When alumni of historically Black colleges and universities return to their alma maters to celebrate homecoming over the next few weeks, many will see new faces in charge on the yard.
As enrollment numbers have continued to increase at HBCUs nationwide in recent years, multiple schools have faced turnovers in leadership, with top executives resigning or retiring.
This issue is not solely present at HBCUs — years of tenure have decreased among collegiate leadership nationwide. However, since 2022, more than 30 of the 107 HBCUs have announced new presidents or chancellors. This summer, two schools even announced leadership changes within hours of each other: Florida A&M University president Larry Robinson stepped down on July 12, the same day Morehouse College president David Thomas announced his upcoming retirement.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic and possibly because of the Supreme Court’s ruling ending affirmative action in college admissions, enrollment numbers have increased at larger HBCUs. Applications to Morehouse College, an all-male institution, grew by more than 8,000 this year, a 34% increase over last year. North Carolina A&T State University received more than 47,000 applications for undergraduates and graduates. Applications surged for Howard University (36,300) and Hampton University (17,000). Morehouse, North Carolina A&T, Howard and Hampton have all announced changes in leadership in the past two years. (READ MORE)
