Special Spotlight: HBCU

Organizations perform best when they have a clear vision, mission, and an actual strategy to reach its objectives.  During both my military and civilian careers, I learned the importance of having the entire organization rowing in the same direction. University alignment in these areas provides clarity of purpose, which is so vital to positive student outcomes. HBCUs are world-class institutions of higher learning, and we are committed to providing our students with an unparallel higher education experience.  We understand the value of an HBCU education and the incredible social and economic impact our graduates have on our community and our world.

Darrell K. Williams, President, Hampton University

“We are training and educating our students here for global leadership. We’re not educating our students here to be competitive with students who are coming out of a university across the city, across the state, or across the United States. We understand that the students here must be competitive with students [from around the world].”

David Kwabena Wilson, President, Morgan State University

“If companies do not figure out how to embrace HBCU students who are not looking to just clock in and clock out and how to utilize their talents, then you’re going to miss out, because this is a highly creative generation. It’s a phenomenal opportunity to seize the talent that HBCUs are producing because these students are already cutting and carving their own path..”

Dr. Melva Williams, President and CEO, Huston-Tillotson University

“Creating a continuous pipeline of future leaders means continuously investing in research and faculty development, supporting students’ growth, and working with our industry partners to create better employment opportunities.”

Dr. Larry Robinson, President, Florida A&M University

“Part of corporate responsibility is helping to educate the future workforce, your future workforce. You need HBCU students. Society needs HBCU students. But we need them to be the best they can be, and that’s why investing in HBCU students is investing in your corporate future.

Bobbie Knight, President, Miles College

“Innovation is part of the DNA of an HBCU school. We are inherently innovative, creative, and flexible.”

Dr. Jack Thomas, President, Central State University

“Unless you create the environment for a diverse population to be a real and truly valuable part of an industry, all you have is surface-level representation.”

Dr. Christine McPhail, President, St. Augustine’s University

“Our job is not just to provide access to the students, but also opportunity for the students. As educators, our responsibility is to prepare the future political, economic, educational, and social impact leaders.”

Dr. Daniel Wims, President, Alabama A&M University

“In order to build curricula based on real-time feedback and industry demand, universities need industry partners that will work with both students and faculty through internships for first-year students and experiential learning opportunities for faculty as well.”

Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, President, Bowie University

“I believe that diverse talent is right here. Bringing on that talent is good for corporations. It’s good for America. It’s good for this country.”

Laurence B. Alexander, Chancellor, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

“Investing in historically black colleges is investing in not only America, but also the world.”

Dr. Carmen Walter, President, Tougaloo College

“We must engage at a higher level with the corporate America, not only from a transactional perspective, but also from a relationship perspective.”

Aaron A. Walton, President, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

“HBCUs are a goldmine of talent for corporations, and corporations need to acknowledge this as both a competitive advantage and as a way to support one of the most effective vehicles for socio-economic mobility for the African American community.”

Dr. Lester McCorn, President, Clinton College