Public historian, educator and former National Archives senior appraisal archivist brings more than two decades of experience in higher education, federal service and public humanities to support Hampton’s high-achieving students
HAMPTON, Va. (September 8, 2026) — Hampton University has appointed Dr. Jametta A. Davis assistant director of the Honors College, strengthening the University’s commitment to academic excellence, intellectual inquiry and the development of students prepared to lead with knowledge and purpose.
A public historian, educator, storyteller and community scholar, Davis brings more than two decades of experience spanning higher education, federal service and the public humanities. In her role at Hampton, she will help advance the Honors College’s work to challenge and support high-achieving students through rigorous academic experiences, mentorship and opportunities for intellectual and professional growth.
“Dr. Davis brings an important combination of scholarship, mentorship and public service to Hampton University,” said Executive Vice President and Provost, Dr. Betty H. Stewart. “Her experience developing students, preserving history and serving at the federal level will enrich the Honors College and help our students connect academic achievement with leadership, service and a deeper understanding of the communities they will influence.”
Davis earned her Ph.D. in history from Howard University, with concentrations in African American, African Diaspora and public histories. She is also a graduate of Old Dominion University and North Carolina Central University.
Before joining Hampton, Davis spent more than 15 years with the National Archives and Records Administration. During her federal career, she collaborated on special projects designed to increase organizational effectiveness, conducted government-wide assessments, and participated in the appraisal and recovery of historically significant federal records.
She also designed and facilitated records management training for participants representing 270 federal agencies, bringing together expertise in education, historical stewardship and federal service.
Davis received honors and commendations from the National Archives and the Department of the Navy for instructional excellence and her contributions to agency wide initiatives, including efforts to strengthen pathways for students seeking careers in government.
Her work beyond federal service reflects a similar commitment to education and cultural preservation. Davis has taught and mentored students and directed cultural education initiatives involving oral history, ethnographic fieldwork, and digital storytelling. She has presented at national conferences and contributed scholarship to In Spite of the Double Drawbacks: African American Women in History and Culture.
Davis also has held fellowships at Howard University, Columbia University, Emory University, Duke University, and the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College.
Davis’s appointment brings her scholarly interests full circle. Her research has examined Hampton’s historic role in expanding opportunity for Black communities, and she now joins the University in preparing a new generation of scholars and leaders to extend that legacy through academic achievement, service and professional leadership.
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 $515 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.
Weeklong celebration October 18-25 will welcome generations of Pirates home while delivering an estimated $8-$10 million boost to the regional visitor economy
Hampton, Va. (September 4, 2026) – Some places you visit. Others become part of who you are.
This October, thousands of Hampton Pirates will make the familiar journey back to the place where lifelong friendships began; careers took shape, and generations learned what it means to carry their Hampton education into the world.
Hampton University Homecoming 2026 will return October 18-25, bringing eight days of tradition, music, fellowship, culture, football and celebration to the University’s iconic waterfront campus.
And when the Hampton family comes home, its impact extends well beyond the gates of the University. Hampton’s Homecoming impact is part of a larger story about the economic power of Virginia’s private colleges and universities. A Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) report found that graduates of its 28 member institutions during the 2024-2025 academic year, including Hampton University, generate an estimated $515 million in annual economic activity across Virginia while strengthening the Commonwealth’s workforce in high-demand fields. For Hampton, that impact comes full circle during Homecoming, when alumni return to the region as professionals, entrepreneurs, consumers and investors in the communities that helped shape them.
Beyond the Gate: Measuring Hampton’s Homecoming Impact
New visitor analytics from Placer.ai reveals the growing reach of Hampton Homecoming. During Homecoming 2025, the University’s campus generated approximately 96,000 visits from an estimated 40,800 visitors, with campus visits increasing 16.5% over the previous year and unique visitors growing 18.3%.
Those visitors did more than come to campus. They stayed in area hotels. They gathered around restaurant tables. They shopped. They filled gas tanks. They visited attractions. They supported entrepreneurs and vendors. And for one remarkable week, the energy of Hampton University moved throughout the city and the region.
Based on visitor volume, regional tourism spending patterns and Homecoming-related activity, Hampton University estimates the celebration generates approximately $8 million to $10 million in direct and indirect economic activity across Hampton and the surrounding Coastal Virginia region.
“Homecoming is one of those extraordinary moments when you can see, hear and feel the reach of Hampton University,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams ‘83. “Our alumni return to the place that helped shape their lives, but their return also supports the community that has been Hampton’s home for more than 150 years. Every hotel room, restaurant meal, small business purchase, Homecoming ticket and vendor interaction becomes part of a much larger economic story. Hampton is an anchor institution, and Homecoming demonstrates the power of that relationship in a very tangible way.”
96,000 Visits. One Unforgettable Experience.
Hampton’s 2025 Homecoming provides the clearest picture yet of the celebration’s reach.
Placer.ai analysis measured approximately 96,000 visits to Hampton University during the October 19-26, 2025 period, representing approximately 40,800 visitors. The average visitor spent more than five hours in the campus area, underscoring Homecoming’s evolution into a destination experience rather than simply a single football game or concert.
The data also demonstrate the national pull of the Hampton experience.
While Coastal Virginia represented the largest visitor market, Hampton drew substantial traffic from the Washington, D.C. region, New York, Richmond, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Raleigh-Durham, Chicago and Los Angeles.
That national footprint means Homecoming dollars travel with alumni back to Coastal Virginia.
When Pirates Come Home, Hampton Roads Benefits
Homecoming’s economic footprint stretches from Queen Street into the surrounding business community.
Placer.ai visitor movement data identified Peninsula Town Center among the most frequently visited destinations associated with Hampton visitors. The analysis also captured visitor activity at restaurants and retailers, including dining establishments, coffee shops, convenience stores and major retailers.
Hotel activity is part of the story as well. Placer.ai identified Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Convention Center among establishments visited immediately before or after Hampton University, illustrating how the Homecoming economy moves between campus and the surrounding hospitality community.
The result is a chain of economic activity.
An alumna flies into Norfolk International Airport. She books a hotel room. Her classmates meet for dinner. They purchase Homecoming apparel. They support a vendor at the Bazaar. They stop for coffee the next morning, attend the parade and spend Saturday afternoon inside Armstrong Stadium.
Multiply that experience across tens of thousands of people, and Homecoming becomes more than an event. It becomes a temporary visitor economy.
Virginia tourism data reinforce that effect. Visitor spending across the Commonwealth reached a record $36.2 billion in the latest reporting period, with travelers spending approximately $99 million each day and supporting restaurants, hotels, retailers, attractions, transportation providers and small businesses according to the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
For Hampton University, those statewide trends are playing out locally during one of the institution’s most celebrated weeks of the year.
