November 19, 2025 • 23 mins
Dr. Kevin James on Saving Morris Brown, Rising HBCUs & Fast-Track Entrepreneur Programs
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
What's up is where yea put? Angela?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Ye, I'm here for Wealth Wednesday with my girls Stacy Tisdale.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Happy Wealth Wednesdays everybody. And today we have we're gonna
call it Comeback Day. Yes, because we are so honored
to be joined by doctor Kevin James, who is the
CEO and president of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, and
we're calling him the comeback Kid. Yes, because when you
started there, I think enrollment was it twenty twenty? Now
(00:30):
it's over over five hundred, Angel, its only five hundred
and thirty six? Yes, how did that happen? What inspired you?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
What happened? Yes?
Speaker 5 (00:38):
Well, I guess I started the beginning Morris Brown College,
historic HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. What makes us very unique
is we're the only HBCU in Georgia that was actually founded, funded, own,
and operated by African Americans, black folks, former slaves. Started
this institution.
Speaker 6 (00:53):
In eighteen eighty one, eighteen eighty one, eighteen eighty one. Yeah,
and we were charted in eighteen eighty five. We started
in eighteen eighty one, was very unique. Six months after
we filmed the movie Drumline. You all remember the movie
drum Line. We were in the movie drum Line. We
were the feature school in the movie drum Line. Six
months after that movie made so much money, the school
loss us accreditation.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
How does that happen?
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Yeah, well, it was some financial mismanagement at that time,
and the school loss us accreditation and the school literally
went from three thousand students to about fifty students overnight. Yeah,
it was crushing, and you know, that should have been
the end of Morris Brown College, but we kept pressing
for the mark. The school never closed. We had somewhere
between twenty and forty students over twenty years, right, And
(01:37):
I came in in December of twenty eighteen.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
What's that like to have a college of twenty to
forty students?
Speaker 4 (01:43):
I know, I don't know.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
I wasn't there at the time, but it was a
very very small institution, an institution a group of folks
that said, we're not gonna close, We're not gonna give up,
We're gonna keep trying. And so the school held on
by a thread. Thirty five million dollar bankruptcy, the loss
of land, the loss of reputation, the loss of so
much and so anyway, I came in interviewed for the
(02:05):
position in December of twenty eighteen. Started in the spring
of twenty nineteen, and I walked through the doors and
I said, oh my god, what in the world I just.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Walk in too.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
I mean, challenge you like a challenge?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Well, you know, I knew it was gonna be tough,
but I didn't really know how tough it was until
my very very first day. You know, I walked into
the building. I saw the faculty and staff. They were
seven paychecks behind. I mean they literally, oh yeah, I
mean they were at work, and they were at work
with a smile, not getting paid. I never seen anything like.
To make a long story short, we've made history as
(02:38):
the first black college to literally come back from death right.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
We're not fully accredited.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
We have our federal financial aid reinstated, we have our
vetermans benefits reinstated, we have online programs, and we're growing.
I started six and a half years ago twenty students,
as of today five hundred and forty students and.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
The very bold goal of doubling, Yeah, that enrollment over
the next five years. How are you going to do that?
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Well, just continuing to do things like this tell the
story of the resurgence of Morris Frown College, really promoting
historical black colleges and universities. No other organization affects the
black middle class like our historical black colleges and universities
altely and so just making sure that the world knows
that Morrisprown College is back. We never went anywhere. We're
accredited and we're open for business and we're doing great things.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
You know, doctor Kevin James, I have to ask you
what made you take that challenge on. I know you
said you didn't know how difficult it would be, but
when you were interviewing for the job, and then you
knew the history of what had happened, and I have
to imagine it has to feel amazing to be in
this position now. But back then, what gave you the
foresight to say this is something I want to do.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
I feel like God sent me to do the work.
I mean, I can speak now now that we're on
the other side. So many times where a normal common
sense person would have quit on the spot, I mean
so many times, but every single time when that door
opened for me, I said, we're not going to close
this door. We're going to keep pushing. And so I
feel like God sent me to do the work. I
wanted to be a college president, and I just felt
like it was my destiny to bring back this historical
(04:05):
black college. And so we assembled a phenomenal team. It's
not just me. I'm a phenomenal team. They're working very
hard to do great things as we continue our resurgence.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
And you're the youngest president ever.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
Well no, well at Morris Brown.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Say so that's a big deal too, that that fresh
young blood coming in Yeah, and reviving thing.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
I think that's why they picked me.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
So I knew somebody needed a lot of energy.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
I became a president when I was forty one years old,
and I think they picked me because it was like,
you know what, we're at the bottom of the barrel.
We we gotta find somebody who's gonna come in young, crazy.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
You know.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
I did a Ted talk and the title of my
Ted talk was you must be crazy. And I got
that because everyone said, Kevin, you are crazy to go
to Morris Brown College. But again, we've done the work.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
What was the process like getting the accreditation back? Because
I know it's been three years now, right, is that correct?
Since you guys have been a credit again, So tell
me what that process was, like, what does that take?
