The Official Report of The President, 2021-2022

The Official Report of the President 2021–2022

“On The Road to 100”

Mission The mission of American Baptist College, a Historically Black College with a liberal arts emphasis, is to educate, graduate, and prepare diverse students for Christian leadership, service, and social justice in the world.

Vision American Baptist College’s vision is to provide educational opportunities for gifted students who have limited academic experiences and resources, but unlimited potential for leadership in society.

Contents Institutional Goals....................................................................................................................................................................4 Message from the Board Chair............................................................................................................................................5 Message from the President.................................................................................................................................................6 Coming Back from COVID-19...............................................................................................................................................8 Learning at ABC: On Campus and Online........................................................................................................................9 Return to Campus Life......................................................................................................................................................... 10 ABC Enrollment Management: On the Road Again.................................................................................................. 12 Campus Planning and Development 2021–2022 .................................................................................................... 13 Susie McClure Library Renovations ............................................................................................................................... 14 Approaching 10 Years of Title III Funding .................................................................................................................... 16 Leading by Example............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Toward Re-accreditation .................................................................................................................................................... 17 S.E.A.L. in Action: Making a Stand for Justice............................................................................................................. 18 ABC Graduates “Light the Flame That Lasts Forever”.............................................................................................. 19 ABC Leadership—Board of Trustees 2022 ................................................................................................................... 20 ABC Leadership—Senior Management ....................................................................................................................... 21 Giving … On the Road to 100........................................................................................................................................... 22 2021 Donors............................................................................................................................................................................ 24 2022 Donors............................................................................................................................................................................ 26 Remembering Alumnus John Lewis............................................................................................................................... 28

This publication was prepared by the Division of Institutional Advancement, Dr. Phyllis Qualls, Vice President, in conjunction with the Office of the President. Contributors: Brooke Bell, Mary Carpenter, Rev. Olivia M. Cloud (Guardian Angel Communication Services), Roosevelt Keys, Nicole Neal, Jeremiah Parks, Josh Shaw (Modern Innovation Production), Mondale Smiley, LoLita Toney, Andre Trice, Keaton Walkine, Terri Woodmore, and Jonae Woods (Angelic Branding Consulting).

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Institutional Goals

American Baptist College’s seven institutional goals align with our mission statement and S.E.A.L vision: Academics and Scholarship Excellence in Education: Maintain a high quality collegial, supportive, and educational environment to motivate and engage faculty, administration, staff, and students to achieve their personal and professional goals and the expected institutional outcomes.

Student Engagement and Success Excellence in Christian and Ethical Leadership: Develop practices to support a student-centered and justice-oriented culture of Christian vocation rooted in leadership, service, and ethical living.

Institutional Advancement Excellence in Resource Management: Utilize best practices in resource management and allocation to support American Baptist College’s commitment to sound stewardship. (Includes continuous institutional strategic planning.)

Strategic Partnerships and Alliances Excellence in Community Partnerships: Pursue alignments with business, industry, government, and religious and civic organizations to create experiential education to facilitate a pathway to economic, social, and educational success for our students and the advancement of the College.

Institutional Sustainability Excellence in Organizational Rightsizing and Leadership Responsibility: Incorporate sustainability into business model and institutional decisions by developing an institutional sustainability matrix to monitor and improve institutional performance, and leadership alignment for institutional effectiveness and success.

Cyberspace Infrastructure for Digital Humanities Excellence in Digital Technologies for Archives and Disciplines of the Humanities: Prepare students to hone their content knowledge in particular fields of study and to use and design digital tools in areas of history, theology, philosophy, and English.

Justice Education Excellence in Student Civic Engagement: Develop an interdisciplinary program to weave applied scholarship, biblical liberation ethics and theology for students’ civic engagement, leadership and Christian service.

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Message from the Board Chair

Dear American Baptist College Supporters, I am delighted to share this message with you regarding the past two years at American Baptist College. The College has done more than survived; it has thrived. I am proud to serve this historical institution as chair of the Board of Trustees.

