Unionite Spring 2026

SPRING 2026

Virginia Union University

UNIONITE A Legacy in Focus Virginia Union University students and faculty pose in front of Pickford Hall in 1913, offering a glimpse into the institution's rich history and enduring commitment to education.

About Virginia Union University Virginia Union University (VUU) stands as the oldest historically Black university in Virginia and one of the most storied HBCUs in the nation. Founded in 1865 — just months after the Civil War ended — on the very ground where enslaved people were once confined and sold, VUU represents one of history's most profound acts of transformation: turning a place of suffering into a place of enlightenment.

The university's founding is inseparable from the story of Mary Lumpkin, an enslaved woman who, upon inheriting the Richmond slave jail known as the Devil's Half Acre, chose to lease the property to Reverend Nathaniel Colver for the establishment of the Richmond Theological School for Freedmen. That seed grew into what is now Virginia Union University — and the name of the drive that runs through campus, Mary Lumpkin Drive, honors her legacy every day.

For more than 161 years, VUU has educated, empowered, and deployed generations of changemakers, faith leaders, scholars, athletes, and public servants. Its alumni have served as mayors, senators, educators, artists, and entrepreneurs. Its campus in Richmond, Virginia, is a living monument to resilience, faith, and the audacity to believe that education is liberation.

"Established in 1865, during a time when access to education for African Americans was limited and often denied, our founders created a place where knowledge, leadership, and opportunity could flourish."

Today, VUU continues to evolve. Following a landmark reaccreditation and a rise in national rankings, the university has entered a new era of growth under President and CEO Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, whose bold vision — anchored in the $250 million 'Delivering on the Promise' capital campaign — is expanding opportunity, strengthening academic programs, and investing in the future of every student who walks through its doors.

The Spring 2026 Unionite is a celebration of that promise in action — students leading, alumni achieving, coaches and teams making history, and a campus community that never stops reaching higher.

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Panther Community,

Hakim J. Lucas Dr. Hakim J. Lucas President & CEO

Spring 2026 arrived not as an ordinary season but as a milestone. It is the first semester following our reaccreditation — a rigorous validation of our academic excellence, institutional integrity, and unwavering commitment to the students who choose Virginia Union University. Our rise in national rankings is not a number. It is a declaration. It is evidence that when a community believes, when it invests, when it sacrifices and presses forward together, the results speak for themselves.

At Virginia Union University, we have always understood something profound: that education is not merely a transaction. It is a covenant. It is a promise made between an institution and its students — a pledge that we will equip you not just with knowledge, but with the tools, the confidence, and the network to go out into the world and change it. That promise is what this magazine celebrates.

In these pages, you will meet Bria Wilson and Keziah James — two young women who didn't just participate in the Ambassadors of Sound, they led them. In doing so, they became the first female drum majors in Virginia Union University's history. Their courage reflects the courage of every Panther who has ever pushed past a closed door to forge a path that didn't exist before.

You will read about the 161st Founders Day, where we gathered not simply to remember our past but to recommit to our future. You will learn, or perhaps remember, the extraordinary story of Mary Lumpkin — the woman whose unlikely decision transformed a slave jail into a school of freedom, and whose legacy now bears her name on a drive through this very campus.

You will meet Curtis Allen — a Panther, a record-breaker, and now, the first HBCU player in history to win the Harlon Hill Trophy, Division II football's most prestigious individual honor. Curtis is proof that excellence has no ceiling when it is paired with preparation, discipline, and faith.

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And you will encounter our track and field program, which in 2026 claimed the indoor CIAA conference championship — the program's first since 1934 — along with outstanding student-scholars, published faculty, and alumni whose influence now reaches across industries, platforms, and continents.

"We are not simply preserving a legacy. We are building one — right now, in real time."

The $250 million 'Delivering on the Promise' campaign has crossed the 80 percent threshold, with $201 million raised toward a goal that will transform this university for generations. That campaign is not about buildings. It is about the student who can now afford to come here. It is about the lab that will now be built, the scholarship that will now be awarded, the doors that will now be opened.

To our students: you are the reason for all of it. We believe in you not because it is our job, but because you have given us every reason to. To our alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and community partners: your support is what makes this possible. Virginia Union is, and has always been, a collective act of faith.

Keep going. Keep growing. Keep delivering on the promise.

With Panther Pride.

Hakim J. Lucas Dr. Hakim J. Lucas President & CEO

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NAA PRESIDENT’S LETTER

LETTER FROM THE NAA PRESIDENT Greetings Unionites,

Elise Green

Dr. Elise Green- Scott National Alumni Association President

As we welcome our alumni, friends, and supporters to this latest issue of the Unionite, we proudly celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the Class of 2026 and congratulate our newest graduates on their hard work, perseverance, and dedication throughout their journey at Virginia Union University.

To our alumni, thank you for continuing to remain connected to the university and for helping strengthen the legacy that generations of Panthers continue to build. We invite you to explore this issue as we reflect on moments of excellence, achievement, leadership, and impact across the university community.

To our graduates, you now enter the next chapter of your lives carrying forward more than a degree — you carry the pride, excellence, resilience, and legacy of Virginia Union University. As you step boldly into your careers, graduate studies, entrepreneurship, and service to communities around the world, know that you will always remain a part of Panther Nation.