Speaker 5 (05:03):
Yes, So the whole premise of accreditation. Accreditation is symbolic
of quality, right and going through the different standards set
forth by the United States Department of Education accredited organizations
at accredited institutions. So we're credited through the Transnational Association
of Christian Colleges and Schools. We wanted to go back
to our Christian roots. We were founded in the basement
of Big Bethel Amy Church, African Methodist Episcopal affiliated institution. Yes,
(05:27):
and so we went through the process, we reached out
to them, we started the process. It took us about
three and a half years to become accredited, where we
had to go through and prove that we met all
of the different rigorous standards to be accredited. And so
we've met those standards and so now we're up. We
got a credit for our first five years. Now we're
up for our ten year reaffirmation. So spring of twenty
twenty six we anticipate being reaffirmed for another ten years.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
That's fantastic, really interesting. You're seeing college enrollment down across
the country, but HBCUs are bucking that trend and actually
enrollment rose nearly six percent last year. Why do you
think so many people are turning towards HBCUs.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Well, there have been some cuts regarding DEI across this country.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
We've noticed, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
And so my stance on this is you should go
where you are celebrated and not tolerated. And so we
have seen increases across the spectrum of historical black colleges
and universities. Again, Morrispine went from twenty students to over
five hundred and forty students, right, And so I think
that the whole premise that I want to go somewhere
(06:31):
where I am celebrated, not just a number they know
me by name, culture, the whole cultural component. I think
that's definitely impacted the increase.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
We talk to entrepreneurs a lot, and some of them
were of that come to minor of the mindset that
college isn't relevant anymore, and there seems to be a
lot of that going around. So I'm wondering if the
fact that federal funds to HBCUs four hundred and thirty
five million dollars, and I know that you were among
the colleges at the Arthur Blank family gave fifty million
(07:01):
dollars to and you can directly funnel that to students.
Is that helping?
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Oh, absolutely, with the enrollment.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
The whole premise of raising money is the crux of
the matter for historical black colleges and universities. I don't
know if you all are watching the news, but billionaire
Mackenzie Scott right now absolutely giving yes, oh my god,
so much money to historical black colleges. I mean, listen,
Morris Brown hasn't gotten the call yet, but I am
patiently waiting.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yes and putting it in the atmosphere.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
I'm putting it in the atmosphere right now.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
I just saw today that Howard got eighty million from
Mackenzie Scott.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Some of that, Oh Mackenzie Scott, we are here and
you know, my goodness, and even just thinking about like Spellman, Morehouse,
Morris Brown, Clock Atlanta University, that whole like four.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Group of schools, the whole AU.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Center and supporting each other too, because those universities, you guys,
also are very supportive of what each university has going on.
Speaker 5 (07:54):
Absolutely, we are sister institutions. We've all been there for
hundreds of years, for a very long time. Morse Brown
this year, celebrating one hundred and forty five years of existence,
and so we're sister institutions.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
We worked well together. You know.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
I just saw today that Spellman got thirty eight million
from Mackenzie Scott, so we're.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Hey, oh my goodness, Scott.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Yes, here, if you're listening, Mackenzie Scott, Morris Brown College
is here. Yes.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I also saw that Bishop td Jakes was the commencement
speaker and also gave one hundred thousand dollars too as well.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yes, we were very very hap hanging out of HBCUs.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Yeah, you know this Morris Brown story. We invited td Jakes.
He came and did a phenomenal job. He inspired our graduates,
and you know, we're just very very excited about again
this momentum that we have.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
I think even I was looking at an article about
the valedictorian this year too, and she was a breast
cancer survivor and also taking care of her family, and
just a really powerful story to see somebody graduating from
Morris Brown that's been through all of that but still
really thrived and survived the way that she did.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
Morris Brown College. That is our special sauce we call
ourselves a haven for all hungry souls. That is a
line for my Alma model, and the second line of
the Alma Mada says, and feeding them shall be our goal.
The whole premise is, if you are hungry, no matter
who you are, no matter what you're going through, no
matter where you start, it's not about where you start,
it's about where you finish. Morris Brown will pour into you.
(09:19):
And that is a perfect example of a student. She said,
nothing's going to stop me from graduating. And not only
does she graduate, but she was our valatorian and right
now she just took the LSAT so she can go
to law school.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
So we're very, very proud of me.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
I heard you get interviewed recently about as a school
grows and as you get more money and you're going
to be adding more programs like sports and everything. Yes,
but I thought it was great. And when hy you
did it, you first stuff, you added a mental health counselor.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
Yes, yes, you know the whole premise of our students
today they really need someone to talk to. And right now,
going through the holidays and going through so much, what's
going on in this country, people losing their jobs, you know,
snap benefits being cut so much, we wanted to make
sure that our students had a holistic experience, and so
we added some new health counselors and a different team
members to make sure that our students had someone to
(10:08):
talk to during difficult times.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Also saw at Morris Brown College, you guys opened up
your doors to another university, Limestone University. Yes, they announced
that they were closing. So imagine you paid to go
to school and now all of a sudden, this university
was closing, and you guys have opened up your doors.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Yeah, we did.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
You know, we know personally what that feels like. In
two thousand and two, two thousand and three, Morris Brown
loss as creditation and our students had to go somewhere else,
and so other institutions helped our students transferring to their school.
When I saw that story, I said, we have to
repay and do the same thing, and so we opened
up the doors to them and we did receive some
of those students who did come over.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
That's amazing. I love this. It's like family.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Yes, you know for real.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Now I want to ask you about something that was
in the media entertainment recently, and I want to get
your take on it. As the president of Morris Brown
College and HBCU, Kiki Palmer's under fire. I don't know
if you saw this story, but there is a show
that her network, KEYTV is producing. It's called Southern Fried Rice,
and so people were mad, it's about a Korean American
(11:12):
girl who's going to an HBCU.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
I don't know if you saw, did you?