Since COVID-19 became a part of our lives in March 2020, we have existed in a “new normal,” yet we have persisted. I am pleased to recognize the administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni of American Baptist College for all the work that you have done and continue to do to make this a stellar institution of learning.

As Board chair, I am striving to attract more exposure and financial support so that ABC can be financially solvent. As opportunities resume for face-to-face communication and gatherings, it is important that we support American Baptist College in every possible way.

Our students are receiving a sound education from a renowned faculty. From the academic offerings to student engagement, the ABC experience is a holistic one rich in history and tradition. From icons of the past to the leaders of today and tomorrow, a path to greatness is paved here on the “Holy Hill.”

There are many challenges facing this nation and the world, and American Baptist College is no exception. However, we remain committed to doing all we can for the students so their futures will be bright and productive.

Let us continue to move forward On the Road to 100!

Sincerely,

Dennie Marshall

Dennie Marshall, Chairman ABC Board of Trustees Vice President, Regions Bank Nashville, Tennessee

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Message from the President

Dear American Baptist College Colleagues and Supporters, The 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years were unprecedented in the life of American Baptist College; however, I’m happy to report today that we worked together to keep the flame burning brightly!

I am delighted to take this opportunity to acknowledge everyone who played a role in helping us to continue meeting our mission, and particularly to the senior management team for their forwardminded attitude in preparing our students to do well and become great ambassadors of social justice and theology.

We have been blessed with federal funding that allowed us to continue to service the College in every way, enabling us to focus on greatness rather than mediocrity even in the midst of COVID-19.

During this time, we provided our students with computers and hot spots, basic living expenses, wellness services on campus and at the nearby YMCA, and transportation and other services that allowed them to focus on their studies. We also have been able to use that support to maintain and strengthen our physical plant to ensure the health and safety of everyone on campus.

During this time of evaluation and re-examination, we implemented a re-structuring of the College that allows for a more streamlined configuration and system that positions us for more effective strategic planning and data mining. I am appreciative of the Board of Trustees’ support and approval of this endeavor.

Although you will hear more about this special announcement in next year’s report, I am proud to share with you now that in January 2023 the College received the largest single grant in its history. Through the United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), American Baptist College has been awarded a nearly $3 million grant for the Connecting Minority Communities Project. Technology is our newest social justice challenge. While we have always discussed digital deserts in our communities, COVID-19 revealed how disparate we are as a nation with so many minority, marginalized, and economically challenged communities facing barriers to technological connectivity. This grant will allow us to serve as a hub to provide technological training to families within a 15-mile radius of the College and connect them with agencies for the services they need. Many of today’s social ills can be addressed with the

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effective implementation of technology. Next year, we will be able to share detailed information with you about this grant’s projects.

We were thrilled during the past two years to gradually welcome visitors back to the “Holy Hill.”

Alumnus and former president Rev. Bernard Lafayette, along with his wife Kate, visited the campus in Fall 2022 and shared their love of the College. The family of the late Rev. C. T. Vivian also came to visit the hallowed halls that helped shaped him.

ABC joined with the city of Nashville and guests from around the world in 2021 and 2022 to celebrate the life of alumnus John Lewis with several meaningful activities, including a street named in his honor.

We have had numerous other individuals and groups from near and far, including the Israeli Consul General, visit to learn more about American Baptist College. The Jewels, a group of teenage girls who are part of the Nashville Chapter of Les Gemmes, meet on the campus regularly, and have been moved

by ABC’s richness. They have a thirst to learn more, and we hope seeds have been planted that will inspire some of them to attend ABC. Finally, we have lost many alumni and friends during these last two years, and we pay homage to them all. We certainly acknowledge Dr. Susie McClure, who passed in February 2023 at 107 years old. Our campus library bears her name as tribute to her many years of support and service as a member of the ABC Board of Trustees.

Let me again thank all our supporters and financial contributors for your gifts and service. We work hard every day to earn your trust so that we can continue to be a light to the world with an everlasting flame. Next year is a commemorative year as we join the “century club,” and we ask you to remain committed as we travel On the Road to 100 to reach that great milestone.

