ORANGEBURG, S.C. (courtesy claflin.edu) — The Claflin University Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack as the ninth president of the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in South Carolina, effective August 1, 2019. He succeeds Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, who is retiring after 25 years of transformational leadership at the Orangeburg, S.C., institution founded in 1869.

“Dr. Warmack was unanimously chosen to lead Claflin University from a pool of highly qualified applicants,” said James K. Lehman, Chair of the Board. “We believe he will continue Claflin’s upward trajectory, keeping the university among the nation’s leading institutions of higher education. He brings a brand of leadership that is inclusive, transparent and inspires teamwork.”

He inherits the leadership of an institution experiencing unprecedented growth and achievements in enrollment, fundraising, annual alumni giving rate and ranked as one of the top ten (#7) Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

“I am honored to lead one of the nation’s premier historically black college and universities that has a tradition of producing visionary leaders and a proven track record devoted to student success,” Warmack said. “My aspiration is to honor President Tisdale’s amazing legacy, by continuing the Claflin standard as a beacon of excellence in higher education for future generations to come. I am humbled by the opportunity afforded me to carry the torch and to continue the growth and development of Claflin University as a dynamic and powerful center of scholarship, research and education.”

Dr. Warmack will assume the mantle of leadership at Claflin after serving the last five years as President of Harris-Stowe State University in Missouri. He brings more than 20 years of progressive administrative experience in higher education at five distinct higher education institutions.

Under Dr. Warmack’s exemplary leadership, Harris-Stowe witnessed an institutional transformation, which is unparalleled in its 162-year history. He has shepherded more than $24 million in external funding to the institution, including a $5 million STEM grant, the largest in the school’s history. He cultivated more than 16 partnerships and collaborations with Fortune 500 companies, regional organizations and other higher education institutions to strengthen Harris-Stowe’s infrastructure.

Equally impressive, in the past five years under Dr. Warmack’s leadership, Harris-Stowe State University became the fastest growing public university in the state of Missouri and has been recognized as a leader in graduating African Americans and other underrepresented groups with baccalaureate degrees. In addition, Harris-Stowe has witnessed a 34% increase in headcount; applications to attend HSSU soared to more than 7,000 in 2019 compared to 667 in 2013. The Harris-Stowe student profile has grown stronger-representing 37 states and 17 countries. Additionally, as part of the institution’s strategic plan that he spearheaded, the University embarked on an ambitious goal of expanding its academic offerings. As a result, degrees, minors, and certificate programs have increased from 14 to more than 50 offered. These include expanding the liberal arts, business degrees and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics disciplines (STEM).

As a result of Dr. Warmack’s leadership in transforming the curricular and co-curricular enterprises at Harris-Stowe, the institution has been ranked regionally and nationally in various publications and online journals with U.S. News and World Report ranking Harris-Stowe as one of the best HBCUs and Midwest universities in the United States. His success at Harris-Stowe captured national acclaim cumulating with a front-page article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, features in the New York Times, the Detroit Free Press and appearances on CNN, Al Jazeera America, C-SPAN and NPR.

Prior to his appointment as President of Harris-Stowe, he served as the Senior Vice President, Administration and Student Services at Bethune-Cookman University. Prior to that appointment, he was the Associate Dean of Students at Rhodes College in Memphis, where he had oversight over Student Affairs and Administration including Judicial Affairs, Student Activities, Greek life, New Student and Parent Orientation and Multicultural Affairs. Dr. Warmack also has held positions at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., and Delta State University.

He provides a brand of leadership that is characterized by an unqualified insistence on data driven decision-making and a commitment to higher education’s current best practices. Considered to be a servant leader and visionary with a unique understanding and appreciation for today’s Millennial and Generation Y students, he is committed to the academic integration and holistic development of students.

Dr. Warmack is committed to developing programs that promote diversity, pluralism and cultural competency. Throughout his career, he has championed inclusion, academic excellence and the retention of underrepresented students. Over the years, he has presented more than 120 diversity and leadership presentations and workshops to an array of individuals and groups. He was recently selected as an Eisenhower Fellow, a highly selective and worldwide competitive fellowship.

Dr. Warmack earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Master’s degree in Sociology from Delta State University. He earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Higher Education from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. He completed post-doctoral work in Educational Leadership at Harvard University School of Education. Dr. Warmack is married to LaKisha Warmack and they have one daughter, Morgan.

Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez —

From my years on college campuses, I know how bittersweet graduation is. We’re happy that our students are opening the next chapters of their lives, confident they are equipped to take on the world. But we’ve spent much time with these extraordinary young people and it’s tough to say goodbye.

I think that special relationship is captured in the word “inspiration.”

Interestingly, the Latin origin of the word “inspiration” means both “blow into” and “breathe in.” Those two meanings capture our experience with our students.

First, our faculty and staff are an inspiration for our students. They are role models who, every day, show our students what’s possible in terms of personal achievement. They are mentors and guides who help students navigate the challenges of college, and demonstrate the sense of duty and service we expect our students to embody.

Second, they inspire students to do their best. They exhort them, they push them, they demand of them, more than students thought themselves possible. Many first-generation college students attend our institutions precisely because they know they will be held to the standard of their abilities, regardless of circumstances. They choose the path that may be more challenging, but offers the greatest reward. And students are secure knowing their mentors will be there to guide them along the way.

Because of the mentorship and encouragement students receive, they are empowered to experience the fulfillment that comes from personal inspiration – a revelation that had eluded them. In a moment of clarity, a concept that had seemed incomprehensible, is suddenly understood, almost simple. But that moment is hard-earned – students put in hours of reading, research, discussion and hard thinking.