From the Vendors Bazaar to the Stadium
Some of Homecoming’s economic impact never leaves campus, and that is intentional.
Hampton’s Vendors Bazaar creates an important marketplace for entrepreneurs, including Hampton-affiliated and Black-owned businesses. Thousands of alumni, students and guests have an opportunity to shop directly with vendors during the busiest days of the celebration.
Ticketed University events also generate revenue that supports the institution.
Hampton’s approach to Homecoming is rooted in a simple idea: Come Back. Give Back.
Homecoming participation, ticket purchases and philanthropic giving help advance student scholarships, academic programs, research, campus improvements and student-centered initiatives. That means the financial footprint of Homecoming works in two directions, strengthening the regional economy while reinvesting in the institution that brings thousands of people to Hampton each October.
“Homecoming is nostalgia with purpose,” said Dr. Marc A. Newman, Chief Advancement Officer. “Yes, we want Pirates to return to see old friends, walk the waterfront, hear the band and remember the moments that made Hampton home. But we also want that love for Hampton to become an investment in Hampton. Come back. Give back. Support our students. Support our entrepreneurs. Support this community. That is how a treasured tradition becomes an investment in the next generation.”
The True Celebrities Are the People Who Knew You When
There will be music. There will be fashion. There will be performances, parties and football.
But Hampton Homecoming has never been defined solely by who takes the stage.
The real attraction is the person who sat beside you in freshman English. The roommate you have not seen in five years. The professor who still remembers your name. The classmates who watched you become who you are today.
For generations of alumni, Homecoming offers something increasingly rare: the opportunity to return to a place where history is personal.
It is walking beneath the Emancipation Oak again.
It is hearing the Marching Force in the distance.
It is seeing blue and white everywhere.
It is recognizing someone across the yard before either of you has to say a word.
Come back for the memories. Come back for the people. Come back for the traditions. Come back and give back.
Because there is still no place quite like our Home by the Sea.
Additional event details, performers, ticket information and programming will be announced as Homecoming approaches. Visit the Homecoming website or download the Homecoming app for more information.
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 $515 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.
Rapid enrollment growth, new flight training opportunities and expanding aviation pathways position Hampton to prepare the next generation of aviation professionals
HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University is taking its Aviation program to new heights, expanding flight training opportunities, strengthening industry partnerships and building new pathways for students pursuing careers across the aviation industry.
The expansion comes during a period of remarkable and sustained growth for Hampton Aviation. Enrollment has increased from 19 students in 2023 to 73 in 2024, 143 in 2025, and 176 students beginning the Fall 2026 semester, reflecting increasing demand for Hampton’s programs in Flight Education, Air Traffic Control, Airport Administration and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems.
As that student population has grown, Hampton has moved strategically to expand the opportunities, technology and resources available to its aviation students. Central to that transformation is a new model for professional flight education: Hampton University Aviation, Powered by Thrust.
Through its partnership with Thrust Flight, Hampton is enhancing the flight-training experience for aspiring professional pilots with newer, technically advanced aircraft, glass-cockpit avionics, additional financing options, standardized training and safety procedures, enhanced student-progress monitoring, and structured FAA Part 141 flight training.
The model combines the strengths of both organizations: Hampton University provides the academic foundation, collegiate aviation experience and student support, while Thrust Flight provides professional flight-training infrastructure and operational expertise. Together, the partnership is designed to create a more seamless pathway from Hampton’s classrooms to the cockpit and ultimately to aviation industry careers.
But the partnership represents only one part of a much larger transformation taking place within Hampton Aviation.
Hampton is building a comprehensive aviation ecosystem designed to prepare students for careers throughout the National Airspace System – from the cockpit and air traffic control facility to airport management, uncrewed aircraft systems, aviation research and emerging technologies.
A Growing Aviation Program
Hampton University has prepared aviation professionals since 1985 and today offers undergraduate pathways in Flight Education, Aviation Management-Airport Administration, Aviation Management-Air Traffic Control, and Aviation Management-Uncrewed Aircraft Systems.
The department’s growth has been both rapid and sustained. In just three years, Aviation enrollment has grown from 19 students to 176. The Air Traffic Control concentration alone has grown from approximately six students four years ago to 22 students today, while interest across Hampton’s aviation disciplines continues to increase.
That growth comes as the aviation industry faces sustained demand for a new generation of pilots, air traffic controllers, airport professionals, aviation managers and specialists in emerging technologies.
Hampton is uniquely positioned to help answer that demand.
The University is one of a limited number of collegiate aviation programs in the nation accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International and holds the distinction of being the first Historically Black College or University approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative.
Building on that historic role, Hampton is also working toward the FAA’s Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative designation, representing the next evolution of collegiate air traffic controller preparation.
Hampton has also expanded into one of aviation’s fastest-growing areas through its Aviation Management concentration in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and participation in the FAA’s UAS-Collegiate Training Initiative.
Together, those programs allow Hampton students to experience aviation not simply from one perspective, but across the aviation system – from the cockpit and control tower to airport management, safety, autonomy and emerging technologies.
Hampton University Aviation, Powered by Thrust
One of the most significant components of Hampton Aviation’s growth is the transformation of its professional flight-training model.
Hampton University Aviation, Powered by Thrust is designed to provide Flight Education students with a comprehensive, commercially oriented training experience that connects their Hampton education with the skills, certifications and professional standards expected by today’s aviation industry.
Students will train in modern, technically advanced aircraft equipped with glass-cockpit avionics, advanced navigation and aircraft monitoring systems, providing experience with technology representative of today’s professional flight environment.
The partnership strengthens Hampton’s integration of FAA Part 141 flight training with the University’s academic Flight Education program. The structured training environment provides greater visibility into each student’s progression, allowing for enhanced monitoring, milestone tracking and support as students work toward their FAA pilot certifications.
One of the greatest challenges facing students who aspire to become professional pilots is the cost of flight training. Unlike traditional academic courses, flight education requires students to pay for aircraft operation, fuel and professional flight instruction in addition to university tuition.
Hampton’s evolving flight-training model is intended to provide students with greater predictability, financing opportunities and training efficiencies as they progress through the certifications required to become professional pilots. The partnership also provides access to a larger professional flight-training infrastructure, newer aircraft and standardized training and safety processes.
For Hampton students, those improvements are intended to reduce financial and logistical barriers that can cause aspiring pilots to delay or discontinue training. The result is a model focused not only on getting students into airplanes, but on helping more of them successfully reach the finish line.
