A vote of confidence: Trusting HBCU leaders to narrow the funding gap
Headlines in recent weeks have indicated a flurry of philanthropic activity from a well-known donor: MacKenzie Scott. More than $300 million was invested by Scott to the historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) community. Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, Morgan State University, Spelman College, University of Maryland Eastern Shore […]
LANDMARK REPORT: Public HBCUs power U.S. competitiveness and economic mobility, yet face severe funding disparities
A definitive new report from the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center (Payne Center) at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) reveals that America’s public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are indispensable engines of national strength, yet their potential is capped by systemic underfunding. The report, “The American Dividend: Public HBCUs Powering National Strength […]
Scholars gathered in the capital for the Faculty Research Seminar
More than 100 scholars from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. to discuss building research capacity at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) during the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center (Payne Center) and HBCU Transformation Project Faculty Research Seminar. The conference focused on building research capacity for HBCUs aiming to achieve Research-1 (R1) […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund raised nearly $5 million at Leadership Institute and Anniversary Gala
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) recently raised $4.7 million during the 25th-annual Leadership Institute and 38th Anniversary Gala. The Anniversary Gala is TMCF’s largest fundraising event and brings together corporate executives, government officials and philanthropists to honor the organization’s impact in supporting HBCUs while advancing access, opportunity and economic mobility for their students. “As […]
Leadership Institute concludes with a call to rise to leadership
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute concluded with a call to action: rise into leadership and be the transformation. The final day began with an interview power hour and led to a morning plenary, sponsored by Ally Financial, about understanding the total value of the offers scholars received from corporate partners. Following the […]
Scholars focus on career readiness on day three of Leadership Institute
Day three of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute focused on career readiness for the attending scholars, starting with a morning power hour for interviews, a huddle for career conversations with talent coaches and the continuation of the recruitment fair. Groups not attending the recruitment fair on day three attended speed branding sessions. […]
GED to engineering degree: the rise of a first-generation Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholar
One Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 25th-annual Leadership Institute took an unconventional path to higher education and career success. Marcus McClean, a senior mechatronics engineering major at Morgan State University (Morgan), is a first-generation college student from Atlanta. As a trailblazer for his family, he made his own path to a degree. […]
From Flint water crisis to fiscal reprieve: a Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholar’s path to success
As one Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending Leadership Institute put it, growing up in Flint, Michigan meant that bottled water was often stacked higher than opportunity. Brandon J. Poplar, a senior law studies major at Delaware State University, was born in Pontiac, Michigan and raised in Flint during the water crisis. “It shaped […]
First-generation Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholar turned setback into service and success
One Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 25th-annual Leadership Institute landed a coveted internship at Google after his first year at Alabama A&M University (Alabama A&M) but the experience didn’t end as he’d hoped. Riley Roberts, a senior computer science major, is direct in his assessment of how he felt after the internship. […]
Day two of Leadership Institute began in a big way
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) 25th-annual Leadership Institute commenced in earnest on day two, leading off with a morning plenary about strategic listening in leadership communication from presenting sponsor Wells Fargo. The plenary concluded with an investment of more than $1.9 million from the company. Wells Fargo has served as the presenting sponsor of […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholar combines creativity, love of psychology and analytics to give others a voice
For one Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 2025 Leadership Institute, the road to her aspirations was anything but a straight path. Kimi-Lee Knight, a senior applied mathematics major at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), was previously more recognized for her abilities in music and writing than math. That didn’t stop […]
TMCF scholar went from no network to leading multi-million dollar projects
One Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) scholar attending the 2025 Leadership Institute said he went from not having a network to leading multi-million dollar projects in the energy sector. Kamron Wright, a senior mechanical engineering major at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and first-generation college student, grew up in Dallas with very few mentors or […]
Leadership Institute launches with a high-energy start
The more than 500 students attending the 2025 Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute quickly experienced the dynamic energy of the four-day event for students of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The opening ceremony and initial sessions took place on Wednesday, Oct. 1. TMCF yard ambassadors led participants in a roll call of […]
Wells Fargo serves as presenting sponsor for 2025 Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute
Wells Fargo proudly continues its enduring support as presenting sponsor of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s (TMCF) Leadership Institute, the organization’s signature professional development program serving students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Wells Fargo has served in this role for more than a decade. The 2025 Leadership Institute will take place from Oct. […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund board member recognized as one of Fortune’s most powerful women
A member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Board of Directors was recently recognized as one of Fortune’s most powerful women. Toni Townes-Whitley, the CEO of SAIC, was named to the list and rose in the rankings from the previous year. Townes-Whitley is one of only two Black women in the CEO role of […]
Fourteen Thurgood Marshall College Fund member schools recognized as Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders
The U.S. Department of State recently announced its Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders for the 2024-25 academic year. Fourteen of the 20 honorees are Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) member schools. Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders are selected based on their engagement with the Fulbright program. The initiative was established to recognize and commend the strong partnership […]
Scholar who discovered the Thurgood Marshall College Fund on social media found financial relief
One student attending the upcoming Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) 2025 Leadership Institute first learned about the organization on social media. Her commitment to pursue opportunities through TMCF led to financial relief and career prospects. Grace Ogunmodede, a senior majoring in information science and systems at Morgan State University, first learned about TMCF during her […]
Thurgood Marshall College Fund awards $16 million in grants to eight HBCUs to advance capacity building and innovation
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) recently announced that eight of its member institutions have been selected to receive $2 million each as part of the Project HBCU Capacity Building: Maximizing HBCU Institutional Performance through Investments in Research, Operations, and Innovation initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The multi-year initiative represents a $25 million investment […]