Office of the President / Wiley University

Meet The President

About Wiley University’s 17th President & CEO

Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr. is the 17th President of Wiley University. Dr. Felton began his service to the College in the February of 2018, and in a short period of time, he has achieved significant accomplishments, including spearheading a campaign with to renovate and modernize the Thomas W. Cole Library and KBWC, the University’s radio station as well as a training space for physical education majors. Wiley University Office of Public Safety was created in 2019 bring sworn police officers to partner with public safety officers at the university.

President Felton led a rebranding effort to update the university’s mascot, seal, and logo while simultaneously returning the university back to its founding moniker from Wiley College to Wiley University. Additionally creating a graduate school to house three graduate programs. The President has led the campus through renovations, McLeod Hall, The Beckley Building, Thirkield, The Hodge Center, and The Hayes Auditorium while also reimagining the Small Ballroom, and the entire booth floor of the Student Union Building. Updating Pemberton was a priority and securing a 2.5 million dollar grant to restore the West Wing in Pemberton and the Gymnasium culminates the restoration of classrooms and bathrooms in the building. Since 2018 President Felton and his administration have acquired 11 properties and built the Ponder Welcome Center while also brining Softball, Golf, ESports and soon Bass Fishing to the athletic program. He has also created a Student Health, Counseling, and Wellness Unit in addition to his accomplishments on Wiley’s campus, President Felton has immersed himself in the fabric of the Marshall Community, where he is a member of the Marshall Rotary Club, the Marshall Chamber of Commerce, and the Citizens Advisory Council.

President Felton comes to Wiley University from Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he served as the school’s 21st president. Prior to his appointment to Wilberforce University, President Felton served as senior vice president, chief operating officer and vice president of institutional advancement for Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. He also was the director of development while serving as a lecturer in the Government, Law, and International Affairs Department at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.

President Felton earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida. Also, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida and completed graduate work at Jackson State University, where he earned the Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration and Supervision.

He is the founder of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (H.E.L.F.), an organization ensuring that a pipeline of transformational, highly skilled and principled leaders are identified and cultivated to meet the needs, challenges and opportunities facing the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. President Felton is the author of several articles and co-editor (along with Dr. Hakim Lewis) of the book Modern Heroics: How HBCUs Navigated the COVID-19 Pandemic. President Felton served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years. He is married to the lovely Katherine Anne Felton and is the father of Jamal, Paige, and Herman, III.

President's Accomplishments:

2018

“Bold & Audacious Vision” begins with the naming of Wiley University’s 17th President & CEO.

1 of 5 institutions to work with President Cynthia Warrick, to seek, secure and strategize and share the $200k fee for a higher education consultant to find a pathway to create language of forgiveness which was adopted by Congress, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (This action, announced in April 2021, resulted in more than $1.6 billion in debt relief for 45 HBCUs).

Secured $9.6 million Grant when Wiley University was selected as 1 of 7 schools out of the 64 that applied for the HBCU Cap Finance Deferment Grant.

Establishes the Health and Wellness Program increasing focus on student mental health support.

2019

University reduced to $17,500 is implemented, making its affordability among the lowest tuition HBCUs in Texas.

Awarded $2.5M by the EDA for the creation of the Center for Digital Excellence and Workforce Development.

2020

The co-edited book Modern Heroics: Leading through Covid-19 is published.

The President’s Promise Scholarship Program is launched providing every student a scholarship.

2021

Campus renovations are completed on all buildings.

The Kenneth “Kenny” Ponder Welcome Center opens as the home to the Division of Institutional Advancement.

Launches the Sacred Pause 3-Days of Rest, Renewal, and Reflection. Revival series—a forum integrating spiritual purpose with educational outcomes, aligning institutional work with vocation and leadership.

2022

The Board of Trustees renews President Felton’s contract for another five years.

Anonymous donor clears balances for 2022 graduating class totaling over $300,000.

2023

University celebrates its Sesquicentennial by Returning to Our Roots.

Wiley transitions from “College” back to “Wiley University.”

Announces three new graduate programs: Higher Education Administration (with emphasis on HBCUs), Business Administration, and Criminal Justice.

Awarded National Park Service HBCU Historic Preservation Fund of $500,000 to restore/preserve the historic Pemberton-Wiley complex.

2024

Launched the iWiley Digital Initiative to provide every student with an Apple iPad + accessories.

Establish the Financial Literacy and Wellness Center powered by a T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo $150,000.

Wiley University became the home for the Higher Education Leadership Foundation.

Academic year reports a 23% growth in new student enrollment (368 new students), plus a 7% increase in returning students.

Wiley University Recruitment Plan launches with the establishment of student success coaches.

Establishment of the Thelma Dewitty Honors Program.

