Summer series highlights Hampton University’s expanding international footprint through leadership, scholarship and global engagement
HAMPTON, Va. — As Hampton University reflects on a summer defined by international engagement, President Darrell K. Williams’ visit to the University of Greenwich in London this past July stands as a powerful example of the University’s growing global reach and commitment to preparing students for leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.
The visit, held in conjunction with the fifth UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference (BBEC), reinforced Hampton’s strategic focus on international collaboration, innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development. President Williams delivered the conference keynote before joining University of Greenwich leadership for discussions centered on student mobility, inclusive excellence, research collaboration and the future of higher education.
The engagement forms part of The Hampton Cup ‘26, a summer series highlighting how Hampton University’s campus leaders, faculty, researchers and students are extending the University’s influence across the globe through scholarship, partnership and service.
“This summer has demonstrated that Hampton University’s impact extends well beyond our campus,” said President Darrell K. Williams. “Whether through academic partnerships, research collaborations, entrepreneurship or student experiences abroad, we are building relationships that create new opportunities for our students and strengthen Hampton’s role as a global institution.”
Hosted under the theme Innovation, Technology and Doing Business Globally, the UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference brought together leaders from business, higher education, finance and technology to examine emerging opportunities in the global economy. President Williams became the first president of a Historically Black College or University to partner with the conference, underscoring Hampton University’s continued leadership in advancing international conversations around education, entrepreneurship and innovation.
During his visit to the University of Greenwich, President Williams met with Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Professor Jane Harrington and university leaders to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration. Discussions focused on expanding international student experiences, strengthening institutional partnerships and sharing best practices related to access, inclusion and student success.
“My visit to London, specifically to the University of Greenwich, reaffirmed that the future of higher education is global, collaborative and grounded in trust,” Williams said. “As conversations around artificial intelligence, innovation and workforce development continue to evolve, Hampton University is uniquely positioned to prepare leaders who combine technological fluency with the character, cultural intelligence and ethical leadership the world demands.
“The relationships we strengthened in the United Kingdom reflect our commitment to expanding opportunities for our students, growing international partnerships and ensuring Hampton graduates are prepared not only to compete in the global economy but to help shape it. Our goal remains clear: to build world-ready leaders of character and consequence.”
The London engagement reflects Hampton University’s broader strategy to expand meaningful international partnerships that enhance academic excellence, research opportunities and career readiness. Throughout the summer, members of the Hampton community have represented the University across multiple countries through conferences, research initiatives, educational exchanges and strategic collaborations that reinforce Hampton’s mission of developing leaders equipped to address global challenges.
As The Hampton Cup ‘26 summer series concludes, these international engagements collectively illustrate a defining characteristic of today’s Hampton University: an institution deeply rooted in its historic legacy while actively shaping its future through global partnerships that benefit students, faculty and communities around the world.
“Global engagement is no longer an enhancement to higher education—it is essential,” Williams said. “Every partnership we build expands opportunities for our students to learn, lead and serve on an international stage while reinforcing Hampton University’s role as a trusted partner in addressing the challenges and opportunities of our shared future.”
About Hampton University
Founded in 1868, Hampton University is one of the nation’s strongest Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a prestigious Carnegie R2-designated research institution. For more than 150 years, Hampton has prepared world-ready leaders of character and consequence through a distinctive educational experience grounded in academic excellence, leadership, innovation, and service.
Home to students from 44 states and 32 countries and territories, the University is nationally recognized for groundbreaking research in atmospheric science, cancer research, cybersecurity, marine and environmental science, and other disciplines that address society’s most pressing challenges. With an annual economic impact of $530 million across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Hampton continues to advance discovery, strengthen communities, and prepare graduates to lead with purpose in an increasingly interconnected world. Learn more at www.hamptonu.edu.