We celebrate your success and look forward to witnessing the impact you will continue to make as leaders, changemakers, and ambassadors of excellence.

In Commitment to Panther Excellence,

Elise Green- Scott Dr. Elise Green- Scott National Alumni Association President

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Juneteenth Gospel Concert Special Guest Shirley Caesar June 20, 2026 12 Noon VUU Barco Stevens Lawn

Gospel Music Hall of Fame Honoring Kurt Carr & Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr July 26, 2026 Birmingham, AL

Homecoming 2026 Shaw University vs. Virginia Union University October 24, 2026 1:00 P.M. Hovey Field

MLK Community Leaders Celebration January 15, 2027 7:00 A.M. Marriott Richmond Downtown 6

STUDENT SUCCESS

PHOTO BY: OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

LEADING THE SOUND

VUU Welcomes Its First Female Drum Majors For generations, the Ambassadors of Sound have been the heartbeat of Virginia Union University's homecoming — the gold-and-maroon standard that signals celebration, tradition, and Black excellence. In Fall 2025, the band made history not with a new routine or a grander performance, but with two names: Bria Wilson and Keziah James.

Wilson and James became the first female drum majors in the university's history — a milestone that felt both overdue and exactly on time. Their elevation to the top position was not simply about representation. It was about redefining what leadership in the Ambassadors of Sound looks like, and what it could inspire for every woman who ever stood in the stands watching and wondering if the front of the field could ever be hers.

Keziah James, a junior majoring in political science and history, came to the band through a love of music that began in middle school, where she played the trombone.

Like many college students juggling competing passions, she drifted away from the instrument as other extracurricular commitments took precedence — but VUU brought her back. Inspired to lead in a new way, she applied to become a drum major, channeling the same drive that fuels her academic pursuits in political science.

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LEADING THE SOUND

"In our band, we're all like a big family. It feels like you've known each other your whole life," James said. "I saw what the drum majors were doing, and I started asking everybody, 'Do you think I could be a drum major?' They were like, 'Yeah, all you have to do is learn how to conduct and keep tempo.' I just put my mind to it."

Bria Wilson arrived at drum major through an entirely different route. A junior majoring in special education with a minor in social work, Wilson was originally a member of the RahRahs, VUU's cheerleading squad. Her path into the band began when her freshman-year roommate — a band member — inspired her with her dedication and work ethic. Wilson joined the band, initially playing the trumpet. From there, her natural leadership presence propelled her toward the front.

James, meanwhile, balances her campus life with the work of a hairstylist — styling clients in the mornings before arriving at afternoon band practices. It's a schedule that demands the same discipline she brings to conducting: precision, focus, and the ability to read the room.

PHOTO BY: OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

"This was the busiest week for any HBCU band. I felt like it was more special because it was our first homecoming performing as drum majors."

Homecoming at an HBCU is unlike any other event in American collegiate life. It is a reunion, a revival, and a reunion all at once — alumni who haven't set foot on campus in decades return. Students who thought they'd seen everything are reminded why they chose this school. And at the center of it all, the marching band carries the emotional weight of the entire week.

For Wilson and James, their first homecoming as drum majors carried a meaning that transcended performance. "I just hoped that we made everybody proud, that we made ourselves proud — that we left everything on that field and did what we were supposed to do," Wilson said.

They did more than that. They made history visible. In every spin of the baton, in every count-off to the band, they showed the next generation of Panther women that the front of the field belongs to them too.

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STUDENT SUCCESS

We definitely got a lot of love from the band and support because it was something new.

It helped keep us going," Wilson said. "It was definitely a community — it bred a lot of leaders."

Band director Edward Howard, who has long cultivated an inclusive and high-performing culture within the Ambassadors of Sound, was unequivocal in his support. "Homecoming was a very festive, family reunion-type of gathering, full of nostalgia, tradition, and memories," he said. He expressed full confidence that under their leadership, the band would continue protecting and preserving the culture and traditions of Virginia Union University.

"We were still here protecting and preserving the culture and traditions of this beautiful campus and this lovely university of Virginia Union," Howard said.

For band member Major Taylor — a sophomore music major, French horn mellophone player, and member of the band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi — the significance of Wilson and James's achievement resonates far beyond the university.

"Marching in a band at an HBCU was probably one of the most exclusive yet greatest things you could possibly ever do," Taylor said. "There was a lot of culture being developed within the band and our performances. There had been people who marched so we could march."

That sense of generational inheritance — the weight and privilege of carrying a legacy forward — is at the heart of what makes this milestone matter. Wilson and James didn't just lead the band. They added their names to a long line of firsts at Virginia Union University. And in doing so, they ensured that they will never be the last.

PHOTO BY: TIMELESS CREATIONZ PRODUCTIONS

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PHOTO BY: TIMELESS CREATIONZ PRODUCTIONS

STUDENT SUCCESS

FROM MISS 1865 TO MEDIA MAVEN Meet Dominique Vaultz College can prepare students for endeavors—just ask Dominique Vaultz.

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A native of Staten Island, New York, Vaultz graduated from Virginia Union University (VUU) in 2017 with a degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in broadcast journalism.

Always an innovator, Vaultz coined the term “Miss 1865,” wanting to create a unique and meaningful title for the runner-up to Miss VUU. A recurring member of the Royal Court, Vaultz also served as Miss Sophomore and Miss Junior.