Launch of Women’s Softball as an addition to the Athletics Program.

Partnership with Anguilla Community College establishing a transfer pathway with Anguilla Community College, allowing students there to transfer credits, get scholarships, and participate in educational & cultural exchange.

Awarded $1.5M from TD Jakes Foundation for the launching of the Community Revitalization Project – Wiley Economic Improvement Zone (WEI).

2025

First classes of the Graduate Programs graduate.

University receives another gift from an anonymous donor and Jack and Jill Foundation ensuring the entire class graduates with no balance to the University.

Launch of the Financial Literacy & Wellness Community-Access Program (Phase II).

Wiley University surpassed 1,000 in enrollment, returning to pre-Covid enrollments. Record enrollment with new design for student success, programs, and enrollment.

Establishment of the Center for Teaching and Learning.

The Bold and Audacious Vision

A Message from the President

The Bold and Audacious Vision is a generous set of beliefs about Wiley University’s future for what we can become when we embrace innovation, faith, and works. This Vision began during my first few days at Wiley University, as I looked out across the campus and was inspired by the history, the place, the faculty & staff, and her students, I set out to solidify its future. The College has undoubtedly been a beacon of light, serving and impacting the nation and beyond, training change-makers such as Ms. Opal Lee, Mr. Heman Sweatt, and Mr. James Farmer, to name a few. Our next phase is to leverage this historical past, our accomplishments, and our distinguished alums to move the College into perpetual greatness. Moving in the spirit of the Wiley University Presidents before me, most decidedly recalling the years of President Matthew W. Dogan (1896-1942), I am excited to build upon our tremendous past.

The Bold and Audacious Vision began with a review of the physical space. Wiley University, nestled in Marshall, TX, is a dedicated place for living and learning. Every building was reimagined to reflect the inspirational nature of our learning environment. The projects initially were designed for completion over a span of 2-3 years, COVID-19 interrupted the campus operations in March 2020. As the campus moved to virtual reality, we invested in the University’s infrastructure. In November 2021, when the College reopened its onsite delivery, every building on campus had been renovated. Additionally, the College opened its newest building, the Kenneth “Kenny” Ponder Welcome Center, the home of Institutional Advancement, signaling a renewed focus on institutional development and community engagement.

Bold: Access and Affordability

As I imagine in 1873, when the first students arrived at the institution, there was a unique boldness to recently being freed from enslavement and making your way in the world with limited resources. How does one afford to access knowledge in an educational setting with limited resources was a question then and remains today.

Today-students are still making choices regarding attending college based on affordability. Considering that college-going rates for African Americans are often predicated on issues of access and affordability, the Bold and Audacious Vision includes increasing the college-going and completion rates of African Americans and other underserved groups. In 2019, we reduced the tuition to $17,500, making us one of the lowest tuitions in the state. In 2021, we established the President’s Promise Scholarship Program to provide every Wiley University student with a scholarship of up to $2500 to attend the institution. My desire for anyone to have a college degree who dreams it pushed me further to set the goal of giving 1873 scholarships in honor of our sesquicentennial celebrated in 2023. The College continues to seek out funding to offset the costs associated with completing college.

Audacious: Innovation and Impossible

There is an incredible moment of realization when we reflect on what was not possible fifty years ago… when we think about what was once only dreamt about, the audacity to dream it, believe it, and do it, is at the center of the Wiley University experience. I call for the audacious because the journey ahead demands it. To imagine a 21st Century and beyond for Wiley University, we must have the audacity to dream what is not yet real. The Dogan Years offers us a glimpse into what is possible for and at Wiley, each President after provided us with a blueprint for protecting the possible.

As we consider the making of the next generations of Wiley University graduates, I give attention to the incredible opportunities that we make to create a transformative learning environment. Centering the student as our indicator of success, the vision takes into account what is required of team members. The introduction of such unique Wiley University signature experiences as The Sacred Pause and The Revival offers an incredible glimpse into a dynamic investment in the staff and faculty at the College. The outcome of this dynamic investment is a student-ready campus where all of us can wholeheartedly see our contributions to student enrollment, success, and completion.

Whether the accomplishments include the renovation of buildings, the new Center for Digital Education Excellence and Workforce Development, or an extraordinary year of recognition, our end product is our students. That is to whom we commit, that is to whom we are required to dream alongside, we are the guardians of the dream.

In 1873, I believe that when the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the United Methodist Church considered the creation of Wiley, they believed we would withstand the test of time. I believed they dreamed of a place that could create scholars, debaters, activists, vocalists, athletes, leaders… taking this belief, we build on this incredible foundation and frame the Bold and Audacious Vision… so that all who experience us… Go Forth Inspired.