161st Founders Day Celebration Reaffirms Virginia Union University's Mission and Future
February 09, 2026
Pictured: Distinguished Professor Dr. Boykin Sanders
By: Karyn Cook
RICHMOND, Va. — An inspiring and profound Founder’s Day was held on the campus of Virginia Union University, as students, faculty, alumni, guests, and members of the community gathered to commemorate the institution’s 161st Founders Day Celebration on February 6, 2026.
The program opened with an invocation by Pastor Rodney Waller, setting a reflective and reverent tone for the celebration, followed by a performance of the Negro National Anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Among the featured speakers was U.S. Senator Mark Warner who shared remarks emphasizing the transformative impact of a Virginia Union education. He spoke directly to students—especially seniors—encouraging them to carry the institution’s values into their future endeavors.
“To the students, particularly seniors, regardless of where the future leads you after your time at VUU—whether it’s pursuing ministry, the arts, or business—we need people like you who come out of an institution still rooted in faith, one that reflects that at the end of the day we answer to a higher law and a higher calling.”
Elise Green, President of the VUU National Alumni Association, reflected on the university’s origins and enduring legacy.
“We gather not only to celebrate an institution, but to celebrate a miracle born from the most unlikely ground. We remember that the story of VUU begins at Lumpkin’s Jail, once known as the Devil’s Half Acre, a place where our ancestors endured unimaginable suffering, yet held fast to an unbreakable faith.”
She emphasized that Founders Day is more than a ceremonial observance. “Founders Day is more than a date on the calendar; it is a pilgrimage back to the place where our story was born.”
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L To R: U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner, Guests at 161st Founders Day
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L to R: National Alumni President Elise Green and Student Government Association President Ivi Armstrong-Edlow
The program also included moments dedicated to honoring those who have faithfully served the institution.
“Two final acts remain today—honoring those who have served our institution—so that, as Dr. Boykin Sanders reminded us, we do not forget their names.”
Ivi Armstrong-Edlow echoed this sentiment, highlighting the broader historical significance of the university.
“Founders Day is more than a celebration of our history; it is a reminder of the resilience and courage that built Virginia Union University. Established in 1865, during a time when access to education for African Americans was limited and often denied, our founders created a place where knowledge, leadership, and opportunity could flourish.”
She noted that the university’s foundation was rooted in a powerful belief. “Their commitment to education was grounded in the understanding that empowerment begins with learning, and that education is one of the most powerful tools for social progress and change.”
Remarks were also given by Mr. and Miss VUU, Wonzooly Bruce Jr. and Akila Hutley, along with the representative of the Graduate Student Council, Mr. Tyrice Fowlkes. A new part of the ceremony was introduced this year, an oration by Lillian Makeda Floyd-Thomas, an award-winning orator, poet, and emerging global voice whose work centers the moral imagination as a pathway toward restoring the good of humanity—socially, culturally, and spiritually.
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L To R: Poet Laureate Lillian Makeda Floyd-Thomas, Dr. Boykin Sanders
Distinguished Professor Dr. Boykin Sanders gave the address which further contextualized Virginia Union University’s role in Black history, referencing influential figures such as Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass, and underscoring the university’s enduring mission.
“Like institutions across the land, this institution came into being as a salvation plan—seeking to manage and resolve the challenges of post-enslavement existence. It was, and continues to be, a Black survival project. As with other institutions and initiatives of our people, the concern was to speak to, organize, resolve, and meet the needs of our community.”
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L To R: VUU Chairman Dr. Franklyn Richardson, VUU President & CEO Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, with Steve and Doris Bullock Award recipients Charles and Theresa Ann Brown, Dr. Franklyn Richardson
Portraits were then unveiled presented by VUU Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Franklyn Richardson, honoring those whose lives were dedicated to Virginia Union University.
- Dr. John A. Watson Jr. - Professor of foreign languages and mentor of the late Arthur Ashe.
- Dr. Walter Oswald Bradley - Former Chairman of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics for over 30 years.
- Dr. Henry Jared McQuinn - Alumni, former professor at VUU for 44 years, Director of the Division of Social Sciences.
- Dr. Dwight C. Jones - First Baptist Church of South Richmond and 49th Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and proud alumnus of VUU.
Also honored were the 2026 recipients of the Steve and Doris Bullock Presidential Award: Charles and Theresa Ann Brown, '72 and '73, who have made a financial contribution for the last 38 years, donating over $250,000 to support the advancement of VUU.
The 161st Founders Day celebration served not only as a tribute to the past but also as a reaffirmation of Virginia Union University’s purpose, faith, and unwavering commitment to future generations, as the University’s official Day of Giving united clergy, friends, alumni, students, faculty, and staff raised more than $300,000 in support of VUU’s mission and student success, culminating in a luncheon rally where members of the community brought their contributions both in person and online.