The long-term objective extends beyond earning individual pilot certificates. Hampton is developing a flight education pipeline designed to move students efficiently from collegiate aviation education, through professional flight training, and ultimately toward opportunities with aviation industry partners.
The partnership is also designed with Hampton’s long-term growth in mind. As the program develops, the University will have an opportunity to build additional institutional flight-training capacity and pursue greater integration and oversight of FAA Part 141 operations.
Expanding Training Capacity Alongside Enrollment
Hampton is working to ensure that its physical and technological capacity grows alongside its rapidly expanding student population. Faculty are expanding experiential learning and simulator-based instruction while the University pursues advanced simulation capabilities to support both flight education and air traffic control training.
These investments are intended to give students access to contemporary training environments while creating additional opportunities for scenario-based learning, research and professional preparation.
From Hampton to the Aviation Industry
Hampton Aviation students are benefiting from a growing network of relationships that extends well beyond the University.
The department maintains connections and career pathways with major aviation organizations and airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Republic Airways and other industry partners. These relationships expose students to the aviation industry well before graduation through internships, professional development, mentorship, career pathway programs, conferences, research opportunities and direct engagement with employers.
Hampton graduates have gone on to careers as professional pilots, air traffic controllers, airport professionals, government aviation specialists and industry leaders throughout the United States.
The expansion of flight training strengthens that pipeline at a particularly important moment for the aviation workforce.
“Hampton University has never been content simply to participate in industries that shape the future; we prepare our students to lead them. The growth taking place within our Aviation program reflects our commitment to academic excellence, innovation and creating pathways into careers where our students have historically been underrepresented. This partnership represents another important investment in their success.” – Darrell K. Williams ’83, President, Hampton University
Building the Next Generation of Aviation Leaders
The flight training partnership is one component of a broader transformation taking place within Hampton University Aviation.
Faculty are expanding experiential learning, simulator-based instruction, workforce partnerships, student research, uncrewed aircraft education and opportunities connecting students directly with aviation employers.
“We want Hampton students to have access to the same technology, aircraft, training environments and career opportunities they would expect from any leading collegiate aviation program in the country. At the same time, we want to preserve what makes Hampton special – small classes, faculty engagement, individual mentorship and an aviation community where our students are known by name. Our growth is about expanding opportunity without losing that foundation,” – Dr. Joyce Shirazi, Dean, School of Engineering, Architecture, and Aviation.
The result is a vision larger than any single partnership.
Hampton University is positioning its Aviation program as a comprehensive pipeline where a student can arrive with a passion for aviation and develop into a professional pilot, air traffic controller, airport leader, UAS specialist, researcher or future aviation executive.
As enrollment grows and new capabilities come online, Hampton is strengthening not only its own aviation program but its role in diversifying and developing the nation’s future aviation workforce.
For a university with more than four decades of aviation education behind it, the next chapter is already taking flight.
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 $515 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.
As Virginia becomes the nation’s data center capital and AI reshapes the labor market, Hampton University is tackling a larger question: Who will shape the technologies increasingly shaping us?
HAMPTON, Va. (August 25, 2026) — Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how Americans work, learn, communicate, receive health care and participate in the economy. But as technology accelerates, another set of questions is becoming just as urgent: Whose data powers these systems? Who benefits from their growth? Who is represented in the rooms where they are designed? And what happens when communities historically underrepresented in technology are consumers of artificial intelligence, but not architects of its future?
At Hampton University, those questions are becoming part of the work.
The prestigious Carnegie Research 2 research institution is building a comprehensive artificial intelligence ecosystem that brings together education, workforce development, research, entrepreneurship and community engagement. The goal extends beyond preparing students to use the newest technology. Hampton is positioning students, researchers and communities to interrogate it, improve it and help determine how it should be used.
That mission takes on particular significance in Virginia, home to the largest concentration of data centers in the United States and one of the most important physical hubs of the global digital economy. As billions of pieces of data move through the Commonwealth and AI expands the demand for the infrastructure that stores and processes it, Hampton is examining what that transformation means for people, particularly communities of color that have historically faced gaps in access, representation and economic opportunity during previous technological revolutions.
For Hampton, the AI conversation is therefore as much about people as it is about machines.
Virginia Powers the Digital Economy. Hampton Is Asking Who It Will Power.
On August 18, 2026, Hampton officially opened its Digital Artificial Intelligence Immersive Experience, or D-AIX, facility within the University’s Workforce Development Enterprise.
The new facility gives students, workers, entrepreneurs and community members hands-on exposure to artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, digital tools and industry-aligned skills. A second AI-focused space, the Hampton Artificial Intelligence and Technology Center (HTAC), is planned for Hampton University’s Student Center, further embedding emerging technology into the everyday academic and student experience. As part of the University’s master plan, a third space, the AI and Advanced Technologies Center of Excellence will support the region and state as a hub for digital learning.
Together, the spaces are designed to support workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, applied research and community access while strengthening regional and national talent pipelines.
But Hampton’s investment arrives at a consequential moment.
Virginia’s extraordinary data center growth has made the Commonwealth a critical backbone of the internet and the emerging AI economy. The expansion has also elevated national conversations about energy, infrastructure, workforce development, environmental impact and the communities surrounding the facilities that make the digital economy possible.
Hampton is bringing another question to that conversation: Will the communities closest to the infrastructure of the AI revolution also have meaningful access to its opportunities?
For a historically Black university founded during Reconstruction to educate newly freed people, the question carries particular weight. Hampton’s history is rooted in expanding access to knowledge at moments when access itself determined who could participate in America’s future. More than 150 years later, artificial intelligence presents a new frontier.
Hampton is working to ensure its students and surrounding communities are not simply adapting to that future. They are being prepared to influence it.
The Ethical Dilemma of Data
Every AI system begins somewhere with data.
Data can reveal patterns, accelerate discoveries, and make systems more efficient. It can also inherit the limitations of the societies and institutions that produce it. When datasets inadequately represent certain populations, when algorithms reproduce historical inequities or when technology is deployed without sufficient human oversight, innovation can deepen existing divides rather than close them.
For communities of color, those concerns are not abstract.
AI is increasingly influencing employment, health care, financial services, education, public safety, media and other areas that shape everyday life. That means questions of bias, privacy, representation, transparency, and accountability are becoming questions of civic and economic participation.
Hampton’s emerging AI ecosystem creates an opportunity to approach those challenges through the lens of an HBCU, institutions that have historically produced scholarship and leadership informed by the experiences of communities frequently overlooked in mainstream research and technology development.
The University is preparing learners not only to ask, “What can AI do?” but also “What should AI do, for whom, and under whose authority?”
