JCSU News Release

JCSU President Honored at Annual UNCF dinner

Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF, (far left) congratulates retiring presidents from UNCF member institutions (left to right) Dr. Walter Broadnax, Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy, and Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake.

April 14, 2008 -- JCSU president Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy was recognized for her service at the 64th annual United Negro College Fund dinner last month.

The event was held in the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers on March 7 and the gala brought together 1,500 supporters of the UNCF. Attendees included actor Denzel Washington and his wife, the UNCF board, college presidents, and other friends alumni and students who have given of themselves in efforts to further the cause of education among African-Americans.

Washington and his wife received the UNCF’s highest honor of the night, The Frederick D. Patterson Award, in recognition of their work in helping historically black colleges and universities and in aiding the education of black students. The couple also donated $1 million to UNCF-member Wiley College, the HBSU featured in Washington’s recent film, “The Great Debaters,” a film based on a true story that features an all-black debate team that eventually goes on to debate an all-white team from Harvard.

Dr. Yancy was honored along with two other presidents who are also retiring from UNFC member institutions: Dr. Walter Broadnax from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA and Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake, president of Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, OH. The presidents were given glass vases that were designed by Steve Hazard, a South Carolina artist living in North Charleston who is known for his work in glass, clay and metal.

Dr. Yancy is the 12th president of Johnson C. Smith University and the first female president and has served the university for the past 14 years. She is credited with helping JCSU become one of the top historically black institutions in the nation. Dr. Yancy led the institution during a period of growth and construction, including a renovation and restoration of Biddle Hall, one of the oldest administrative buildings in the country, and under her watchful eye JCSU became the first historically black college in the nation to offer laptops to all of its students.

Dr. Yancy will leave the presidency on June 30, 2008, to pursue other interests. She received bachelor’s degrees in history and social science from JCSU in 1964, followed by an M.A. degree in history from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Ph.D. in political science from Atlanta University. She is listed as an arbitrator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services and the American Arbitration Association and is a special magistrate with the Florida Public Employee Relations Commission, the first African American appointed to that post.