Dr. Kevin James named 19th President of Morris Brown College
ATLANTA — The Morris Brown College Board of Trustees announced it has unanimously appointed Dr. Kevin James as its 19th President, effective immediately. At age 42, he is one of the youngest College Presidents in the country. He has served as Interim President since March 1, 2019.
“I am honored to have been selected by the board to serve at the helm of Georgia’s only HBCU founded by black people; being named permanent president will allow me to strategize future growth and direction from a longstanding viewpoint,” said Dr. James. “I look forward to continuing this great work in collaboration with the board of trustees, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other shareholders to resurrect this historic college back to prominence. We will continue working to obtain accreditation, ensure financial stability, build a strong relationship with alumni, and grow enrollment through The Hard Reset.”
Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and bishop of the 6th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church says he is excited about the future of Morris Brown College under Dr. James leadership. Morris Brown has made tremendous progress within the last fourteen months. The state’s approval (Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission {GNPEC}, which authorizes and regulates the operations of in-state nonpublic and out-of-state postsecondary colleges and schools operating or offering instruction in Georgia) is a clear sign that Morris Brown College is headed in the right direction and gaining momentum for its future. Moreover, Dr. James led negotiations with the AME Church to remove a 4.2 million-dollar debt which cleared a pathway towards accreditation. Moreover, MBC has received over 1 million dollars in grant funding towards the restoration of the iconic Fountain Hall. Additionally, the institution has made tremendous progress under his leadership with accreditation, governance, rebranding of the institution, partnerships, and fiscal stability.
Furthermore, in February, Morris Brown College was named #6 of Ten Top Smaller HBCUs That Are Rising by the HBCU Campaign Fund, a testament of the national visibility and resurgence of the institution. Dr. James, the board, and the administration are commended for navigating our school through a very challenging process. Dr. James has provided bold leadership to address problems.
A native of Columbia, S.C., Dr. James attended South Carolina State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders and Social Sciences from Winthrop University; a master’s degree in Business Management, Leadership, and Organizational Effectiveness from Troy State University; and a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He is also a graduate of the Higher Education Institute at Harvard University. Dr. James is an active member of the DreamCenter Church of Atlanta under the leadership of his pastor, Bishop William Murphy III. Among his memberships are Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education and Golden Key International Honor Society. Committed to community service, Dr. James holds memberships in several organizations including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, the Prince Hall Masonic Fraternity, and 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.
