News Articles
Nov 5, 2025
Various University Presidents will visit with Wiley University to engage in a two-day campus visit and dialogue centered on The Transformative Power of Liberal Arts Education. The event, taking place November 6–7, 2025, will include a fireside chat, a series of strategic conversations that underscores the importance of collaboration among private, liberal arts HBCUs, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase the pathway for students attending participating institutions to the Wiley University graduate programs.
The gathering will bring together leaders from Clinton College, Bennett College, Shorter College, Morris Brown College, and Paine College for thoughtful discussion and exploration of the liberal arts tradition and its impact on calling, purpose, and access to graduate education. Participating presidents include Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks of Clinton College, Dr. Teresa Hardee of Bennett College, Dr. Jeffrey Norfleet II of Shorter College, Dr. Kevin James of Morris Brown College, and Dr. Lester McCorn of Paine College, along with respective provosts from those institutions.
The event will open with a fireside chat in the Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel titled “There is a Model of Excellence: Private, Small HBCUs and the Liberal Arts Experience.” The conversation will engage faculty, students, and guests in examining the historical roots of liberal arts education within HBCUs and its enduring relevance in preparing students for purposeful lives and leadership in the 21st century. Topics will include the role of faculty in shaping learning environments, the art of debate and difficult dialogue, innovation in access to graduate education, and the evolving definition of quality and readiness in liberal arts institutions.
A guided dinner hosted by Wiley University President Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr. will follow, creating space for solution-focused discussions among campus leaders. The dialogue will contribute to the development of a forthcoming position paper examining how the liberal arts tradition at private HBCUs fosters graduate readiness, critical thinking, and civic engagement in a rapidly changing world.
The second day will feature a Provost’s Roundtable focused on “Smart Classroom 2.0 Ideation,” exploring how technology and innovation can further strengthen teaching and learning across small, private HBCUs. The event will conclude with an MOU signing ceremony on the chapel stage, symbolizing the shared commitment among these institutions to collaboration, academic excellence, and the enduring value of liberal arts education within the HBCU community.
This convening marks an important moment for Wiley University and its partners as they affirm the continuing power of the liberal arts tradition to transform lives, shape leaders, and sustain the legacy of excellence that defines historically Black colleges and universities.
For more information about Wiley University, please contact Catherine G. Sellers, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications, and Brand Management at csellers@wileyc.edu or (903) 927-3386.
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About Wiley University:
Wiley University, formerly known as Wiley College, is a premier liberal arts institution related to the United Methodist Church. The university is dedicated to fostering social good and developing leaders who make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
