General

Dear Hampton University Graduates of 2020 and 2021: 

Congratulations, again, on completing your Hampton University degree.  These past 12 to 18 months have been a challenge to the Hampton faculty, staff and students.  Covid-19 has taken its toll on all aspects of our campus, the nation and the world. The fact that the most recent virtual Commencement was not up to Hampton’s Standard of Excellence added to all of our concerns.  I truly understand what you missed by not having an in-person ceremony. 

While we cannot recreate that moment in time, I would like to offer each of you a gift from your alma mater that will reduce your financial burden as you move to your next phase in life.  Hampton University will provide each graduate in the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021, who has a federal student loan, the sum of $500 toward repayment of that loan.  These payments will be sent directly to the U.S. Department of Education loan servicer that is the holder of your student loan.  Those of you who do not have student loans will be reimbursed your graduation fee of $150. 

Additionally, as we did for the 1971 graduating class that did not get a chance to participate in their Commencement ceremony, you will be invited back to campus in December for an in-person graduation ceremony. The Ceremonial Occasions Committee will provide you with the details by June 30, 2021. 

Please know that your alma mater celebrates your accomplishments. We are confident in your success as you go out into the world and let your lives “do the singing.”

With all good wishes, 

/s/   William R. Harvey
       President

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Dr. William R. Harvey arrived on the campus of Hampton Institute, in 1978, to take over the reigns as leader of an institution that was slowly losing ground.  Many wondered why he chose Hampton.  Other institutions, including majority institutions and more financially stable institutions, had offered him presidencies, but he decided to accept the position at Hampton.  He chose Hampton because he wanted to be in a place where he could offer the greatest service and make a difference.  Dr. Harvey has often stated that choosing Hampton was the best professional decision of his life!

Prior to beginning his illustrious career at Hampton, this celebrated statesman from Brewton, Alabama earned degrees from Talladega College, Virginia State University and Harvard University.  During his career at Hampton, he has received 11 honorary doctorates and countless awards, including the Daily Press Citizen of the Year Award, numerous keys to the city from localities around the country, American Council on Education John Hope Franklin Award, the City of Hampton Distinguished Citizen’s Medal, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Year Leadership Award.  His alma mater, Talladega College, named the African American Art Museum that houses the treasured Amistad Murals in his honor.  Now, following a steady, four-decade plus climb of greatness, Dr. Harvey will move on to his next chapter of service on June 30, 2022.

It is virtually impossible to express in words the debt of gratitude the entire Hampton University community carries ever so deeply for Dr. Harvey. The news of his retirement is likely to draw a full range of emotions because he has touched the lives of so many.  His legacy is rich and indelible on nearly every inch and across every page in the annals of the historic campus.

“As a Hampton University Alumnus and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, the growth and development that I have witnessed under Dr. Harvey’s successful leadership have been, in a word, triumphant,” said Trustee Wesley Coleman. “The significance of this president’s legendary contributions to Hampton will be celebrated for generations. Indeed, the school is so much better off for his having served as our 12^th President. Therefore, on behalf of the Board of Trustees and all of us who love Hampton, we will always be grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Harvey for the immeasurably great job that they have done for the past 43 years and will continue to do for the remainder of his tenure.”

Many will remember the day Dr. Harvey arrived on the campus with a great vision of what Hampton could become. He based his vision on the words of Hampton’s founder, General Samuel Chapman Armstrong, who said that he wanted Hampton to have excellent academics (which today is called workforce development) and to build character.  Armstrong also said that of the two, character was more important.  This is the playbook that Dr. Harvey followed throughout his entire tenure.  It is from this playbook Dr. Harvey charted his unprecedented success as a president and Hampton’s tremendous growth as an institution. 

