Dr. Jackson resigned. Jackson is the disgraced, recently, retired president of Bethune Cookman University. His abrupt storied exist from the beach side historically black institution occurred as a result of aggressively increasing the university’s debt through questionable management practices. Overall, I think there is a true opportunity for visionary leadership among Florida HBCU’s. As, FAMU, the region’s flagship HBCU, has no permanent president; such is the case for Florida Memorial University (Miami area HBCU), and now Bethune Cookman has followed suit. Considering the shift in federal and state support of Post-Secondary Institutions, having no permanent, sub-par, or ineffective leadership is dangerous with implications that could mean triggering accreditation probation or worse permanent school closures.

Therefore, in order to mitigate contemporary challenges faced by HBCU educational enterprises, and to avoid practices that might toxify their ability to exist I think B-CU (Trustees) should do the following:

1. Seek to hire a LEADER (be it black or white, female or male, hbcu graduate or not) who will respect the mission of the university but have the vision to modernize it.

2. Frontload the support provided to students in their freshman and sophomore years. FYI, based on reported data B-CU has the highest graduation rate among HBCUs in the state of Florida.

3. Select a leader who has a reputation of raising money — INNOVATIVELY. Howard’s President was masterful at this. DC is expensive to live in and property is hard to develop. He converted an old residence hall into high-end apartment as a way for the university to make millions.

4. Finally, whoever they pick will have to be someone who can build a strong rapport with the Board of Trustees. B-CU has a board with over 30 members…THIRTY…to develop their confidence in said person’s ability to hire great faculty, and lead the school in regaining its greatness.

I am numbed by what has happened at B-CU, to say the least, it is a true sad state of affairs. The implications are however stratified between two salient points 1. What will happen to the students, does the institution have the ability to serve the best educational interest of those they admit Also, 2. What will happen to the school, a symbol of resiliency for the African American community?

To answer the aforementioned questions, I look to the amazing narrative of the institution’s founder. Mary McCloud Bethune was a hard worker. She sought to open and lead a school that would educate black little girls. She faced many obstacles in endeavoring to operationalize this goal. However, the strength of her tenacity was the engine that powered her through setbacks which eventually where used as steps to help her establish the institution which is Bethune Cookman University today. If Bethune, who sold pies to start the school, could bring into fruition her idea despite the frustrations associated with creating a learning institution for African Americans; then what excuse do leaders of today have?

We have been empowered by her legacy. Nevertheless, for Bethune Cookman University to succeed and regain its footing toward greatness, it is critical that stakeholders work to, preserve and expand her legacy. The torch is now in the hands of those that call themselves WILDCATs. Wildcats must then take the fire of that torch, the torch of hope, and ignite the broader community to keep the legacy and work of Bethune Cookman alive.