Hampton President William Harvey Announces Retirement
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Hampton University President William R. Harvey, one of the nation’s longest-serving university executives and iconic figures within the HBCU sector, is expected to formally announce plans today to retire in the summer of 2022.
Harvey will end his Hampton career with more than 45 years in leadership and the distinction as it’s most successful fundraiser, donor, legislative advocate, and principal research investigator.
“As a Hampton University Alumnus and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, the growth and development that I have witnessed under Dr. Harvey’s successful leadership have been, in a word, triumphant,” said Trustee Wesley Coleman. “The significance of this president’s legendary contributions to Hampton will be celebrated for generations. Indeed, the school is so much better off for his having served as our 12th President. Therefore, on behalf of the Board of Trustees and all of us who love Hampton, we will always be grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Harvey for the immeasurably great job that they have done for the past 43 years and will continue to do for the remainder of his tenure.”
According to university records, Hampton established more than 92 undergraduate and graduate programs and increased its endowment from $29 to $300 million under Harvey’s leadership.
The university is among a handful of historically Black institutions to be designated a “high-research” university by the The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, and is among the nation’s most successful, historically-Black athletic brands.
Congratulations to President Harvey. While certainly there are things he could have done better or differently, he is leaving Hampton, financially and academically, better than when he arrived. I believe as alumnus we are the better for it. I pray the search for a new president is extensive and deliberate for an energetic, engaging, innovative and forward thinking leader. As for the "light skin" "dark skin" thing.....come on. We are past that!
Congratulations on a great run. It will be interesting to see what direction HU wants to go with it successor. So many questions like:
1) Will they go with someone younger to adapt to a new generation of leadership (e.g. Dwaun Warmack)?
2) Will the new leadership take a more bolder, hit for the fences approach? Harvey did well with guiding HU even though it was a conservative approach. However, the 21st Century calls for bold and brash approaches that are unapologetic. And as a Hampton alumni, I want to see more Pirate gunners in the news for bold innovation and marketing and less that other HU, Morehouse, Spelman... friendly competition to up the game.
3) Will a female take the helm (former FAMU E. Magnus comes to mind)?
4) What role will Harvey play in the decision making and post-term at HU?
5) Will the board continue to play nice with the successor?
And we have to address the elephant in the room, will it be a light-skinned or dark-skinned person to run the HU ship. Sorry, but that has been an elephant jokingly asked in the closet.
Overall, interesting times for the HBCU verse.