Hampton University and the higher education community are proud of the legacy of leadership that Dr. Harvey has established during his 43-year tenure at our “Home by the Sea.” The triumphs under Dr. Harvey’s leadership are more than worthy of note and actually too many to list.  A sampling of his accomplishments include:  the initiation of 92 new academic degrees, including 12 new doctoral programs; erecting 29 new buildings; increasing SAT scores by more than 300 points; launching four satellites which are currently flying in space; building a state-of the-art weather antenna that can detect hurricanes and storms up to 2,000 miles away; establishing the largest free-standing proton beam cancer center in the world, which treats prostate, breast, lung, ocular, pediatric, spine, head, neck and brain cancers; and increasing the endowment from $29 million to over $300 million.

Hampton is not the same place it was when Dr. Harvey arrived.  Today, Hampton attracts outstanding students with high SAT scores who bring positive national and international attention to Hampton by winning prestigious scholarships and competitions, conducting research, as well as engaging in prominent leadership and service activities.  Interest in the “Hampton Experience” has led to between 15,000 and 20,000 applications annually and a steady enrollment.   More than 36,000 students have graduated from Hampton under his leadership. Classified by the Carnegie Commission as a ‘High Research Activity’ institution, faculty and students conduct cutting-edge research in various areas. Hampton continuously ranks high among the nation’s colleges and universities.  Dr. Harvey’s list of accomplishments is much too long to include each one, but they have benefited Hampton, the Hampton Roads Region, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the national higher education landscape.

As 100% owner of a PepsiCo Bottling Company in Houghton, Michigan, Dr. Harvey is an astute businessman who runs Hampton as a business for educational purposes.  When asked for the formula for his success, Dr. Harvey shared, “The formula for any success that I have had is based on five priorities: character traits of honesty, integrity, respect, trustworthiness and good personal behavior; high standards and values; a good work ethic; service to others; and appreciating and utilizing the team approach.” 

He says that he has also learned a great deal about management and governance from the boards on which he has served. The non-profit boards include: National Geographic Society, National Merit Scholarship Corporation, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, USO World Board of Governors, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Education (NAFEO), Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (J-Lab), Harvard Cooperative Society, Ft. Monroe Authority, Board of Visitors of  the University of Virginia, Knoxville College Board of Trustees, Southeastern Universities Research Association, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Historical Society, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Woodrow Wilson Foundation and Defense Advisory Board on Women in the Service.  Service on corporate boards includes:  Fannie Mae, Signet Bank, First Union National Bank, Newport News Savings and Loan, Newport News Shipbuilding Corporation, Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and United Virginia Bank.

In addition to the professional accomplishments Dr. Harvey achieved at Hampton, he also experienced great personal joy on these hallowed grounds.  Dr. Harvey moved to Hampton with his wife Norma Baker Harvey, to whom he has now been married to for 53 years.  Mrs. Harvey is legendary in her own right.  Not only has she handled her duties as First Lady with style and grace, she has been of great service to the wider community, as well.  She is known for her active service as a board member of the American Heart Association, the Virginia Symphony, Towne Bank, Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary, the National Conference of Community and Justice, the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, and the Planning and Research Committee for the United Way.  Recognized for her commitment to service, Mrs. Harvey was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Substance Abuse and Sexual Assault on College Campuses and the USS Hampton Commissioning Committee.  She has made significant contributions in each of these roles.

Dr. and Mrs. Harvey arrived at Hampton with their two young children, Kelly Renee and William Christopher.  Their youngest daughter Leslie Denise was born here after they arrived.  Leslie is the first baby born to a sitting president since Gen. Armstrong and his wife had baby Margaret in 1893. The Harvey’s raised their family here, and it has expanded to include four grand-daughters—Taylor, Gabrielle, Lauren and Victoria.  They have also adopted the Hampton family as their own.  Hampton is not just a job for Dr. Harvey; it is a way of life.

The author of books, articles, and other publications, Dr. Harvey is often in demand to lecture on leadership and fundraising at major colleges, universities, and organizations.  He plans to continue to be of service to the higher education and business communities, as well as complete several book projects now underway.  Everyone who knows Dr. Harvey knows that he will always contribute to and be of service to his “Home by the Sea.”

For media requests and additional information, contact the Hampton University Office of University Relations at (757) 727-5253 or UniversityRelations@hamptonu.edu.