Sincerely,

Forrest E. Harris, Sr. Forrest E. Harris, Sr. President

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Coming Back from COVID-19

The global coronavirus, which first challenged the world in early 2020, had a significant impact on American Baptist College, just as it did on the rest of the world. The College adapted quickly to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff who were confronted with new ways of learning and maintaining community.

From the onset of COVID-19 and through the end of the 2022 calendar year, American Baptist College received more than $9 million in federal funds targeted specifically toward mitigating the impact of the virus. We leveraged those funds in a number of ways: • Student relief funds which enabled students to meet basic living expenses required to continue their studies • Technology upgrades to enhance virtual learning • Academic tutoring and enrichment • Administrative funds to address faculty and staff challenges, such as health insurance and mental health counseling • Campus upgrades to strengthen health and safety protocols • Enhancements to campus safety, including new fencing and increased security • Activities and training focused on health and wellness for members of the campus community

TOP: Faculty and staff participate in one of several “Coming Back from COVID-19” Lunch and Learn activities focused on physical and mental wellness.

CENTER: Fitness coach Gerald Davis leads a presentation on staying fit and healthy.

BOTTOM: Students enjoy an afternoon on campus.

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Learning at ABC On Campus and Online ABC students, faculty, and staff adapted and persevered in the virtual learning environment, but there was a palpable sense of excitement when the campus’s physical classrooms were open to students again in Fall 2022. While some courses remained online only, a full schedule of in-person classes provided the opportunity for more connected engagement and interaction.

Despite the introduction of vaccines and more effective treatments for COVID-19, the College still observed prevalent protocols during the return to campus, including regularly sanitizing surfaces and recommending face masks during surge periods.

Students receive an overview during Welcome Week 2022.

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Return to Campus Life Along with other educational institutions throughout the nation, American Baptist College shifted its learning model throughout the 2020– 2021 and 2021–2022 academic years to one more focused on virtual and distance learning.

While most classroom instruction remained virtual in 2021, we were able to come together for select events, including Fall Convocation and the 97th anniversary celebration honoring the legacy of Griggs Hall.

In the Fall 2022 semester, while remaining mindful of emergent COVID-19 variants and observing all relevant safety protocols, we opened our doors wide and welcomed students back to campus. For the first time since 2019, students participated in a full, on-campus schedule of Welcome Week activities, including overviews of academics, financial aid, library services, career development, and student conduct and expectations; an introduction to the College’s S.E.A.L. (Social Justice, Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership) initiative; lunch with campus leaders; tours of the city; and chapel service.

TOP: Congressman Jim Cooper addresses attendees during celebration honoring the legacy of Griggs Hall.

CENTER: Faculty Marshall Dwayne Stallworth leads faculty and staff during the 2022 Opening Convocation.

BOTTOM: ABC Senior Management Team Members (left to right) Forrest Harris, Febbie Dickerson, Phyllis Hildreth, Richard Jackson, and Phyllis Qualls

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Lighting the flame at the Fall 2022 Opening Convocation.

Chief of Staff Phyllis Hildreth discusses S.E.A.L. during Welcome Week 2022.

President Forrest Harris and SGA President Harmonie Hall address new and returning students.

Rev. Kelli X shares her message during the opening chapel service of Fall 2022.

The Susie McClure Library re-opened to visitors, including the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s HBCU Success Advisory Board.

ABC students Charlene Harrison and Yvonne Eguakum enjoy one of many activities welcoming students back to campus.

Students Daniel Townsend, Courtney Howard, and Jarren Mitchell are filmed for a new ABC campus video.

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ABC Enrollment Management: On the Road Again As restrictions lifted on travel and large gatherings, the ABC Enrollment Management team renewed its efforts to recruit new students and grow enrollment. Since 2021, the College has participated in more than 60 events geared toward high school students and others interested in attending ABC. We have also updated our process for applying online and instituted an aggressive presence on social media to capture the attention of prospective students and their families.

Our team participated in recruitment events locally and throughout the U.S., further answering the challenge to grow “Freshman, Friends, and Funds.”

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Campus Planning and Development 2021–2022 The temporary move to online learning did not slow the progress of on-campus building and improvement projects. A significant emphasis was placed on the College’s facilities and infrastructure, and how they could serve students and the community better once everyone returned.