“I was actually the first Miss 1865,” she said.

“I've always been a person to do so many things because once I master something, I definitely want to learn something else,” Vaultz said.

While at VUU, Vaultz served as president of the Panther PALS Mentoring Program and participated in the Dare to Go Bare initiative.

The program, designed to embrace natural beauty, encouraged students to dress in white shirts and denim pants while sitting on the chapel steps reading affirmations.

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Since graduating, Vaultz has worked with artists such as Chris Brown, Victoria Monét, Bryson Tiller, Latto, Tems, Davido, SZA, Ray Vaughn, Flo Milli, and Skillibeng. She has also appeared in television shows, including Starz’s Power.

Vaultz returned to VUU during the university’s 2024 Homecoming to host YardFest and was also awarded as a VUU 40 Under 40 in 2025.

Her time at VUU—where she was involved in numerous activities—mirrors her professional life today, balancing work as a radio host with time spent touring alongside musical artists.

“Union taught me to hustle. I do think that the HBCU experience is unique,” Vaultz said. “I don't think I would have been afforded the same opportunities at a PWI that I had at my HBCU. When I'm in the rooms I sit in every day or the events that I go to, there are only a few of us.”

“If Virginia Union taught me anything, it most definitely taught me to survive,” she added.

“I think I can survive in any atmosphere.”

ALUMNI AT HOMECOMING YARDFEST ‘24

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NEW NATIONAL INITIATIVE SEEKS TO PLACE NEVER LOST WRITTEN VUU CHAIRMAN DR. FRANKLYN RICHARDSON IN THE HANDS OF EVERY HBCU STUDENT New Book Explores Why Faith Communities Are "Never Lost"

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s more than 300,000 students attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the United States, a new national initiative is taking shape with a bold and timely goal: to place a copy of Never Lost into the hands of every HBCU student in America.

Authored by Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Never Lost examines how faith, community, and moral responsibility have sustained people through generations of challenge and change. The book reflects on how shared values are formed, carried forward, and lived out, especially during seasons marked by uncertainty and transition.

The HBCU initiative is rooted in a simple conviction: moments of formation matter.

College years are a critical season when students are shaping their understanding of identity, purpose, and responsibility. By placing Never Lost into students' hands during this formative time, the initiative seeks to provide historical grounding and a framework for thoughtful leadership before habits harden and before history feels distant or abstract.

The initiative invites individuals, families, corporations, foundations, and institutions to participate through bulk sponsorships, with each contribution directly supporting the distribution of books to HBCU campuses nationwide. Every sponsored copy represents an investment in a student's future and, by extension, in the communities those students will one day serve.

Supporters are encouraged to recognize the long-term impact of placing formative resources into the hands of emerging leaders. The vision is national in scope but deeply personal in its outcome: students equipped with perspective, purpose, and hope as they prepare to shape the future.

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

WHERE POLICY MEETS PANTHER PRIDE

VUU Students Get a Front-Row Seat at the Virginia General Assembly

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irginia Union University has always understood that the education of its students must extend beyond the classroom — into courtrooms, boardrooms, and, yes, legislative chambers. That belief animates the annual VUU Day at the Capitol, an initiative launched in 2022 that brings students face-to-face with the legislators, delegates, and senators who shape the policies that govern their lives.

This year, more than 20 VUU students made the trip to Richmond's historic General Assembly building — a place that, for many of them, had been a symbol of distance rather than access. For a full day, they were not observers. They were participants.

Learning From Panthers Who Paved the Way The experience began with welcome sessions and Q&A conversations featuring two VUU alumni who have made their mark in Virginia's legislature: Delegate Delores McQuinn and Delegate Nadarius Clark.

Clark, who made history as the youngest Black person and youngest Democrat ever elected to the Virginia House of Delegates at the age of 26, represents what is possible when a VUU education meets a commitment to public service. His presence — young, accomplished, and seated across from students who share his background — communicated something that no lecture could: that the halls of power are not closed to them.

For students who have been told, implicitly or explicitly, that certain rooms aren't for them, seeing a fellow Panther in those rooms is transformative.

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During the visit, students toured various legislative offices, shared VUU's legislative agenda, and distributed universitybranded materials — performing the essential work of institutional advocacy.

Virginia Union University was formally recognized during both the House and Senate sessions: by Delegate McQuinn in the House, and by Senator Michael Jones in the Senate.

Jones, a graduate of VUU's School of Theology, reflected on the university's significance during his floor remarks: "Virginia Union University's legacy of leadership, service, and academic excellence has not only shaped the city of Richmond, but the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. For over 160 years, VUU has stood as a beacon of opportunity."

He added that his own path in public service began at Virginia Union — a reminder that when VUU invests in its students, those students go on to shape the world in which future VUU students will live.

The Human Cost of Disconnection VUU adjunct professor Michael Feggans, who is passionate about intellectual technology (IT) and its accessibility, used the occasion to speak directly to students about representation and possibility. His message was personal: he grew up without seeing people who looked like him in the field he would eventually master. He wants his students to have a different experience.

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"We want to show you all that you can do it," Feggans said. "I didn't know anyone who looked like me who worked in IT. The experience you're getting right now — make sure you're building those connections."

