THE LEGACY CONTINUES 1 2 VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2016 ACTING PRESIDENT Dr. Frank L. Williams III ‘56 Dr. Joseph F. Johnson Dr. Theron D. Williams ’83, ‘86 Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson ‘79 Chairman of the Board HONORARY TRUSTEES Dr. Frank S. Royal ‘61 Mr. Steve D. Bullock ‘59 (Chairman Emeritus) Vice Chairman of the Board Dr. Wyatt T. Walker ’50, ‘53 Ms. Shirley W. Vaughn ‘56 (Trustee Emeritus) Secretary of the Board The Honorable Walter E. Fauntroy ‘55 Ms. Jeannie P. Baliles Mr. Sidney Poitier Dr. Steven G. Blunt ’96, ‘99 Mr. John H. Bocock PRESIDENT’S REPORT Dr. Lucille M. Brown ‘50 Editor Dr. Marilyn T. Brown ‘56 Vanessa Moody Coombs, J.D. Mr. Tyrone E. Dickerson Photographers Ayasha N. Sledge Ms. Mary A. Gordon Kiara McGowan-Powell Niasia Ellis Ms. Carolyn W. Jacobs ‘64 Design Ms. Diane Leopold College Company Dr. Roland E. Moore ‘69 N. Scott Phillips, Esq. ‘83 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Research Assistance provided by Mr. William A. Royall, Jr. Selicia Gregory Allen Dr. Howard-John Wesley SPECIAL THANKS to Deborah Alston in Ms. Stephanie G. White the Office of Institutional Advancement Selected historical photos used throughout this publication are courtesy of Scott L. Henderson for compiling the Honor Roll of Donors. Collection, Virginia Union University Archives & Special Collections. THE LEGACY CONTINUES 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The historic legacy of Virginia Union University stretches is dedicated to all of our alumni and friends who include for more than 151 years. Some have described this us in their budget, so generously, year after year. This journey as a miracle, while others see it as the creation of untethered support makes it possible not only to change a “beacon of light” in terms of a small school established the lives of Virginia Union students, but the lives in a former slave trading complex following the end of of entire families are uplifted with each scholarship that the Civil War that still stands proudly and continues to be you provide. strong today. This year’s report is presented in three sections: 1) the The first graduates were preachers and missionaries. legacy of giving, 2) the legacy of academic excellence, Never in their wildest dreams could Virginia Union’s and 3) the legacy of leadership. You will meet several very founding fathers have imagined the widespread special persons who are representative of a much larger influence of their beloved school. Virginia Union community of Virginia Union alumni, faculty, staff, and University has expanded its educational footprint to students. On behalf of the entire Virginia Union family, it is every arena imaginable. my honor to wish you God’s blessing in the New Year. Since 1865, we have seen our alumni make significant Let us continue our steadfast efforts to keep the legacy contributions in the fields of medicine, business, the arts, alive for many generations to come. athletics, education, science, theology, and public service. With Warm Regards, None of these contributions to our city, state, and nation would have been possible without the passionate and continuing support of our donors. As a result, the 2016 Joseph F. Johnson, Ed.D. issue of the Virginia Union University President’s Report Acting President 2 VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2016 THE LEGACY CONTINUES 3 “An HBCU education speaks to the core of who you are as an individual. It speaks to your uniqueness as an African American. You need to know your heritage, how perfect your ancestors were, and how we arrived at this place.” 4 VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2016 THE LEGACY OF GIVING DR. CHARLES BAUGHAM Charles Baugham grew up picking cotton in Rich degrees at Virginia Union’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School Square, North Carolina. “I didn’t know how I was going of Theology. “It was a commitment,” explains Baugham. to do it, but I knew I didn’t want to spend the rest of my “You set your priorities, deal with them first, and then other life on a farm,” he says. Virginia Union University (VUU) things come.” opened the door to a new life for Baugham and he never When VUU Gifts Management Director Deborah Alston forgets it. “Virginia Union helped me get to where I am,” went back as far as the University’s computerized records Baugham says. “I want to make sure others have the were kept, she found that Baugham is one of only three same opportunity.” individuals with consecutive giving records to VUU for such Dr. Charles Baugham is 72-years-old now, and the retired a lengthy period of time. “My gift from God is the spirit of pastor of St. James