The Future of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were originally founded to provide the educational opportunities that other post-secondary schools had denied to black Americans. Today these schools face new challenges, and how they respond is shaped in large part by the men and women at the helm.
Ten HBCU presidents speak out in this volume, addressing the fundamental issues confronting minority higher education. They discuss the historical role of black colleges; the current mission of HBCUs; and the effects of diversity programs, minority recruiting goals and globalization. Other topics include the impact of technology on college classrooms and the priorities and challenges in fundraising and development. Each chapter is devoted to the comments of one of the ten educators, and each includes a brief professional biography. An appendix includes profiles of historically black institutions.

Carolyn O. Wilson Mbajekwe is a professor of history at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Her current research focuses on the history of minority higher education.

Edited by Carolyn O. Wilson Mbajekwe
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 220
Bibliographic Info: 10 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2006
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2565-5
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8457-7
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii

Preface      1

Introduction      3

PART I: THE PRIVATE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES

1. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President, Spelman College      43

2. Walter E. Massey, President, Morehouse College      56

3. Norman C. Francis, President, Xavier University of Louisiana      68

4. Carolynn Reid-Wallace, Former United States Assistant

Secretary for Post-Secondary Education; Former

President, Fisk University      81

5. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO of

the United Negro College Fund; Former

President, Dillard University      95

6. Henry R. Ponder, Former President, Talladega

College; Former President and CEO of the

National Association for Equal Opportunity in

Higher Education; Former President, Fisk University;

Former President, Benedict College      106

PART II: THE PUBLIC HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES

7. Ronald F. Mason, Jr., President, Jackson State University      119

8. Marie V. McDemmond, President, Norfolk State University      125

9. Carlton E. Brown, President, Savannah State University      140

10. Calvin W. Lowe, President, Bowie State University      148

Appendix: Profiles of Historically Black Institutions      157

Bibliography      201

Index      205