This issue of the HBCU Times Magazine celebrates the excellence of Black Women HBCU Presidents.
DR. JAVAUNE ADAMS-GASTON Norfolk State University
Dr. Helene Gayle Spelman College
Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis Benedict College Dr. Glenda Glover Tennessee State University Dr. Melva Wallace Huston-Tillotson University Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson Langston University Dr. Rochelle Ford Dillard University Dr. Valerie Kinloch Johnson C. Smith University
Dr. Algenia Freeman
HBCU PRESIDENTS:
PRECIOUS DIAMONDS
For more than 88 years, Norfolk State University has had a mission to provide a transformative educational experience to our students. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), like Norfolk State, play an important role in nurturing dreams, shaping futures and transforming lives. NSU is, and has always been, a place of access, opportunity and success for all. A state-of-the-art institution, offering 1 Associate, 31 Bachelor’s, 17 Master’s and 3 Doctoral degrees, NSU prepares our students to compete in the modern world with degrees in Cybersecurity, Nursing, Social Work, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, CyberPsychology, Computer Science, Optical Engineering, Health Services Management, and Drama and Theatre. Norfolk State University serves a vital purpose for our students, their families and the Commonwealth of Virginia. NURTURING DREAMS TRANSFORMING LIVES.
WE SEE THE FUTURE IN OUR STUDENTS. ▶ Learn more at nsu.edu
Norfolk State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Norfolk State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404)-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).
Post-doctoral Opportunity: Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program at the LU-RRTC on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities PROJECT OVERVIEW: The Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program at the Langston University (historically Black college/university [HBCU]) Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (LU-RRTC) on Research and Capacity Building represents a collaborative effort between the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston ([ICI] Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institution [AANAPISI]), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University ([NCA&T] HBCU), South Carolina State University ([SCSU] HBCU), Jackson State University ([JSU] HBCU), and the Kessler Foundation. The Project implements a Peer-to-Peer Multiple Mentor Model to help post-doctoral Fellows navigate institutional context and cross-fertilize their independent research project and research grant proposal through exchanges with a primary mentor and a scientific panel of mentors comprised of content experts, multicultural specialists, methodologists, and statisticians. The ARRT Program works in concert with the LU-RRTC drawing upon the center’s extensive minority-serving institution research capacity building expertise, collaborative networks, resources, and interventions (e.g., methodology and grant writing web-based trainings, communities of practice, strategic planning, sponsored programs office and institutional review board technical assistance and consultation), offers courses, webinars, and implements peer mentoring as an innovative strategy to holistically address the Fellows’ research skill building needs . INVITATION TO APPLY: We invite individuals who have earned a doctorate from a minority-serving institution (i.e., HBCU, Hispanic serving institution, Tribal college/- university, AANAPIAI) or predominantly White institution (PWI) and current doctoral candidates (must graduate before beginning fellowship) at minority-serving institutions or PWIs interested in employment research to apply to participate in the post-doctoral fellowship. Minority-serving institution based faculty members who have earned doctorates are also eligible to apply (i.e., 80% research supplements through subcontract for such faculty in residence at their employing minority-serving institution are optional). We strongly encourage individuals with disabilities to apply. We are particularly interested in recruiting candidates who have a strong desire to obtain an academic faculty position or research position at a minority-serving institution upon completion of the fellowship program. PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES: • Salary and benefits package- Annual salary with full health benefits • Peer-to-Peer multiple research mentorship opportunity with scientific panel mentors • Financial research agenda start-up package- i.e., study participant honorariums/fellow research travel • Peer reviewed publications • Present research findings at national and/or international rehabilitation related conferences CONTACT: If you have any questions regarding the Langston University Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program (LU-ARRT), please contact Dr. Corey L. Moore, Principal Investigator/Training Director at (405) 530-7531 or email: capacitybuildingrrtc@langston.edu.
