(February 13, 2013)

Dillard University President to speak at Founders' Day Convocation

SHREVEPORT, LA — Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, President of Dillard University, will give the Founders' Day Convocation address February 21, in Brown Memorial Chapel at 11:00 a.m. Members of the Shreveport-Bossier and Centenary community are welcome at this free event.

"Dr. Walter Kimbrough works tirelessly to develop expanding circles of relationships—a global challenge of the 21st century," said Centenary President David Rowe. "Through his collaboration with fraternities and innovative use of social media, he engages students and the world around him in thoughtful dialogue on how to make positive, lasting change."

Kimbrough began his appointment as the seventh president of Dillard University in July 2012. Known as the Hip Hop President, he is one of the youngest college presidents in the nation. Kimbrough has forged a national reputation as an expert on fraternities and sororities, with specific expertise regarding historically Black, Latin, and Asian groups. He is the author of the Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities.

Kimbrough has been recognized for his research and writings on HBCUs and African American men in college, including the creation of the Black Male Initiative at Philander Smith College. Kimbrough has been noted for his active use of social media to engage students in conversations about articles in The Chronicle of Higher Education and CASE Currents. He was cited in 2010 by Bachelorsdegree.com as one of 25 college presidents to follow on Twitter (@HipHopPrez).

He was named by Diverse Issues in Higher Education as one of "25 to Watch" in 2009. In 2010, Kimbrough made the coveted Ebony Magazine Power list of the 100 doers and influencers in the African American community, joining the likes of President and Mrs. Barack Obama, Richard Parsons, and Debra Lee.

Founders' Day Convocation is an annual tradition during which the Centenary community reflects upon the history of the institution — and looks forward to its future.