Hampton alumna brings more than two decades of experience in academic leadership, student success and community engagement to the deanship
Hampton, Va. – A Hampton education helped shape Dr. Sherree R.B. Davis’ career as an educator and administrator. Now, the Hampton University alumna will help guide the academic experiences of a new generation of students as Interim Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education (SLAE).
Davis brings more than 20 years of higher education experience to the position. Her background includes academic affairs, curriculum development, faculty affairs, strategic planning, accreditation and student success.
“Dr. Davis knows Hampton and understands the responsibility that comes with leading one of our academic schools,” said Dr. Betty H. Stewart, Provost and Executive Vice President of Hampton University. “She has worked closely with faculty and students throughout her career and has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic quality. Her experience will be valuable as the school strengthens its programs and continues preparing students for graduate study, careers and service.”
Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice from Hampton University. She continued her education at George Washington University, earning a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration.
Before serving as Interim Dean, Davis was the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Assistant Professor of Sociology in SLAE.. She worked with faculty, department chairs and University leadership on academic programs, curriculum design, faculty affairs, strategic planning and initiatives supporting student success.
Davis also previously served as the Chair of SLAE’s Department of Sociology. As Chair, she increased departmental enrollment by 50%, led the development of a new curriculum in criminology/criminal justice and revitalized the department’s internship program.
Since returning to Hampton, Davis has also contributed to University-wide academic planning and governance. She currently serves on the University’s SACSCOC Leadership Team, Long Range Planning Committee, and the Committee on the Instructional Program.
Davis also brings extensive administrative and faculty experience from Fayetteville State University, where she served for 13 years as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and for 11 years as Director of the Office of Civic Engagement, Service Learning and Assessment. As Director, she worked with faculty to integrate service learning into academic courses, helped develop an interdisciplinary core course and led faculty development initiatives. Her administrative responsibilities included staff supervision, grant development, assessment and management of operational and Title III resources exceeding $400,000. Her work in that role supported the academic experiences of more than 8,000 students.
Davis also has experience in accreditation and institutional effectiveness. She served on Fayetteville State University’s Quality Enhancement Plan Steering Committee during the University’s SACSCOC reaffirmation process and led Title III Academic Core Quality activities supporting several departments. She also served as Interim Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
Her research interests include student mental health and crisis intervention, the pedagogical impact of online education, juvenile justice and community corrections. Before and alongside her academic career, Davis worked in Virginia’s juvenile justice and community corrections systems as a juvenile probation officer and criminal justice planner.
Davis brings a particularly broad Hampton perspective to the deanship. She has experienced the University as a student, alumna, professor, department chair, administrator and parent of a Hampton graduate. In her new role, she will draw on those experiences as she works with faculty, staff and students to advance the School of Liberal Arts and Education.
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.
New interim director of admission brings an alumna’s perspective and a forward-looking approach to recruitment, technology and the student experience
Hampton, Va (September 25, 2026) – For Kelsey Rountree ’15, introducing prospective students to Hampton University is personal.
The Atlanta native first came to Hampton as a student, earning a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism with a minor in marketing. After beginning her career as an on-air news reporter and multimedia journalist with WALB News 10 in Albany, Georgia, Rountree returned to her alma mater in 2018 as an admission counselor. She advanced through roles of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as assistant director of admission.
Effective July 1, 2026, Rountree was appointed interim director of admission, overseeing Hampton’s undergraduate recruitment and admission initiatives. Her priorities include strengthening student recruitment, continuing to attract high-quality students, enhancing campus visits, expanding digital engagement, and incorporating artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency.
“Hampton is rooted in tradition, and that is part of what makes our University so distinctive,” Rountree said. “Students experience a nurturing and intimate environment here. Our waterfront campus provides a beautiful setting that is uniquely Hampton, but what makes Hampton feel like home is the personal care and sense of community that students experience here.”
Rountree believes that care should begin with a student’s first interaction with Hampton, whether through a campus visit, recruitment event or conversation with an admission counselor. She is focused on building an admissions team defined by dedication, accountability, enthusiasm, a strong work ethic, and importantly, a genuine commitment to supporting students and families throughout the admission process.
“The admission experience is often a student’s first relationship with Hampton, and every interaction matters” Rountree said. “We look for intangible qualities in our students – good character, leadership potential, integrity, and a desire to contribute to our community – and those same qualities should define our admission team.”
Rountree is also advancing a more digitally focused recruitment experience. Plans include incorporating AI into admission operations to streamline processes; a new 3-D digital campus tour has recently rolled out; and the office is enhancing the in-person tour experience. Hampton has also changed the essay portion of its application to a video essay, giving prospective students another way to share their personalities, experiences and aspirations.