Speaker 4 (11:15):
I think I saw a sprinklup. Yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
So she got a lot of backlash for that because
it's like people were asking, why are you centering the
story of an Asian person at an HBCU at this time?
This feels tone deaf, And she responded she didn't create
the show, She's just putting it on her network.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
I want to know what your thoughts are.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Well.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
I can understand people asking the question because historically black
colleges are for African Americans. But here's a very important component.
We have always been inclusive and open to everyone, including
white students, and so telling that story, I don't know
where that angle came from, but in general, black colleges
are open to everyone. The premise of black and brown
(11:57):
students at historical black colleges, again, we do the best
job of educating folks who look like us. And it again,
it's not just black students, but it's all students.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
I remember a different world. Remember they had the one.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
The one white student was that?
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:13):
I remember that?
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Oh yeah it was. Are you seeing a pickup and
enrollment in diverse students overall in HBCUs.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Yes, I am. You know.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
We actually are one of the few schools in Atlanta
that partner with the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, And
that was a purposeful partnership because Gwenette County, which is
thirty minutes right up the street, has one of the
largest Hispanic populations. So again, Morris Brown College, we are
open to all. Again, a haven for all hungry souls,
and that world all is very important.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
What are the like if somebody was to go to
Morris Brown College, what would you say are some of
the standout majors? Because I know certain schools are better
for certain things. So if you had to say, okay,
if you want to be in hospitality, this is where
you would come.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Well, it's interesting that you mentioned hospitality. Morris Brown is
the only HBCU in the state of Georgia that has
a degree in hospitality management. And in fact, yes, in fact,
the Arthur Blank Family Foundation just donated three million dollars
to Morrisbroun College to scale that program.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I like that because I always feel like that's a
skill you can take anywhere. Absolutely, and I was saying
transfers over yeah, no matter like you could be in
another country. Hospitality is something that is no matter what needed,
but also just a really valuable skill to be able
to have. And there's so many different layers that come
with that. As a business owner myself, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
So Hospitality manager is one of our unique programs. Actually
we're the only school in Georgia that has a degree
in esports, performance gaming and building esports.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Okay, yeah, the multi.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Billion dollar industry. And it's not just about video games,
it's the business.
Speaker 6 (13:50):
Listen, do you know I'm doing this streaming and podcast
many artists.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
I saw DDG recently was at Complex Conn and he
was saying that he makes more money off of streaming
than he has as an artists.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
Absolutely, and so I want some of my esports to
to come in maybe intern here. That would be wonderful.
I think that would be great.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
But yes, definitely, that's amazing yeah, because that really is
a business and everybody wants to figure out how do
I monetize that. Grizzly talk about how much money he
makes doing that. I also saw you had past the
chory teaching a class a guest.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Yeah, yeah, talk about R and B and hip hop
and how it affects you know, music and how it
affects business.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
And so he came and spoke.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I always think there's so much that you can learn
from artists because it's exciting to like meet a celebrity
that's in the classroom that's been through some things, but
then to like dissect lyrics and talk about the history
because there is such a strong history when it comes
to our music, yes, and what it represents. Even now
we're looking at all these different things happening with streaming,
you know, with Drake, with lawsuits, and I think those
(14:48):
are really valuable discussions that you can take from inside
the classroom into real life.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Absolutely, all those people have to be entrepreneurs.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Absolutely, it's all business.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Yeah, you have you have special things for entrepreneurs. I
wanted you to talk about some of the programs that
people can get with you.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
So we're one of the few schools that also has
not only degree programs, but certifications and certificates as well.
When we were going through this hard reset and bringing
back Morris S. Brown College, what we found from the
community was everyone doesn't want to go to school for
four years. Some students want to come in and get
a quick credential so they can go straight to work.
So we have a certificate, a one year certificate in
(15:24):
business entrepreneurship where you could come in, get that skill
and go straight to work. So we're very excited about
that as well.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
That's an awesome option for people.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Absolutely absolutely, because even thinking about like you know, you
don't want to have to go through like you said,
all of that school's.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Expensive and it's expensive.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, it's not to get four years out of Everybody
can't take four years out of there.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
And I also want to just note that also Morris
Brown College is the most affordable Black college in the
city of Atlanta as well. It was my goal as
the president to make sure that not only can students come,
but they can afford to pay and leave and graduate
without being saddled down in a lot of debt. And
so it's our goal to get a lot of philanthropists
and funders to come and help, you know, breage that
(16:05):
gap so these students can graduate with a little to
no debt.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Is there a broad study of broad program? That was
one thing I regretted not doing in college. I wish
I would have taken advantage of something.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
Like we haven't done our study abroad quite yet. But
we're going to be bringing that back.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
So yeah, bringing everything back that way, We're bringing it
all back.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Everything is coming back. Greek life is back on the.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Yard you're talking about. You're gonna start with golf and.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Start with some of the small ones that don't require
huge facilities, like golf and bowling and soccer. We're bringing
everything back because again HBCU experience requires that student life component.
And so we brought back to Divine nine, the Omegas,
the Delta's the aka.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
HBCU Baby North Carolina.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Oh wonderful. Wow, that is wonderful. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
So you know, that whole component is very, very unique
to the experience, and we brought it back. So students
are very excited.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Now, did you go to an HBCU.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
I did.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
I went to South Carolina State University. I went to
Winthrop University. I went to separate schools.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
So what would you say made that experience different for you?
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Like, what are the things that you appreciate from having
gone to a.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
SBCU going to an HBCU.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Seeing faculty that look like you, seeing other people who
have a similar background that you have and can relate
to your experience is always good. All the difference the
student activities. You know, you have to assimilate into college.
