The spring and summer of 2026 are shaping up to be brimming with opportunities for impact for Dr. Harry L. Williams, the president & CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF).
Beginning in early May, Dr. Williams will begin a spring and summer of engaging with high school and college students, philanthropists, friends and supporters of TMCF, and HBCU officials.
Activities begin on May 6, when Dr. Williams travels to Tallahassee to meet with the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees to discuss the importance of strategic planning and the HBCU landscape.
On May 8, Dr. Williams will serve as the commencement speaker for the Alabama A&M University ceremony for graduate students. The commencement ceremony will be livestreamed on the Alabama A&M YouTube channel.
The next day on May 9, Dr. Williams will serve as the spring commencement speaker at the Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) ceremony. Nearly 1,000 graduates will receive a diploma between the Friday and Saturday events at PVAMU. The commencement ceremony will be livestreamed on the PVAMU YouTube channel.
Less than a week later, he will speak to the graduate students receiving a diploma at the Southern University and A&M College commencement ceremony in Baton Rouge on May 14.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to interact with so many of our students as they celebrate the hard work and sacrifice they endured to earn a degree,” Dr. Williams said.
Soon after commencement season, Dr. Williams will engage with as many campuses in the Seeking, Observing and Achieving Results (SOAR) program. The SOAR program is for high school juniors and seniors that provides exposure to postsecondary opportunities and ensures a successful transition to college.
SOAR has expanded and is scheduled to take place on 16 campuses this summer. Campuses include Alabama A&M University and Drake State Community & Technical College; Alabama State University and Trenholm State Community College; Alcorn State University; Cheyney University of Pennsylvania; Chicago State University; Fort Valley State University; Grambling State University; Hinds Community College – Utica; Kentucky State University; Lawson State Community College; Lincoln University of Missouri; Shelton State Community College; Southern University at Baton Rouge; Texas Southern University; Tuskegee University; and the University of the Virgin Islands.
“It’s critical that high school students gain exposure to our HBCU campuses and get a head start on becoming a leader in the global workforce,” Dr. Williams said. “SOAR is a phenomenal way for them to live the culture and set their dreams in motion.”
