HBCU Brilliance Initiative Cohort

The inaugural cohort includes the following institutions and presidents:

• Bethune-Cookman University – Daytona Beach, Florida – Dr. Albert D. Mosley
• Coahoma Community College – Clarksdale, Mississippi – Dr. Valmadge T. Towner, President
• Fort Valley State University – Fort Valley, Georgia – Dr. Paul A. Jones, President
• Interdenominational Theological Center – Atlanta, Georgia – Rev. Dr. Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., President
• Paine College – Augusta, Georgia – Rev. Dr. Lester A. McCorn, President
• Shorter College – North Little Rock, Arkansas – Dr. Jeffery Norfleet, President
• Stillman College – Tuscaloosa, Alabama – Dr. Yolanda W. Page, President
• Tougaloo College – Tougaloo, Mississippi – Dr. Donzell Lee, President
• Virginia Union University – Richmond, Virginia – Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, President
• Voorhees University – Denmark, South Carolina – Dr. Ronnie Hopkins, President
• Wilberforce University – Wilberforce, Ohio – Dr. Vann R. Newkirk, Sr., President

Activities

The Brilliance Initiative regularly convenes the cohort of 11 HBCUs to build their networks and capacity under the direction of a technical assistance curriculum administered by Reinvestment Fund and a council of HBCUs leaders, advocates and financial experts.

Beyond the program, the Brilliance Initiative will seek to establish permanent resources and capital for additional projects that serve the population of participating HBCUs which include over 70% of their students being Pell Grant recipients and first-generation college students. Additionally, collaboration with community stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers will only advance the development of the institutions to continue to modernize and update the resources available to them.