You don't want to be a loner. It's not a
no man's land. You got to you gotta find family
and friends and something that you really really hone to
(17:28):
hone in on. You know, I see that my students
they come in, you know, they join the honor Society
or the NAACP, or the fraternity or sorority, or the
dance club or the modeling troop or the cheerleading team.
These components help and it's been proven with retention of
students and also students in their classes. At Morris Brown,
we were pried a three point zero to join. So
(17:49):
students who want to join delt Signatata or Alpha Kava
Alpha or whatever, Okay, get your grades up right, And
it's working because students want to join, they get their
grades up so it's really really helping and which is
very very excited to offer an experience to students where
they can.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Feel at home.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
How is homecoming?
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Oh my god, homecoming was off. Oh my god, home
coming was off the.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
Chaine this year we had a great time. I mean,
family and friends came back. Thankfully, we didn't have any issues.
You know, we've seen some issues at some HBCUs.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
We honed in on our security.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Are you doing about that?
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah, well we increased our security this year just to
make sure, even though more so fround this small and
family environment. We wanted to make sure that everybody was
safe and that everyone had a great experience and that
we had no issues. And thankfully we didn't have any
issues this year.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Have you been affected at all by this presidency or yeah?
I would like to know, like what are some things
or have there been obstacles? I know he talks a
lot about funding HBCUs and providing you know that support.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
One of the biggest things that could negatively affect black
colleges and universities is.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
If they cut pale.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Many students at HBCUs audience. What are the.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Pale grants are the funding that you don't have to
pay back for the most disadvantage group, the most disadvantaged
students in populations coming from disadvantaged populations. And so for example,
at Morris Brown's, seventy percent of my students are held eligible,
which means they are eligible for some funding where the
government will give them funding that they don't have to repay, right,
And so if PALE gets cut, that is going to
(19:25):
negatively impact historical black colleges and universities.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
This is just such a flashback. We did a special
in I think twenty twenty about real estate Reset, and
we focused on student loan debt yes and still being
able to become a homeowner yright and the Blacks weren't
allowed to get PEL grants. That's how I mean, that's
really how they were used to segregate colleges, and that's
it's just so interesting that that's coming around again.
Speaker 5 (19:49):
Yeah, well today many black students are PALE eligible and
they need that funding to be able to go to college.
But it's a lot of conversations going on simultaneously around
this country.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yeah that I think that's by design and to kind
of confuse people, so you're focused on one thing, but
then this slides through and You're like, wait, I didn't
because I haven't heard anybody talk about the pelgrams potentially
being you know, that hasn't been in the headlines.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
You know, for me, a.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Lot happening with student loans under this administry.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And I have to imagine that goodness, you have the
mental health aspect because during this time it is really
tough to see. I feel like people have been a
lot more forthcoming with racism now and being able to
say whatever it is that they want in spaces on
television and news, you know, cops ice that's been you know,
just watching like the even looking at the news and
(20:35):
looking at social media. It sometimes makes me feel like
I don't even know, like you feel really helpless.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
It's so many things going on, which is the reason
why going back to HBCU enrollment increasing. We need a
safe space and what's the safest space for a black
man right now in this country?
Speaker 4 (20:51):
And my viewpoint is at an HBCU.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
That's a great, great, great point.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
So next next week I'm bringing together all of my
males students. We're gonna have a flash mob in suits.
We're gonna show up to the school everybody in suits
and the premise and the idea around it was, Wow,
look at three hundred black men and we're all in
suits on campus. That safe space, that environment, that welcoming environment,
(21:17):
is gonna positively continue to impact our student satisfaction. Right
and so with everything that's going on, and that's just
one example everything that's going on in this country, there's
no place greater for someone to be right now than
a historical bum.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
We want to bring wealth Wednesdays and financial education to
your school as well.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I would love that.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
We will be doing that.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
I would love it.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
What do you want to tell people our audience right
now about what's happening with HBCUs, what's happening with your college?
What are you feeling right now?
Speaker 4 (21:45):
Right now?
Speaker 5 (21:46):
Morris Brown College's experience is phenomenal transformation, doing something that
no other HBCU has ever done in history, rebounding after
a nearly twenty year hiatus, going from twenty students to
over five hundred and four for these students in a
little over three years, and doing something very transformative of
being able to provide a phenomenal education to students who
(22:09):
need an opportunity. And we're in downtown Atlanta directly across
the street from the Mercedes Benz Stadium. We are having
for all hungry souls, like I've mentioned a few times,
where individuals can come to Morris Round College enroll, get
all the skills that they need to be able to
go out in this world and compete and do it
with an affordable cost. And so this transformative HBCU really
(22:32):
wants to pour back into our community in the city
of Atlanta, throughout the state of Georgia, this region, and
this country.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Well, I love it. Watch us, doctor Kevin James. I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
And what I love is that I feel like you're
accessible to people and open to different creative ideas.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
People sometimes think I'm a student.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
I'm a student.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
I mean, yeah, they think of a student.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
So yeah, we have an open door policy at Morris Brown's.
