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The honors alum of Albany State University and the University of Georgia School of Law (UGA) has held numerous executive leadership positions in higher education and recounted how those experiences prepared him to be at the helm of a premier urban and private institution established by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. “Seeing the direct impact and correlation that HBCUs have on the overall trajectory and development of our students and the heightened profile of our institution is particularly rewarding as president of EWU.” The only headlines coming out of Florida that President Faison is interested in surrounds the impact the institution is having on the Sunshine State.
to say,‘Son, the proof is in the pudding.’”
“If it were not for the Edward Waters University, the Johnson C. Smith University, the Florida Memorial University, the Albany State University, the Virginia Union University - you’d have to create them. These institutions are principally responsible for the Black middle and professional class. You don’t have the proliferation of African American doctors, teachers, engineers, judges, dentists, and PhDs in the STEM field if it weren’t for our institutions producing these professionals in every sphere, in every capacity - all over the world.” “When people make the argument of HBCU relevance not in a pejorative sense, but in a real sense, it’s they’re simply ignorant,” he said while dropping the mic.
“It’s my responsibility and that of other HBCU leaders, to make sure that we educate folks around the importance and continued contemporaneous relevance of these outstanding institutions that are centered around student success and the quality of the graduates that we produce, and we have a prodigious history in doing that.”
“When you talk about the record enrollment numbers at over 1,100 students, a record number of new students, rejoining the SIAC after nearly a century’s hiatus, our brand newmulti-million dollar stadium, the ribbon cutting and renovation on our largest student residence facility, and the establishment of the A. Philip Randolph Institute for Law, Race, Social Justice, and Economic Policy…those are the Florida headlines I’m most excited about,” he quipped.
Alongside President Faison in his continued quest to
produce amazing leaders, scholars and professionals is his bride for over 14 years, Tyciee L. Faison. “She is truly the proverbial wind beneath my wings - she is the personification of the new age First Lady and First Gentleman who are
All facts!
More facts, “We welcomed our first cohort into our fully online Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree
program and exceeded our goal of twenty-five students so much so that we had to move students into the next cohort to meet the demand.” Additionally, EWU will offer new undergraduate degree programs in Computer Information Science, Forensic Science, Social Work, and a dual-degree program in Nursing over the next twelve months, Faison added. Undoubtedly, the pandemic has brought inequities at HBCUs into clearer focus and highlighted disparities in funding, the digital divide, and access and support of mental health. For the naysayers who continue to downplay the impact of the Edward Waters Universities of the world, Dr. Faison had this pushback, “I hearken back to something my grandmother used
actively involved in the life of our universities.”
Mrs. Faison is a higher education administrator and seminary- trained theologian and is a “Key connector for EWU serving as our Director of Community Service and Service Learning.” “I’m truly blessed to have her helping and supporting me, because this is truly a collective call that we have here at Edward Waters University.” Some strength strategies that Dr. Faison uses to combat the “jealous jokes” are by focusing on the positive and walking five miles every morning to clear his mind and stay healthy.
He’s a huge Gospel music fan, but he also loves Trap.
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