Herman J. Felton, Jr., Ph.D., J.D.

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.