A Non-Traditional Student Reflects For Rita Johnson, a non-traditional sophomore majoring in mass communications, the day at the Capitol carried a deeply personal meaning that spanned decades. "It was fabulous. I haven't been in this building since I was a page in the 1980s with the Benjamin Lambert family," she said. "I also attended Governor L. Douglas Wilder's Gubernatorial Ball here after volunteering on his campaign from the Henderson Café on VUU's campus."

Johnson's experience illustrates something important about VUU: its students are not a monolith. They are young and not-soyoung, first-generation and returning, traditional and non-traditional. And each of them, regardless of age or background, leaves this university carrying a sense of civic responsibility that was forged in classrooms, chapels, and yes — state capitals.

"The most powerful impact as a student was listening to the president speak and share our history alongside the history of the General Assembly," Johnson said.

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Virginia Union University remains committed to providing students with engaging and informative opportunities to learn firsthand from public and government officials — because the Panthers who sit in those legislative galleries today may be the ones standing at those podiums tomorrow.

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

PREPARING UNIONITES FOR PURPOSE VUU’S Top Five Majors

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irginia Union University prides itself on being an institution dedicated to creating well-rounded students in a variety of fields. The university’s top majors display the varied interests and prospective careers of students.

Dr. Vernon Ruffin, a professor in Health Science, sees the importance of representation in the field of education.

“Culturally, having somebody that looks like you and understands what's going through your mind as you're going through these situations is very valuable,” Ruffin said. In 2025, numerous videos depicting black women in pain during medical procedures went viral.

“Sometimes people aren't believed when it comes to pain, especially in our culture. So I think having representation at that level not only helps with decision making, but also care of the patient.”

Kyla Wright, a sophomore biology major from Atlanta, GA, knew she wanted to work in a lab since 9th grade, aiming to break through the stigma and lack of representation in the STEM field.

“I feel like we are very underrepresented in STEM programs and STEM opportunities.

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Wright hopes to attend grad school and become a clinical or medical laboratory scientist.

Tara Garrison is a professor of Criminal Justice who sees the importance of a hands-on approach. “We're trying to advocate for more labs, experiences, and more partnerships because we want to be able to give, especially to criminal justice students, a practical understanding of how the system functions and find a way to make change.”

Whitney Townsend, a senior studying criminal justice, sees it as a way to help the Black community. “I feel that more black people should study criminal justice because our community is the one most negatively impacted by injustices in the system.” She hopes to work in emergency preparedness upon graduation. We can advocate for our community within the system, but also educate our community about the system, with the common goal of safer communities and better outcomes for all within them.” “ It's important to have social workers who look like us on the front lines to be able to advocate for services and to be able to have a seat at the table.

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It also helps to decrease some of the systemic inequalities that we see in black communities”. Dr. Twonya Collins, Assistant Professor of Social Work .

“The things that we are teaching you in social work are not just true for the clients and communities you serve, but we're teaching you tips, tricks, and tools that are beneficial for you as an individual so that you can be more intentional in the way that you live your life.” “ There are also things you can share with your family so that you can break some of these cycles of chaos and dysfunction,” said Dr. Johnetta Guishard, chair of the social work department.

“Only two percent of us are black, and we need more representatives in that community.

I don’t know if other people will fight for us as we do; they don’t understand our struggle,” she added. “I learned a lot since attending Union. Our history is skimmed and skipped over, and you won’t learn that elsewhere. Every black person should attend an HBCU.” Tawanda Cammack wants to be a social worker due to her own journey, being homeless at one point with six children. She currently works at the Daily Planet and participates in the social work club, intending to make sure students network and connect on their social work journey. She graduated this May 2026 and hopes to join the newly accredited master’s in social work program.

Mattie Barcon, professor in entrepreneurship, believes that the major can be tied to various job and career paths in life. “We need black businesses, lots of diverse small businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy. We don’t have enough black-owned businesses, and we also need to support black businesses more.”

“Entrepreneurship is intertwined with every major. Every school has something to do with entrepreneurship because you have to sell something, no matter what you do in life.”

Noah Dabney, a business major with a minor in entrepreneurship, studies business as a way to benefit his family and future offspring. “I believe more Black people should study and own businesses to help create generational wealth. While it’s not the only path to building wealth, it is a powerful and effective tool.” Historically, many people of color have had limited access to generational wealth, so breaking that cycle can help uplift individuals, families, and communities as a whole.”

Virginia Union University prides itself on offering a diverse curriculum, along with providing enriching experiences to ensure all Panthers are well-equipped for their future.

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VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY HOLDS 2026 COMMENCEMENT, CELEBRATING 161 YEARS OF LEGACY, LEADERSHIP, AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Virginia Union University celebrated its 161st Commencement Exercises as 399 graduates earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees during a weekend marked by academic excellence, faith, resilience, and transformational leadership.

University leaders highlighted the accomplishments of the Class of 2026, including the highest number of 4.0 GPA graduates in university history with 64 students earning top academic distinctions. Nearly 48% of graduates have already been accepted into advanced study programs, while graduates reported an average starting salary of $61,000.

President & CEO Hakim J. Lucas and Board Chairman W. Franklyn Richardson commended graduates for their perseverance and commitment while reaffirming the university’s mission of educational access, service, and economic and social mobility.

