“WE MUST HAVE A LEVEL OF COURAGE THAT HAS BEEN UNPARALLELED TO ANYTHING ELSE. BECAUSE OF THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT FOR HBCUS, FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL, FIGHT FOR THEIR FUNDING AND FIGHT FOR THEIR SUPPORT.” -DR. GLENDA GLOVER
private sector, though you’re a private school, there’s still some state relationships that you need to make and state funding that could be available for you.” She says that leaders are not aware of all of the funding sources within the federal government beyond the Department of Education, and there’s a need to look beyond the usual sources. Glover feels that part of her mission now is educating current leaders, specifically about funding sources for their institutions. Leaning on her fundraising experience at TSU and her corporate relationships, she wants to advise current HBCU leadership about the importance of and how to cultivate corporate partnerships. “They’re corporations that are on board, but others are waiting to learn more about the HBCUs. And I think that’s what we need to make sure we know how to
approach companies, how to sell ourselves properly and develop relationships first. You have to court companies before asking for donations.” When Glover was president of TSU, the number of women at the helm of HBCUs was growing, and those appointments are continuing to rise. She credits this shift to women incorporating life lessons into their leadership style, “The things you learn growing up will stick with you throughout your lifetime. Women are great leaders because we have learned from our mothers and grandmothers how to stretch a dollar. We take that same growing up base, and we make it work. It’s the same thought process.”
and enrollments are climbing to record numbers. In contrast, there is a high level of anti-DEI sentiment in the country. The Supreme Court has ruled against affirmative action, and there is much apprehension about the incoming second Trump administration and a Republican led Congress in both houses. How will HBCU presidents navigate in this political climate in order for their universities to continue to thrive, with many of them located in red states? Glover says it’s time now for the entire HBCU community to “Boot up, suit up and get ready for the fight.” She advises HBCU presidents, “We must have a level of courage that has been unparalleled to anything else. Because of the times in which we live, we have to be able to fight for HBCUs, fight for survival, fight for their funding and fight for their
support.” The political landscape is daunting, but Glover believes that HBCUs can and will thrive in this environment. She says daily prayer and meditation is her key to surviving and credits it with guiding her through the challenges of her own presidency. Beyond spiritual guidance, Glover says that presidents must develop relationships with their constituents on both sides of the political aisle at the state and community levels, as well as leveraging relationships among alumni. She calls HBCU alumni the most important base of support and advocates for universities that leaders need to utilize more as a resource. Although she is now retired, it appears that Dr. Glenda Glover’s work is not yet done.
In recent years, HBCUs have gained a larger national platform,
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