2025 Agenda

HBCU Innovative Solutions VIP Breakfast Session (pre-registration required)

Powered by the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation

Plenary Session: This Is Our Moment

Dr. Harry L. Williams, President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Keynote Address

Teach By Teacher: A Fireside Chat with Former US Secretary of Education: The Honorable John King, Jr.

Overview of Executive Orders: What They Mean for HBCUs

Sherrie Rhodes, Vice President, External Affairs & Deputy Chief of Staff, Thurgood Marshal College Fund

Victor Santos, Associate Vice President, Government Relations, Thurgood Marshal College Fund

Policy Outlook for Higher Education & HBCUs

Brian Flahaven, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships; Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Victor Santos, Vice President, Government Relations; Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Closing the Near Completer Gap

Breakout Sessions

• How America Pays for College 2024: Spotlight on HBCU Insights

         Darwin Morency, Director Relationship Management, Sallie Mae

         Kevin McCrary, Director of Financial Aid, Bethune-Cookman University

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Philanthropy

         Dr. Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, Florida A&M University

• Enhancing the Corporate Relations Capacity of HBCUs: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

         Dr. DeShanna K. Brown, Regional Director of Philanthropy, Bethune-Cookman University

• Storytelling Relationship-Based Philanthropy

         Clifford Porter, Vice President for University Advancement, Norfolk State University

        Danielle Blackwell, Associate Vice Chancellor, Institutional Advancement, North Carolina Central University

• Presidents and Philanthropy Leaders

2024 HBCU Pitch Competition Finalists 

Stephanie Johnnie, Executive Director, Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation

What Comes Next: HBCUs, Employers and the Future of Talent

Aimee Eubanks, CEO, Braven

Dr. Tony Allen, President, Delaware State University

Enhancing Technology Capacity to Maximize Artifical Intelligence (AI)

Mr. Darrell McMillon, VP/CIO for Information Technology, Delaware State University

Dr. Carie Ann Potenza, Senior Director, Strategy and Planning, Ellucian 

Mr. Daryl Thomas, Sr. Leader Demand Systems & Data, Cisco Systems

Breakout Sessions

• Using FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) to Drive Engagement

  Karen Wright, Vice President of University Advancement, Fort Valley State University & Executive Director of the FVSU Foundation
  Jaron Lucas, Director of Development, Fort Valley State University

• Leadership’s Role in Philanthropy: Building A Financially Sustainable Future for HBCUs

         Mrs. Tamara Foster-Montgomery, Executive Director, Southern University and A&M College 

         Dr. Luria Young, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Southern University and A&M College

• HBCU Donor and Alumni Engagement for Diverse Audiences

        Brent Swinton, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Bowie State University

• Planned Giving With Purpose: Securing the Future of HBCUs

• Presidents and Philanthropy Leaders

HBCU Impact on Innovation

Rodney Oddoye, Senior Vice President, Governmental, Regulatory & External Affairs, Pepco Holdings

Panel Discussion: International Partnerships 

The Honorable Waleed Shamsid-Deen, Ambassador, Sierra Leone