These inspirations do not occur solely in the classroom or the lab, but during students’ many experiences at our colleges. By exploring new interests and confronting unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations, they discover things about themselves they didn’t know. These inspirations may reinforce their thinking or take them in entirely new directions. Passions are ignited that become lifelong pursuits.

Now, at graduation, after having served as an inspiration, and driving them to new inspirations, our student will go on to become leaders in their professions, fields of study, and communities. Where once they had breathed in, they will now go on to inspire others.

 

SCICU congratulates the thousands of students at South Carolina’s independent colleges and universities whose many accomplishments culminated in earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in 2019.

Please click on your favorite college or university below to read about their 2019 commencement events:

 
 

Allen University – Graduate highlight – Robinson: “I never wanted to give up”

Anderson University – Spring commencement sees 571 new alumni

Benedict College – Benedict honorary degree celebrates friendship of two beloved pastors

Charleston Southern University – CSU celebrates largest graduating class

Claflin University – President Tisdale tells graduates “The world is calling on you” in sesquicentennial commencement message

Coker College – Coker College celebrates 111th spring commencement

Columbia College – Photo highlights available from May 4 commencement

Columbia International University – Former congresswoman Michele Bachmann fires up CIU graduates: “You are God’s handiwork“

Converse College – Converse College celebrates the Class of 2019

Erskine College – Erskine welcomes Andrew Brunson, pastor formerly imprisoned in Turkey, as commencement speaker

Furman University – Furman says goodbye to the Class of 2019

Limestone College – Limestone graduation photo gallery available on Flickr

Morris College – Morris holds 108th graduation

Newberry College – Newberry celebrates graduating class of 2019

North Greenville Unversity – Pereyo tells spring graduates to make God their priority

Presbyterian College – Class of 2019 takes the stage at 136th commencement

Southern Wesleyan University – SWU graduates Class of 2019 in two ceremonies

Spartanburg Methodist College – Photo highlights available from SMC’s 2019 graduation ceremony

Voorhees College – Voorhees Class of 2019 receives powerful message from Rev. Al Sharpton

Wofford College – Wofford holds 165th Commencement Exercises

Message from SCICU President and CEO Jeff Perez —

In my short tenure as President & CEO of SCICU, I can say with all confidence last week was one of the very high points, showcasing the finest our campuses have to offer – our students and those who teach them.

Last Tuesday I had the honor of accepting Chairman Jerry Govan’s offer to make a presentation to the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. The legislators were impressed by the diversity our campuses offer. We expand the array of environments in which students, particularly first generation and minority students, can succeed. We add small campuses, faith-based campuses, and our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs. I also stressed there are seven other SCICU campuses where African-American students make up more than 20 percent of the enrollment. And we demonstrate the importance of diversity on our Board of Trustees, where 32 percent are African-American.

That night we celebrated the SCICU Excellence In Teaching Awards Dinner (Please click here to see a gallery of photos from the awards dinner.). This is our chance to acknowledge the finest teaching at our campuses. This being my first dinner, I was deeply impressed by the show of support for teaching excellence. About 180 attendees, including seven campus presidents, were on hand to honor the award recipients from each of our institutions. Many thanks to the seven campus presidents who joined us.

As I read the profiles of the Excellence in Teaching Award recipients, I was struck by how each professor had a unique approach to teaching, but they all shared a dedication to the success of each and every one of their students.

The next morning was the opportunity for our students to shine at the annual State House Day, which is the culmination of the annual student letter-writing campaign. I thank the campuses for their participation by sending a total of about 100 students who had received support from the South Carolina Tuition Grant Program (Please click here to view a gallery of photos from State House Day.).

We kicked off the morning by honoring Sen. Vincent Sheheen as our 2019 Legislative Champion. Sen. Sheheen has been a steadfast supporter of higher education, including our private colleges and universities, and read from a legislative concurrent resolution designating April 8-12 as SC Independent Colleges and Universities Week. He also shared with the students the impact on legislators of their letter-writing campaign, and for taking the time to personally thank the legislators.

That impact has never been greater! We announced the stunning results of the legislative letter-writing campaign. I’m very pleased to report that our students wrote more than 9,000 letters to their state senators and representatives! That handily beats the previous record of 8,200 letters. And congratulations to Anderson University students for writing the most letters, and Erskine for having the highest percentage participation.

After the ceremony our students and those accompanying them, including Limestone President Darrell Parker, met with legislators and other public officials. The smiles and enthusiasm of our students was matched by that of legislators who were delighted to share time with these students who are making the most of the opportunity provided them by the Tuition Grants Program.

Thanks to the outreach of Coker College President Robert Wyatt, Speaker Jay Lucas acknowledged our students from the floor of the SC House of Representatives. Speaker Lucas asked our students, who were gathered in the House gallery, to stand by college. There were cheers and applause from the legislators for each our campuses.

We concluded the day with a group photo on the steps of the Capitol. What a great image – our students all wearing the colors of their alma maters.

I capped off the week by serving as a delegate at the investiture of Morris College President Dr. Leroy Staggers. Investitures and inaugurations capture the spirit of an institution by honoring its past and traditions while expressing optimism for the future under new leadership. Dr. Staggers’ investiture conveyed his deep ties to Morris, having worked there for 25 years, and his eminent qualifications to guide the college to a bright future.

SCICU campuses were well represented – thanks to the SCICU campus presidents who were also delegates: Dr. Ernest McNealy (Allen), Dr. Roslyn Artis (Benedict), Dr. Dondi Costin (Charleston Southern), and Dr. W. Franklin Evans (Voorhees). Claflin’s President Dr. Henry Tisdale was a distinguished guest and a member of the platform party.

As I look back on last week, I consider myself deeply fortunate to be associated with the SCICU campuses, our visionary leaders, inspiring faculty and the students who benefit from their knowledge and guidance.