HAMPTON, Va. (July 28, 2020) – Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey is pleased to announce that the University has received the largest, single gift in the school’s history of $30,000,000 from Ms. MacKenzie Scott. Ms. Scott made the announcement public today, saying “I pledged to give the majority of my wealth back to the society that helped generate it, [and] to do it thoughtfully.” 

Dr. Harvey, who has successfully led Hampton University for more than four decades, met the measure that Ms. Scott set when she noted that she wanted to call attention to “organizations and leaders driving change.” She chose Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey and Hampton University as one of the institutions because as she explained, the recipients had to “have a track record of effective management and significant impact in their fields.”

“This pure act of benevolence is clearly a game changer and it could not have come at a better time,” said Dr. Harvey. “I speak for the entire Hampton University community when I say we are grateful to Ms. MacKenzie Scott, who has chosen to support us during this unprecedented period of uncertainty.”

Dr. Harvey, who has sole discretion on how the funding will be used, has consulted with members of the Board of Trustees, deans, and administrators to review plans for allocating the generous donation. Among the options for funding are the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute, where lives are saved daily from the devastating effects of cancer; new student scholarships geared to assist high school students who have demonstrated strong character and a yearning for higher education; and further support of the University’s technological advances and upgrades to scientific laboratories campus-wide and more.

Scott deepened the meaning behind her pledge saying, “I watched the first half of 2020 with a mixture of heartbreak and horror. Life will never stop finding fresh ways to expose inequities in our systems; or waking us up to the fact that a civilization this imbalanced is not only unjust, but also unstable.” She went on to say, “What fills me with hope is the thought of what will come if each of us reflects on what we can offer.”

Other HBCUs and nonprofits are also receiving donations from Scott who sought guidance from a “team of non-profit advisors with key representation from historically marginalized race, gender, and sexual identity groups.” She also indicated that her work is ongoing and will last for years. This gift will ensure that Hampton University persists in educating the best and the brightest students in the nation and continues its legacy as THE Standard of Excellence.

HAMPTON, Va. (July 28, 2020) – Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey is pleased to announce that the University has received the largest, single gift in the school’s history of $30,000,000 from Ms. MacKenzie Scott. Ms. Scott made the announcement public today, saying “I pledged to give the majority of my wealth back to the society that helped generate it, [and] to do it thoughtfully.” 

Dr. Harvey, who has successfully led Hampton University for more than four decades, met the measure that Ms. Scott set when she noted that she wanted to call attention to “organizations and leaders driving change.” She chose Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey and Hampton University as one of the institutions because as she explained, the recipients had to “have a track record of effective management and significant impact in their fields.”

“This pure act of benevolence is clearly a game-changer and it could not have come at a better time,” said Dr. Harvey. “I speak for the entire Hampton University community when I say we are grateful to Ms. MacKenzie Scott, who has chosen to support us during this unprecedented period of uncertainty.”

Dr. Harvey, who has sole discretion on how the funding will be used, has consulted with members of the Board of Trustees, deans, and administrators to review plans for allocating the generous donation. Among the options for funding are the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute, where lives are saved daily from the devastating effects of cancer; new student scholarships geared to assist high school students who have demonstrated strong character and a yearning for higher education; and further support of the University’s technological advances and upgrades to scientific laboratories campus-wide and more.

Scott deepened the meaning behind her pledge saying, “I watched the first half of 2020 with a mixture of heartbreak and horror. Life will never stop finding fresh ways to expose inequities in our systems, or waking us up to the fact that a civilization this imbalanced is not only unjust but also unstable.” She went on to say, “What fills me with hope is the thought of what will come if each of us reflects on what we can offer.”

Other HBCUs and nonprofits are also receiving donations from Scott who sought guidance from a “team of non-profit advisors with key representation from the historically marginalized race, gender, and sexual identity groups.” She also indicated that her work is ongoing and will last for years. This gift will ensure that Hampton University persists in educating the best and the brightest students in the nation and continues its legacy as THE Standard of Excellence

Insights from an Icon of Higher Education Serve as Powerful Guide to Success

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HAMPTON, Va. – In his inspiring and motivational new book, Principles of Leadership: The Harvey Leadership Model, Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey, an icon of higher education, shares the insights and philosophy that have shaped his empowering leadership model.