“Technology should help us become more efficient without losing the personal connection that defines Hampton,” Rountree said. “We want to meet students where they are while giving them an authentic understanding of what it means to become part of the Hampton community.”
As an alumna, Rountree brings a personal connection to the work and a commitment to introducing a new generation of scholars to the academic excellence, leadership development and traditions of Hampton University.
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.
U.S. News & World Report, LinkedIn and Forbes recognize Hampton among leading private universities and HBCUs
Hampton, Va. (Sept. 24, 2026) – Hampton University has earned top national recognition from U.S. News & World Report, LinkedIn and Forbes, with new rankings highlighting the University’s academic strength, student experience and graduates’ long-term career success.
The recognitions come during a period of continued academic and research growth at Hampton, a newly classified Carnegie-classified R2 research university. Collectively, the rankings highlight Hampton’s ability to provide a rigorous education while preparing students to lead and succeed well beyond graduation.
“Hampton’s continued recognition on a national scale reflects the strength of our academic community and our commitment to the #1 Student Experience in America,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams ’83. “Our students come to Hampton to be challenged, supported and prepared to lead. These results demonstrate the lasting value of that experience and the extraordinary work of our faculty, staff, students and alumni.”
Hampton also improved its position in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings compared with 2025, rising from the number seven place to six. This climb adds to the University’s momentum as it expands academic programs, strengthens its faculty and advances research across disciplines.
Excellence in a Changing Higher Education Landscape
As colleges and universities nationwide respond to changing student expectations, workforce demands and advances in technology, Hampton is investing in the areas that will shape the future of higher education and the economy.
The University continues to expand its academic and research enterprise while strengthening opportunities that connect classroom learning with careers, leadership and service. That work builds on Hampton’s historic mission while positioning students for success in an increasingly competitive global environment.
LinkedIn’s recognition is particularly focused on outcomes after graduation. Its Top Colleges methodology examines alumni career outcomes, including how quickly graduates secure full-time employment and advance into senior-level positions.
Hampton’s Impact by the Numbers
No. 1 Private School in Virginia — U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings
No. 4 HBCU for Long-Term Career Success — LinkedIn Top Colleges
No. 5 Private HBCU — Forbes HBCU Rankings
No. 6 HBCU (tie) — U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings
No. 6 Private School in the South — U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings
The national recognition reflects more than Hampton’s standing among its peers. It points to the outcomes that matter most to students and families: a strong academic foundation, meaningful opportunities, preparation for careers and graduate study, and a network that continues to create value throughout a graduate’s professional life.
Founded in 1868, Hampton’s legacy has long been defined by academic excellence, leadership and service. Today, the University is building on that foundation through expanded research, innovation and academic opportunities designed to prepare world-ready leaders of character and consequence.
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.
Hampton, Va (September 22, 2026) – After reviving Hampton University’s National Council of Negro Women section and growing it from three members to 245, senior Ya’Kyjah Maddox ’27 took that spirit of service and advocacy to the 2026 March on Washington.
When Ya’Kyjah Maddox stood in Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial, representing Hampton and the National Council of Negro Women at the march, she understood the weight of the moment.
For Maddox, a fourth-year psychology major on the forensics track with a minor in criminal justice, this moment connected generations of advocacy with the responsibility of young leaders today.
“To see our generation stand in a place where previous generations fought for justice, while continuing to advocate for voting rights, economic opportunity, and the future of our communities, was a reminder that we are not simply beneficiaries of history. We are actively making history ourselves,” Maddox said.
That responsibility has shaped Maddox’s leadership at Hampton.
After discovering that Hampton’s NCNW section, originally founded Dec. 5, 2017, by Olivia Okeke, was no longer active, Maddox decided to bring it back. On Aug. 1, 2024, she rechartered the section with just three members.
Today, it has reached 245.
“The rechartering reminded me that sometimes leadership begins with simply asking, ‘Why don’t we have this here anymore?’” Maddox said. “And then having the courage to say, ‘Why can’t I be the person who brings it back?’”
A Family Connection to the NCNW Legacy
Maddox’s connection to NCNW is also personal.
Her grandmother, Eva Ernestine Hardwick, was a Jacksonville, Florida, native who, according to Maddox’s family history, developed a friendship with NCNW founder and founder of Bethune-Cookman University, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Hardwick had an opportunity to become involved with an early group of women connected to Bethune’s work but was unable to participate because she had recently assumed responsibility for caring for Maddox’s mother following an adoption.
