CIAA Hall of Fame Members
Livingstone College
Jenkins has been president of Livingstone College for 16 years, making him the second longest-tenured president in the school’s history. Prior to Livingstone, Jenkins served as president of Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Fla, where a gymnasium there bears his name. Before that, he made history by becoming the first alumnus of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) to serve as chancellor, after earning both his master’s and doctorate degrees in biology from Purdue University. A science building at ECSU is named in his honor.
During his tenure, Livingstone has undergone significant progress. At his hiring, Jenkins challenged the Board of Trustees to use his experiences to change the college approach to educating students often troubled by socio-economic difficulties, thus creating the Holistic College model. He is credited with saving the college from closure from its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Today, the college boasts reaffirmation of accreditation for the next 10 years without a single recommendation.
Jenkins also raised the net asset value of the college by $15 million; acquired a former Holiday Inn to establish the hospitality management and culinary arts program; and reactivated the college’s 40 acres of land to grow food and supply culinary arts.