Guests are invited to check in, pick up event materials, and enjoy a light continental breakfast while connecting with fellow attendees, partners, educators, and HBCU representatives before the program begins.

Welcome: Dr. Keith Lezama

Opening Remarks: Dr. Keith Lezama, Founder & CEO, Building Bridges Education, with members of the Board and Advisory Team.

Dr. Sara Bleich, Vice Provost for Special Projects, Harvard University, will provide an overview of the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative, including its work to confront Harvard’s historical ties to slavery and advance truth, repair, and accountability. She will also highlight impactful HBCU partnerships and opportunities to build meaningful, sustainable relationships that connect history, education, and shared responsibility.

Featuring the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, the research arm of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)

The Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, the research arm of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), will share the findings from Proof of Promise: The Lasting Value and Impact of an HBCU Education; the nation’s largest study of HBCU alumni.

This presentation explores how HBCUs transform access into opportunity, opportunity into achievement, and achievement into lasting impact. Drawing on groundbreaking research, the plenary session examines the enduring influence of an HBCU education on belonging, persistence, leadership, purpose, and the lives of students, families, and communities across generations.

TMCF Special Guest Presenters
Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center | Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)

Moderator
Chelsea Holley, Director of Admissions, Spelman College

Panelist
April English, Spelman College Graduate and Chief Secretary, Office of Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey

Dr. M.C. Brown II, Executive Director & Research Scientist, Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)

Jeneé Osterheldt, Norfolk State University and Culture Columnist Deputy Managing Editor | Culture, Talent, Development, The Boston Globe

Higher Aspirations, Stronger Bridges

Femi Stoltz, Massachusetts Policy Director | uAspire
Room: Wexner 434 AB

This session will examine collaborative strategies to expand college access, strengthen financial aid support, and build sustainable partnerships that help students and families navigate pathways to higher education and HBCU opportunities. Participants will explore practical approaches for connecting resources, strengthening advising, and creating stronger bridges between students, families, schools, and HBCU partners.

Workshop: Advancing Student Achievement — PV CARES Student Success Model

John Gardner, Associate Vice President for Student Success, Prairie View A&M University
Room: Allison Dining Room

An interactive exploration of Prairie View A&M University’s student-centered approach to persistence and achievement. Participants will examine advising, early-alert systems, data-informed interventions, career readiness, financial counseling, and cross-campus collaboration strategies designed to support students from enrollment through graduation.

Workshop: The HBCU Enrollment Paradox — Rising Demand, Uneven Growth

Dominique Harrison,  Director of Undergraduate Admissions at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University  
Chelsea Holley, Director of Admissions at Spelman College
Room: Nye A, B & C

HBCU enrollment is experiencing renewed momentum, but growth is not occurring uniformly across institutions. This session will examine the factors driving these shifts—from increased application volume and selectivity to continued enrollment challenges—and explore what they mean for HBCUs, students, and college access professionals. Enrollment leaders will also discuss how counselors can help students navigate an increasingly dynamic HBCU admissions landscape.

Networking Lunch & Featured Briefings

Connect. Collaborate. Learn.

Enjoy lunch and an opportunity to connect with fellow HBCU leaders, educators, counselors, and community partners while learning about emerging initiatives focused on expanding student access, strengthening support systems, and creating new pathways to opportunity.

CAU Boston Online
A brief introduction to Clark Atlanta University’s Boston-based online graduate education offerings and opportunities to support educators and education professionals through advanced study.

The Wily Network
An overview of The Wily Network and its work supporting college students through meaningful relationships, resources, and connections that help students navigate and persist through higher education.

Building Bridges Education — Brief Update
A brief update from Building Bridges Education highlighting current initiatives, upcoming opportunities, and the organization’s continued work to expand HBCU access and strengthen pathways from education to opportunity.

A Vision for the Future: Building the Next Generation of Investment Management Leaders

Presenter: Arleaya L. Martin, CFRE, Area Director of Development – New England, UNCF
Room: Wexner 434 AB

The investment management industry has always depended on exceptional talent. As the industry evolves through advances in artificial intelligence, rapidly changing markets, and an increasing need for diverse perspectives, identifying, developing, and retaining the next generation of industry leaders has never been more important.

This session will spotlight the programmatic work of UNCF New England to connect exceptional HBCU talent with Boston’s investment management community and build pathways into the industry. Through education, experiential learning, industry mentorship, and career development, UNCF New England is advancing a first-of-its-kind leadership ecosystem that expands opportunities for HBCU students while helping strengthen Boston’s position as a leading center for finance, innovation, and talent development.

CAU–Boston | Pioneering Black Graduate Education

Pioneering Black Advanced Scholarship: The Enduring Legacy and Future of America’s First Graduate Degree-Granting HBCU

Presenters: Reginald K. Ellis, J. Fidel Turner,  Mary Hooper, Clark Atlanta University
Room: NYE A,B,C

Atlanta University, now Clark Atlanta University established a transformative legacy as the nation’s first institution dedicated to continuous graduate education for African Americans. This panel explores the institution’s historic role in advancing Black scholarship, intellectual leadership, civil rights, and institutional self-determination, while examining its continued evolution as a Carnegie R2 research university. Presenters will connect this history to the future of graduate education, including doctoral pathways, STEM and social sciences, interdisciplinary scholarship, and the preparation of scholars and leaders equipped to address complex global challenges.

Beyond Retention; Building Communities Where Students & Adults Thrive

Facilitators:
Austin McDonald, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies & Director, Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), Florida State University
Cedric Walker, Dean of Students, Tuskegee University
George Greenidge, Educator, Nonprofit Leader, Sociologist & Impact Strategist
Dawn Nail, Executive Director, Center for Academic Excellence, North Carolina A&T State University
Room: Alison Dinning Room

This facilitated conversation moves beyond traditional measures of retention to explore what it takes to build communities where students and adults feel seen, valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Through dialogue, reflection, and the sharing of promising practices, participants will examine strategies for strengthening belonging, relationships, and student success and leave with actionable ideas they can bring back to their institutions and communities.

Dr. Keith Lezama
Founder & CEO, Building Bridges Education

The Summit concludes with reflections from Dr. Keith Lezama, Founder & CEO of Building Bridges Education, bringing together the day’s conversations around access, opportunity, leadership, partnership, and the enduring impact of HBCU education.