That distinction is central to Hampton’s vision.
Technical proficiency without ethical literacy is insufficient for a technology capable of influencing consequential human decisions. Hampton’s approach combines technical education with the critical thinking, research, and interdisciplinary perspective required to understand how technology interacts with society.
“This AI ecosystem initiative reinforces Hampton University’s role in shaping the future of work and preparing world-ready leaders of character and consequence,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams ‘83. “By expanding access to advanced technology and experiential learning, we are preparing our learners and communities to lead, innovate, and thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.”
From AI Consumers to AI Creators
The workforce implications are equally significant.
As artificial intelligence changes occupations across industries, the emerging divide may not simply be between people who have access to technology and those who do not. It may increasingly separate those who understand how to build, govern, and strategically apply AI from those whose work is merely affected by it.
Hampton is investing on the creator side of that divide.
The D-AIX facility includes advanced visualization tools, intelligent digital guide,s and immersive technology designed to help participants understand complex concepts and explore real-world applications of AI across industries.
Interactive learning environments, creative studios, collaborative workspaces, and technology-enabled experiences allow participants to move beyond theoretical discussions and experiment with emerging tools in practical settings.
“D-AIX is where ambition meets execution. It transforms artificial intelligence and immersive technology into practical solutions that drive workforce readiness, fuel innovation and expand economic opportunity,” said Dr. Glenda Evans, executive director of Hampton University’s Workforce Development Enterprise and chair of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “This is Hampton University leading from the front.”
The University’s broader strategy connects academic programs, workforce development, research and external partnerships into a scalable hub-based model, giving Hampton multiple points of entry into the AI economy.
That includes opportunities for traditional college students as well as adult learners, workers seeking new skills, entrepreneurs, and members of the surrounding community.
Building an Academic Pipeline for the AI Economy
Inside the classroom, Hampton is building pathways that range from introductory AI exposure to degree-level preparation.
The University’s recently launched Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning prepares students to apply techniques, methodologies, tools and skills required to build intelligent systems that function effectively and reliably within an increasingly complex information infrastructure.
Hampton’s Department of Computer Science is also integrating AI modules into core courses, moving students from general awareness toward hands-on exercises, experimentation and practical assignments.
Through the Workforce Development Enterprise, the AI Development Foundations Certification provides a non-degree pathway for individuals seeking foundational skills for emerging technology careers. The program expands access beyond traditional degree-seeking students and creates an opportunity for adult learners and working professionals to upskill as AI changes existing industries and creates new ones.
Hampton’s Department of Computer Science, School of Science, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering within the School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation, and Department of Information Technology have also received support through an Apple Community Education Initiative grant. A portion of that supports advancing AI programming on campus and outreach to surrounding communities.
Together, these initiatives establish a continuum from community exposure to workforce certification, undergraduate education, research and advanced technical application.
An HBCU Voice in the National AI Conversation
Hampton’s influence extends beyond campus.
Hampton Professor Dr. Isi Ero-Johnson has contributed to Virginia’s statewide examination of artificial intelligence through service on an AI task force under an appointment by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications Dean Julia Wilson has also emerged as a voice on artificial intelligence and communications, including recognition for her expertise by the University of Southern California. Dr. Debra Haggins, Dean of Hampton’s new School of Religion and the University’s first female chaplain, also authored a book that explores the conversation of theological education and AI.
Their work demonstrates another dimension of Hampton’s strategy: ensuring HBCU scholarship and expertise are present in the broader conversations determining how artificial intelligence will be understood, regulated, communicated and deployed.
That representation matters.
The next generation of AI will be shaped not only by engineers and computer scientists, but also by journalists, ethicists, entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, health professionals, researchers and community leaders. Hampton’s multidisciplinary environment creates opportunities for those perspectives to intersect.
It also allows an HBCU to bring a distinct intellectual tradition to one of the defining technological questions of the century.
A 158-Year-Old Question in a New Age
Hampton has confronted transformational moments before.
Founded in 1868, the University emerged from an era when literacy, education and access to information represented pathways to freedom and economic mobility for newly emancipated Black Americans. Generations of Hampton graduates went on to become educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, public servants and leaders who expanded opportunity far beyond the University’s waterfront campus.
The technology has changed. The underlying question has not.
Who gets access to the knowledge shaping the future?
In the age of artificial intelligence, access alone will not be enough. Communities will need the skills to understand AI, the expertise to build it, the authority to challenge it and the leadership to determine how it should serve society.
That is where Hampton’s emerging ecosystem seeks to make its mark.
As Virginia houses more of the physical infrastructure powering America’s digital future, Hampton University is investing in the human infrastructure required to make that future more innovative, responsible and inclusive.
Because the defining measure of the AI revolution will not simply be how intelligent machines become.
It will also be whether the people building them are wise enough to ask whom that intelligence serves.
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.
Healthcare leaders come together to celebrate 5 years of helping Hampton Roads live healthier lives.
Hampton, VA – August 27, 2026– The Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute (Hampton Proton) will host its Fifth Annual Prostate Cancer and Health Awareness Fair on Saturday, September 12, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 40 Enterprise Parkway, Hampton, Virginia 23666. For the last four years, Hampton Proton has partnered with Sentara and the Hampton Roads Prostate Health Forum (HRPHF) to bring this event to the community.
This year’s event marks five years of bringing cancer screenings, health education and resources to Hampton Roads — with a special “5 for 5”focusfeaturing five cancer screenings.
Five Years. Five Cancer Screenings.
What began five years ago as an effort to connect men with prostate cancer screenings has grown into a community-wide health event serving hundreds of Hampton Roads residents each year. In 2025, more than 500 community members attended, with 274 individuals pre-registered and 276 men receiving early detection prostate cancer screenings—up from 195 pre-registrants and 136 screenings in 2024. The year-over-year growth reflects the community’s continued interest in accessible opportunities to prioritize their health.
For the first time, this year’s health fair will offer five early detection cancer screenings:
Prostate
Breast
Colorectal
Head and Neck
Skin
The event is free and open to the public, with eligibility requirements varying by screening.
Hampton Roads Healthcare Leaders Come Together
This year’s health fair brings together several of the region’s leading healthcare organizations, allowing Hampton Roads residents to connect with trusted medical professionals and resources in one place. Participating organizations include Sentara, VCU Massey Cancer Center, EVMS Medical Group and Old Dominion University, Hampton University and other community health partners.
Expanding Access to Health Resources The Hampton University School of Pharmacy will provide blood glucose screenings and BMI checks as part of its health and wellness offerings at the fair. Through its collaboration with Walgreens, it will also offer flu and COVID-19 vaccines, giving attendees additional opportunities to prioritize preventive care and overall health.
Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, a biopharmaceutical company, will participate in this year’s event, sharing information about clinical trials and why representation matters in clinical research. Attendees are encouraged to visit the Merck table to learn more and find resources to support informed conversations with healthcare providers about clinical trial participation.
The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank will host a farmers’ market-style experience, offering fresh produce and shelf-stable dry goods to support individuals and families with access to nutritious foods. Attendees will also receive simple recipe ideas featuring the ingredients provided and highlighting quick, balanced meals.
“Five years ago, we created this health fair to make important health resources more accessible to the Hampton Roads community, and we’re proud to see it continue to grow,” said Tiffany Rodgers, director of marketing at Hampton Proton. “This year, we’re bringing together five cancer screenings, leading healthcare organizations and resources that address the many factors that contribute to good health. We hope this event encourages people to get checked, ask questions and take proactive steps toward healthier lives.”
The event is made possible through the support of community partners and sponsors, including the Langley Federal Credit Union, Merck, GC Commercial, AstraZeneca, Towne Insurance, Sandmarks Marketing, the Urban League of Hampton Roads and Hampton University.
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ABOUT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY PROTON CANCER INSTITUTE The Hampton University Proton Cancer Institute is the first proton therapy center in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the eighth in the United States, and the only proton therapy center owned by a Historically Black College and University. Since opening in 2010, Hampton Proton has treated more than 5,000 patients from across the country and around the world. The Cancer Institute is committed to delivering exceptional patient-centered care while advancing cancer research, education, advocacy, and access to innovative treatment.
Hampton University has experienced unprecedented demand for on-campus housing for the 2026-2027 academic year from both new and continuing students due to our record-breaking enrollment. To accommodate this increased demand while fulfilling our commitment to incoming students, the University made several adjustments to existing housing assignments.
As a result, approximately 34 continuing students, out of the 3,100+ students residing in campus housing, are temporarily being provided accommodations with a partner hotel, The Embassy Suites. This is a contingency tool that has been utilized in previous school years. The University is actively working to transition these students into on-campus housing as spaces become available. Several students were successfully reassigned to on-campus housing this week, and more are to follow.
The University has communicated directly with the affected student population through Zoom meetings held last week and again this week. During those conversations, students were informed of the housing arrangements and advised that they should follow the previously communicated move-in schedule for continuing students. Teams are in place to provide continuous support and information to the affected students.
We recognize that housing assignments are an important part of the college experience, and our priority is to make this transition as seamless as possible while continuing to respond to exceptionally strong demand for Hampton University housing.
As of Thursday, August 20, students have arrived at the Embassy Suites and are being checked in and registered for their temporary stay. Hampton University teams remain on site to welcome students, assist with the check-in process, and provide ongoing support.
During their stay, Hampton University students will have access to the hotel’s full range of amenities, including the pool, fitness center, conference and meeting spaces, complimentary breakfast, technology resources, and other guest services.
This temporary housing arrangement reflects the University’s ability to leverage strong local partnerships and regional relationships to respond quickly to increased housing demand while ensuring students have access to comfortable accommodations and essential resources. Hampton University remains focused on transitioning students to on-campus housing as spaces become available.
Dr. Ziette Hayes is Dean of the James T. George School of Business at Hampton University, where she provides strategic leadership for one of the nation’s premier business schools at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). An accomplished higher education administrator, educator, and former corporate executive, she has dedicated more than two decades to advancing academic excellence, strengthening industry partnerships, and preparing future business leaders to succeed in an increasingly global and technology-driven economy.
Dr. Hayes joined Hampton University in 2002 after an accomplished corporate career with General Electric, where she spent eleven years in finance and business operations. Her corporate experience provided a strong foundation in strategic planning, financial management, organizational leadership, and project execution—expertise she has successfully translated into higher education leadership.
Since joining Hampton University, Dr. Hayes has served in progressively responsible leadership roles including Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Dean of the James T. George School of Business. During her tenure, she also served as Executive Director of the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (2020–2022), where she oversaw administrative and operational leadership for one of the nation’s leading proton therapy centers while supporting the university’s broader strategic initiatives.
As Dean, Dr. Hayes has led transformational initiatives designed to enhance student success, increase corporate engagement, and strengthen the national reputation of Hampton University’s School of Business. Her leadership philosophy centers on ensuring that students graduate not only with strong academic credentials, but also with the professional experiences, leadership competencies, and industry connections necessary to thrive in competitive global markets.
Under her leadership, the School of Business has significantly expanded strategic partnerships with leading corporations including Deloitte, PwC, Prudential Financial, Amazon, and numerous other organizations. These collaborations have created enhanced opportunities for students through internships, scholarships, executive mentoring, experiential learning, professional certifications, leadership development programs, and direct career placement. These partnerships have further positioned Hampton University as a premier source of diverse business talent for employers across multiple industries.
Dr. Hayes has championed experiential learning throughout the curriculum by promoting internships, consulting projects, executive engagement, entrepreneurship, and applied business education. Her vision is to create graduates who possess technical competence, ethical leadership skills, professional confidence, and the adaptability required to lead organizations through rapid technological and economic change.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hayes has been recognized as an innovative educator dedicated to student achievement and instructional excellence. She has received numerous honors recognizing her contributions to teaching, leadership, and service, including the President’s Ambassador of Excellence Award, Edward L. Hamm Distinguished Teaching Award, Provost Innovative Teaching Award, Pearson ONE Professor Award, South Atlantic Region Inspiring Educators Award, and the Educational Development Award presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Committed to lifelong learning and professional excellence, Dr. Hayes holds several nationally recognized professional credentials, including the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification, along with advanced certifications in Artificial Intelligence for Higher Education and Generative AI Project Management. Her continued investment in emerging technologies reflects her commitment to preparing both students and institutions for the future of work.
Dr. Hayes earned a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Long Island University, and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Central State University.
A respected voice on business education, workforce development, and leadership, Dr. Hayes frequently speaks on topics including strategic partnerships, student success, corporate engagement, diversity in business education, innovation, project management, and the future of work. She has emphasized the importance of creating business leaders who are equipped to solve complex organizational challenges through collaboration, innovation, ethical decision-making, and inclusive leadership.
Dr. Hayes’ leadership continues to strengthen Hampton University’s legacy of excellence by building meaningful relationships between academia and industry, expanding opportunities for students and faculty, and ensuring that graduates are prepared to become transformative leaders in business, government, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit organizations around the world.