These initiatives included: Campus Security o Addition of side perimeter fencing o Installation of operational gates at the front entrance o Installation of a security guard station o Installation and upgrades of exterior lighting o Installation and upgrade of exterior and interior security cameras ADA Compliance o Library elevator addition o Construction of wheelchair ramps and railings at building entrances of Griggs Hall, Lewis-Scruggs Conference Center, and The Flame Café Information Technology and Infrastructure o Trenching of fiber pathways across campus o Installation of Cat6 fiber o Re-wiring of Wireless Action Protocol throughout Griggs Hall and the Flakes Administration Building o Campus-wide LED lighting o New computers for the McClure Library computer lab Renovations o Replacement of HVAC units in campus apartments and the Lewis-Scruggs Conference Center o New flooring in learning and study areas o The Flame Café o Susie McClure Library

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Susie McClure Library Renovations The American Baptist College library was built in 1953 and was renamed in recent years to honor Dr. Susie McClure, a former ABC Board of Trustees member who was widely known for her work in the Baptist church in Nashville and beyond.

The McClure Library extension project took place throughout 2021 and 2022. The effort made the library more accessible, and included an elevator addition, new restrooms, improved lighting, and upgrades to the HVAC system.

• 2021 • 2021 • 2021 • 2021 • 2021 • 2021 • 2021 • 14

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• 2022 • 2022 • 2022 • 2022 • 2022 • 2022 • 2022 • The American Baptist College President’s Report, 2021–2022

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Approaching 10 Years of Title III Funding For almost a decade, Title III funding has positively impacted American Baptist College and continued to strengthen our ability to live out our mission of educating and graduating students. Title III funds ensure we maintain 21st century practices and remain competitive with other higher education institutions.

Since 2013, ABC has received more than $10 million in funding, which has been used to create and sustain programs, projects, resources, and services that increase academic quality and decrease transactional distance for students, staff, and faculty.

Title III Accomplishments in 2021 and 2022 include: o Renovations to the Susie McClure Library, which increased equitable accessibility in academic and instructional spaces. o A student writing lab and a first-year experience program. o Optimized utilization of institutional data management systems, and the creation of the Data Strategic Services Team. o Identification and cultivation of nine private, non-federal contributions to establish endowed scholarship funds for Title III match.

President Forrest Harris takes a moment to chat with students DaWayne Evans and Charlene Harrison.

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Leading by Example One of the many ways American Baptist College demonstrated its return to a “new normal” was with the election of Student Government Association officers in Spring 2022. For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, students elected a group of their peers to represent them as campus leaders.

Harmonie Hall SGA President

Mondale Smiley SGA Vice President

Felicia Fregene SGA Secretary

Toward Re-accreditation

Since 1971, American Baptist College has been accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, a network of more than 150 institutions of higher education across the U.S. and Canada.

In anticipation of the re-accreditation process in 2023, the College began extensive efforts in 2022 to ensure that its mission and programs continue to align with the goals of ABHE. Faculty and staff examined all areas of college operation and collaborated to show that we share ABHE’s vision of “Flourishing Institutions; Missional Graduates.”

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S.E.A.L. in Action: Making a Stand for Justice Societal issues have long been an ingrained part of the American Baptist College curriculum. That proud tradition continues with the infusion of S.E.A.L. (Social Justice, Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership) principles into every aspect of student coursework.

The spotlight shone brightly on ABC and S.E.A.L. throughout 2021 as members of the ABC community joined in the cause to spare the life Pervis Payne, a Memphis man convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1987 who has long maintained his innocence. In January 2022, Payne was re-sentenced to two concurrent life sentences with the possibility of parole once he has served 39 years. (He had already served 34 years at the time.) The revised sentence was based on prosecutorial misconduct in the original trial, as well as a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that individuals with intellectual disabilities are ineligible for the death penalty. ABC faculty, staff, and students joined with other supporters to rally in downtown Nashville each week in the months leading up to the new sentencing.

ABOVE: Dean of Chapel & Spiritual Formation William Green (front) is joined by others supporters of Pervis Payne.

