Leadership message: Growth, innovation and the power of our mission

September 2, 2025

Dear TMCF friends and family.

As a new academic year begins, I am filled with a sense of pride and anticipation for the milestones that lie ahead for our students, their institutions and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Our organization was founded on a belief that our HBCUs are not just institutions of learning, but powerful engines of opportunity and social progress. Every day, the work you do carries that legacy forward. 

In a few short weeks, we will host the 2025 Faculty Research Seminar, which is focused on advancing institutional research excellence and R1 readiness. This event is a testament to creating cross-collaboration and scholarly dissemination amongst our HBCU member schools. Together we hope to strengthen the institutional research agendas and funding competitiveness amongst these institutions. 

We are also preparing to release our highly anticipated Black Thriving in America 2025 report. The groundbreaking report that dives deep into Black life experiences through decades of Gallup research and recent surveys representing the voices of 40 million Black Americans. This work is at the heart of our mission and is a vital resource for policymakers, philanthropists and educators alike.

We are also about to unveil a complete redesign of the Payne Center website, set to debut in September. The new site will be more intuitive, accessible and dynamic, reflecting the professionalism and impact of our work. This redesign ensures that our digital presence is as powerful and compelling as our mission.

These upcoming events represent our unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and ensuring that our HBCUs remain at the forefront of American education.

Thank you for your dedication to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Your work changes lives and I am grateful for your commitment. 

With deepest gratitude,

Dr. N. Joyce PayneFounder,

Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Related News

Finding opportunity and confidence through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund 

Darius Mackey, a junior finance major at Texas Southern University (TSU), credits the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) with helping him recognize his potential and pursue opportunities he once thought were out of reach. Mackey, a first-generation college student expected to graduate in December 2027, has participated in TMCF programs including the Lowe’s retail immersion […]

How the Thurgood Marshall College Fund helped open doors in technology for Tuskegee University graduate

Destinie “Alora” James-Knowles, a 2025 graduate of Tuskegee University, credits the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) with helping shape her academic and professional journey. A double major in computer engineering and electrical engineering, James-Knowles now works as a sales engineer and leads Shift-ALT-HER, a nonprofit focused on helping women pursue careers in technology.  Shift-ALT-HER grew […]

Thurgood Marshall College Fund lauds additional support for historically Black colleges and universities by Trump administration 

Officials at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) express sincere gratitude to President Trump, Secretary McMahon and the Trump administration for announcing plans to provide $174 million in supplemental Title III funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in FY26, above congressional appropriations. Building upon the supplemental amount of $435 million allocated in FY25, […]