FOUNDERS’
Legacy in Motion: Illuminating 144 Years of Excellence and Resilience
Friday, the Fourteenth of March
Two Thousand and Twenty-Five Twelve Noon
MORRIS
THEN. NOW. FOREVER.
Morris Brown College, a historically Black college in Atlanta, Georgia, has a legacy deeply rooted in resilience, perseverance, and dedication to education. Established in 1881 by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Morris Brown was founded to provide educational opportunities for African Americans at a time when such access was extremely limited. The college was built on the principles of self-determination, aiming to empower students through knowledge, faith, and community service.
In its early years, Morris Brown College flourished, attracting students from across the country and producing graduates who became influential leaders in business, education, politics, and the arts. The institution quickly became a beacon of hope for Black excellence, standing as one of the few HBCUs founded by Black people for Black students without external control or influence. Its mission was clear: to uplift African Americans through education and opportunity.
The 20th century saw Morris Brown’s rise as a premier institution of higher learning The college expanded its academic programs, strengthened its athletic presence, and became a key part of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) consortium This partnership with other HBCUs such as Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College enriched the student experience, fostering collaboration and a shared sense of purpose
Morris Brown College was also known for its vibrant student life The Marching Wolverines band, Greek-letter organizations, student leadership initiatives, and the Royal Court all contributed to a thriving campus culture Alumni of the college often recall the strong sense of camaraderie and school pride that defined their time at Morris Brown The college was not just an educational institution; it was a community, a family, and a training ground for future changemakers
However, the early 2000s brought significant challenges to the institution In 2002, Morris Brown lost its accreditation due to financial difficulties, a devastating blow that led to declining enrollment, funding struggles, and the near closure of the college Many students were forced to transfer to other schools, and the once-bustling campus fell silent It was a dark period for the institution, with some doubting whether Morris Brown would ever recover
Despite these challenges, Morris Brown College refused to be erased from history With the unwavering support of alumni, faculty, the AME Church, and the community, efforts to restore the institution began Fundraising initiatives, administrative restructuring, and renewed commitment to fiscal responsibility became the foundation for the college’s comeback
Over the years, Morris Brown steadily worked toward reclaiming its legacy The resilience of its leadership, particularly under President Dr. Kevin James, played a critical role in guiding the institution through its restoration process. In 2022, Morris Brown College achieved a historic milestone it regained its accreditation through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). This achievement signaled the beginning of a new era, allowing the college to receive federal funding, offer financial aid, and attract a new generation of students
Today, Morris Brown College stands as a testament to perseverance and faith The institution has reestablished itself as a hub for academic excellence, workforce development, and innovation New programs, strategic partnerships, and a revitalized campus have infused Morris Brown with fresh energy, drawing students who are eager to be part of its historic comeback
One of the defining features of Morris Brown’s rebirth is its focus on entrepreneurship and hospitality management, fields that align with Atlanta’s booming industries The college has embraced a forward-thinking approach, ensuring that students receive hands-on training and real-world experiences that prepare them for career success.
Campus life at Morris Brown has also seen a resurgence Student organizations, athletics, and cultural events are once again shaping the vibrant experience that alumni fondly remember The return of the Royal Court, student government, and community service initiatives have reinforced the institution’s commitment to leadership and civic engagement
Morris Brown College’s journey from hardship to renewal is an inspiring story of faith, resilience, and dedication It proves that an institution’s legacy is not just built on its past but on its ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity The college continues to uphold the values upon which it was founded, ensuring that future generations of students have access to the education and opportunities they deserve
As Morris Brown College moves forward, it does so with a renewed sense of purpose The institution honors its past while embracing the future, demonstrating that no setback is too great to overcome. The story of Morris Brown College is far from over it is a living testament to the power of persistence, education, and faith
MS. MAYA DUKES
FOUNDERS’ DAY SPEAKER
Maya is an accomplished leader who has been a cornerstone of the creative strategies of numerous multibillion-dollar brands, including Macy’s, The Home Depot, and, most recently, Delta Air Lines.
With a sharp focus on empathic storytelling and an eye for building diverse, industry-leading teams, Maya led the expansion of Delta's in-house agency WindowSeat, midpandemic, transforming a 15-person creative services group into a thriving, 60+ person in-house agency, as Delta's first Creative Director.
Believing that diverse talent is only hard to find when your eyes are closed, she recruited top creative leadership and talent from all walks of life and industries to develop work that reflects the world around us
Window Seat’s value has become visible to Delta’s 100,000 employees and 200 million passengers in more than 60 countries and is now indispensable in our mission to better connect the world Maya built a dedicated Employee Communications creative pillar and has guided the creative vision of new brand partnership campaigns, including Olympics & Team USA, Starbucks, Spotify, Peloton, and more, increasing the team’s YoY output by 300%.