Students see me in the hallway, hey, doctor, pulled me
to the side and have conversation, you know.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
And and again that's why we're very unique.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, And that's how unique partnerships can happen to to
be accessible and open to those things and letting people
know we're here, we're growing, and this is a perfect
time to get in absolutely all right, thank you, thank you,
so much.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
For having me, Thank you, enjoying the conversation. Happy Wealth Wednesdays,
everybody
What's up is where yea put? Angela?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Ye, I'm here for Wealth Wednesday with my girls Stacy Tisdale.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Happy Wealth Wednesdays everybody. And today we have we're gonna
call it Comeback Day. Yes, because we are so honored
to be joined by doctor Kevin James, who is the
CEO and president of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, and
we're calling him the comeback Kid. Yes, because when you
started there, I think enrollment was it twenty twenty? Now
(00:30):
it's over over five hundred, Angel, its only five hundred
and thirty six? Yes, how did that happen? What inspired you?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
What happened? Yes?
Speaker 5 (00:38):
Well, I guess I started the beginning Morris Brown College,
historic HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. What makes us very unique
is we're the only HBCU in Georgia that was actually founded, funded, own,
and operated by African Americans, black folks, former slaves. Started
this institution.
Speaker 6 (00:53):
In eighteen eighty one, eighteen eighty one, eighteen eighty one. Yeah,
and we were charted in eighteen eighty five. We started
in eighteen eighty one, was very unique. Six months after
we filmed the movie Drumline. You all remember the movie
drum Line. We were in the movie drum Line. We
were the feature school in the movie drum Line. Six
months after that movie made so much money, the school
loss us accreditation.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
How does that happen?
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Yeah, well, it was some financial mismanagement at that time,
and the school loss us accreditation and the school literally
went from three thousand students to about fifty students overnight. Yeah,
it was crushing, and you know, that should have been
the end of Morris Brown College, but we kept pressing
for the mark. The school never closed. We had somewhere
between twenty and forty students over twenty years, right, And
(01:37):
I came in in December of twenty eighteen.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
What's that like to have a college of twenty to
forty students?
Speaker 4 (01:43):
I know, I don't know.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
I wasn't there at the time, but it was a
very very small institution, an institution a group of folks
that said, we're not gonna close, We're not gonna give up,
We're gonna keep trying. And so the school held on
by a thread. Thirty five million dollar bankruptcy, the loss
of land, the loss of reputation, the loss of so
much and so anyway, I came in interviewed for the
(02:05):
position in December of twenty eighteen. Started in the spring
of twenty nineteen, and I walked through the doors and
I said, oh my god, what in the world I just.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Walk in too.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
I mean, challenge you like a challenge?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Well, you know, I knew it was gonna be tough,
but I didn't really know how tough it was until
my very very first day. You know, I walked into
the building. I saw the faculty and staff. They were
seven paychecks behind. I mean they literally, oh yeah, I
mean they were at work, and they were at work
with a smile, not getting paid. I never seen anything like.
To make a long story short, we've made history as
(02:38):
the first black college to literally come back from death right.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
We're not fully accredited.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
We have our federal financial aid reinstated, we have our
vetermans benefits reinstated, we have online programs, and we're growing.
I started six and a half years ago twenty students,
as of today five hundred and forty students and.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
The very bold goal of doubling, Yeah, that enrollment over
the next five years. How are you going to do that?
Speaker 5 (03:03):
Well, just continuing to do things like this tell the
story of the resurgence of Morris Frown College, really promoting
historical black colleges and universities. No other organization affects the
black middle class like our historical black colleges and universities
altely and so just making sure that the world knows
that Morrisprown College is back. We never went anywhere. We're
accredited and we're open for business and we're doing great things.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
You know, doctor Kevin James, I have to ask you
what made you take that challenge on. I know you
said you didn't know how difficult it would be, but
when you were interviewing for the job, and then you
knew the history of what had happened, and I have
to imagine it has to feel amazing to be in
this position now. But back then, what gave you the
foresight to say this is something I want to do.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
I feel like God sent me to do the work.
I mean, I can speak now now that we're on
the other side. So many times where a normal common
sense person would have quit on the spot, I mean
so many times, but every single time when that door
opened for me, I said, we're not going to close
this door. We're going to keep pushing. And so I
feel like God sent me to do the work. I
wanted to be a college president, and I just felt
like it was my destiny to bring back this historical
(04:05):
black college. And so we assembled a phenomenal team. It's
not just me. I'm a phenomenal team. They're working very
hard to do great things as we continue our resurgence.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
And you're the youngest president ever.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
Well no, well at Morris Brown.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Say so that's a big deal too, that that fresh
young blood coming in Yeah, and reviving thing.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
I think that's why they picked me.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
So I knew somebody needed a lot of energy.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
I became a president when I was forty one years old,
and I think they picked me because it was like,
you know what, we're at the bottom of the barrel.
We we gotta find somebody who's gonna come in young, crazy.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
You know.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
I did a Ted talk and the title of my
Ted talk was you must be crazy. And I got
that because everyone said, Kevin, you are crazy to go
to Morris Brown College. But again, we've done the work.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
What was the process like getting the accreditation back? Because
I know it's been three years now, right, is that correct?
Since you guys have been a credit again, So tell
me what that process was, like, what does that take?