LEFT: ABC alumnus Rev. Davie Tucker, Director of S.E.A.L. Initiatives Vahisha Hasan, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Febbie Dickerson.

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ABC Graduates “Light the Flame That Lasts Forever” “We love thee, Alma Mater, the school we cherish so.

The world will read thy data, wherever we may go.”

American Baptist College Alma Mater Opening Lines Written by C.O. Inge

“We take seriously what education means to prepare leaders for Christian service and social justice in the world.”

~ President Forrest Harris

Throughout the tumult and change of the past few years, one thing that has remained is American Baptist College’s commitment to educating leaders and sending them forth to impact their communities and the world.

The Class of 2020 celebrated their graduation ceremony virtually in the very first months of the pandemic, but joined with the Class of 2021 to be recognized during a traditional, in-person ceremony the following year.

In 2022, the College also saw the return of its in-person baccalaureate service, which had been on hiatus since 2019 due to COVID-19.

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ABC Leadership—Board of Trustees 2022 Mr. Dennie Marshall, Chair Regions Mortgage Nashville, Tennessee

Rev. Dr. Darrell Drumwright, Senior Pastor The Temple Church Nashville, Tennessee

Mr. James A. Crumlin, Jr., Vice Chair Attorney Bone McAllester Norton, PLLC Nashville, Tennessee

Rev. Dr. Johnny H. Flakes III, Pastor Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church Columbus, Georgia Mr. Don Hardin President & Chief Executive Officer The Don Hardin Group Nashville, Tennessee

Rev. E. L. Branch, Pastor Third New Hope Baptist Church Detroit, Michigan Mrs. Dorothy Berry Retired Commissioner Human Resources, State of Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee

Rev. Dr. Derrick L. Jackson Director, Sunday School Publishing Board Nashville, Tennessee Pastor, First Baptist Church Gallatin, Tennessee

Ms. Donnetta S. Butler Financial Consultant Gallatin, Tennessee Mrs. Gail Carr Williams Former Associate Director, Vanderbilt University Government and Community Relations Nashville, Tennessee

Mr. Bill King The Robin and Bill King Foundation Nashville, Tennessee Bishop Lawrence Kirby, Pastor St. Paul Baptist Church Racine, Wisconsin

Dr. Iva Carruthers CEO, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Chicago, Illinois

Mrs. Rosetta Miller-Perry Publisher, The Tennessee Tribune Nashville, Tennessee

Rev. Dr. Tellis J. Chapman, Pastor Galilee Baptist Church Detroit, Michigan

Rev. Breonus Mitchell, President National Alumni Association Pastor, Mt. Gilead Baptist Church Nashville, Tennessee

Rev. Dr. Christopher B. Davis, Pastor St. Paul Baptist Church President, Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, Inc. Memphis, Tennessee Rev. Diane Ford Dessables Senior National Church Relations Associate Silver Springs, Maryland

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Ms. Linda Rose, Esq. Rose Immigration Law Firm Nashville, Tennessee Rev. Dr. Julius R. Scruggs Pastor Emeritus First Missionary Baptist Church Huntsville, Alabama

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ABC Leadership—Senior Management Scholarships & Gifts Presidential Scholarship President & Mrs. Forrest E. Harris and Friends Philanthropic 40 Scholarship Dr. LaShante Walker and Friends Forrest E. Harris, Sr., D.Min. President

Richard Jackson, J.D. Executive Vice President

Marshon P. King Social Justice Education Scholarship Fund Dr. James Hildreth and Mrs. Phyllis D.K. Hildreth Belmont Scholarship Belmont University David and Pam Kidd Endowed Scholarship The Brock and Corrine Kidd Family Foundation Albert and Dorothy Berry Endowed Scholarship Mrs. Dorothy Berry and Dr. Henry A. Moses Marvin Neal Memorial Gift

Febbie Dickerson, Ph.D. Vice President of Academic Affairs

Phyllis Qualls, Ed.D. Vice Preasident of Institutional Advancement, Communications, and Marketing

Vision 100 Scholarship Champions of Social Justice Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Friends of the McClure Library Student Relief Fund ON THE ROAD TO 100 CAMPAIGN Foundations The Lily Foundation The Memorial Foundation The Maddox Foundation

Phyllis D. K. Hildreth, J.D. Vice President of Strategic Services/ Chief of Staff

The Meadows Foundation Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc./HBCU for Life

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Giving … On the Road to 100 The time is near for American Baptist College to celebrate its centennial year.