Commencement speaker Abubakar Jidda, Ambassador and Consul General of Nigeria, encouraged graduates to embrace leadership, purpose, and global impact.

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The university also conferred honorary degrees upon Jennifer McClellan, Boise Kimber, and Ambassador Abubakar Jidda, while also recognizing members of the Golden Class of 1976 during their 50-year reunion celebration.

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VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY NAMED NATIONAL WINNER IN COGENERATE & STANFORD BIG IDEAS CHALLENGE TO REIMAGINE HIGHER EDUCATION

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umans of VUU: Conversations Across Generations, an innovative storytelling initiative at Virginia Union University, has been named one of six national winners of the Big Ideas Challenge to Reimagine Higher Education, presented by CoGenerate and the Stanford Center on Longevity. The winning projects were selected for their potential to transform campuses into thriving centers for intergenerational collaboration, lifelong learning, economic opportunity, and institutional sustainability.

Dr. Hollee Freeman, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, recognized something powerful at VUU, that the campus is filled with untapped knowledge. That knowledge, she believes, does not live solely in lectures or textbooks but in the lived experiences of students, faculty, staff, and neighbors connected to the university.

That realization inspired Humans of VUU: Conversations Across Generations, an intergenerational storytelling project designed to build deeper connections across campus while redefining who holds knowledge and how it is shared between generations.

Through the initiative, students and faculty members will participate in conversations exploring topics such as activism, resilience, education, caregiving, and social justice.

These conversations will then be transformed into civic storytelling projects—including short films, podcasts, photographic essays, and digital archives—that preserve and share the lived experiences of the VUU community.

“In a time when higher education often compartmentalizes students and educators and privileges data over life experiences,” Freeman said, “this initiative positions human stories as vital tools for promoting empathy, leadership, and connection.” In her vision, higher education becomes a “living bridge between generations.”

Humans of VUU also addresses what Freeman sees as a growing disconnect within higher education—between generations and between academic knowledge and lived experience. At VUU, she notes, while there is strong camaraderie on campus, relationships between younger and older members of the community often remain transactional rather than deeply personal.

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As a result, she said, students may graduate without a strong sense of civic identity or belonging, while older adults— who hold valuable wisdom, resilience, and history—often remain unheard.

The project also aims to connect contemporary students with VUU’s powerful legacy of activism and social justice. In 1960, 34 VUU students staged a sit-in at the whites-only lunch counter at Thalhimer’s Department Store in Richmond, an act of protest that led to their arrest and became known as the Richmond 34. A docudrama about the event is currently in development, and Freeman hopes Humans of VUU will help provide deeper context by highlighting the individuals and lived experiences behind the movement.

Through the program, students will learn directly from older adults who experienced history firsthand, while older participants gain insight into the perspectives of younger generations navigating today’s social challenges. Both groups benefit as their experiences are recognized as valuable sources of knowledge.

Freeman is currently beta testing the program, with an initial cohort of five intergenerational pairs participating in recorded conversations. Three pairs have already completed their first interviews.

Later this semester, participants will present their work through an ethnographic exhibit and on campus symposium.

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Using lessons from the pilot program, Freeman plans to expand the initiative into a university course or community workshop in collaboration with the Mass Communications Department and the VUU Library. Participants will learn oral history techniques, digital storytelling skills, and listening strategies that help preserve and share community knowledge.

Ultimately, Freeman hopes the project evolves into a campus-wide framework that integrates storytelling, oral history, and civic reflection into teaching, research, and student life.

Her long-term vision includes creating an Intergenerational Learning Institute at Virginia Union University, serving as a regional hub where faculty, students, and community partners collaborate to document local histories, curate public exhibitions, and build digital archives that preserve cultural memory. Materials produced through the initiative could eventually be housed in the VUU Museum and Library, making them accessible to educators, researchers, and policymakers.

Through initiatives like Humans of VUU, Freeman believes universities can reclaim their broader civic purpose.

“Higher education reclaims its public mission,” she said, “to connect generations, cultivate empathy, and build communities resilient enough to learn from the past while shaping the future together.

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Virginia Union University Gospel Choir Becomes First Artist Under Virginia Union Music and Entertainment Company with National Debut of Great Is Yahweh The Virginia Union University Gospel Choir has officially stepped onto the national gospel music stage with the release of its new recording, Great Is Yahweh, presented by Grammy Award-winning gospel icon Hezekiah Walker and now available worldwide across all major digital music platforms.

The release marks a historic milestone for the university as the VUU Gospel Choir becomes a nationally distributed recording artist and the inaugural artist represented under the Virginia Union Music and Entertainment Company.

University leaders say the project reflects Virginia Union University’s continued investment in creativity, culture, faith, entrepreneurship, and transformational student experiences.

Produced under the leadership and mentorship of Walker, Great Is Yahweh blends the rich tradition of HBCU gospel choir excellence with a fresh and inspiring sound rooted in worship, pride, and intergenerational impact. The recording highlights the musical excellence and spiritual depth that have long been part of the Virginia Union University experience while introducing a new generation of artists and worship leaders to audiences worldwide.

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ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISE The release also continues the growing partnership between Hezekiah Walker and Virginia Union University through the Hezekiah Walker Center for Gospel Music, an initiative focused on education, creativity, mentorship, and the future of gospel music excellence.