Maddox had little time with her grandmother before she died, but learning about that history gave new meaning to her own commitment to service.
“In many ways, I feel that I am continuing a legacy that was placed in my family long before I understood its significance,” Maddox said.
“Ya’Kyjah Maddox represents the kind of leadership Hampton seeks to develop in every student,” said President Darrell K. Williams ’83.
“She has connected history with action, strengthened a community of young women on our campus and carried Hampton’s tradition of service to a national stage. Her leadership reminds us that our students do not simply inherit a legacy. They have a responsibility to build upon it.”
Service That Reaches Beyond Campus
Under Maddox’s leadership, the Hampton NCNW section has turned its growing membership into measurable community service.
Members donated more than $600 through a Homecoming breast cancer raffle, helped provide more than 1,000 meals to families through the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, donated more than 200 canned goods through a Sistergiving Food Drive, and contributed essential items to Mary T. Christian Elementary School. Members also completed 48 hours of volunteer service with The Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command during the first months of 2026.
The section received the Rising Star Award during its first year after rechartering and later earned five honors recognizing its community service, advocacy, cultural impact and women’s empowerment.
For Maddox, however, the greater accomplishment is creating a place where Hampton women can serve, lead and support one another.
“For me, NCNW represents what happens when Black women come together with a shared purpose,” she said.
From rebuilding a campus organization to representing Hampton at the March on Washington, Maddox is connecting her grandmother’s history, Bethune’s legacy and Hampton’s tradition of service with a new generation of leadership.
And she is bringing 245 Hampton women with her.
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.
HAMPTON, VA. — Hampton University will welcome back one of its own this September, as alumnus, former professor, and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Phill Branch returns to campus September 22–23 in celebration of his debut memoir, The Double Dutch Fuss (Amistad/HarperCollins). The visit is as much a homecoming as it is a book tour stop.
Branch earned his B.A. in Mass Media Arts at Hampton before returning years later as a professor in the English department, where he taught writing and helped lay the early groundwork for what would later become the university’s Film Studies program. Phill’s history with Hampton is at the center of The Double Dutch Fuss, a memoir Kirkus and Publishers Weekly have praised, and which Library Journal awarded a starred review, for its unflinching look at Black masculinity, identity, and coming into one’s own.
During his two days on campus, Branch will visit classrooms across Creative Writing, Film Studies, New Media, and Composition; meet with faculty to discuss Spring 2027 course adoptions of the memoir; sit down with Hampton’s LGBTQ+ student community; and headline a public reading and conversation – “Authors at the Harvey”, at the William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library on September 22. On September 23, Branch will broadcast a Poets & Writers “New Nonfiction” virtual conversation live from Hampton’s campus — timed to the September/October 2026 issue of Poets & Writers, where Branch is featured as one of five distinguished, debut authors nationally in “The New Nonfiction 2026.” The Poets & Writers discussion is open to the public.
The visit also marks the start of an ongoing partnership: Branch is launching a student writing collective spanning Hampton, Howard University, and Morehouse College, meeting virtually and culminating in a virtual reading hosted by the Harvey Library in April 2027, alongside a digital journal of student work guest-edited by published authors and academics.
“This isn’t just a stop on the tour – it’s a return,” said Branch. “Hampton gave me the room to find my voice, first as a student and then as a professor. Bringing this book back to campus is everything.”
The memoir has reached Amazon Bestseller status and topped Barnes & Noble’s African American Biography & Memoir pre-order list, and been named an Audible Editors’ Select pick for June 2026.
###
About Phill Branch: Phill Branch is a regional Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, live performance storyteller, and educator, and a GrandSLAM Champion of The Moth. He is the founder of Baltimore Story Fest and a 2025 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Creativity Grant. The Double Dutch Fuss is his debut memoir, published by Amistad/HarperCollins.
Signature Homecoming celebration brings hip-hop, funk, R&B and culture together for an unforgettable night at the Home by the Sea
HAMPTON, Va. (September 17, 2026) — The ESCAPE is back — and this year, Hampton University is bringing generations of music together for one of the most anticipated celebrations of Homecoming 2026.
Set against the waterfront backdrop of Strawberry Banks, The ESCAPE will bring together legendary sounds, Southern hip-hop and the unmistakable energy of the Hampton family. From classics that defined an era to the music that became the soundtrack of a generation, the 2026 lineup is built for Pirates of every decade.
Here’s who is taking the stage:
T.I. — Headliner The Grammy Award-winning Atlanta rapper, actor and entrepreneur will headline The ESCAPE, bringing a catalog of hits that helped define Southern hip-hop and shaped the sound of the 2000s.