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (LU-RRTC) on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities The MISSION of the Langston University RRTC is to empower minority-serving institutions/minority entities (e.g., historically Black colleges/universities [HBCUs], Hispanic-serving institutions [HSIs], Tribal colleges/universities [TCUs], and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institution (ANNAPISIs]) to improve their disability and rehabilitation research capacity and infrastructure by conducting a programmatic line of research examining experiences and outcomes of persons with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations and communities and capacity-building efforts. LU-RRTC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE The LU-RRTC serves as a national resource center for minority-serving institutions/minority entities seeking to develop their research infrastructure (RI), and to enhance their capacity to engage in disability and rehabilitation research. To this end, the RRTC initiates dissemination, training and technical assistance (TA) activities to develop strong RIs for the conduct of research, preparation, submission, and management of NIDILRR funded research grant projects. TA services are provided as a part of LU-RRTC interventions for research project participants and to minority entities/minority-serving institutions around the country. The quality, intensity, and duration of TA vary by system and the readiness of TA recipients. Minority-serving Institution TA Areas- • Faculty Scholar Role & Function Balance Consultation (e.g., teaching/service/research balance) • Sponsored Programs Office Operations Consultation • Research Infrastructure Strategic Planning • Institutional Review Board (IRB) Operation Consultation • NIDILRR Research Proposal Development Mentorship • NIDILRR Research Project Management Consultation • Manuscript for Peer Reviewed Publication Development Mentorship • NIDILRR Request for Comment (RFC) or Request for Proposal (RFP) Interpretation Consultation • NIDILRR Expert Panel Application Development Consultation • Data Management and Analysis Software and Related Technology Support Consultation State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (SVRA) TA Areas- • SVRA Policy Consultation to Improve Outcomes for Persons from Traditionally Underserved Communities • SVRA Rehabilitation Practitioner Consultation or Training to Improve Outcomes for Persons from Traditionally Underserved Communities LU-RRTC PEER-TO-PEER MENTOR RESEARCH TEAM ACADEMY The LU-RRTC Peer-to-Peer Mentor Research Team Academy represents a collaborative effort between Langston University and the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston (AANAPISI), South Carolina State University (HBCU), Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, Jackson State University (HBCU), Delaware Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Cherokee Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Kessler Foundation, and Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). The Academy mentors Fellows to conduct research that addresses the rehabilitation needs of persons with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic backgrounds and communities. Ultimately, the program builds Fellows’ scholarly self-efficacy and research skills by providing them with state-of-the-science knowledge of scientifically valid measurement strategies and methodologies, and direct hands-on experience in the conduct of research and grant proposal development. CONTACT: If you have any questions regarding the (LU-RRTC), please contact Dr. Corey L. Moore, Principal Investigator at (405) 530-7531 or email: capacitybuildingrrtc@langston.edu.
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editor’s
Message
D o you believe in magic…Black girl magic, that is? Well, HBCU Times is celebrating the enchanting power of Black girl magic, specifically manifested as HBCU leadership. This month’s issue is all about HBCU Black women presidents - their journeys to presidency and visions for HBCU global success. From navigating their intersectionality as Black women, to leading post-secondary institutions intended to serve historically marginalized students, these presidents are taking on the challenge some might deem impossible. The name Dr. Algenia Freeman may ring a bell, as she holds over 50 years of experience as an education pioneer. Our article details her love for HBCUs, as well as her goal to bring more Black women into professional leadership positions. Ever question just how one makes it to the role of president? If so, you will enjoy our article on Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson, interim president of Langston University. A true example of “when the
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2024Winter Issue WELCOME TO THE
time is right,” Dr. Jackson went from being the youngest principal in her district to an HBCU president, inspired by the supportive mentors in her life. With the technological advancements occurring in society, it is no doubt our HBCUs must adequately prepare our students. Luckily, leaders such as Dr. Melva Wallace, president of Huston- Tillotson University, are rising to the challenge, ensuring students are not only competitive, but empowered. She is currently advancing the university through unique academic programs, such as a concentration in corporate real estate. In South Carolina, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis of Benedict College is of the same mind, implementing transformative leadership to advance the student body and university as a whole. The 2018 HBCU Female President of the Year, has updated campus technology, eliminated debt, and completed numerous infrastructure projects. While every woman mentioned throughout this issue is dominating, we must spotlight two presidents who are reaching another level of Black girl magic. First up we have, pediatrician turned president, Dr. Helene Gayle of
Spelman College. Having served as Director of National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the federal Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Gayle is no stranger to leadership. You’ll be interested to learn how her public and global health background led her to academia. From her master team-building skills to her fire sneakers, Norfolk State University president, Dr. Javaune Adams-Gatson, is the next rockstar we are spotlighting. Leading the largest HBCU in Virginia, Dr. Adams-Gaston has remained committed to cultivating a unique learning environment which combines experience and community engagement. Black women HBCU presidents are not only coming into their roles qualified with diverse backgrounds, but with clear visions. Although this issue highlights these remarkable ladies, there is an obvious call to action. We must all demonstrate a commitment to educational justice and advancement for Black students. Our HBCU presidents need our support and it starts by learning their names, their stories, and their missions in this issue of HBCU Times!
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Crystal A. deGregory, Ph.D. is the founding director of the Mary McLeod Bethune Center for the Study of Women and Girls at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Her forthcoming book, “Greatest Good: Nashville’s Black Colleges, Their Students, and the Fight for Freedom, Justice, and Equality” is under contract with Vanderbilt University Press.
Dr. Elizabeth C. Stewart is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Practice at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. Maria A. Lumpkin , senior vice president and chief operating officer at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC and adjunct professor in the Department of Education at Clark Atlanta University.