As the first artist under the Virginia Union Music and Entertainment Company, the VUU Gospel Choir’s national debut represents a new chapter for the university in expanding opportunities for students through music, media, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning.

Adding to the choir’s historic momentum, the VUU Gospel Choir has also been nominated for a Stellar Gospel Music Award in the newly introduced HBCU Choir of the Year category, further recognizing the choir’s excellence, impact, and growing national presence in gospel music. Supporters are encouraged to vote and help elevate the VUU Gospel Choir on the national stage. Vote by visiting www.thestellarawards.com.

Listeners can stream and download Great Is Yahweh now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, YouTube Music, and all major streaming outlets.

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ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISE

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY

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UU continues advancing its vision for the future, making transformative investements designed to strengthen student success, expand community impact, and ensure long-term institutional sustainability.

Through the Delivering on the Promise Capital Campaign — a $250 million initiative — Virginia Union University is positioning itself for a new era of innovation, growth, and entrepreneurial enterprise.

The campaign reflects the university’s broader commitment to creating opportunities that extend beyond the classroom while reimagining the role of an HBCU in today’s evolving educational and economic landscape. Focused on campus revitalization, research, innovation, student engagement, and infrastructure development, the initiative continues to shape the future of the university while honoring its historic legacy dating back to 1865.

Among the most significant developments is the advancement of the Residential Village – Phase I project, approved in partnership with Monadnock/THC. The project will bring a minimum of 425 new student beds to campus and represents a major investment in the student experience.

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University leaders view the Residential Village as more than housing — it is designed to foster community, engagement, wellness, and academic success while helping support enrollment growth and campus transformation.

The development reflects the university’s ongoing efforts to create a modern living and learning environment that supports students holistically while strengthening the sense of pride and belonging central to the Virginia Union University experience.

In addition to enhancing campus life, the university is expanding its role as a driver of economic and community development through the Gateway North mixed-use project located at 2201 North Lombardy Street. The development will feature affordable housing, commercial space, outdoor dining, and additional community-centered amenities designed to serve both the university and the surrounding Richmond community.

Gateway North represents the university’s commitment to economic and social mobility while reinforcing VUU’s role as an anchor institution within the city. The project aims to stimulate growth, create opportunity, and contribute to the revitalization of the surrounding corridor through thoughtful and sustainable development.

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ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISE

Another transformative initiative underway is the redevelopment of Industrial Hall, historically known as the university’s “Power Plant.” The historic structure is being reimagined as a university museum, gallery, and cultural education center that will house VUU’s growing art collection while serving as a hub for experiential learning, research, and cultural engagement.

Once completed, the facility will provide students and visitors with opportunities to engage with history, creativity, and the arts in dynamic new ways. The project also reflects the university’s commitment to preserving and elevating African American history, culture, and artistic expression through innovative educational experiences. The grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the facility are anticipated in October 2026.

Together, these projects represent more than infrastructure improvements — they embody Virginia Union University’s vision for entrepreneurial enterprise rooted in innovation, community impact, and transformational growth.

As the university continues delivering on its promise, these investments position VUU to remain a leading force in higher education, economic advancement, and student opportunity for generations to come.

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PHOTO BY: THE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

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THE PILGRIMAGE HOME

161st Founders Day Celebration Reaffirms Virginia Union University's Mission and Future

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nce a year, Virginia Union University pauses — not to rest, but to remember. The 161st Founders Day Celebration, held on February 6, 2026, was not merely a ceremony. It was a reckoning with history, a recommitment to purpose, and a

declaration that the institution born from bondage remains bound to a higher calling.

Students, faculty, alumni, guests, and community members gathered in the spirit their founders would have recognized: that of people determined to learn, to grow, and to be worthy of the sacrifice that made this place possible.

From the Devil's Half Acre to a Beacon of Light The celebration opened with an invocation by Pastor Rodney Waller, whose words set a tone of reverence and resolve. The Negro National Anthem, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' followed — each verse carrying the weight of generations who sang it with everything from despair to triumph.

Elise Green, President of the VUU National Alumni Association, anchored the ceremony in its origin story: "We gather not only to celebrate an institution, but to celebrate a miracle born from the most unlikely ground. We remember that the story of VUU begins at Lumpkin's Jail, once known as the Devil's Half Acre, a place where our ancestors endured unimaginable suffering, yet held fast to an unbreakable faith."

Her words were not simply historical. They were theological. For Green and for every Panther who heard them, Founders Day is a pilgrimage — a return to the ground where the decision was made to choose education over despair, hope over horror, and community over silence.

"Founders Day is more than a date on the calendar; it is a pilgrimage back to the place where our story was born," she said.

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U.S. Senator Mark Warner delivered one of the ceremony's most memorable addresses, speaking directly to the students — especially seniors — about what it means to carry a VUU education into the world.

"To the students, particularly seniors, regardless of where the future leads you after your time at VUU — whether it's pursuing ministry, the arts, or business — we need people like you who come out of an institution still rooted in faith, one that reflects that at the end of the day we answer to a higher law and a higher calling."

The presence of Senator Warner on campus was itself a symbol. Public service and Virginia Union University have always been intertwined — the university has produced senators, mayors, delegates, and community leaders whose careers have been shaped by the values instilled here.

