Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. will have a scholarship named after him as an honor to his 16 years at the HBCU. Get the full story from WBTV staff below.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) will be establishing a scholarship in the name of Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., according to the college.
Livingstone College posted to social media that the CIAA just announced it is establishing a scholarship in Dr. Jenkins’ name.
Jenkins is the longest-tenured president among the CIAA-member institutions and was inducted into the CIAA John B. McLendon Jr. Hall of Fame on Feb. 25 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
President Jenkins recently announced to the Livingstone Board of Trustees on Feb. 9 that he will retire from his role on July 1, 2022, after 16 years of service.
Jenkins was appointed to lead the historically black college in February 2006. He is the second longest-tenured president in the history of the school.
According to the college, under Jenkins’ leadership, the campus saw its first major construction in more than 40 years in that of Honors Hall, apartment-style units for new students with high grade-point averages.
President Jenkins is credited with saving the college from closure from its accrediting agency and the college boasts reaffirmation of accreditation for the next 10 years without a single recommendation.
“Jenkins also raised the net asset value of the college by $15 million; acquired a former Holiday Inn to establish the hospitality management and culinary arts program; and reactivated the college’s 40 acres of land to grow food and supply culinary arts. College enrollment grew 35 percent to 1,400 students, the largest in school history (pre-COVID-19), resulting in Livingstone purchasing College Park Apartments, a four-building complex that houses 100 students,” Livingstone College’s website reads.
Livingstone College says Dr. Jenkins was inducted into the 2022 CIAA class of the John B. McLendon Jr. Hall of Fame on Friday. The induction was among several recognitions for the outgoing Livingstone College president.
Jenkins is the longest-tenured president among the CIAA-member institutions and currently serves on the CIAA’s Board of Directors.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Jenkins recalled when McWilliams informed him he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame for his 28 years with the CIAA.
The CIAA recognizes inductees for their excellence in the conference, significant contributions in the community, leadership within CIAA athletics, and commitment to the conference mission.
“When I first joined, I was the youngest member on the board. And now as I depart, I’m the oldest member on the board,” Jenkins quipped during a talk-show style interview at the induction ceremony. “And just to have my colleagues who are younger than I to see something in me to the point where they voted me into the Hall of Fame is something that I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life.”
Jenkins is credited with saving the historically black college in Salisbury from losing its accreditation and with raising its net assets value by $15 million.
“When we arrived at Salisbury, the school was on the verge of losing its accreditation with SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) … We were able to move the institution to financial stability. I’m proud we were able to save the institution. Since that time, 16 years later, we’re moving forward and got reaffirmed a year ago now with no recommendations, which is historic for the institution.”
Jenkins has not one, but two buildings named after him.
Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in North Carolina has a science building that bears his name and Edward Waters University in Jacksonsville, Fla., named an athletic field after Jenkins. He is a past leader at both universities.
“I think its surreal,” Jenkins said.
When asked about the future of HBCUs, Jenkin said, “We have to remember that these HBCUs were established at the time to educate the children of the just-freed slaves. This is war and it’s a war against ignorance. Many of our students are not able to perform on certain standardized tests – not because of their intellect but because of exposure. If we get that exposure, they will be able to perform well and be able to command their rightful place in the global society.”
Jenkins was joined at the induction by his wife, Dr. Faleese Moore Jenkins; their children and grandchildren; and his brother and sister