Keith Harriston is a Washington, D.C., writer and a two-time nominated finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. He worked for 25 years as reporter, editor and senior newsroom manager at The Washington Post. He is co-author of Say Their Names: How Black Lives Came to Matter in America (Grand Central Publishing October 2021.) Harriston is a graduate of Morehouse College and earned a master’s in journalism from the University of Kansas and a certificate in news management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Ericka Blount is an award-winning journalist, author, screenwriter, producer, and professor. She’s currently a full-time lecturer at the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University. She’s written for a variety of outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vibe, Spin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, The Magazine, People magazine, Essence magazine, The Washington Post, Wax Poetics, Quartz and The Root. She is the author of Love, Peace, and Soul, a book about the history of the show, Soul Train.
Princess B. Gadsen is an award-winning journalist and author from Pineland, South Carolina. She holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in journalism from Claflin University. The former news reporter's writing experience includes hard news, feature stories, a children's book and more.
Zerline Hughes Spruill writes about social justice and issues impacting the Black diaspora. Her work has been featured in publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Ebony Magazine, and the Boston Globe.
Dr. Marybeth Gasman is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education, a Distinguished Professor, and the Associate Dean for Research in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice and the Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions.
Rob Knox currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Communications at the Thurgood Marshall College. Prior to this role, Knox worked at UNC Greensboro as the Associate AD for Strategic Communications from 2020-22. This past summer, Knox was recognized by the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Rob is a graduate of Lincoln (Pa.) University and native of Chester, Pennsylvania. Knox is one of the most influential, passionate and accomplished athletic communications professionals in the country.
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What’s inside
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY: GAME CHANGER DR. JAVAUNE ADAMS-GASTON
SPELMAN COLLEGE BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
10
48
LeadHERship: The Impact of Black Women Presidents at HBCUs
TMCF: The HBCU Transformation Project Feature
14
50
Transformative Leader: The Best of Benedict College
JCSU: Daughter Returns Home as President
16
53
HBCU Pioneer: Dr. Algenia Freeman
Black Girl Magic: Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis Op-Ed
18
54
Why We Need to Support Black Women in the HBCU Presidency
Dillard University: Emerging Communiversity
26
Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson
HBCU Times Ambassador Spotlight
30
56
TORREE THEODORE INDIA RICE
The Curious Case of Black Women in HBCU Presidential Leadership
40
Huston-Tillotson University’s Visionary Leader
Power Alumni Features
58
DR. MARIA A. LUMPKIN BRYANTA “BRE” BOOKER-MAXWELL
44
Presidential Master Class: Dr. Glenda Glover
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credits
Editor and Co-CEO Co-CEO
Layout and Design Editor
Dr. David Staten Dr. Bridget Hollis Staten
Mia Draper
Associate Editors
Amori Washington LaToya Ransom
Benedict College Dillard University Elizabeth City State University Langston University Norfolk State University Prairie View A&M University
Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis Ericka Blount Danois Dr. Marybeth Gasman Dr. Crystal deGregory Dr. Elizabeth C. Stewart Princess Gadsen Keith Harriston Zerline Hughes Spruill Dr. Maria Lumpkin Bryanta Maxwell Lauryn Butler Dr. Algeania Freeman Dr. Bridget Hollis Staten Jordan Staten Paula Lyles Roderick Rogers Esthervina Rogers
Spelman College Huston-Tillotson Stillman College St. Phillip’s Collge
Johnson C. Smith University Tennessee State University Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall College Fund Terrell Maxwell Photo Art by Ortega Missouri
All other photos were provided
Layout Designers
Daa'iyah Fogle Caitlin Clark
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THE IMPACT OF BLACK WOMEN PRESIDENTS AT HBCU s BY DR. MARIA LUMPKIN LeADHERSHIP
D r. Glenda Glover, president of Tennessee State University, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, president of Benedict College, Dr. Karrie G. Dixon Chancellor of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Ruth Simmons, former President of Prairie View A&M State University, Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber, former President of Saint Augustine's University, Dr. Cynthia A. Warrick, President emeritus of Stillman College, and Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy, former President of Johnson C. Smith University and Shaw University are among the longest serving HBCU women presidents in the nation. They have all managed to shatter the HBCU presidents’ tenure anathema by exceeding the three-year life expectancy for this role. What has characterized each of their leadership prominences
is their revolutionary “LeaderHERship” in transforming these institutions. Respectively, each of these women who offered themselves in service to “glass cliff,” institutions in peril, a term coined by University of Exeter Scholars, Michelle Ryan and Alex Haslam to denote how women and other minoritized groups are most likely hired into high-risk leadership positions as a passage to ascend into presidential leadership. These under amplified SHEroes of the academy revivified these institutions back to good bills of health, each of them navigating their institutions through the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing their endowments, achieving significant enrollment growth and stability, drastically improving infrastructure, metamorphosing fiscal solvency, deepening community engagement, re-imagining academic programs, and traversing board issues, and accreditation challenges. HBCU women presidents driving