In 2024, Maya's scope expanded to include Delta's Global Brand Strategy, Creative, and Social Media teams – driving greater brand consistency and impact
Maya also teaches an undergraduate marketing course centered around creative disruption at Georgia State University In addition, she is a BECA Playbook Future Leader, a KPMG Future Leaders Mentor to first-year college students, is an alum of Giving Tuesday’s Starling Collective, and served as a board member for ARTportunity Knocks – a nonprofit organization focused on empowering African American youth in the arts.
FOUNDERS DAYCONVOCATION PROGRAM
Presiding: Cameron Wilson, ’25 Trustee and President, Student Government Association
Processional “The Victor’s Return” by W.J. Agate ........................................... MBC Music Department
Reverend Alonzo Taylor, MDiv, Director of the College Choir
Invocation ..................................................................................................
Reverend John Foster, Ph.D. Senior Pastor, Big Bethel AME Church
Presidential Tribute of Excellence ......................................................................... Kevin E. James, Ed.D. Nineteenth President, Morris Brown College
Opening Hymn “I Would Be True” #411 AMEC African Methodist Episcopal Church
Greetings Jethro Joseph, ’69 President, Morris Brown College Board National Alumni Association
Andre Williams, ’01 President, Morris Brown College Foundation
Cameron Wilson, ’25 Trustee and SGA President
Greetings from Academic Affairs ................................................................... Toneyce Randolph, Ed.D. Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Introduction of Royal Court ............................................. Krystal McCalla and Christopher Cavanaugh 90th Miss Morris Brown College ‘24-’25, 6th Mister Morris Brown College ‘24-’25
Musical Selection "Sing Out My Soul” by Mark Hayes MBC College Choir
Reverend Alonzo Taylor, MDiv, Director of the College Choir
Introduction of Speaker Cameron Wilson, ’25 Trustee and SGA President
Convocation Address
Convocation Appeal
Maya Dukes Managing Director of Global Brand Strategy, Creative & Social Media, Delta Airlines
Melissa Waller Executive Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Chief Fundraising Officer
Closing Remarks ...................................................................................................
Kevin E. James, Ed.D. Nineteenth President, Morris Brown College
The Alma Mater ................................................................................................ MBC Music Department
Reverend Alonzo Taylor, MDiv, Director of the College Choir
Benediction .....................................................................
Reverend Vivian El-Amin Johnson, D.Min, ’82 Morris Brown College Alumna
Recessional “O God, Our Help In Ages Past” by William Croft.............................................. MBC Band
Directed by Adrian J Ford, Ed D , ’14
I Would Be True
AfricanMethodistEpiscopalChurchHymnal#411 1Iwouldbetrue,fortherearethosewhotrustme; Iwouldbepure,fortherearethosewhocare; Iwouldbestrong,forthereismuchtosuffer; Iwouldbebrave,forthereismuchtodare, Iwouldbebrave,forthereismuchtodare.
2Iwouldbefriendofall,thefoe,thefriendless; Iwouldbegiving,andforgetthegift; Iwouldbehumble,forIknowmyweakness; Iwouldlookup,andlaughandloveandlift, Iwouldlookup,andlaughandloveandlift.
Morris Brown College Alma Mater
WrittenBy:MiltonRandolph|MusicBy:WaymonHandcock AlmaMater,PrideofEarth. Gav’sttomeanotherbirth. Havenforallhungrysouls, Feedingthemshallbeourgoal. Everletthybannerbe Emblemofthebraveandfree, Awelcometruetoeveryone, Untilthyworkisdone. Hailtothee,Makerofmen, Honortotheeonceagain. Sacredtruthsonfirmestground, Hailtothee,dearMorrisBrown. Tothypreceptspraiseaccord, Tothemmaywee’erbebound AndbowandthankthegraciousLord ForDearOldMorrisBrown.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Right Reverend, Bishop Michael Mitchell, Chairman, Presiding Prelate 6th District, African Methodist Episcopal Church
Mr. David L. Kemp ’73 Vice Chair, President, Bankers Management, Inc.
Mr Terry Comer ’03 MBA Secretary, Founder & CEO, Impact Data
Dr. Kevin James Ex-Officio, President, Morris Brown College
Mr Mohamed Balla CFO, City of Atlanta
Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd Executive Search Consultant
Mr Pedro A Bryant ’83 President & CEO - Unity National Bank
Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. Education Consultant/Youth Advocate
Dr Lisa Herring President, Propel Center
Mr. Darryl Hicks ’85 Financial Advisor
Mr Cameron Wilson ‘25 Ex-Officio SGA President, Morris Brown College
Mr. Gregory Jackson ’80 President/CEO, Jackson Asset Management
1885-1886
1886-1887
1887-1888 1888-1892
1892-1896
1896-1904 1904-1908
1908-1911
1911-1920
1920-1928
1928-1950
1950-1951
1951-1958 1958-1965
Mr Jethro Joseph ’69 President, National Alumni Association Ret. Executive, The Chrysler Corporation
Dr. Joy Jackson-Guilford ’90 Dir , Strategic Pipeline Partnership, AbbVie
Mrs. Sandra H. Mason ’79 2nd Alumni Rep./Retired Asst. Director of Student Support Services, Dekalb County Schools
Mr Scott Morris ’95 Owner/Principal Engineer, Thalpein Engineering
Dr. Marvin Brown MBC Faculty Representative
Mr Stephen P Smith Esq, Environmental Attorney
Ms. Lisa Tolliver Mgr , Community Relations, Georgia Power
PRINCIPALS
Mary McCree, First Principal
Alice D Carey, Second Principal
E.W. Lee, Third Principal
St. George Richardson, Fourth Principal
PRESIDENTS OF THE INSTITUTION
A St George Richardson
James M. Henderson
J.S. Flipper
E.W. Lee
W A Fountain Sr
John H Lewis
William A. Fountain, Jr.
