daily in real time, ‘Look at what Morris Brown College did today.’ This strategy built momen- tum, which ultimately saved the college.”


Due to his achievements, the Our HBCUs Mat- ter Foundation named him the HBCU President of the Year, which James said was a “huge honor and demonstration that we were seen and appreciated.”


THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA SAVING DREAMS


A college degree changes lives James’ focus on ensuring everyone has a chance at quality higher education actually began in…music theory class! Although the Co- lumbia native originally pursued a music edu- cation degree, he changed his major to speech and transferred to Winthrop to study commu- nication disorders. He particularly enjoyed his audiology and sign language courses.


“I thought I would go on to graduate school to study it,” James explained. “I ended up teach- ing adult students…and fell in love with working in higher education.”


He earned a master’s degree from Troy State University followed by an Ed.D. in higher edu- cation leadership from Nova Southeastern Uni- versity. While watching television one night, he saw a story about Morris Brown’s former presi- dent stepping down. Inspired, James called the office and said, “I want to be your president.”


Scroll through the social media accounts of Dr. Kevin James ’01, president of Morris Brown Col- lege, and here’s a glimpse of what you’ll see:


James playing drums and challenging others in a fundraiser for Homecoming; strolling around the campus with rapper T.I. after securing a technol- ogy grant from the Atlanta-based celebrity; and announcing to 274 Benjamin E. Mays High School students that they’ve been admitted to Morris Brown for fall 2024, including full tuition scholar- ships for the class valedictorian and salutatorian.


Since assuming the presidency in 2019 at Morris Brown, a private, historically Black, liberal arts


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college in Atlanta, Georgia, the Winthrop alumnus has used social networking to help the institu- tion regain accreditation, grow enrollment, land corporate partnerships valued in the millions, and more.


“Social media literally saved Morris Brown Col- lege,” said James, who earned a B.A. in speech at Winthrop. “I learned early in my presidency that people did not believe what you said, only what they saw. Because no HBCU has ever re- bounded after a 20-year hiatus, no one believed what I was trying to do was possible. I took to social media — mainly because it was free and that’s where the people are — to demonstrate


“It was simple to me once I realized I liked work- ing with adult students,” he said. “A college degree has proven to not only change lives, but families and generations. Why not be a part of that?”


With a nod to the aforementioned achieve- ments, Morris Brown just extended James’ contract through 2029. So what’s his secret to success?


“Never giving up, hard work, building a strong dedicated team around me and not taking no for an answer.”


FUN FACTS:


• Kevin James is one of the founding chapter leaders of the Winthrop Alumni Association’s current Atlanta Chapter.


• He received the Alumni Professional Achievement Award from the Alumni Association in 2020.


• He plays the drums and the saxophone.


• His favorite Winthrop memory: becoming a member of the Psi Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.


• He’s the oldest of five siblings and the only male.


• Both of his parents were teachers.


• Favorite book: “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You” by John Maxwell.


A college degree has proven to not only change lives, but families and generations.


Why not be a part of that? -Kevin James


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