audacious innovation are deserving of more than plaques given out at banquets, reserved tables for HBCU presidents and chancellors, the all too common conference session presentations to talk about the woeful underrepresentation of Black women in leadership, pulpit recognitions about their “great work,” lines of HBCU women president superfans that ask for pictures with them at HBCU events, and contracts that lack parity with their male counterparts. These women, amid the prevailing inequalities in the workplace noted by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), which affirms that representation is sparse for Black women and other women of ethnic and racial minority groups, make a tacit quantifiable difference. Thus, Black women presidents of HBCUs deserve our complete honoring, and a discursive libationary tribute for the contributions made to this
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If we really want to synthesize the impact of Black women’s leadership at HBCUs let us start with facts:
sacred vocation. Black women and Latinas make up a combined 9% of leaders in academic affairs, 2% in athletics, 3% in facilities, 14% in student affairs, and 3% in information technology. At 17% Black/ Latina representation, fiscal affairs are the most diverse area of employment when it comes to leadership roles. Clearly, more effort must be put toward advancing Black, Indigenous, and other women of color to executive leadership positions in all areas of higher education. Notwithstanding the inherent odds of success, these women prevailed and led with incalculable impact lifting these institutions from the graveyard of HBCUs, to stable, and firmly stable positions. From Dr. Mary McCloud Bethune- Cookman, who started Bethune Cookman University with only $1.50 cents, to Dr. Anna Julia Cooper, who served as a secondary school teacher, a principal and eventually president of Frelinghuysen University in Washington, DC, to noted educator, anthropologist, and the quintessential Sistah president Dr. Johnetta B. Cole, Black women presidents have taken the least and done the most to contribute to the long-term sustainability of our nations higher education institutions. Though denied the agency to make a difference, no other leader of the academy has demonstrated the powerful role Black women leaders have in the life of HBCUs in our nation despite the dual discriminations of racism and sexism that defined their lives. In 1892, Dr. Anna Julia Cooper said, “woman’s work and woman’s influence are needed as never before.” Nothing has changed, Black women will always be leadership commodities to the academy.
After more than a decade serving as president of TSU, President Glenda Glover will retire this year with honor and distinction. Her remarkable LeadHERship of service includes exponentially increasing fundraising; and bringing national acclaim to TSU with luminaries like Vice President Kamala Harris, and Oprah Winfrey as speakers on the campus. Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon led ECSU to the highest enrollment in nine years with 2,166 students reported in 2023. Under her LeadHERship the sky is truly the limit for new academic
programs. According to Zippia, only 2.2% of airline pilots are Black. ECSUs Aviation Science Program is one of less than 10 programs at HBCUS that is meeting the demand to educate and train students for careers and opportunities in aviation.
Bringing Stillman back from the brink of near closure, under the LeadHERShip of President Emeritus Cynthia A. Warrick, community engagement was re-imagined through the establishment of partnerships with Arts N Autism and House Tuscaloosa. She procured over $14 million in grants, including a $7.9 million dollar grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) for a new biomedical facility. She was also a significant voice in the
WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP BRING UNIQUE SKILLS TO BEAR ON THEIR APPROACH TO LEADING SKILLS HONED BY NAVIGATING THE COMPETING DEMANDS OF THEIR GENDER AND THEIR OCCUPATION.
Department of Education Discharge of over $1.6 billion in HBCU Capital Finance Debt. President Roslyn Clark Artis has received over 300 awards for her LeadHERship. In 2019, she was the recipient of the American Council on Education (ACE) Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation. The award recognizes institutions that have responded to higher education challenges in innovative and creative ways and achieved dramatic results in a short period of time. In her poem “A Litany for Survival,” Audre Lorde addresses the reality of oppressive life-denying systems that Black women face. She reminds us
that, we (Black women) were never meant to survive, but nevertheless we have at HBCUs that continue to undermine our essence and impact. Though men still hold the majority of executive leadership positions in higher education, women represent more than half of administrators overall, according to a study from CUPA-HR. Women in higher education leadership bring unique skills to bear on their approach to leading — skills honed by navigating the competing demands of their gender and their occupation. Like Anna Julia Cooper, Mary McLeod Bethune carried forward the call to advance opportunities for Black women through education and activism.
Although a generation younger than Cooper, Bethune built on Cooper’s vision of using education and leadership as a mechanism of advancement. They will perpetually be the shoulders that inspire Black women to continue to participate in the HBCU leadership franchise. It is their shoulders that initiated an opening in the door of LeadeHERship for Black women at HBCUs; and it is the shoulders of these new Sistah presidents that will continue to be formidable and enterprising forces of leadership in the academy.
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TRaNSFoRMaTIVE LeADER ThE BeST OF BENEDICT COLLEGE
BY CRYSTAL GADSON
B enedict College’s 14th president, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis’ mission is to be nothing less than the best.
being “the first” at two historically Black institutions – Florida Memorial University and now Benedict College. “I feel incredibly honored. Unfortunately, as Black people, we’re often the first, but for women, it’s even more pronounced. I felt the weight of the responsibility to not blow it, because it might close the door for women behind me if I don’t excel.”
extremely rewarding, there is also a heavy pressure that comes with the territory.