Speaker 5 (05:03):
Yes, So the whole premise of accreditation. Accreditation is symbolic
of quality, right and going through the different standards set
forth by the United States Department of Education accredited organizations
at accredited institutions. So we're credited through the Transnational Association
of Christian Colleges and Schools. We wanted to go back
to our Christian roots. We were founded in the basement
of Big Bethel Amy Church, African Methodist Episcopal affiliated institution. Yes,
(05:27):
and so we went through the process, we reached out
to them, we started the process. It took us about
three and a half years to become accredited, where we
had to go through and prove that we met all
of the different rigorous standards to be accredited. And so
we've met those standards and so now we're up. We
got a credit for our first five years. Now we're
up for our ten year reaffirmation. So spring of twenty
twenty six we anticipate being reaffirmed for another ten years.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
That's fantastic, really interesting. You're seeing college enrollment down across
the country, but HBCUs are bucking that trend and actually
enrollment rose nearly six percent last year. Why do you
think so many people are turning towards HBCUs.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Well, there have been some cuts regarding DEI across this country.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
We've noticed, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
And so my stance on this is you should go
where you are celebrated and not tolerated. And so we
have seen increases across the spectrum of historical black colleges
and universities. Again, Morrispine went from twenty students to over
five hundred and forty students, right, And so I think
that the whole premise that I want to go somewhere
(06:31):
where I am celebrated, not just a number they know
me by name, culture, the whole cultural component. I think
that's definitely impacted the increase.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
We talk to entrepreneurs a lot, and some of them
were of that come to minor of the mindset that
college isn't relevant anymore, and there seems to be a
lot of that going around. So I'm wondering if the
fact that federal funds to HBCUs four hundred and thirty
five million dollars, and I know that you were among
the colleges at the Arthur Blank family gave fifty million
(07:01):
dollars to and you can directly funnel that to students.
Is that helping?
Speaker 4 (07:05):
Oh, absolutely, with the enrollment.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
The whole premise of raising money is the crux of
the matter for historical black colleges and universities. I don't
know if you all are watching the news, but billionaire
Mackenzie Scott right now absolutely giving yes, oh my god,
so much money to historical black colleges. I mean, listen,
Morris Brown hasn't gotten the call yet, but I am
patiently waiting.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yes and putting it in the atmosphere.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
I'm putting it in the atmosphere right now.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
I just saw today that Howard got eighty million from
Mackenzie Scott.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Some of that, Oh Mackenzie Scott, we are here and
you know, my goodness, and even just thinking about like Spellman, Morehouse,
Morris Brown, Clock Atlanta University, that whole like four.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Group of schools, the whole AU.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Center and supporting each other too, because those universities, you guys,
also are very supportive of what each university has going on.
Speaker 5 (07:54):
Absolutely, we are sister institutions. We've all been there for
hundreds of years, for a very long time. Morse Brown
this year, celebrating one hundred and forty five years of existence,
and so we're sister institutions.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
We worked well together. You know.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
I just saw today that Spellman got thirty eight million
from Mackenzie Scott, so we're.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Hey, oh my goodness, Scott.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Yes, here, if you're listening, Mackenzie Scott, Morris Brown College
is here. Yes.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I also saw that Bishop td Jakes was the commencement
speaker and also gave one hundred thousand dollars too as well.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yes, we were very very hap hanging out of HBCUs.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Yeah, you know this Morris Brown story. We invited td Jakes.
He came and did a phenomenal job. He inspired our graduates,
and you know, we're just very very excited about again
this momentum that we have.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
I think even I was looking at an article about
the valedictorian this year too, and she was a breast
cancer survivor and also taking care of her family, and
just a really powerful story to see somebody graduating from
Morris Brown that's been through all of that but still
really thrived and survived the way that she did.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
Morris Brown College. That is our special sauce we call
ourselves a haven for all hungry souls. That is a
line for my Alma model, and the second line of
the Alma Mada says, and feeding them shall be our goal.
The whole premise is, if you are hungry, no matter
who you are, no matter what you're going through, no
matter where you start, it's not about where you start,
it's about where you finish. Morris Brown will pour into you.
(09:19):
And that is a perfect example of a student. She said,
nothing's going to stop me from graduating. And not only
does she graduate, but she was our valatorian and right
now she just took the LSAT so she can go
to law school.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
So we're very, very proud of me.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
I heard you get interviewed recently about as a school
grows and as you get more money and you're going
to be adding more programs like sports and everything. Yes,
but I thought it was great. And when hy you
did it, you first stuff, you added a mental health counselor.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
Yes, yes, you know the whole premise of our students
today they really need someone to talk to. And right now,
going through the holidays and going through so much, what's
going on in this country, people losing their jobs, you know,
snap benefits being cut so much, we wanted to make
sure that our students had a holistic experience, and so
we added some new health counselors and a different team
members to make sure that our students had someone to
(10:08):
talk to during difficult times.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Also saw at Morris Brown College, you guys opened up
your doors to another university, Limestone University. Yes, they announced
that they were closing. So imagine you paid to go
to school and now all of a sudden, this university
was closing, and you guys have opened up your doors.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Yeah, we did.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
You know, we know personally what that feels like. In
two thousand and two, two thousand and three, Morris Brown
loss as creditation and our students had to go somewhere else,
and so other institutions helped our students transferring to their school.
When I saw that story, I said, we have to
repay and do the same thing, and so we opened
up the doors to them and we did receive some
of those students who did come over.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
That's amazing. I love this. It's like family.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Yes, you know for real.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Now I want to ask you about something that was
in the media entertainment recently, and I want to get
your take on it. As the president of Morris Brown
College and HBCU, Kiki Palmer's under fire. I don't know
if you saw this story, but there is a show
that her network, KEYTV is producing. It's called Southern Fried Rice,
and so people were mad, it's about a Korean American
(11:12):
girl who's going to an HBCU.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
I don't know if you saw, did you?
Speaker 4 (11:15):
I think I saw a sprinklup. Yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
So she got a lot of backlash for that because
it's like people were asking, why are you centering the
story of an Asian person at an HBCU at this time?