Morris Day & The Time Get ready for the funk. Morris Day & The Time will bring their signature sound, style and showmanship to Strawberry Banks, giving generations of Hampton alumni a reason to dance.
Synhergi Synhergi joins the lineup, adding another layer of live music and energy to a night designed to celebrate the Hampton experience.
DJ Envy DJ Envy will keep Strawberry Banks moving, bringing decades of hip-hop and R&B favorites to the Home by the Sea.
Hosted by Damon Williams Comedian Damon Williams will serve as host, bringing his humor and personality to the stage throughout the evening.
The ESCAPE is part of Hampton University’s weeklong Homecoming celebration, October 18-25, which will welcome alumni and friends back to campus for Coronation, concerts, the NPHC Step Show, Vendors Bazaar, alumni receptions, the Homecoming Parade, tailgating, football and more.
But at Strawberry Banks, there is only one assignment: come home, find your people and enjoy the night.
Additional information regarding tickets, gates and event times will be announced by Hampton University.
HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University’s School of Liberal Arts and Education announces that Dr. Zina T. McGee, Endowed University Professor of Sociology, has been selected for the 2026–2027 Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellowship.
The Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellowship provides resources to HBCU-affiliated faculty, writers, community scholars, and doctoral candidates to advance research, scholarship, publication, and public engagement. The fellowship aims to broaden the reach of humanities scholarship and highlight stories and perspectives from communities across the Commonwealth.
Dr. McGee is a faculty member in Hampton University’s Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Homeland Security. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, she earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of New Orleans and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Tulane University. Her scholarship examines structural violence, victimization, resilience, juvenile justice, and the lived experiences of Black youth and other marginalized populations.
As a 2026–2027 HBCU Scholars Fellow, Dr. McGee will engage in the project titled “Structural Violence and Black Youth Resilience: Focus Group Inquiry among Urban Adolescents in Virginia.” Her fellowship application outlines a qualitative study examining how Black adolescents interpret and navigate exposure to community violence. The project will use focus groups to examine shared resilience strategies, collective meaning-making, coping, identity formation, and the influence of family, peers, neighborhoods, and broader structural conditions.
The study centers young people’s voices. Dr. McGee plans to engage approximately 60 Black adolescents, ages 13–18, through 10–12 focus groups in urban areas. The project builds on Dr. McGee’s longstanding scholarship on violence, victimization, coping, and adjustment among urban youth. Through the fellowship, she seeks to produce peer-reviewed scholarship as well as community-facing reports, policy briefs, and workshops that translate research findings into resources for youth, families, community organizations, and policymakers.
Dr. McGee stated, “This fellowship is an important opportunity to highlight the voices and experiences of Black youth and to better understand the structural challenges they face and the ways they demonstrate resilience, develop coping strategies, and draw strength from their families and communities. I look forward to producing scholarship that contributes to the academic literature and informs community dialogue, programs, and policies that affect young people.”
Dr. Sherree Davis, Interim Dean of Hampton University’s School of Liberal Arts and Education, congratulated Dr. McGee on the recognition. Dr. Davis said, “Dr. McGee’s selection as a Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellow recognizes her ongoing scholarly contributions and her commitment to research addressing significant issues in our communities. Her work demonstrates how the social and behavioral sciences illuminate lived experiences, elevate overlooked voices, and contribute to meaningful dialogue and positive change.”
Dr. McGee has authored books and peer-reviewed scholarship on youth violence, victimization, coping, and related social and behavioral outcomes. Her interdisciplinary work spans sociology, criminology, and community engagement, reflecting a career-long commitment to understanding how social structures shape individual and community experiences. She has also contributed her expertise to juvenile justice policy and community initiatives across Virginia.
The fellowship supports Hampton University’s commitment to faculty research that connects academic work to community impact. Dr. McGee’s project will contribute to the humanities and social sciences by preserving and interpreting youth narratives and by linking contemporary experiences to broader historical and structural conditions affecting Black communities in Virginia.
In addition to the Virginia Humanities HBCU Scholars Fellowship, Dr. McGee has received support through two UNCF/Mellon Programs awards for the 2026–2027 academic year. An Archival Research Project Grant will enable her to further explore the overlooked experiences of African American girls in the juvenile justice system using archival records and humanities-based research. She also received a Faculty Development Grant to support data collection, analysis, and dissemination for her research on the criminalization and adultification of Black girls within educational systems. Together, these projects extend her broader scholarship on the experiences of Black youth and girls across educational, community, and juvenile justice settings.