She is the college’s first woman president and coined the now
“You have to stay prayed up, well prepared, and emotionally strong to be able to withstand the newness of it.” When she arrived at Benedict in 2017, she assessed the institution’s programmatic strengths and campus infrastructure to determine what needed to be invested in and built. Since her presidency, Dr. Artis has accomplished updating the university’s technology, eliminating debt, restored the university’s reputation as a business partner in the community, put on nearly 30 roofs, completed sewer, water, and infrastructure projects and updated campus facilities such as the football stadium, classrooms, chapel, and office spaces.
trademarked phrase “BEST of BC” in 2017. BEST is an acronym that stands for Benedict Education equals Student Transformation. Benedict College is a small, private, Baptist-affiliated HBCU located in Columbia, South Carolina. “We try to get our students to strive for their very best, particularly in the classroom, but more holistically, best all around – fully grounded socially, emotionally, academically, and spiritually. We want our students to be healthy and whole at Benedict College,” Dr. Artis said. Dr. Artis holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from West Virginia State University, a juris doctorate from West Virginia College of Law, and a doctorate
Although shattering glass ceilings can be
Currently, one of the university’s major focuses is academic programming.
degree in higher education leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University.
“We want our students to be super competitive.”
Dr. Artis doesn’t just want to recruit students, but
She has had the distinction of
make sure they graduate in four years or less.
the most comprehensive infrastructure update in the history of Benedict College, meaning all the projects that are currently being worked on will be completed. “We will no doubt have built a new building, if not two. Our graduation rates will place us in the top 10 HBCUs nationwide. I’m quite confident about that. In fact, we’re tied for number 10 as of today, based on this year’s rate.” Dr. Artis was born in Springfield, Massachusetts and raised in southern West Virginia. Despite having two historically Black colleges, only 3% of West Virginia’s population is African American. She credits her HBCU experience for molding her as a leader, allowing her to make important connections, giving her a ‘leg up’ competitively in the world. “Some people say ‘my HBCU is where I’m allowed to be myself.’ I always say my HBCU is what taught me who ‘myself’ was. I didn’t know who I was until I got to an HBCU and began to understand what it is to be a Black woman,” she shared.
Dr. Artis says role models are critically important and that’s what most HBCU campuses provide for students. She was so inspired by her former HBCU president, the late Dr. Hazo Carter and his first lady, the late Judge Phyllis H. Carter, that when she later aspired to be a college president, she chose to attend his alma mater, Vanderbilt University to earn her doctoral degree. “I read up on my president to see how and what his journey looked like to the presidency and decided I’m going to do what my president did so I can become a president. He certainly was very impactful to me,” she said. Dr. Artis is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and holds sisterhood, scholarship, and service very dear to her heart. She encourages other HBCU presidents and aspiring presidents to be authentic and run their race. “Be who you were intended to be and walk in that and know that you are enough, and that you are capable and competent, and that these institutions need the very best version of you to lead.”
Her greatest joy during her 6-year tenure at Benedict College is increasing the college’s graduation rate by 233% in six years. While Benedict College is known for its incredible football team that had an 11-0 season last year and won the SIAC conference championship, Dr. Artis is most proud of the football players’ GPAs. “We had 11 boys get saved and accept Christ last year. We have kids who are academic All-Americans playing football and have not had a single discipline issue with a football player in three years.” Benedict College’s Marching Tiger Band of Distinction performed in last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Benedict students who may have a business idea, product or service are given space on campus to try out that product, build their business, create a business plan, find funding, and develop a marketing plan.
Dr. Artis says in the next 5 years, Benedict College will have completed
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DR. ALGENIA FREEMAN PIONEER
BY CRYSTAL GADSON HBCU
F rom living through Jim Crow laws and attending segregated schools to becoming a pioneer of education, Dr. Algeania Freeman is no stranger to overcoming adversity. With over five decades of experience in the field of education, Dr. Freeman has served as the 11th president of Livingstone College, 20th president of Wilberforce University, and 2nd president of Martin University.
She made history in 2000, as the first woman to serve as president of Livingstone College.
“I was on a mission to educate as many people as I could educate. Every time I see a young person, especially a person of color walk across that graduation stage. I just feel such joy,” Dr. Freeman said. Dr. Freeman earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Fayetteville State University, a master’s degree in speech pathology from Southern Illinois University, and a doctoral degree in speech communications from Ohio State University. Her heart has always been with HBCUs. “I love HBCUs with a passion. I felt that whatever knowledge I gained, I wanted to take it back to my people and share it. That’s where I wanted to spend my career,” she said.
in higher education allowed her to become an accreditation expert.
