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“Initially founded in 2018, under the leadership of Dr. Lewis Sullivan, Dr. Johnny Parham, and Dr. Samuel Jolley, the HBCU ELI program was developed with 13 competencies,” said Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, former president of Bennett College and HBCU ELI executive director. “I report to a board of roughly 28 people who helped us launch the program as we know it today,” she said. “The first virtual seminar was held in June and another is scheduled for early September.”
Dr. French said HBCU ELI participants will also be awarded micro-credentials, and there will be a monthly mentorship and coaching component. “The low-residency model currently consists of intensive online presentations, but to culminate in the Fall, we will meet in- person,” Dawkins said. “We will keep the low-residency model because there is some strength in a virtual space, and we can touch people quicker.” The culminating celebration will always be held at the Atlanta University Center, “So they can see what a historically Black college looks like because some of the fellows are from majority- white institutions although a lot of their roots lead them back to HBCUs.”
The criteria was pretty substantial and the applications were competitive.
Dawkins said the cohort increased from 20 to 26, “We looked for those with administrative and management experience in education at the dean’s level or higher, those in corporate America and new presidents.” Dr. French said “the initiative addresses the critical need to train HBCU presidents to lead for more than the average tenure, which is about three years.” CAU is one of nine HBCUs in Georgia accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). According to Dr. French, many HBCU presidents get burned out and their tenure is about half that of all U.S. college and university presidents. “We are training people who can step into the role, equipped to lead for more years than our counterparts,” he said. “The fellows are charged with learning 13 competencies that every president should know and demonstrate.” The competencies fall under six frameworks: Social Impact, Personal Impact, Institutional Impact, Serving the Mission, Creating Capacity, and Leading Change. Like Bottoms, Dawkins is also a history maker having worked at five HBCUs - South Carolina State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Dillard University, Cheyney University, and the 18th President of Bennett College. The award-winning researcher and tenured professor said she would have appreciated a program like HBCU ELI before taking the helm at Bennett University. “I came with my experience in academic affairs; however, when you become president, you are president of more than just academics but rather the entire institution. It’s beneficial to know a little bit about everyone’s position and the 13 competencies our fellows will learn about touches on board governance, finance, and others.”
The program boasts of 58% women, which makes Dr. Dawkins elated.
“We have a very objective selection committee, who chose the best applicants from the pool we had at the time. We are very, very proud of that,” she said. “These are very strong females and I admire their strength to pursue this executive leadership training,” Dawkins said. “Sometimes as females, we know that we are good at what we do, but we just stay at the same level or see ourselves slowly move up the ladder instead of aggressively seeking these opportunities.” Submissions for the next HBCU ELI Fellows began in September, with an announcement in November, and training will be from January 2022 until December 2022. With the support of a distinguished HBCU ELI Advisory Board and the Council of Past HBCU Presidents, the program can ensure the long-term sustainability of over 100 HBCUs. To celebrate Mayor Bottoms’ honorary designation, some members of the Board and Council will participate in the Mayor’s Cup Golf Tournament, beginning the event with ceremonial first tee shots. Additional funding sources for HBCU ELI at CAU are Microsoft Corporation, The Rich Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Toyota, ECMC Foundation, United Methodist Church, the late Dr. Frederick Humphries (former president of Florida A&M University and Tennessee State University), and other individual donations. For program updates and to apply for the future cohorts, visit ELIatCAU.org.
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