This feels tone deaf, And she responded she didn't create
the show, She's just putting it on her network.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
I want to know what your thoughts are.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Well.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
I can understand people asking the question because historically black
colleges are for African Americans. But here's a very important component.
We have always been inclusive and open to everyone, including
white students, and so telling that story, I don't know
where that angle came from, but in general, black colleges
are open to everyone. The premise of black and brown
(11:57):
students at historical black colleges, again, we do the best
job of educating folks who look like us. And it again,
it's not just black students, but it's all students.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
I remember a different world. Remember they had the one.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
The one white student was that?
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:13):
I remember that?
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Oh yeah it was. Are you seeing a pickup and
enrollment in diverse students overall in HBCUs.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Yes, I am. You know.
Speaker 5 (12:22):
We actually are one of the few schools in Atlanta
that partner with the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, And
that was a purposeful partnership because Gwenette County, which is
thirty minutes right up the street, has one of the
largest Hispanic populations. So again, Morris Brown College, we are
open to all. Again, a haven for all hungry souls,
and that world all is very important.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
What are the like if somebody was to go to
Morris Brown College, what would you say are some of
the standout majors? Because I know certain schools are better
for certain things. So if you had to say, okay,
if you want to be in hospitality, this is where
you would come.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Well, it's interesting that you mentioned hospitality. Morris Brown is
the only HBCU in the state of Georgia that has
a degree in hospitality management. And in fact, yes, in fact,
the Arthur Blank Family Foundation just donated three million dollars
to Morrisbroun College to scale that program.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I like that because I always feel like that's a
skill you can take anywhere. Absolutely, and I was saying
transfers over yeah, no matter like you could be in
another country. Hospitality is something that is no matter what needed,
but also just a really valuable skill to be able
to have. And there's so many different layers that come
with that. As a business owner myself, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
So Hospitality manager is one of our unique programs. Actually
we're the only school in Georgia that has a degree
in esports, performance gaming and building esports.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Okay, yeah, the multi.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Billion dollar industry. And it's not just about video games,
it's the business.
Speaker 6 (13:50):
Listen, do you know I'm doing this streaming and podcast
many artists.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
I saw DDG recently was at Complex Conn and he
was saying that he makes more money off of streaming
than he has as an artists.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
Absolutely, and so I want some of my esports to
to come in maybe intern here. That would be wonderful.
I think that would be great.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
But yes, definitely, that's amazing yeah, because that really is
a business and everybody wants to figure out how do
I monetize that. Grizzly talk about how much money he
makes doing that. I also saw you had past the
chory teaching a class a guest.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Yeah, yeah, talk about R and B and hip hop
and how it affects you know, music and how it
affects business.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
And so he came and spoke.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I always think there's so much that you can learn
from artists because it's exciting to like meet a celebrity
that's in the classroom that's been through some things, but
then to like dissect lyrics and talk about the history
because there is such a strong history when it comes
to our music, yes, and what it represents. Even now
we're looking at all these different things happening with streaming,
you know, with Drake, with lawsuits, and I think those
(14:48):
are really valuable discussions that you can take from inside
the classroom into real life.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Absolutely, all those people have to be entrepreneurs.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Absolutely, it's all business.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Yeah, you have you have special things for entrepreneurs. I
wanted you to talk about some of the programs that
people can get with you.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
So we're one of the few schools that also has
not only degree programs, but certifications and certificates as well.
When we were going through this hard reset and bringing
back Morris S. Brown College, what we found from the
community was everyone doesn't want to go to school for
four years. Some students want to come in and get
a quick credential so they can go straight to work.
So we have a certificate, a one year certificate in
(15:24):
business entrepreneurship where you could come in, get that skill
and go straight to work. So we're very excited about
that as well.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
That's an awesome option for people.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Absolutely absolutely, because even thinking about like you know, you
don't want to have to go through like you said,
all of that school's.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Expensive and it's expensive.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, it's not to get four years out of Everybody
can't take four years out of there.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
And I also want to just note that also Morris
Brown College is the most affordable Black college in the
city of Atlanta as well. It was my goal as
the president to make sure that not only can students come,
but they can afford to pay and leave and graduate
without being saddled down in a lot of debt. And
so it's our goal to get a lot of philanthropists
and funders to come and help, you know, breage that
(16:05):
gap so these students can graduate with a little to
no debt.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Is there a broad study of broad program? That was
one thing I regretted not doing in college. I wish
I would have taken advantage of something.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
Like we haven't done our study abroad quite yet. But
we're going to be bringing that back.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
So yeah, bringing everything back that way, We're bringing it
all back.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Everything is coming back. Greek life is back on the.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Yard you're talking about. You're gonna start with golf and.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Start with some of the small ones that don't require
huge facilities, like golf and bowling and soccer. We're bringing
everything back because again HBCU experience requires that student life component.
And so we brought back to Divine nine, the Omegas,
the Delta's the aka.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
HBCU Baby North Carolina.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Oh wonderful. Wow, that is wonderful. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
So you know, that whole component is very, very unique
to the experience, and we brought it back. So students
are very excited.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Now, did you go to an HBCU.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
I did.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
I went to South Carolina State University. I went to
Winthrop University. I went to separate schools.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
So what would you say made that experience different for you?
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Like, what are the things that you appreciate from having
gone to a.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
SBCU going to an HBCU.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Seeing faculty that look like you, seeing other people who
have a similar background that you have and can relate
to your experience is always good. All the difference the
student activities. You know, you have to assimilate into college.