10 years of accreditation free and clear from SACS. They had never had that before. It took a lot of work, and there were so many people who stepped up to the plate to sacrifice and help me accomplish that feat,” she explained. After leaving Livingstone College, Dr. Freeman became the president of Martin University, a private predominantly Black institution in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Livingstone College was on the verge of losing their accreditation when Dr. Freeman became president. Ultimately, Dr. Freeman took the necessary steps to ensure that the doors of Livingstone College remained open. “It was a great learning experience, but it was rough. For the first time in the history of the institution, we got
Dr. Freeman says her experience
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“I want our young women to also see more role models,” she said. “I am putting out a public call that every person, our Black women entertainers, legislators, whoever they are need to select an HBCU or an institution – even if it' s not an HBCU, but has a Black woman president – and send her some money. It will encourage that woman’s heart.” The Benson, North Carolina native currently works as a program director for Sampson Jefferson & Associates, where she partners with the Bureau of Prisons giving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons a second chance at life through a faith-based community re-entry network. The organization provides resources that assist with education opportunities, housing, healthcare, voting rights, jobs, and more. “Try to be a person who operates with integrity. Have some character because your good name matters. Yes, you’re going to get knocked down. You’re going to get kicked. People are going to disparage you, discount the good work that you did, but you cannot give up.”
She also worked to pull Martin University from the verge of losing its accreditation. During Dr. Freeman’s tenure at Martin University, the institution landed a partnership with NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. The then head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Caldwell purchased new technology for Martin University. In 2014, Dr. Freeman became the president of Wilberforce University, the oldest private HBCU. The university had a $9 million deficit, a steep decline in enrollment, and a show cause order. Dr. Freeman recalls having to prepare over 3,000 documents in two months to prevent the university from losing its accreditation. “Writing those 3,000 pages, we were working in some of the most horrific, horrendous circumstances you can imagine – but I could hear W.E.B. Dubois, who taught at Wilberforce. I could hear Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune saying, ‘you can’t give up.’ It was like
going to war to save that institution.” In hindsight, Dr. Freeman realized that her calling was to reestablish the foundations of institutions that had got into challenging circumstances. “My job was to go in, correct and rebuild those foundations so that they could still be operating today.” In 2017, Dr. Freeman was called to work as an accreditation consultant for Saint. Augustine’s University, a small private HBCU in Raleigh, North Carolina. “[Saint Augustine’s] kept their accreditation and is still operating today. I believe I made history in being the only person who has helped to save the accreditation and keep the doors of four institutions open.” One of Dr. Freeman’s ultimate goals is to help more Black women become presidents or chancellors at higher education institutions or business owners or CEOs of corporations or foundations.
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WHY WE NEED TO SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN IN THE HBCU PRESIDENCY
BY DR. MARYBETH GASMAN
W e know that having role models of the same race and gender is powerful. Research supports this notion. Keeping this idea in mind, as of 2021, 64% of students at HBCUs are women. These women stand to benefit from seeing Black women in the presidency of their colleges; they are more likely to see themselves in leadership roles in the future
because they see the possibilities in front of them. Men also benefit from educational experiences led by a Black woman president as they witness the diversity of leadership styles. Beyond serving as role models, having Black women in the presidency of HBCUs reflects the gender diversity at these institutions. It sends an important
message to women students that they are not only seen but heard and their voices matter. The presence of Black women in leadership roles at HBCUs sends a message to society that these institutions are just as committed to fostering gender equity as they have been to support racial equity.
Black women bring diversity of thought
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and ideas to the presidency of HBCUs. They have unique experiences based on their lives as women. Their unique journeys give them perspectives that can result in more comprehensive policies and programs relating to both gender and race, both within HBCUs and throughout their surrounding communities. In recent years, more and more Black women have taken on leadership roles at HBCUs with great success. In these roles, they support one another, and serve as a sounding board for each other on general issues related to HBCUs, but also around issues related to gender and the HBCU presidency. This type of support is crucial as Black women endure considerable challenges in their presidential roles. Black women presidents often face what is called the “double bind” – gender discrimination in addition to racial discrimination. As a result, stereotypes related to race and gender can hinder their ability to garner respect in some circles even within HBCU communities. Research also shows that Black women presidents face a unique set of biases that are different from those experienced by Black men and white women. These biases manifest in hiring processes, media coverage and relationships with boards of trustees, faculty, staff, students, and local communities. Black women HBCU presidents, much like their counterparts at majority institutions are often juggling family and their leadership position. Despite their professional roles, women are still largely responsible for managing families and households. Black women presidents are expected to juggle these multiple roles and to do it well at all
times.
Black women also face discrimination in terms of pay when taking on the HBCU presidency. They typically earn 20% less than men in the same role, and it is estimated that they will not earn what their Black men counterparts (or white women) earn until 2124. Despite these barriers, Black women college presidents of HBCUs have made significant contributions to their institutions and higher education, speaking out on national issues, and leading HBCUs in compassionate and innovative ways. They have demonstrated resilience, leadership, and the ability to effect positive change, even in the face of unique challenges. Most importantly, their experiences provide valuable insights into the intersections of race and gender in leadership for those who follow in their footsteps.
