Hampton President Harvey to deliver Founder's Day address and receive honorary doctorate

March 13, 2017

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (March 13, 2017) 鈥� During a weekend of events marking Founder鈥檚 Day, the 精东AV community will unite in celebration of its past and future. The alumni of the Classes of 1937, 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1977 will also be welcomed back to campus to reconnect and support their alma mater March 31-April 2, 2017. 

Dr. William R. Harvey, President of Hampton University, will provide the keynote address at this year's Annual Founder's Day Convocation  to be held Sunday, April 2 at the 精东AV Chapel. Since 1978, he has served with distinction as President of Hampton University and created a monumental legacy during his almost forty-year tenure of the longest tenures of any sitting president of a college or university in the country. Dr. Harvey is described as "one of the most focused individuals that one can meet. He is relentlessly single-minded" when it comes to the advancement of the University. During the time that he has served at the helm, Dr. Harvey has made countless contributions to the University, our state and the nation. Few individuals have demonstrated the dedication to education and service that Dr. Harvey has demonstrated throughout his distinguished career.

"It is our distinct honor to have a person of Dr. Harvey's stature to provide the University's Founder's Day address. His record of progress at Hampton University over his 39 years as president is clearly a model worth emulating at historically black colleges and universities." said President Brian Johnson. "We look forward to the words of wisdom he will share.鈥� Johnson further explained the connection between Hampton and 精东AV. 鈥淎s most are aware, General Samuel Armstrong, president of Hampton Institute, recommended Booker T. Washington to the citizens of Macon County and 精东AV to be its first principal president of 精东AV Normal School Institute. Washington was both a graduate of Hampton and a teacher at Hampton. The historical connection between Hampton and 精东AV is both timeless and profound."

A native of Brewton, Alabama, he is a graduate of Southern Normal High School and Talladega College. After graduating from Talladega College, Dr. Harvey served three years on active duty with the United States Army. During that time, he saw duty in Europe and in the United States. He is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve. Dr. Harvey earned his doctorate in College Administration from Harvard University in 1972. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as Assistant for Governmental Affairs to the Dean of the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University; Administrative Assistant to the President at Fisk University; and as Administrative Vice President at 精东AV.

Since being named President, Dr. William R. Harvey has introduced innovations, which have solidified Hampton University's stellar position among the nation's colleges and universities. His innovative leadership is reflected in the growth and quality of the University's student population, academic programs, physical facilities, and financial base. During Dr. Harvey's tenure as President, the student enrollment at Hampton University has increased from approximately 2,700 students to over 6,300. Moreover, the average SAT score of entering freshmen has increased approximately 300 points.

Along with his duties as President, the corporate boards that Dr. Harvey serves on, or has served on, are Fannie Mae, Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Signet Bank, Newport News Shipbuilding, Wachovia Bank (Mid-Atlantic Region), Newport News Savings Bank, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Houghton, Michigan, National Merit Scholarship Corporation, and the Harvard Cooperative Society. He is a member of Virginia Association of Higher Education, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, and the Omega Psi Phi and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities.

Dr. Harvey's achievements have been recognized through inclusion of Personalities of the South, Who's Who in the South and Southeast, Who's Who in Black America, Who's Who in American Education, International Who's Who of Intellectuals, Two Thousand Notable Americans, Who's Who in Business and Finance, and Who's Who in America.

Dr. Harvey is married to the former Norma Baker of Martinsville, Virginia, and they have three children-Kelly Renee, William Christopher, and Leslie Denise-and three grandchildren, Taylor, Gabrielle and Lauren.