The College has continued to grow and thrive since opening its doors to the first 30 students in October 1924. Two distinct organizations, the all-Black National Baptist Convention, USA and the all-White Southern Baptist Convention, came together for the good of all through the creation of what was then called the American Baptist Theological Seminary. Its purpose was to provide religious training for Black preachers, and the first building, Griggs Hall, served as a space for students to live and experience learning as they developed into scholars in theology.

President Forrest Harris (center) with supporters Brock and Corrine Kidd

Throughout the years, students have been molded and guided to reach their greatest potential. During the Non-Violent Movement of the Civil Rights Era of the late-1950s through the 1960s, American Baptist College students fought for equality as part of sit-ins at the downtown Nashville Woolworth and Kresge stores, as Freedom Riders for integrated bus travel in the U.S., and as activists championing voting rights across the South.

The late Congressman John Lewis and Rev. C. T. Fourth Capital Bank CEO Brian Heinrichs (second from Vivian—both ABC alumni and Presidential Med- right) with President Forrest Harris, Vice President of Instial of Freedom recipients—were just two of the tutional Advancement, Communications, and Marketing people who helped lead those causes while stu- Phyllis Qualls, and Executive Vice President Richard Jackson dents at American Baptist. Others included Rev. Bernard Lafayette, Rev. James Bevel, Rev. Julius Scruggs, and so many more. The legacies of all these giants live on in our hearts and inspire our continuing pursuit of equal rights for all. Beyond these legendary figures, the College has produced leaders in all walks of life, including faith-based and ministry, non-profit, education, finance, law, and media.

In 2013, the United States Department of Education granted the institution Historically Black College/ University (HBCU) status, which paved the way for government grants that have totaled more than $10 million during the last 10 years. Additional funds have been received from foundations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

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The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority presented ABC with $15,000 at the 2022 commencement ceremony. Pictured left to right: Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Communications, and Marketing Phyllis Qualls; MNAA Vice President of Procurement and Business Diversity Davita Taylor; Board Chair Dennie Marshall; MNAA Assistant Vice President of Corporate Communications Stacey Nickens; and President Forrest Harris.

American Baptist College, affectionately referred to the “Holy Hill,” continues to attract students who want a faith-based education. Under the leadership of Dr. Forrest Harris, who has served as president since 1999 and is currently the fourth-longest tenured HBCU president in the U.S., that educational foundation is blended with a social justice perspective that we call S.E.A.L (Social Justice, Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership).

There are many reasons to celebrate American Baptist College as we continue our journey On the Road to 100. The history of American Baptist College is stellar and we ask you to give abundantly to the College to help us better serve our current students, as well as attract new students. If you are inspired by our legacy and encouraged by what the future holds, please give $100 in honor of the centennial year, or consider giving more to establish a scholarship or create an endowed scholarship. Your support will be appreciated at any level as it will help us achieve our goal of producing scholars for greatness.

Together, we will ensure the flame that ignites the spirit of American Baptist College students, alumni, faculty, and staff truly does last forever.

If you would like to make a gift to the “On the Road to 100” campaign or learn about other giving options, visit www.abcnash.edu/give.