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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY: GAME-CHANGER DR. JAVAUNE ADAMS-GASTON BY ZERLINE HUGHES SPRUILL
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T he way Norfolk State University students go on about her sneaker game, and how students and faculty refer to her as “Dr. J,” one would think Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston was a high-scoring player of the year. The truth of the matter is, while Dr. J’s current role does not include being athletically inclined, per se, she has brought game-changing excellence to NSU since she was named president in June 2019. “She is a master team builder,” said Devon M. Henry, NSU Rector of the Board of Visitors and class of 1999 alumnus.“She has the uncanny ability to bring dynamic professionals together, develop them into exceptional leaders, get them to buy into a vision and then allows everyone to execute at the benefit of the students and greater NSU community. “It is also important for the world to know that Dr. J is a budding sneaker aficionado, and has been seen sporting some very fashionable sneakers, to include a pair of Green & Gold Jordans and a pair of NSU designed Nike Air Force 1’s,” added Henry. “This is one of many reasons the students love Dr. J.” From PWI to HBCU As president of the largest HBCU in Virginia, and a four-time Top 20 HBCU designated by U.S. News and World Report, Dr. Adams-Gaston has taken NSU to new heights in a short period of time. Enhancing the institution’s programming, community culture, finances and technology are just a few areas where Dr. Adams-Gaston has used her skillset to build out the university as a competitive institution in both HBCU and PWI categories. While the core of her experience as a scholar and faculty member has been at PWI’s, Dr.
Adams-Gaston understands the HBCU experience, challenges and heritage.
Prior to joining Norfolk State University, Dr. Adams-Gaston was named the first African American woman senior vice president in 2009 at The Ohio State University. She led 40 departments in the Office of Student Life touching the lives of more than 66,000 students. She also served in administrative and faculty positions at the University of Maryland- College Park including associate dean of academic affairs, executive director of the Career Center, equity administrator, and psychologist. She also was the institution’s first African American woman assistant athletic director and was an Athletic Certification Peer Reviewer for the NCAA. Coupled with additional faculty positions at each of these institutions, in addition to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Dr. Adams-Gaston came fully prepared to transform NSU. All she needed to do was get through a pandemic. Creating a ‘Culture of Care,’ and a Connected Community “Nine months in, and then COVID,” said Dr. Adams-Gaston. “It totally changed the direction of what we were doing to start rethinking the notion of culture care for the university. We really pivoted to how we ensure our community is as safe as it could be and not overwhelmed. It really worked well because I had the right people in place.” From dismissing students to spend the remainder of the spring 2020 semester at their respective homes, to reminding the few who remained on campus to cover their nose with their masks during her daily campus walks with her husband Dmitri; to quickly starting partnerships with companies like Apple to ensure students were well equipped with technology to continue their studies virtually, Dr. Adams-Gaston worked in rapid-response fashion to ensure her faculty, students and staff
“Part of my background is in creating living-learning environments, like bringing classrooms to residence halls. Having the opportunities for faculty to conduct seminars to challenge how we rethink and understand world issues such as field-to-table,” said Dr. Adams-Gaston, who is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “We’ve got a lot of Black farmers and they’re struggling. Mixing academic and experiential opportunities learning about the science and social science of food and nutrition, where our food comes from, and who has the ability to access support to make our food available is what it takes to provide the needed resources to our Black farmers, then the dining hall becomes part of the learning environment. That’s what an HBCU has historically done, and continues to do.” Dr. Adams-Gaston earned her bachelor's degree in biology, psychology, and general science, at the University of Dubuque; a master's degree in psychology at Loras College; and a Ph.D. in psychology at Iowa State University. She is a psychologist, and has held positions as associate dean in academic affairs, assistant athletic director, equity administrator, graduate faculty member and educator. As NSU president, she is able to use each of those experiences to run a competitive research university with a remarkable calm, according to her colleagues. “Coming from such a large institution such as Ohio State University, the board was very interested in how Dr. J would adapt to a smaller but very community- centric university,” said Henry.
