Lemoyne-owen and Memphis need each other
When I accepted the charge from my colleagues to serve as chair of the Lemoyne-owen College Board of Trustees, I was struck by the magnitude of the role and the work ahead. As trustees, we are all aware of the tremendous history of the college and the ways its graduates have contributed to the city, region and nation. We point to that history often.
In truth, we have made a disproportionate contribution to the well-being of Memphis, as our college was the sole, and then the primary, place for city’s black-college-going population.what we have done less well is communicate the reason why Lemoyne-owen College is worthy of our concerted time, talent, and treasure today.
The Greater Memphis region needs an institution that can own the preparation of its majority population for leadership in government, private industry and the nonprofit sector. The Mid-south needs an institution that understands the intersection between a liberal arts education for black and brown young adults and the development of careerspecific knowledge and skills.
Most important, our black and brown youth need an institution founded and focused on placing them at the center of our daily work.
Our president, Dr. Andrea Miller, brings both a commitment to her alma mater and a wealth of experience to her third presidency. She has built a leadership team to bring her vision to life. The board of trustees seeks to complement her contributions and those of her team with a diversity of backgrounds and talents.
The goals Dr. Miller has put forth in her Destination 2023 address the fundamental needs of the college.
❚ Recruiting and retaining faculty to develop and grow strong academic programs.
❚ Maximizing enrollment while balancing career preparation with maintaining the benefits of a small liberal arts college.
❚ Retaining first-year, first-time students from the fall of their first year to
the fall of their second year. ❚ Maximizing graduation rates. ❚ Ensuring the best post-graduation placements for our students in graduate school or careers.
❚ Growing our endowment by building a vibrant culture of gratitude and giving among our students and alumni and by engaging a wider audience in our mission by communicating our value to the Greater Memphis region.
The trustees are fully aware of the challenges before us and accept our role as those ultimately accountable for the college’s outcomes. We are committed to the transformation that will be necessary and the work it will require. We have already begun.
Just as the president has built a robust leadership team, the board of trustees has a parallel team in place consisting of accomplished professionals from government, private industry and the nonprofit sector. Each committee chair takes seriously their responsibility to align our governance and oversight with Destination 2023 and will work alongside their staff partners to monitor progress and shift course as necessary.
My job as board chair is to partner with Dr. Miller as we lead our respective teams to ensure Lemoyne-owen College maintains improvements across our goals. I am committed to performing the job with excellence and am proud to have a group of trustee colleagues with whom I take on this monumental task.
Our vision of being an exemplary historically black college will be accomplished by our daily dedication to providing a transformative experience for our students. I ask that the members of our community, especially our alumni, support us in our pursuit.
As we present more details about Destination 2023, there will be opportunities for partnership and participation. Lend us your ear and give us a hand. Our success means greater success for the city and the region.
J.W. Gibson is chair of the Lemoyneowen College Board of Trustees. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gibson Companies, Inc.