Set to be released on February 20, 2017 the book ($24.99, hardcover, Hampton University Press, available on Amazon.com) examines ten principles that have guided Dr. Harvey throughout a remarkable life and career, spanning his upbringing in Brewton, Alabama and his current role as one of the longest serving higher education presidents in the United States. 

During his nearly 40-year tenure at the helm of one of the nation’s most prestigious small colleges, Dr. Harvey has helped usher in a remarkable era of growth. When he assumed the presidency of Hampton in the summer of 1978 the university’s endowment stood at $29 million. Today it exceeds $260 million, making it consistently in the top three of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) with the largest endowments.

“When I interviewed for the presidency at Hampton 39 years ago, I made it clear that if selected, I would run Hampton like a business for educational objectives,” said Harvey. 

Harvey attributes much of his success to one of the principles he discusses in a chapter on fiscal conservatism, that also illustrates the compelling way he weaves throughout the book, the importance of his parents in framing his leadership philosophy. “I mentioned that my mother emphasized, ‘If you have a dollar, you can’t go to the grocery store and buy a dollar and twenty-five cents worth of groceries. This concept demonstrates sound thinking, and I have incorporated her views into my philosophy”.

In one particularly poignant account, Harvey describes the role his boyhood home played as a meeting place for civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his brother Rev. A. D. King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy. His father allowed him to be present during meetings but as Dr. Harvey describes, “He gave me permission to be present with the proviso that I could not ask a question, venture an opinion, or otherwise speak. As he would say, ‘You are to listen and learn.”

Another chapter deals with the importance of results, amply demonstrated in the growth of Hampton University under Dr. Harvey’s leadership. As he notes, “We at Hampton have realized undeniable success for almost four decades in the areas of academics and research, student enrollment and accomplishments, finances, the enhancement of the physical plant, and athletics”.  One of those accomplishments is the unique place the university holds as the first and only HBCU to have 100 percent control of a NASA mission, a global climate change project run by Hampton’s Atmospheric Science unit. For an example, Hampton currently has three satellites orbiting the earth and expects to launch another one within the very near future.  A powerful testament to Dr. Harvey’s influence and example, are the 17 former administrators of Hampton University who served under Dr. Harvey, and have gone on to become presidents of other institutions of higher learning.

“Dr. William Harvey is a phenomenal mentor who promotes and advances his staff, providing opportunities to soar above the eagles and to land safely when storms erupt as they inevitably will do,” said Dr. Elnora Daniel, former President of Chicago State University.

For anyone seeking to become an effective leader, in any endeavor, the core values, characteristics and insights outlined in Principles of Leadership: The Harvey Leadership Model, is a must-have guide.

You can learn more about Principles of Leadership: The Harvey Leadership Model at http://www.PrinciplesOfLeadershipBook.com/. 
For media requests and additional information, contact B. Da’Vida Plummer, Assistant Vice President Marketing/Dean of The Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, Hampton University at (757) 727-5405 or DaVida.Plummer@hamptonu.edu.                                      

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About Dr. William R. Harvey
Dr. William R. Harvey has served as President of Hampton University for 39 years. During his tenure, he has introduced innovations that have solidified Hampton’s stellar position among the nation’s colleges and universities. His extraordinary leadership is reflected in the growth and quality of the University’s student population, academic programs, physical facilities and financial base. 

Hampton University has built the first proton therapy cancer treatment center in the Commonwealth of Virginia — an unparalleled hub for cancer treatment, research and technology. 

An astute businessman, Dr. Harvey has applied his business acumen to the needs of Hampton University. In the process, he established student scholarships, created jobs, provided services, and increased the number of African-American entrepreneurs, while expanding the tax base in the City of Hampton. 

In addition to the distinguished leadership Dr. Harvey has provided to Hampton University, he is the sole owner of the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Houghton, Michigan.