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Hitting the Jackpot Under Dr. Adams-Gaston’s leadership, scores of additional partnerships, sponsorships and gifts have been added to NSU’s portfolio. Most of them, however, came after the biggest moment in the school’s history: receiving $40 million from the MacKenzie Scott Foundation, said Dr. Adams-Gaston. “We almost fell out of our chairs,” she said of the largest single donor gift in the school’s 85-year history. “It was in 2019 that we began the conversation. After the third call, we said ‘What if they give us $1 million. It would be amazing!’ This gift really had an impact into perpetuity. We really feel like we’re on the way with the gift from MacKenzie Scott.” “That is the beauty about how forward thinking MacKenzie and her team is. This is how you make a truly transformational gift,” said Dr. Adams- Gaston who added that the majority of the $40 million gift went to NSU’s endowment, because, like many HBCUs, theirs was very low. “Gifts beget gifts. When I came here, our endowment was $29 million. Now, it’s now $80 million,” said Dr. Adams-Gaston. “What happened was, we got gifts from the Shawn Carter Foundation, BeyGOOD and Tiffany & Co, and the Landmark Foundation wanted to invest $5 million in student scholarships. Board members wanted to endow a faculty chair. We began to see that our institution was becoming a place that people trusted. Their gifts would be significantly supportive in making a difference to students coming
were well informed and well prepared. “Everybody was like ‘Oh my, how are we going to manage this?’ Dr. J just comes in and says, ‘We’re all dealing with an unfamiliar situation; we can handle this,’ and was quick to adapt to the situation,” said Chief of Staff, Dr. Tanya S. White. “For the president, the difficulties she’s experienced in the past in her other positions has helped her to be adaptable, flexible, and look outside the box. She implemented the culture of care at the university which has made all the difference in the world and a positive impact on NSU.” Dr. Adams-Gaston's response during the pandemic modeled her strategic, long- term vision for students and faculty and positively impacted the university community moving forward. She said many students attempted to do their coursework on their smartphones because they didn’t have computers while off campus, or access to wifi was a challenge. All students get the iPad or Macbook, or a MacBook Pro depending on their major, plus noise canceling Airpods and an Apple pencil. “We decided all of our students needed an opportunity to start well. The device was not the real issue; the device was the impetus for learning,” said Dr. Adams-Gaston. “We needed somebody here from Apple to help translate the learning and we were able to establish that. As a result, faculty are trained on how to engage students in the classroom using the Apple devices, and NSU’s Center for Teaching and Learning houses an Apple specialist along with an IT team.
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to Norfolk State University and for the university at large.”
because we’ve done the work, it should not be this hard to ensure there’s equity.” She also recognizes the challenge that sits before her student population as they matriculate through the real world and she is committed to making
foot Micro-NSU Nanofabrication Clean Room, one of the highest rated research facilities on the eastern seaboard and its online cybersecurity major, a top 10 program which beat out Georgia Tech, both efforts to help showcase the talents of students, faculty and visitors from surrounding areas. “I’ve been at NSU for 18 years. I have worked with a lot of different leaders’ personalities and backgrounds, and Dr. Adams-Gaston has really been very inspiring,” said Dr. White who said her boss’ psychology experience comes in handy. “I just completed my doctorate. She said ‘you got that.’ She knows how to see a person’s potential. She knows how to create leaders, create and cultivate people and she makes sure there’s inclusivity.” Mixing business with academia with a twist of psychology, Dr. Gaston-Adams seems to have created both a personal and professional recipe for success. She has a self-care plan–making sure to visit beaches around the world, and catching a beach sunset while home in Virginia’s Hampton Roads area–and her fashion sense isn’t too shabby as well, taking note from her business colleagues. “I loved heels for many years. But over time, I began to observe many male counterparts wearing sneakers with their suits. I started with sneakers more as a weekend treat,” she said. “I found that men’s sneakers give incredible foot and knee support. Friends have given me great sneakers and I find it refreshing to have comfort and style. I think women should feel comfortable to wear whatever makes them feel good. I love stylish, great foot support, sneakers.”
An ‘Assignment from on High’ When it comes to the road ahead, Dr. Adams-Gaston realizes that being not only president of an HBCU, but a woman president can be a challenge considering the difference between her experience at PWIs, and an opportunity. Dr. Adams-Gaston said her husband, Dmitri Gaston, says her calling to NSU is “our assignment from on High.” “I have the privilege of truly loving all my jobs,” she said. “There is something great about working in high resource institutions, especially as I
have worked at flagship PWI institutions. My experience at Norfolk State University is amazing. We love what we
get to do here. Having an incredible executive team, amazing faculty and staff and the brightest, most talented students is a gift.” “If I think about my friends and peers who are African American female presidents, I would say that we recognize that this is an opportunity for our students, faculty, our communities, the nation and the world to see the commitment and impact that African American women have on the success of our nation,” said Dr. Adams-Gaston. “We are significantly contributing to the world of work utilizing our knowledge and scholarship. We talk a lot about making sure there’s some fairness and equity in how HBCUs are supported and
sure her administration and faculty prioritizes the needs of NSU students.
“We are responsible for the success of African American students, Black students and others that want to come here. We all are in this sort of together,” she said. “Even though HBCUs are approximately 3% of the higher education community, we are graduating the highest percentage of Black lawyers, Black judges, Black STEM students. Our focus is how do we ensure that every student that comes through our doors is well prepared for the world?”
This is why Dr. Adams-Gaston is so proud of the campus’ 6,000 square-
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