An August 12 panel of former HBCU presidents shared their personal experiences around what leading these historic institutions means to them, the students, and their communities.
There were key lessons from each leader, but the conversation revolved around one question: what is the “secret sauce” that keeps these institutions relevant?
Dr. Everett Ward, former president of St. Augustine University; Dr. Elfred A. Pinkard, former president of Wilberforce University; former Johnson C. Smith and Shaw University President Dr. Dorothy Yancy; and former Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy Jenkins have worked for decades to unite communities through their leadership of these institutions that, together, help make up the cornerstones of Black America.
Jenkins said the president’s job is not only listening to others, but considering them in every decision the leader makes. An HBCU president has to tailor his or her vision to meet the expectations of the board of trustees, faculty, students, alumni, and the general public. “In the zeal of carrying out your mission, you have to be sure that you’re carrying them along with you and recognize that some decisions you make will satisfy the constituents but not the others,” he said.
“I think you need to spend time with your people,” said Yancy. She recalls how she once asked all of her staff for their resumes so she could get to know their experience and understand their career trajectories, because “you don’t want to keep them for life.”
“We try to train [staff and faculty] so they can move forward and continue to lead someplace else,” she added.
Dr. Roderick Smothers, executive director for the Virginia Union University’s Center for the Study and Preservation of HBCUs and the panel’s moderator, shared a story about Wiley University president Dr. Herman Felton, who looked up to Pinkard as a student and said he wanted to be like him. Today, Felton and Pinkard serve as co-founders – along with Huston-Tillotson University President Dr. Melva Wallace and Clinton College Chief Information and Strategy Officer Gregory Deas – of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation, an organization dedicated to cultivating future HBCU leaders.
Taking the time to pour into and encourage staff has a trickle-down effect on students, where they are encouraged to do and be better. The panelists all agreed that they are sometimes a representation of fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers. From being an example of how students show up professionally with attire to – sometimes – even being a stern reminder of why they are there on campus (to attend classes and prepare for their futures).
“They can see what their ancestors have accomplished in the stories of HBCUs. That’s very empowering for individual students, and there’s a power in that collective,” said Pinkard. “For students to see their president, faculty, staff members that look like them is also very empowering. That says, ‘I can do this’ because they have concrete examples of this having been done.”
Building relationships with students comes in many forms. Yancy said one of her favorite interactions with students was dancing together on campus. Ward said he took time to encourage students to be proud of who they are, even when they were feeling unwanted or unappreciated.
“For many of our students, when they enter our campus, this is the first time they’ve been affirmed and celebrated as young, Black men and women who can make a contribution to society,” Ward said. “To be celebrated, acknowledged, and appreciated, and to be told that you can achieve whatever your goal in life is, and have a team of scholars who are committed to your success. That’s something that cannot be overlooked.”
“The secret sauce to our HBCUs is how many people in the community would see a St. Augustine, Shaw University, Elizabeth City State student and say, ‘you just keep up that good work.’ That whole love that HBCUs have within the community is a part of the secret sauce as well,” he added.