You don't want to be a loner. It's not a
no man's land. You got to you gotta find family
and friends and something that you really really hone to
(17:28):
hone in on. You know, I see that my students
they come in, you know, they join the honor Society
or the NAACP, or the fraternity or sorority, or the
dance club or the modeling troop or the cheerleading team.
These components help and it's been proven with retention of
students and also students in their classes. At Morris Brown,
we were pried a three point zero to join. So
(17:49):
students who want to join delt Signatata or Alpha Kava
Alpha or whatever, Okay, get your grades up right, And
it's working because students want to join, they get their
grades up so it's really really helping and which is
very very excited to offer an experience to students where
they can.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Feel at home.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
How is homecoming?
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Oh my god, homecoming was off. Oh my god, home
coming was off the.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
Chaine this year we had a great time. I mean,
family and friends came back. Thankfully, we didn't have any issues.
You know, we've seen some issues at some HBCUs.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
We honed in on our security.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Are you doing about that?
Speaker 5 (18:23):
Yeah, well we increased our security this year just to
make sure, even though more so fround this small and
family environment. We wanted to make sure that everybody was
safe and that everyone had a great experience and that
we had no issues. And thankfully we didn't have any
issues this year.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Have you been affected at all by this presidency or yeah?
I would like to know, like what are some things
or have there been obstacles? I know he talks a
lot about funding HBCUs and providing you know that support.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
One of the biggest things that could negatively affect black
colleges and universities is.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
If they cut pale.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Many students at HBCUs audience. What are the.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Pale grants are the funding that you don't have to
pay back for the most disadvantage group, the most disadvantaged
students in populations coming from disadvantaged populations. And so for example,
at Morris Brown's, seventy percent of my students are held eligible,
which means they are eligible for some funding where the
government will give them funding that they don't have to repay, right,
And so if PALE gets cut, that is going to
(19:25):
negatively impact historical black colleges and universities.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
This is just such a flashback. We did a special
in I think twenty twenty about real estate Reset, and
we focused on student loan debt yes and still being
able to become a homeowner yright and the Blacks weren't
allowed to get PEL grants. That's how I mean, that's
really how they were used to segregate colleges, and that's
it's just so interesting that that's coming around again.
Speaker 5 (19:49):
Yeah, well today many black students are PALE eligible and
they need that funding to be able to go to college.
But it's a lot of conversations going on simultaneously around
this country.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yeah that I think that's by design and to kind
of confuse people, so you're focused on one thing, but
then this slides through and You're like, wait, I didn't
because I haven't heard anybody talk about the pelgrams potentially
being you know, that hasn't been in the headlines.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
You know, for me, a.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Lot happening with student loans under this administry.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And I have to imagine that goodness, you have the
mental health aspect because during this time it is really
tough to see. I feel like people have been a
lot more forthcoming with racism now and being able to
say whatever it is that they want in spaces on
television and news, you know, cops ice that's been you know,
just watching like the even looking at the news and
(20:35):
looking at social media. It sometimes makes me feel like
I don't even know, like you feel really helpless.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
It's so many things going on, which is the reason
why going back to HBCU enrollment increasing. We need a
safe space and what's the safest space for a black
man right now in this country?
Speaker 4 (20:51):
And my viewpoint is at an HBCU.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
That's a great, great, great point.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
So next next week I'm bringing together all of my
males students. We're gonna have a flash mob in suits.
We're gonna show up to the school everybody in suits
and the premise and the idea around it was, Wow,
look at three hundred black men and we're all in
suits on campus. That safe space, that environment, that welcoming environment,
(21:17):
is gonna positively continue to impact our student satisfaction. Right
and so with everything that's going on, and that's just
one example everything that's going on in this country, there's
no place greater for someone to be right now than
a historical bum.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
We want to bring wealth Wednesdays and financial education to
your school as well.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I would love that.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
We will be doing that.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
I would love it.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
What do you want to tell people our audience right
now about what's happening with HBCUs, what's happening with your college?
What are you feeling right now?
Speaker 4 (21:45):
Right now?
Speaker 5 (21:46):
Morris Brown College's experience is phenomenal transformation, doing something that
no other HBCU has ever done in history, rebounding after
a nearly twenty year hiatus, going from twenty students to
over five hundred and four for these students in a
little over three years, and doing something very transformative of
being able to provide a phenomenal education to students who
(22:09):
need an opportunity. And we're in downtown Atlanta directly across
the street from the Mercedes Benz Stadium. We are having
for all hungry souls, like I've mentioned a few times,
where individuals can come to Morris Round College enroll, get
all the skills that they need to be able to
go out in this world and compete and do it
with an affordable cost. And so this transformative HBCU really
(22:32):
wants to pour back into our community in the city
of Atlanta, throughout the state of Georgia, this region, and
this country.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Well, I love it. Watch us, doctor Kevin James. I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
And what I love is that I feel like you're
accessible to people and open to different creative ideas.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
People sometimes think I'm a student.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
I'm a student.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
I mean, yeah, they think of a student.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
So yeah, we have an open door policy at Morris Brown's.
Students see me in the hallway, hey, doctor, pulled me
to the side and have conversation, you know.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
And and again that's why we're very unique.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, And that's how unique partnerships can happen to to
be accessible and open to those things and letting people
know we're here, we're growing, and this is a perfect
time to get in absolutely all right, thank you, thank you,
so much.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
For having me, Thank you, enjoying the conversation. Happy Wealth Wednesdays,
everybody
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Angela Yee
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