Edward C. Mitchell
John H. Lewis
Frank Cunningham
1965-1973 1973-1984 1984-1992 1993-1997 1998-2002 2002-2003 2004-2006
2006-2018
2019-
John A. Middleton
Robert Threatt
Calvert H. Smith
Samuel D. Jolley, Jr.
Delores E. Cross
Charles E Taylor
Samuel D Jolley, Jr
Stanley J. Pritchett, Sr.
Kevin E. James
MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE FOUNDATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andre Williams, Chair, ’01
Miya Gray, Vice Chair
Twanda Turner-Hawkins, Secretary
Sharon F. M. Bridges, Esq., ’87, Parliamentarian
Elizabeth “Liz” Broadway Brown, Esq., General Counsel
Dr. Kevin E. James, 19th President, Morris Brown College
Roderick Glass
Tene Traylor
Dr LaGarrett J King
Tanya L. Boyle, Esq.
Sedric Ross
Justin Samuels
Mark Moore, Jr.
Greg Crane
Wayne Martin
Sulean Carruthers
Shawn Hazel
Adam Phyall
Jeffery Batiste
PROFESSOR EMERITI
(HONORBESTOWEDONMAY15,2014)
01. Ms. Vera L. Benton, Associate Professor Emerita (Posthumously)
02. Dr. Joe B. Brown, Associate Professor Emeritus
03. Mr. Oscar Burnett, Associate Professor Emeritus (Posthumously)
04 Ms Vista Hughley Bryant, Assistant Professor Emerita
05 Dr Joan Ealey-Sawyer, Associate Professor Emerita
06 Dr Leroy Frazier, Associate Professor Emeritus
07 Dr Ruth Riley Glover, College Relations Emerita
08. Dr. Ruth Hall Hodges, Professor Emerita (Posthumously)
09. Ms. Victoria W. Jenkins, Associate Professor and Librarian Emerita
10. Mr. Cleopas Johnson, Assistant Professor and Director of Bands Emeritus (Posthumously)
11. Dr. Marvin R. King, Sr., Director of TRIO Programs Emeritus (Deceased)
12. Mrs. Merlissie R. Middleton, Professor Emerita (Posthumously)
13. Dr. Charles W. Moore, Vice President for Fiscal Affairs Emeritus
14. Dr. Beatriz Moralis Faba, Associate Professor Emerita
15. Dr. Tshilemalema L. Mukenge, Professor Emeritus
16 Dr Willie F Payne, Professor Emeritus (Deceased)
17 Dr James H Penn, Professor Emeritus (Posthumously)
18 Dr Henry Porter, Assistant Professor Emeritus
19 Dr Lee A Ransaw, Professor Emeritus
20. Attorney William H. Sheppard, Associate Professor Emeritus
21. Dr. Jeanne M. Stahl, Professor and Director of Research Training Emerita
22. Dr. Nasrolah Farokhi, Professor Emeritus
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks to all of our sponsors for their generous support!
SPECIAL THANKS TO DR JAMAL H BRYANT AND NEW BIRTH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
MR. DEVAN CARTER & NEW BIRTH MBC MEDIA TEAM
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
THE DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
THE OFFICE OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT & STUDENT AFFAIRS
THE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
FOUNDERS’ DAY COMMITTEE
Todd Blackburn’17, ‘90, Donovan McKelvey, De’sia Daley: Co-Chairs
Dr. Toneyce Randolph
Dr James Allen
Mrs. Stephanie Gunby
Ms. Teresa Crowe
Ms Shermanetta Carter, ’94
Mr. Calvin Pender
Mr Michael Fair
Mr. William West, ’25
Ms. Yvette Love
Ms Ivy Word
Mr. Jerome Rowland, ’97
Ms Michelle Rogers
Ms. Sandra Patman, ’07
Ms. Devonne McKenzie
Ms Melissa Waller
MACE BEARER
Dr Yaw Adoo
Mr. Brian Owens
Mrs Erica Austin
Mr. Christian Broussard
Ms. Shandra Hill Smith
Ms Joycelyn Hill