23rd Annual Conference and Student Summit brings together HBCU business leaders, faculty, students, and industry partners in Westlake, Texas
WESTLAKE, Texas — August 3, 2026 — The HBCU Business Deans Roundtable hosted its 23rd Annual Conference and Student Summit in Westlake, Texas, June 3–6, 2026, convening business school deans, faculty, students, alumni, and industry leaders from across the country.
This year’s theme, “AI-Ready Faculty & Future-Ready Students: Reimagining Business Education for an AI-Driven Business World,” reflected the urgent need to prepare HBCU business students and faculty for a rapidly evolving workforce shaped by artificial intelligence, innovation, and emerging technologies.
The annual conference provides a forum for deans of business schools at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to address opportunities and challenges associated with strengthening business programs, expanding strategic partnerships, and advancing student success. This year’s event also featured a Student Summit, which allowed student participants to engage in professional development, connect with potential employers, receive guidance on career and character building, and explore the future of work.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming every sector of business, and HBCUs must be at the forefront of preparing students to lead in this new era,” said Ziette Hayes, DBA, 2026 Program Chair of the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable Summit, and Dean of the James T. George School of Business at Hampton University. “This year’s conference was designed to move beyond conversation and toward action by equipping faculty, empowering students, and strengthening the pipeline of diverse AI-ready business leaders.”
Key conference sessions included:
Preparing Students for the Age of AI
From AI Literacy to AI Leadership: Building the Pipeline of AI Innovators
From Resistance to Readiness: Cultivating an AI-Inclusive Culture Through Faculty–Student Collaboration in HBCU Business Schools
Nothing About Students Without Students: Co-Designing AI Curriculum, Policy, and Research for the Next Generation of Business Leaders
The Faculty AI Playbook: Winning Before, During, and After the Semester
Unlocking Student Success: Insights from the Soaring Business Eagles Project
AI and Ethics
The conference emphasized the importance of aligning business education with the technological, ethical, and leadership demands of the modern workforce. Through faculty-focused sessions, student-centered discussions, and collaborative programming, attendees examined how HBCU business schools can integrate AI literacy, responsible innovation, and practical career readiness into the student experience.
“Our students are not simply preparing to enter the workforce; they are preparing to shape it,” Hayes said. “By bringing faculty and students into the same conversations about curriculum, policy, ethics, and innovation, we are creating a model for business education that is inclusive, future-focused, and deeply connected to the needs of industry.”
The three-day event culminated with an awards banquet recognizing outstanding leadership, service, mentorship, and commitment to HBCU business education.
The Milton Wilson Award, the highest honor bestowed by the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable, is presented to HBCU business school deans in recognition of leadership, service, and commitment to the academic profession. The award is named in honor of Dr. Milton Wilson, founder of the business schools at Howard University and Southern University. Dr. Wilson was also the first dean to attain AACSB accreditation for two HBCU schools of business.
This year’s Milton Wilson Award recipient was Dr. Patrick Liverpool, retired business professor, dean, provost, vice provost, and executive vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Liverpool has served at several institutions, including Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, North Carolina Central University, Florida A&M University, Fisk University, North Carolina A&T State University, Central State University, Delaware State University, the University of Toledo, and Howard University.
Other award recipients included:
Derrick Tinsley, Manager, Deloitte — recipient of the Bernie Milano Service Award
Dr. Van Sapp, Retired Dean, School of Business, Saint Augustine’s University — recipient of the Sybil C. Mobley Trailblazer Award
Dr. Donald Andrews, Dean and G. Leon Netterville/Kellogg Endowed Professor in the College of Business at Southern University and A&M College — recipient of the Percy J. Vaughn, Jr. Mentorship Award
Dr. Igwe Udeh, Alvin James Lawson Endowed Professor of Business and Dean of the College of Business at Southern University at New Orleans — recipient of the Quiester Craig Leadership Award
Dr. Kevin James, Retired Dean, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University — recipient of the Quiester Craig Leadership Award
Grambling State University, Moorehead College of Business and Entrepreneurship — recipient of the Creative & Innovative Programming for Entrepreneurship Award
Hayes noted that the honorees reflect the Roundtable’s long-standing commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and institutional impact.
“These awards celebrate leaders whose work has strengthened HBCU business education and opened doors for generations of students,” Hayes said. “Their commitment reminds us that innovation must always be grounded in service, excellence, and the enduring mission of our institutions.”
About the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable
The HBCU Business Deans Roundtable provides a forum for deans of HBCU business schools to address opportunities and challenges associated with enhancing business programs and initiatives. The organization seeks to strengthen and develop strategic partnerships and alliances with corporations, government agencies, and national organizations to provide essential tools and resources for student success.
The Roundtable’s vision is to become the premier forum for exchanging information and ideas related to maximizing the value of management education at HBCUs.
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.
University’s strong presence in Chicago connects aspiring aviation professionals with airlines, federal agencies and aerospace leaders
CHICAGO (Aug. 17, 2026) — Hampton University students strengthened their professional networks and explored career pathways across the aviation and aerospace industries during the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals’ 50th Annual Conference, held Aug. 12-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
The milestone conference brought together more than 3,000 aviation and aerospace professionals, students, industry leaders, recruiters and educators. Hampton students engaged directly with representatives from major airlines, federal agencies, airports and aerospace organizations, building relationships that can support their transition from the classroom to careers in a rapidly evolving industry.
Hampton’s participation reflects the University’s longstanding commitment to aviation education and its continued focus on preparing students for careers in flight education, air traffic control, aviation management, airport operations and uncrewed aircraft systems.
“OBAP’s 50th anniversary represents both the progress that has been made in expanding access to aviation careers and the important work that remains ahead,” said Dr. Joyce Shirazi, dean of Hampton University’s School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation. “Our students belong in the rooms where the future of aviation and aerospace is being discussed and shaped. Experiences like this allow them to connect their Hampton education with the people, organizations and opportunities that will help define their careers. We are preparing them not simply to enter this industry, but to contribute to it with knowledge, discipline and leadership.”
United Airlines, which is based in Chicago, sponsored six Hampton students to attend the conference. During the week, Hampton students also joined other United-sponsored students for a private event at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center, extending an experience centered on professional development, networking and leadership.
The conference provided Hampton students with access to professionals representing a broad range of aviation and aerospace careers, including pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers, aircraft maintenance professionals, airport professionals and aviation managers. That exposure aligns with Hampton’s emphasis on connecting rigorous academic preparation with career readiness and workforce needs.
For Hampton, the gathering also underscored the importance of ensuring that talented students have access to the relationships, mentorship and professional experiences necessary to pursue careers throughout aviation and aerospace.