Baptist Church in Caroline County, giving,” Baugham adds. He and his wife Justine, whom he Virginia still fondly recalls his undergraduate days at met at Virginia Union, joke about his strong desire to help VUU. “I loved chapel,” recalls Baugham. “I was always others. “She says she’s going to come home one day and fascinated by the great minds that came to speak at VUU.” the house will be gone because I gave it away.” Baugham’s favorite professor was Dr. Stephen Romanoff. But the survival of Historically Black Colleges and “He was brilliant. He taught language arts, music, physics, Universities (HBCUs) is no laughing matter to Baugham. and science. I was just astounded at his brilliance.” “I still want black youngsters to have that experience Baugham made his first donation to his beloved alma they can only get at an HBCU,” stresses Baugham. “An mater in 1970, two years after graduation. He has made HBCU education speaks to the core of who you are as donations to Virginia Union University every single year for an individual. It speaks to your uniqueness as an African more than 45 years. The gifts to VUU continued even while American. You need to know your heritage, how perfect he completed Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry your ancestors were, and how we arrived at this place.” THE LEGACY CONTINUES 5 “Students today have many more options, but college is alien to many without role models to support them. HBCUs have a commitment to mentor students in a deeper manner. We have to do what we can to help the next generation keep moving ahead.” Lillian Brown is shown on the right of Miss VUU (center) in 1956. Brown was first runner-up. 6 VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2016 THE LEGACY OF GIVING DR. LILLIAN BROWN No one was surprised when Lillian Brown entered Virginia Because of the support of Dr. McGuinn and other Virginia Union University (VUU) in 1953. Her father, Dr. Felix J. Union faculty, Dr. Lillian Brown decided to continue the Brown, was a 1926 graduate of VUU and served on the legacy by spending more than 30 years in academia at Board of Trustees from 1955 to 1972. Lillian Brown walked City College in New York. She retired as Associate Dean for to the VUU campus every day from her home in Richmond’s Academic Standards. “Being an academician was not on North Side. “My parents were devoted to VUU and deeply my radar screen as a young person,” says Brown. “It turned appreciated all that it had done for them,” Brown explains. out to be a wonderful experience. I enjoyed the changes you She says she watched her father give financial assistance would see in students from freshman year on. The growth to others in the community so they could attend Virginia was impressive.” Union, so she just picked up where her father left off. Brown says VUU prepared her well and she continues Dr. Lillian Brown has been donating to VUU every single year to support her alma mater financially and by recruiting for the last 40 years. She is grateful for the preparation students from New York because Historically Black Colleges that Virginia Union provided. That strong foundation led and Universities (HBCUs) are still critical to the success of her to earn a master’s degree in social work from Columbia the next generation. “I don’t know why people talk about University in 1959 and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from a post racial nation,” Brown says. “We still have lots of Rutger’s University in 1981. “Virginia Union’s teaching obvious problems. Those of us lucky enough to get through faculty was very supportive,” she remembers. “Sociology segregation and have productive and successful lives need Department Chair Dr. Henry McGuinn opened my eyes to pass that on. Students today have many more options, to a lot of options. He planted the seeds for me to get a but college is alien to many without role models to support master’s degree.” McGuinn graduated from VUU in 1922 them. HBCUs have a commitment to mentor students in a and completed his doctoral studies at Columbia University. deeper manner. We have to do what we can to help the next He taught at the University for 44 years. generation keep moving ahead.” THE LEGACY CONTINUES 7 “Virginia Union strengthened me as a man. Even when I didn’t make the right decisions, there were still people there to ease me back on the right path. I feel the need to pay it forward.” “The value of historically black colleges like Virginia Union is priceless. We must maintain the legacy, goals, and objectives of our HBCUs in order to provide our students the rich experience that only HBCUs provide.” 8 VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2016 THE LEGACY OF GIVING DR.