hbcu-presidentsATLANTA (Sept. 29, 2016) As part of the inauguration activities for President Ronald A. Johnson, Clark Atlanta University (CAU) will host a panel discussion titled “Why HBCU’s Matter!” CAU has a rich history of producing dozens of college and university presidents and chancellors, therefore, this unprecedented event will feature a panel of current and former presidents of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU’s) who earned undergraduate or advanced degrees from the university. Designed to elevate the conversation regarding the continuing need for HBCU’s, this event occurs Fri., Oct. 7, 2016, at 4 p.m., in Davage Auditorium, located inside Haven-Warren Hall on CAU’s main campus at 223 James P. Brawley Dr., SW.

Members of this distinguished panel include: Savannah State University President Cheryl Davenport Dozier, DSW (AU ’80); Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover, Ph.D. (AU ’76, CAU ’94); retired president Larry Earvin, Ph.D. (CC ’71), Hutson-Tillotson University; and Georgia Piedmont Technical College President Jabari Simama, Ph.D. (AU ’75). Moderating this impactful panel discussion is the world-renowned labor economist and former president of Bennett College, Julianne Malveaux, Ph.D.

“HBCU’s matter in the most obvious ways that any other college or university matters,” said Dr. Johnson, who will be officially installed as fourth president of CAU Sat., Oct. 8, 2016, at 11 a.m. In fact, he just shared the same critical message to members of the Congressional Black Caucus at the 2016 Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. “HBCU’s are institutions of higher learning where teaching provides transformative education which produces graduates who make a difference in our world,” he explained.

This panel discussion comes at a time when CAU is striving to lift every voice in its university community, and during a period of increasing strain on HBCU’s as the pool of federal dollars for student aid grows smaller. Assisting Dr. Malveaux with fielding questions from the audience will be CAU’s 2016-2017 White House Initiative HBCU All-Star students JaMon Patterson and Stacy Roberson. The public is invited to this free event. For more information please visit www.cau.edu/lev