Founded in 1976, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the education, development and advancement of minorities in aviation and aerospace careers. OBAP supports students and professionals through scholarships, mentorship, professional development, youth aviation programs, flight training opportunities and partnerships with airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration, universities, airports and other aviation organizations.
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.
Veteran law enforcement executive brings more than two decades of experience as Hampton expands its focus on public safety, technology, data and community-centered policing
HAMPTON, Va. — Hampton University has appointed Alfred S. Chandler Jr. as chief of police, bringing an experienced law enforcement executive to the University as it strengthens the role of public safety in supporting student success, institutional growth and a rapidly changing campus environment.
Chandler brings more than 24 years of law enforcement experience and most recently served as chief of police for the City of Suffolk, Virginia. At Suffolk, he led nearly 200 sworn officers and 56 civilian employees and managed a $29 million budget.
As chief in Suffolk, Chandler expanded body-worn camera deployment, implemented de-escalation and use-of-force training, established a mental health initiative and developed the department’s first dedicated training facility. His work also included strengthening accountability systems and expanding community engagement through initiatives including “Coffee with a Cop” and the department’s first chief-led digital communications platform.
Chandler holds a Master of Science in criminal justice from Saint Leo University and has completed executive and professional development programs through the FBI National Academy, the West Point Leadership Course and the 111th Command Institute for Law Enforcement Executives.
His appointment follows 15 years of service by former Hampton University Police Chief David Glover and marks a new chapter in the University’s approach to campus safety.
Building on 15 Years of Service
Hampton University recognizes Glover for 15 years of leadership and service to the University community. His tenure provided continuity and institutional knowledge through a period of significant change in higher education and public safety.
Chandler’s appointment builds upon that foundation while positioning Hampton for the demands of the next era.
“Chief Glover served Hampton University with dedication for 15 years, and we are grateful for the commitment he brought to protecting our students and our community,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams ‘83.
“As Hampton advances, our approach to public safety must advance with us. Chief Chandler understands that safety is fundamental to student success and that modern policing requires leadership, trust, sound data, strong relationships and the responsible use of technology. His experience leading a complex municipal police department will help us strengthen that mission while remaining grounded in the values that have guided Hampton since 1868.”
From the Ranks to the Chief’s Office
Chandler’s career provides him with experience across nearly every level of law enforcement leadership.
During his tenure with the Suffolk Police Department, he served as a police officer, detective and master police officer before advancing through supervisory and command positions as sergeant, lieutenant, captain and deputy chief. His assignments included criminal investigations, SWAT operations, crisis negotiation, search and rescue, school resource officers, violent crimes, special investigations and executive leadership. He ultimately served as Suffolk’s chief law enforcement officer, with responsibilities spanning public safety, homeland security and emergency management.
A New Chapter in a Continuing Commitment
As Chandler returns to the chief’s office, he will lead a Hampton University Police Department whose mission is closely connected to the University’s academic enterprise and residential community.
His charge will include strengthening relationships with students, faculty and staff; investing in officer training and development; examining opportunities to use data and technology responsibly; enhancing preparedness and accountability; and building partnerships across Hampton and the surrounding community.
For Hampton University, the next era of campus safety will be defined not simply by enforcement, but by readiness, intelligence, trust and service.
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.
Marketing major Azraa Morgan ’29 connects Hampton University’s agricultural heritage with a new generation’s fight against food insecurity.
HAMPTON, Va. – When Azraa Morgan ’29 planted her first strawberry at Metro Atlanta Urban Farm this summer, nothing happened.
At least, not immediately.
For six weeks, the Hampton University marketing major tended the plant and waited. Then, finally, it bloomed.
For Morgan, a rising sophomore from Detroit, the small breakthrough offered a lesson much larger than the fruit itself.
“That strawberry taught me patience. It taught me discipline,” Morgan said. “It taught me that if you keep showing up every day, eventually you’ll see the fruit of your work.”
That lesson has come to define Morgan’s summer at Metro Atlanta Urban Farm, where she has harvested crops, packed fresh produce, and helped distribute food to more than 250 families each week. But her experience also represents something larger: a Hampton student carrying forward the University’s historic connection to agriculture while exploring how marketing, business and community engagement can help address food insecurity in America’s cities.
Agriculture has been part of Hampton’s identity since its earliest years. Founded in 1868 as Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, the institution educated generations of students through a model that connected learning, agriculture, skilled work and service. Agricultural instruction helped prepare students not only to cultivate land, but also to build livelihoods, strengthen communities, and create greater economic independence.
More than a century and a half later, Morgan sees an opportunity for a new generation of Hampton students to interpret that legacy for the challenges of their time.
“Agriculture is already part of who we are,” Morgan said. “Reconnecting with those agricultural roots is one of the best ways we can honor our history while serving today’s communities.”
Detroit Planted the Seed
Morgan’s interest in food access began long before she arrived at Hampton.
Growing up in Detroit, she noticed an imbalance that became increasingly difficult to ignore. In her neighborhood, fast-food restaurants and convenience stores were abundant, while stores offering affordable fresh fruits and vegetables could be much harder to find.
Travel outside the city into nearby suburbs, she recalled, and the landscape could change dramatically, with grocery stores, farmers markets and health food stores offering choices that were not as readily available in some Detroit neighborhoods.
“For so many families, unhealthy food wasn’t necessarily a choice,” Morgan said. “It was what was available, what was affordable and what was close to home.”
But Detroit showed Morgan something else.
Across the city, residents were converting vacant lots into gardens. Community farms were producing food. Neighbors were creating solutions for other neighbors.
“Detroit didn’t just show me the problem. Detroit also showed me the solution,” Morgan said. “Urban farming isn’t just about agriculture. It’s about dignity. It’s about ownership. It’s about a community deciding that even if no one else invests in us, we’re still going to invest in ourselves.”
That experience planted the foundation for an ambition Morgan hopes to pursue after college. One day, she wants to return to Detroit and establish a grocery store that provides fresh, nutritious and affordable food to families in her community.
Hampton helped her begin thinking about how to turn that ambition into a plan.
From a Hampton Classroom to an Atlanta Farm
During Morgan’s first year at Hampton, an English course pushed her to examine Detroit’s food-access challenges from a different perspective.
Her professor, Dr. Jocelyn Amevuvor, challenged students to move beyond identifying problems and begin developing solutions. For her final project, Morgan focused on food access in Detroit, examining what a sustainable response would require, including funding, partnerships and long-term community support.
The assignment changed the way she thought about her own responsibility.
“For the first time, I realized I can do something about it,” Morgan said.