Goldman Sachs partner, Hampton University Board of Trustees member returns to her alma mater with a message about leadership, purpose and building a legacy that lasts
HAMPTON, Va. — Hampton University will welcome one of its own back to the historic campus this fall as Nicole Pullen Ross ’94 of the Hampton University Board of Trustees and a senior leader at Goldman Sachs, delivers the keynote address for the University’s 2026 Opening Convocation.
For generations of Pirates, Opening Convocation has marked more than the beginning of an academic year. It is a moment of expectation, a gathering of students, faculty, staff and alumni around the enduring promise of an education designed not simply to prepare graduates for their first opportunity, but to equip them to lead throughout their lives. Ross embodies that promise.
Returning to Your Roots
A Hampton graduate who went from studying accounting on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay to becoming a partner at one of the world’s leading financial institutions, Ross has built a career advising people whose success can arrive quickly. From professional athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs and families, navigating significant wealth, her work centers on an increasingly important question for a new generation: How do you turn opportunity into something that lasts?
“Nicole Pullen Ross represents the kind of leadership Hampton has cultivated for generations: disciplined, accomplished and grounded in service,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams ’83. “She understands that achievement carries responsibility. Our students will hear from someone who once sat where they sit today and who has used her Hampton education to navigate some of the most consequential rooms in business while remaining deeply invested in the institution that helped prepare her to enter them.”
Ross serves as Northeast Region Head of Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs and leads its Sports and Entertainment Solutions business, an offering she and her team launched in 2018. Her career at the firm spans more than 25 years, and she was named managing director in 2011 and partner in 2020.
Her work has become particularly relevant as the economics of sports and entertainment rapidly evolve. Name, image and likeness opportunities are allowing some college athletes to begin building wealth before graduation, while record contracts, media rights and expanding investment opportunities are changing what it means to be a professional athlete.
In a May 2026 profile, Fortune examined her work helping professional athletes protect and manage wealth in an environment where extraordinary financial opportunity can be accompanied by extraordinary risk. Citing research discussed by Ross, the publication reported that athletes lost nearly $974 million to fraud during the 10-year period ending in 2024.
For first-year students arriving at Hampton and imagining what is possible, Ross represents a Hampton graduate operating at the highest levels of business. For upperclassmen preparing for careers, graduate school and entrepreneurship, her journey demonstrates the value of expertise, relationships and preparation. And for alumni who have built careers and communities over decades, her story reflects a familiar Hampton tradition: achievement becomes more meaningful when it creates opportunity for those who follow.
A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Ross earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Hampton University before earning an MBA from Columbia Business School. Before joining Goldman Sachs in 1999, she worked at J.P. Morgan in New York.
Her leadership extends beyond Wall Street. Ross serves on boards supporting higher education, research and opportunity and has been involved with Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women initiative, an effort focused on investing in Black women and addressing persistent opportunity gaps.
Her path from Hampton to Wall Street (and back to Hampton as a trustee and convocation speaker) reflects one of the University’s oldest ideas: a Hampton education is an education for life.
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.
Retired U.S. Army Colonel brings three decades of leadership, policy and higher education experience to Hampton
HAMPTON, Va. — Hampton University has appointed Elmore J. “Jay” Jones Jr. as its new Compliance Officer, bringing an accomplished career in military leadership, policy, personnel management and higher education administration to the University.
A retired U.S. Army Colonel, Jones served for 30 years in leadership positions across the United States and abroad. His career included assignments with the Defense Intelligence Agency and Department of the Army at the Pentagon, U.S. Army Human Resources Command and multiple Army divisions and commands. His work included policy development, personnel management and senior-level organizational leadership.
In his new role at Hampton, Jones will support the University’s commitment to institutional integrity, accountability and adherence to applicable policies and regulatory requirements.
“Mr. Jones brings the kind of disciplined leadership and sound judgment that are essential to a strong culture of compliance,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams ‘83. “His experience leading complex organizations and developing policy at the highest levels will be an asset as Hampton continues to strengthen its operations and advance its mission.”
Jones most recently served at Tennessee State University, where he held several leadership roles, including Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Director of Veterans Affairs and NCAA Certification Officer. He is also pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Tennessee State.
A graduate of Norfolk State University, Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was commissioned as a U.S. Army officer through the university’s Army ROTC program. He later earned a master’s degree in human resource development from Webster University and completed a yearlong National Security Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School.
During his military career, Jones completed three operational deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. His honors include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal, among other distinctions.
Jones’ appointment reflects Hampton University’s continued investment in strong institutional governance and operational excellence as the University grows in reach, research and impact.
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.
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.