Founders Day at VUU is also a time to honor those whose work sustained the institution across its 161 years. VUU Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Franklyn Richardson presided over the unveiling of portraits honoring four distinguished figures: Dr. John A. Watson Jr. — Professor of foreign languages and mentor to the late Arthur Ashe, one of the most celebrated athletes and activists in American history.

Dr. Walter Oswald Bradley — Former Chairman of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics for over 30 years.

Dr. Henry Jared McQuinn — Alumni, former professor at VUU for 44 years, and Director of the Division of Social Sciences.

Dr. Dwight C. Jones — First Baptist Church of South Richmond, 49th Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and proud VUU alumnus.

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BRAND PRESTIGE The 2026 Steve and Doris Bullock Presidential Award was presented to Charles and Theresa Ann Brown, Classes of '72 and '73, whose 38-year giving streak has resulted in more than $250,000 in contributions to VUU's mission.

A New Voice: The Power of Oration Among the most remarkable additions to the 2026 ceremony was the introduction of Lillian Makeda Floyd-Thomas as orator — an award-winning poet, orator, and emerging global voice whose work centers the moral imagination as a pathway toward restoring the good of humanity. Her presence represented the university's ongoing commitment to evolving its traditions while deepening their meaning.

Mr. and Miss VUU — Wonzooly Bruce Jr. and Akila Hutley — also brought youthful energy and student voice to the program, as did Graduate Student Council representative Mr. Tyrice Fowlkes. $300,000 for the Future The celebration concluded with VUU's Day of Giving, which united clergy, friends, alumni, students, faculty, and staff in raising more than $300,000 in a single day. The funds raised both in person and online will directly support the university's mission and student success. The day concluded with a luncheon rally that celebrated not just what was given, but what it means: that the Panther family still believes, still invests, still shows up.

PHOTO BY: OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

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MOTHER OF VUU

Mary Lumpkin's Rise From Bondage to the Foundation of an Institution

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There is a drive on the campus of Virginia Union University that most students traverse daily without fully knowing the weight it carries. Mary Lumpkin Drive — stretching from Graham Street to Lombardy — is named for a woman who turned

the site of one of America's most brutal slave-trading enterprises into a school for the newly freed. Her story is not a footnote in VUU's history. It is the origin.

Mary Lumpkin was born in Virginia around 1832, into the institution of slavery that defined so much of early American life for Black people. As a young girl, she was purchased by Robert Lumpkin, a white man 27 years her senior who owned a slave jail in the heart of Richmond. Known among enslaved people as the 'Devil's Half Acre,' the Lumpkin jail was one of the largest and most feared slave-trading operations in the South — a holding pen where people were imprisoned, branded, and sold away from their families before being shipped to plantations across the region.

Mary lived within this world not as an agent of its cruelty, but as one of its captives. She gave birth to at least five of Robert Lumpkin's children — the first when she was only 13 years old. It is the kind of history that demands a moment of stillness before continuing.

Determination as an Act of Survival Even within circumstances that denied her humanity, Mary Lumpkin found ways to act.

She sent her daughters — children born into slavery — to school in Massachusetts. She purchased a home for them in Philadelphia, where she and her children lived throughout the Civil War, away from the horrors of the jail their father owned and operated.

These were not small acts. They were feats of extraordinary determination — a mother using every limited resource available to her to ensure that her children would not inherit her bondage.

An Inheritance Transformed When the Civil War ended and the Confederacy collapsed, Robert Lumpkin died in 1866, just one year after the war's conclusion. His will left the Devil's Half Acre — the jail, the ground, the legacy — to Mary Lumpkin.

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She could have sold it. She could have walked away from everything it represented.

Instead, she leased the property to Reverend Nathaniel Colver, who established the Richmond Theological School for Freedmen on that same soil where enslaved people had been held and broken. The school later merged with the Richmond Theological Institute, Wayland Seminary, and Hartshorn Memorial College to form Virginia Union University.

"Her decision to transform a place once associated with confinement and cruelty into a place of learning and opportunity continues to shape lives today."

It is one of the most remarkable acts of reclamation in American history — and it happened because of a woman whose name most people have never learned.

A Legacy That Walks Through the Gate Every Day Today, when students drive or walk along Mary Lumpkin Drive on their way to class, to practice, to chapel, or to graduation, they are moving through history. They are walking on ground that was once a site of suffering and is now a site of possibility. The drive that bears her name is not a monument to a past figure. It is a daily reminder that transformation is possible — that the very worst places can become the very best ones, if someone decides to make it so.

Virginia Union University is Mary Lumpkin's most enduring act of courage. And every Panther who graduates from this institution carries a piece of her story forward.

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CELEBRATING LEADERS AND LEGENDS 2026 Legacy Awards Gala Honors Those Who Uplift the VUU Mission

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ome evenings are designed to inspire. The 2026 Virginia Union University Legacy Awards Gala — held on Thursday, March 12 — was one of them. The annual signature event brought together alumni, civic leaders, corporate partners, and supporters in an evening that was equal parts celebration, reflection, and fundraising — raising vital support for student scholarships and institutional priorities.

The VUU Choir opened the formal program with performances of both 'The StarSpangled Banner' and 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' — a dual invocation that acknowledged the complexity of identity that every HBCU carries with grace.