When the semester ended, she did not want the project to remain an academic exercise. She began searching for an organization already doing the work and discovered Metro Atlanta Urban Farm.
“It wasn’t just an internship,” Morgan said. “It was an opportunity to turn the ideas that had been growing in my mind into real experience serving families, learning urban agriculture and understanding what it truly takes to create lasting change in a community.”
At the farm, Morgan quickly discovered that urban agriculture involves much more than planting and harvesting.
Each week, she helped prepare food boxes for more than 250 families. She learned about cultivation and food distribution while gaining exposure to the communications and nonprofit marketing required to sustain a community-focused agricultural organization.
“Before this internship, I thought urban farming was mostly about growing food,” Morgan said. “I left realizing it was never just about tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers. It was about people.”
Where Agriculture and Marketing Meet
That realization has particular significance for Morgan as a marketing major.
Modern agriculture depends on scientists, growers and agricultural specialists, but getting food, information and resources into communities also requires business strategy, communications, fundraising, partnerships and consumer education.
For Morgan, marketing is not separate from the mission of urban agriculture. It can help sustain it.
Marketing can help a nonprofit explain its impact to donors. It can help farmers connect with consumers. It can educate families about available resources, strengthen community partnerships and turn public awareness into participation.
Morgan’s internship demonstrates why the future of agriculture will require expertise from well beyond traditional agricultural disciplines.
Dr. Ziette Hayes, dean of Hampton University’s James T. George School of Business, said Morgan’s experience illustrates the breadth of opportunities available to business students.
“Azraa’s experience demonstrates that marketing is ultimately about understanding people and connecting them with ideas, resources and opportunities,” Hayes said. “Agriculture may begin with what we grow, but creating sustainable impact requires people who understand communities, organizations and markets. Experiences like this are an example of how our students create ‘options, not issues’ on their journey to a business degree.”
Hampton’s Agricultural Legacy Continues Through Research
Morgan’s work also connects with a broader continuum of agricultural inquiry at Hampton.
The University’s agricultural roots date to its founding era, when agricultural education was integrated into the preparation of students for lives of work, leadership and service. Over time, Hampton offered study in areas including botany and horticulture and operated greenhouse facilities that supported the study of plant life.
Today, that legacy is expressed through scientific research addressing contemporary agricultural challenges.
Dr. Noufal Lakhssassi, a plant geneticist and professor in Hampton’s Department of Biological Sciences, studies soybean genetics and plant resistance to agricultural pests.
Soybeans are deeply embedded in the global economy. They are used in food, animal feed, cooking oils, consumer products and renewable fuels. Threats to soybean production can therefore ripple through farms, food systems and supply chains.
In a 2025 study published in Communications Biology, Lakhssassi and collaborators identified two novel genes associated with soybean resistance to soybean cyst nematode, a destructive agricultural pest.
The research points toward new possibilities for developing more resilient soybean varieties and illustrates how agricultural discovery can have consequences far beyond a laboratory.
For Lakhssassi, Morgan’s experience represents another dimension of that work.
“Science provides insights to develop stronger and more resilient crops, however, the primary goal of agriculture is to nourish people, ,” Lakhssassi said. “Azraa’s efforts directly engage the community in this mission. Urban farms can serve as hubs where research, education, nutrition, and community service converge. This link between innovation and the community is crucial for the future of agriculture.”
Planting Something That Lasts
Morgan is already thinking about bringing what she learned in Atlanta back to Hampton.
One of her goals is to establish a Farm Club at the University, creating an opportunity for students across disciplines to participate in agriculture, food education and community service.
She envisions biology students working alongside marketing majors, engineers alongside nursing students, and future educators and entrepreneurs contributing their own expertise.
“Agriculture isn’t just for agriculture majors,” Morgan said. “Food affects every community, which means every student has something to contribute.”
For Morgan, such an organization could do more than grow fruits and vegetables. It could create another bridge between Hampton’s history and its future.
It could also give students a tangible way to practice one of the lessons she says Hampton has reinforced throughout her education: leadership is measured by what one leaves behind for others.
“My goal has always been to leave Hampton University better than I found it,” Morgan said. “The beautiful thing is that Hampton has already done that for me.”
More than 150 years after agriculture became part of Hampton’s educational foundation, Morgan is helping reimagine what that legacy can mean for a new generation.
The tools may have changed. The fields may now include vacant city lots and urban farms. The students may study marketing, biology, engineering or business.
But the purpose remains rooted in service.
“We can be the generation that plants the seed, keeps showing up and leaves every place better than we found it,” Morgan said. “The greatest legacy you can leave is the lives you help change.”
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.
University recognized among the nation’s top five private HBCUs in Forbes’ first-ever HBCU college ratings
HAMPTON, Va. (Aug. 3, 2026) — Hampton University’s longstanding commitment to preparing graduates for leadership, professional success and meaningful careers has earned national recognition as the University was named one of the top five private Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Forbes’ inaugural HBCU college ratings, which highlight institutions that best position students for success after graduation. The rankings were published Aug. 1 by Forbes.
The inaugural list, Top HBCUs: 20 Historically Black Colleges & Universities That Set Grads Up for Success, evaluates HBCUs based on measures tied to student outcomes, career readiness and long-term success, recognizing institutions that continue to deliver exceptional value while preparing graduates to lead across industries and communities.
For Hampton University, the recognition reflects a 157-year legacy of academic excellence and a continued focus on equipping students with the knowledge, experiences and leadership skills needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy. Through nationally recognized academic programs, undergraduate research opportunities, internships, global engagement and strong alumni networks, Hampton graduates continue to distinguish themselves in business, science, healthcare, engineering, education, government, the arts and entrepreneurship.
“This recognition affirms what generations of Hampton students, alumni and supporters have always known; that Hampton is prepared and is the standard of excellence,” said President Darrell K. Williams ‘83. “Being recognized among the nation’s top private HBCUs by Forbes reflects the extraordinary work of our faculty and staff, the determination and talent of our students, and the enduring strength of an institution dedicated to preparing world-ready leaders of character and consequence who make meaningful contributions around the globe. We remain focused on ensuring every Hampton student leaves this institution prepared to lead with purpose, compete with confidence and serve with distinction.”
The recognition comes as Hampton University continues to expand its national profile through investments in research, STEM education, health sciences, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and workforce development while maintaining its historic mission of educating leaders committed to excellence and service.
Hampton has also added several new degree programs including bachelor’s degrees in dance, African American studies, mechanical engineering, and more. Several master’s programs have also been added to the university’s offerings including marine and environmental science, engineering entrepreneurship, systems engineering, and more.
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.
