earning his graduate degree this spring.

Next up in the Class of 2026 is Michael Benneh. We wish him much success in his future. Go Bison! 🦬

Today we start to celebrate our Howard University graduates. We start with Michael Smith who earned his degree from the esteemed university. We see you, and congrats. 🎓

We are happy to celebrate and continue to announce to the world THE Dr. Taylor West. Your accomplishment leaves us with great hope for the future.

A big congratulations goes out to Lucas for earning a degree from San Jose State University on Wednesday. We are proud of you!

Today, we offer a hearty congratulations to Cameron from Jackson State University. We will you well in your future.

We are so proud of our 2026 graduates. Stick with us over the next few days as we highlight each one. 🎉

It is with profound sorrow we share the passing of Jimisha Iman Relerford (B.A.’08, Ph.D.’26) on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. She served as our as our project manager.

Dr. Relerford was a scholar of extraordinary depth and clarity, whose work illuminated the richness of African diaspora literature, African American rhetorics, and the enduring brilliance of Black women’s writing, humor, and satire. A proud daughter of Howard University, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Classics here before continuing her studies at Georgia State University, where she received her Master of Arts in English. She returned home to Howard as both a first-year writing instructor and a doctoral student in the Department of English.

For nearly a decade, Dr. Relerford devoted herself to teaching and mentoring students in first-year composition and writing courses, nurturing their voices with both rigor and care. Besides working with NCAS-M, she served the University in numerous leadership capacities, including coordinator for the Graduate School’s Expository Writing Program, special assistant to the graduate dean, assistant director of the Writing Center, and master instructor in the Department of English.

A gifted and insightful scholar, Dr. Relerford's work engaged deeply with archival studies and Black literary traditions. Her research and writing—published in respected journals such as the College Language Association (CLA) Journal, the Langston Hughes Review, and Spectrum: A Journal on Black Men—reflected both intellectual rigor and cultural reverence. Having defended her dissertation in December 2025, "Sista Satirists: Black Women Writing Humor and Satire", the University will confer upon her a Doctor of Philosophy degree posthumously during our Commencement exercises. The community will be invited to attend a memorial service in her honor on Thursday, May 7.

We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Relerford's family.