Five hundred students from 44 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are attending the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) 2026 Leadership Institute. The opening ceremony and first day of sessions took place on Thursday, Sept. 10. Wells Fargo, the presenting sponsor of Leadership Institute, presented a $1 million donation to TMCF.
Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF’s president & CEO, provided opening remarks.
“This is our flagship program. You will not find a program like this anywhere else in the world,” Dr. Williams said. “You exemplify everything we stand for at TMCF. You’ve earned the right to be in this room. No one has given you anything.”
He said when employers think of HBCU students, they think of characteristics like grit, determination, persistence and a passion to create something unique.
“The next several days you’ll be on display,” Dr. Williams said. “We are proud to put the spotlight on you and to show what our HBCUs have been doing.”
Dr. N. Joyce Payne, founder of TMCF, emphasized the importance of registering to vote, putting a plan in place to cast a ballot and making sure their voices are heard.
She also lauded the students for gaining acceptance to Leadership Institute.
“We receive thousands of applicants to join this group,” Dr. Payne said. “You demonstrated the ability to take a punch. You juggled classes. You stayed off Tik Tok. You missed a party or two. No matter how difficult it was, you persisted.”
The remainder of opening day was full of opportunities.
Wells Fargo hosted an afternoon plenary featuring advice to students about navigating the workforce early in their careers. The session featured a candid discussion with Sandra Fernandes, relationship manager at Wells Fargo, and Georgette “Gigi” Dixon, EVP head of external engagement at Wells Fargo.
Students attended breakout sessions with corporate partners and had access to a grooming salon and clothing boutique throughout the day.
Shell hosted the evening plenary, discussing the importance of self-advocacy and leadership presence in the corporate world. The session closed out the day, with an abundance of career-focused activities remaining through Saturday.
