Virginia Union University Names Dr. Elfred Anthony Pinkard Presidential Fellow in the Center for the Study of HBCUs
September 16, 2025
Richmond, VA — Virginia Union University (VUU) is pleased to announce that Dr. Elfred Anthony Pinkard has been appointed as a Presidential Fellow in its Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). A distinguished leader in higher education, Dr. Pinkard brings more than four decades of experience, marked by scholarship, institutional leadership, and a lifelong commitment to the historic missions and modern-day legacies of HBCUs.
“Dr. Pinkard’s life work is a blueprint for purpose-driven success. His entrepreneurial leadership and unwavering commitment to opening doors for others align powerfully with Virginia Union University’s mission to develop scholars and leaders who transform communities. We are honored to celebrate his legacy and excited for the inspiration he will spark in our students," said Dr. Hakim J. Lucas, President & CEO of VUU.
Dr. Pinkard most recently served as the 22nd President of Wilberforce University, the nation’s oldest private HBCU, from 2018 until his retirement in 2023. Dr. Pinkard also served as President-In-Residence at CIC (Council for Independent Colleges) (2023-2024) and was the HBCU Presidential Fellow at Brown University (2023-2025). Dr. Pinkard has held senior leadership positions at multiple HBCUs, including Tougaloo College, Paul Quinn College, Spelman College, Dillard University, and Johnson C. Smith University. He was also the founding Executive Director of the United Negro College Fund’s Institute for Capacity Building.
Dr. Pinkard’s academic credentials are deeply rooted in HBCUs. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, his master’s degree from Howard University, and doctorate from Harvard University.
In addition to his institutional leadership, Dr. Pinkard served on the Board of Directors of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and on the leadership team of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (HELF), organizations focused on capacity-building, leadership development, mentorship, and ensuring HBCUs thrive as national models of excellence and achievement.
In his role as Presidential Fellow, Dr. Pinkard will leverage his extensive leadership experience to advance the international vision and dynamic mission of the Center for the Study of HBCUs. He will engage with students, faculty, and the broader scholarly community in dialogue, research, and collaborative initiatives aimed at elevating HBCU leadership, institutional innovation, and global relevance.
“Virginia Union University is honored to welcome Dr. Pinkard as a Presidential Fellow,” said Dr. Roderick L. Smothers, Executive Vice President/COO, Interim Provost, and Executive Director of the Center for the Study of HBCUs at VUU. “We look forward to the ways his insight will both deepen our work and help carry forward the legacy of these vital institutions.”
Dr. Pinkard added, “HBCUs have always been more than colleges—they are lifelines of culture, opportunity, and community. I am excited to join the Center for the Study of HBCUs in contributing to scholarship, partnerships, and action that amplify their voice and value in higher education.”
About the Center for the Study of HBCUs
The Center for the Study of HBCUs at Virginia Union University is a national research center established for the advancement of scholarship on Black colleges in the United States and beyond. The Center has a discovery agenda that ranges from foundational inquiry to translational and transformational research. The Center conducts rigorous, evidence-based research that aims to advance knowledge, expand institutional capacities, transform institutions, eradicate inequities, and ensure the future of HBCUs in the nation and beyond. We accomplish this mission through four primary activities: CONDUCT research and scholarship; CONVENE the HBCU scholarly community; MOBILIZE resources in support of advancing HBCU research; DISSEMINATE research and scholarship broadly.