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2021 Donors

Cedric LesAndre Aaron Makola & Ahkinyala Abdullah Alfred Street Baptist Church Rev. Cora Alston Arkansas Baptist Foundation Sandra Barnes Ekpedeme Bassey Diane Bates Smith Beech Creek Missionary Baptist Church Brooke Bell Berean District Womens’ Missionary Union Boulé Foundation Jasper B. Brewster Patricia H. Brock Joe Albert Bush Don Darius Butler Donnetta Butler Constance Caldwell L. Webb Campbell II Rev. Ella Clay Crystal Cockrill Contempora, Inc. Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ Fred & Mary Crouther James Crumlin Gloster B. & Yvonne D. Current Angela Current-Felder James Curtis Jr. Winston G. Davidson Frank C. Davis Mark Davis Raynard Dean Diane Ford Dessables Rev. Febbie Dickerson Diversified Trust Company Doris Dobbins Dr. Karen Brown Dunlap

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E. L. Branch Ministries East Alabama Mount Calvary Scholarship Fund East Mount Zion Baptist Church Clara C. Elam Faith United Baptist Church Dr. Evelyn P. & Ms. Adrienne L. Fancher Paula M. Farmer Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church First Baptist Church, Gallatin First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill First Institutional Baptist Church First Missionary Baptist Church First Street Baptist Church Chelton C. Flanagan Jane Fort Fourth Capital Bank William Freeman Chester Godwin James, Jr. & Gracie R. Porter Mildred Green Rev. William Varnell Green Ethelyn Harris Jordan Dr. Forrest E. Harris Shirley Harris Vahisha Hasan Brenda Haywood Ash-Lee Henderson Dr. James E. Hildreth Dr. Phyllis Hildreth Robert Hoggard Holy Trinity Baptist Church Marie Hopkins Sandra Gayle Horton Hoskins & Company Mr. & Mrs. Richard E. Jackson Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church

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2021 Donors

Latrisha S. Jemison Jocelyn Johnson Roosevelt Keys III David Kidd Pam Kidd Jennifer Kimball E. W. Kimbrough William B. King Frederick Knuckles Adric Lane Les Gemmes Inc., Nashville Chapter Dennie Marshall James M. Mason, Jr. Jesse McLevain & Joann Brown Rev. Demetria McCroskey Vonda McDaniel Cassidy McFadden Belita McMurray-Fite Rosetta Miller-Perry Rev. Breonus Mitchell Gene B Moore Jr. Dr. Henry A. Moses Mount Canaan Baptist Church Mt. Calvary Baptist Church Mt. Olivet Baptist Church Nashville Chapter, The Links, Inc. Pamela Norwood-Todd Mr. & Mrs. Vernell and Patricia E. Qualls Rufus Phillips Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church Dr. Phyllis Qualls Harry Reeves Jr. Rose Immigration Law Firm, PLC Dr. Ajanta Roy Shatila Sago Saint James Missionary Baptist Church

Bob Schwartzman Julius Richard Scruggs Mondale Smiley Southern Baptist Foundation Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Memphis, Inc. St. Luke Baptist Church Bobby Jean Stepheny-Gort Strada Education Network Dr. & Mrs. Paul Stumb Sandra Summers Tennessee Baptist Foundation The Ivy Center Foundation, Inc. The James R. Meadows, Jr. Foundation The Links, Inc., Central Area Conference Rev. James Thomas Lolita Toney Gloria A. Towner Pastor Andre R. Trice Rev. Davie Tucker, Jr. Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Inc. Ayanna Watkins Lucy Webb Brian Webster Wendell F. Wentz Nicole White Ridley Wills II Violet Winstead Angelica J. Woods Shirley H. Wright Hon. Brenda P. Wynn

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2022 Donors

Cedric LesAndre Aaron

HCA Implementation Team

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. HBCU Fund

Fugitive Foundation

Alfred Street Baptist Church

Galen Health Institutes, Inc.

