Morris Brown College president to speak at SC State Spring Commencement on May 9
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
Graduation rehearsal is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. During rehearsal, each graduating senior will receive guest tickets. The tickets will be used in case of inclement weather because of limited seating in the alternative location, Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
Graduating students will receive official information from the University’s Registrar's Office and are encouraged to order their academic regalia from the University Bookstore as soon as possible to ensure availability.
Graduating seniors should contact the University Registrar’s Office at registrar@scsu.edu or 803-536-7185 for more information. The Registrar’s Office is in Moss Hall room 202.
About Dr. Kevin James
James is Morris Brown College’s19th president. Under his leadership, the college regained accreditation after a nearly 20-year hiatus, becoming the first HBCU to achieve such a feat. Driven by a commitment to Morris Brown's legacy, he initiated the #TheHardReset campaign, successfully restoring the institution to compliance and recognition by the Department of Education.
With a career spanning over 23 years as an educator, administrator, executive business leader, and motivational speaker, James brings a wealth of experience to his role as the college’s chief executive officer. He has been responsible for stabilizing finances, expanding academic offerings, increasing fundraising, launching a new five-year strategic plan, and achieving record-breaking enrollment in the past two decades.
The institution secured full accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) on April 26, 2022, enabling the college to regain access to federal financial aid programs and Title IV funding. He also solidified Morris Brown College's reinstatement as a participant in the Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities program under Title III.
Throughout his tenure, James has received numerous accolades and awards for his contributions to higher education, business, and executive leadership. In 2024, James was named Titan 100 of Georgia. The Titan 100 recognizes the top 100 CEOs & C-level executives in the state who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively, the 2024 Georgia Titan 100 and their companies employ more than 125,000 individuals and generate over $31 billion in annual revenues.
James was named HBCU College President of the Year by Our HBCU’s Matter Foundation, Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2023, and Atlanta’s Top 500 Leader each of the last four years.
James is a staunch advocate for educational accessibility. He is regularly sought after as a mentor, lecturer, and agent of strategic change, particularly at HBCUs. As an innovator and authority on higher education, particularly regarding underserved communities, he has spoken about HBCUs, equity and inclusion in higher education and the unique challenges of minority-serving institutions.
He has been featured in prominent media outlets, including CNN, CBS, NBC, and FOX, and in leading news publications such as U.S. News, Forbes, Black Enterprise, The Root, NewsOne, TheGrio, HBCU Times, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Voice, Atlanta Magazine, and The Atlanta Tribune.
James is active in various organizations and serves on the boards of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Worldwide, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Kappa Kappa Psi, and the Historic Oakland Foundation, among others. He is a member of such honor societies and organizations as Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, Golden Key International Honor Society, the Prince Hall Masonic Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
James holds a bachelor's degree in communication disorders and social sciences from Winthrop University, a master's degree in business management, leadership, and organizational effectiveness from Troy State University, and a Doctor of Education degree in higher education leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He also is a graduate of the Higher Education Institute at Harvard University.
A native of Columbia, South Carolina, James is deeply committed to empowering the community through education and has played a transformative role in revitalizing Morris Brown College. His strategic vision, dedication, and numerous accomplishments have positioned the institution for a successful future.