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Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, serving as the evening's host alongside Miss VUU Akila Hutley and Mr. VUU Wonzooly Bruce Jr., set the tone immediately. "One of the things I believe deeply is that our path to healing as a city and as a nation is through telling stories — stories of struggle, stories of resilience, and stories of triumph.

Virginia Union is one of those incredible stories."

Student Voice: Legacy Is Lived, Not Just Spoken Student Government Association President Ivi Armstrong-Edlow '26 brought the evening its most grounded moment, reminding the assembled supporters why their generosity matters: "Legacy is not something we simply talk about; UNIONITE

it's something we live every single day.

When we walk around our campus, we are reminded that we are surrounded by the greatness of those who came before us.

Their leadership, their resilience, and their commitment to excellence built the foundation that we now stand on."

VUU Board of Trustees Chairman Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson connected the university's current momentum to its unchanging mission: "Since 1865, Virginia Union University has stood as a beacon of faith, resilience, scholarship, and leadership. Founded to educate newly emancipated slaves, VUU has never wavered from its calling to prepare men and women to lead, serve, and transform the world."

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LEGACY AWARDS ‘26

The Honorees: A Constellation of Impact The Ray of Light Award was presented to Curtis Allen — running back for the VUU Panthers, RVA Male Athlete of the Year, and the first player from an HBCU to win the Harlon Hill Trophy. His historic season placed Virginia Union University at the forefront of collegiate athletics nationally, and his presence at the Gala served as a living symbol of what VUU produces.

The VUU men's track and field team also received recognition following their historic indoor CIAA championship — the program's first track and field title since 1934, marking another milestone in VUU's storied year of athletic achievement.

Richmond City Council President Cynthia I. Newbille received the Community Leadership Award, offering a deeply personal reflection on her connection to VUU through the Upward Bound Program: "Dr. Lucas, that made a difference for me. I applied and received a full scholarship. I can't tell you how invaluable that opportunity was for me — coming onto campus, having that experience, and using it to really advance."

Drs. Kim and Valerie Brown were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their decades of leadership and commitment to both the university and the broader Richmond community.

Simeon Harris, regional president of TowneBank — VUU's banking partner since 2016 — received the Corporate Leadership Award.

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LEGACY AWARDS ‘26 Bruce Marks, founder and CEO of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), received the HBCU Impact Award for his organization's work expanding access to homeownership and economic opportunity through the NACA Center on VUU's campus.

Charles Oakley — VUU alumnus, NBA AllStar, entrepreneur, and philanthropist — received the Beacon of Light Award, representing the long arc of what a VUU education can produce: a man who came to this campus as a young athlete and left as a leader whose impact has been felt far beyond the basketball court.

The evening's most electrifying moment came at its conclusion, when President and CEO Dr. Hakim J. Lucas announced the public phase of VUU's historic $250 million 'Delivering on the Promise' capital campaign. The announcement came with staggering news: $200 million — 80 percent of the goal — has already been raised, leaving $50 million remaining to complete the most ambitious fundraising initiative in the university's history.

The campaign will fund student scholarships, academic innovation, campus revitalization, and strategic investments that will expand access and strengthen VUU's impact for generations to come. The announcement was met with a standing ovation — not simply because of the number, but because of what it represents: a community that has decided, collectively, that Virginia Union University's best days are ahead.

Presenting sponsor PepsiCo, along with numerous corporate sponsors, donors, alumni, and community supporters, helped make the evening possible — and meaningful.

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VUU CAPTURES FIRST CIAA TRACK & FIELD TITLE A Historic Performance Since 1934 Virginia Union University delivered a historic performance at the 2026 CIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship, capturing the men’s team title and ending a 92-year championship drought, with the program’s last outdoor crown dating back to 1934.

The Panthers totaled 150.5 points to secure the championship, powered by standout individual performances and strong depth across both track and field events.

Leading the way was Zachary Jones, who earned CIAA Field Athlete of the Year honors and was named the Championship Field MVP following a dominant showing in the throws. Jones’ performance anchored a field unit that proved pivotal in Virginia Union’s title run.

Virginia Union also produced multiple individual event champions. Jones claimed the shot put title, while Jeremiah Palacious captured the long jump crown. On the track, Antonio Smith won the 110-meter hurdles, and Barrian Authurs added another victory in the 400meter hurdles, highlighting the Panthers’ strength in both sprint and technical events.

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BRAND PRESTIGE “This past year has been wonderful for us,” said VUU Head Track & Field Coach Franck Charles. “I can't thank God enough for the work He did for us. We're just happy and blessed. This is the first time since 1934, and this is amazing. I can't wait to see what the future has for us.”

The championship marks a significant milestone for the program, showcasing its resurgence and competitive growth within the conference.

On the women’s side, Virginia Union turned in a strong performance, finishing fifth overall— a significant improvement after finishing tied for seventh at the 2025 CIAA Outdoor Championships. The Panthers recorded scoring finishes across several events, demonstrating continued development and depth as the program builds toward future championship contention.

The 2026 CIAA Outdoor Championship stands as one of the most important achievements in Virginia Union track & field history, as the Panthers reestablished themselves among the conference elite with a long-awaited title.

PHOTO BY: OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

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CREDITS: Ursula James, Editor, Karyn Cook, Writer, Ayasha Sledge, Photography