Arkansas Baptist Foundation

Lourdes Garrido

Beech Creek Missionary Baptist Church

General W. M. Lee Davidson Chapter, DAR

Brooke Bell

Chester Godwin

Berean District Womens’ Missionary Union

Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist Church

Dorothy Berry

Mildred Green

Bethany Baptist Church

Rev. William Varnell Green

Bethesda Baptist Church

Dennis M. Hannah

Janice Brewington

Don Hardin

Beth Brill

Dr. Forrest E. Harris

Jeremy Brooks

HCA Implementation Team

Donnetta Butler

H. Beecher Hicks III

L. Webb Campbell II

Dr. Phyllis Hildreth

Sam & Dot Coulter

MaryAnn Hodge

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Sandra Gayle Horton

Fred & Mary Crouther

Corey Jackson

D & T Real Estate Investments, LLC

Derrick L. Jackson

David Dault

Mr. & Mrs. Richard E. Jackson

Diane Ford Dessables

Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. Karen Brown Dunlap

Latrisha S. Jemison

E.L. Branch Minitries

Roosevelt Keys III

Dr. Evelyn P. & Ms. Adrienne L. Fancher

David Kidd

Clara C. Elam

William B. King

Estate of Robena G. Flakes

Laura Kinnard

First Baptist Church Capitol Hill

Debye Leahy

First Institutional Baptist Church

Ashley McClellan

First Missionary Baptist Church

Margie C. McCutcheon

First Street Baptist Church

Kathryn Mershon

Ms. Jane Fort

Mount Canaan Baptist Church

John M Franck II

Mount Sinai Primitive Baptist Church

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2022 Donors

Mt. Olivet Baptist Church

TRNA Nashville, LLC

Mt. Zion Baptist Church - Tennessee

Rev. Davie Tucker, Jr.

Nashville Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Dr. LaShante Walker

Nashville Chapter, The Links, Inc.

Kathi Whalen

Nashville International Airport (BNA) Nashville Peacemakers Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Tim Ozgener Nicholas Paradiso Pi Zeta Chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church Providence Baptist Church

Wendell F. Wentz Clara A. Williams Kevin W. & Arlene Williams Gail Williams Lynn Winans Terri Woodmore Hon. Brenda P. Wynn Derek Young

Dr. Phyllis Qualls Harry Reeves Jr. Saint James Missionary Baptist Church Bob Schwartzman Southern Baptist Foundation Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church at Memphis, Inc. John Steele Strada Education Network Dr. & Mrs. Paul Stumb Tabernacle Community Baptist Church Tennessee Baptist Foundation The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee The James R. Meadows, Jr. Foundation The Tabernacle of Glory Church Thurgood Marshall College Fund Tennessee Baptist Missionary Educational Convention, Inc. Pastor Andre R. Trice

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Remembering Alumnus John Lewis The death of ABC alumnus Rep. John Lewis in July 2020 had an impacted far beyond the Holy Hill; it impacted Nashville, Tennessee, the United States, and the world. Because of pandemic safety concerns, many large tributes to his memory were delayed; however, in the following two years, we were proud to be a part of a number of events celebrating Lewis’s remarkable life.

The 2021 John Lewis celebration at First Baptist Church Capitol Hill included a replica of one of the Greyhound buses used in the famed Freedom Rides of the 1960s.

President Forrest Harris (second from left) and keynote speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson (third from right) with several of Nashville’s civil rights icons: (left to right) Ann Haynes, Novella Page, Gloria McKissack, Frankie Henry, and Troy Merritt.

First Baptist Church Capitol Hill hosted the 2021 citywide memorial service.

A state historical marker was unveiled to honor Rep. Lewis for his role in Nashville’s civil rights activities.

A portion of Fifth Avenue North in downtown Nashville, including the site of the Woolworth’s restaurant where the sit-ins occurred, was renamed Rep. John Lewis Way in 2021.

President Forrest Harris was among the dignitaries on hand for the christening of the U.S. Navy’s USNS John Lewis in 2021.

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The American Baptist College President’s Report, 2021–2022

Festive signage welcomed participants to the 2022 John Lewis celebration march.

Marchers assembled at the Tennessee State Museum to kick off the 2022 commemorative march.

The route took marchers along John Lewis Way past the historic site of the Woolworth’s department store where the 1960s sit-ins took place.

Dr. Phyllis Qualls accepted a $1,500 check on behalf of ABC from the John Lewis Commemorative Committee co-chairs, State Sen. Brenda Gilmore and Metro Councilmember Zulfat Suarah.

Dignitaries participating in the 2022 march included State Rep. John Ray Clemmons, Troy Merritt, President Forrest Harris, Veronica Freeman, and Metro Assessor of Property Vivian Wilhoite.

Rev. Dr. Kelly Miller Smith Jr. of First Baptist Church Capitol Hill welcomes guests to a special celebration following the march.

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