Rich Legacy Nurtures a New Era of Excellence

A pivotal moment in the history of Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) occurred in 1924, when we were named in James B. Duke’s Indenture of Trust as one of The Duke Endowment’s first beneficiaries. It came after we were recognized as a four-year college by the North Carolina State Board of Education. The inclusion of JCSU in Mr. Duke’s Indenture has impacted JCSU’s trajectory immensely over the last 100 years. From 1925–41, for example, there was great progress and growth. In 1929, momentum accelerated when the Jane M. Smith Church was erected. In 1940, Duke Memorial Hall was built for our newly-admitted women students. The majestic building was named in honor of James B. Duke as an expression of gratitude.

Mr. Duke offered his boundless gift during a time of racial segregation in the South, during the period of Jim Crow, well before the Civil Rights Movement. His vision of Johnson C. Smith University transcended the bigotry of the times. Without the support of The Duke Endowment, from the early years of our partnership to today, we would be lacking in facilities integral to a successful collegiate experience, and many Golden Bull graduates, including me, would not have had the opportunity to attend the premier private historically Black university in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 1947, with the Endowment’s support and through the leadership of President Hardy Liston, JCSU saw improvements from the campus grounds to the buildings. In fact, during this period our beloved Biddle Hall, built in 1883, underwent major restoration. Storage rooms were transformed into classrooms.

By 1955, with the help of the Endowment and others, we entered an intense building phase which allowed us to add notable buildings like the Jack S. Brayboy Gymnasium; the Duke Memorial Library; the University Memorial Union, now the Crisp Student Union; and, most recently, our new Science Center. History has been made inside the walls of these buildings, from visits by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to providing access to the first official library available to our students! By 1972, JCSU had received allocations totaling $10,567,002 from the Endowment. These funds allowed us to build a strong historically Black university that is a mecca for liberal arts education in the Queen City.

Johnson C. Smith University would not be the institution it is today, educating the best and brightest leaders of tomorrow, without the loyal and generous support of The Duke Endowment. JCSU is thriving, boasting 23 degree programs with a progressive curriculum featuring everything from chemistry to communications, esports and gaming, to business administration and marketing, among others. We have additional programs on the horizon that will allow us to continue attracting students and provide a transformative experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.

We see ourselves as a beacon of success. We value our community and strive to produce and celebrate Black excellence. Ever since I returned as the 15th President in the fall of 2023, it has been my vision to situate JCSU in a “New Era of Excellence.” Our goal is to continue graduating students who are even more prepared for the workplace than ever before and who have possibilities presented to them that far exceed expectations. Also, we are dedicated to making sure that JCSU becomes a top-performing institution that leads educational trends, that cultivates Black excellence, and that contributes to educational and economic development here in the Historic West End and beyond. One way we are accomplishing this goal is through the Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative (MREI), supported by the Endowment and other local corporate and philanthropic sponsors. Collectively, we are working to ensure that JCSU remains deeply rooted in our timeless HBCU traditions and drenched in its beautiful and vibrant culture.

The Duke Endowment’s partnership will be integral in how we productively and urgently pursue my vision for a “New Era of Excellence.” Its continued support in helping us cultivate partnerships with fellow Endowment-supported institutions like Davidson College, Duke University and Furman University will help us light the way to a brighter future for our students and community.

Johnson C. Smith University takes pride in aligning itself with James B. Duke’s mission and vision. Mr. Duke valued education as a great civilizing influence, and so do we. He also valued his community and sought to keep racist social traditions from preventing the cultivation of Black excellence, Black brilliance and Black success. Thank you, Mr. Duke, for being a major part of the change we need in this world. We hope to continue furthering his mission of giving to our community and graduating more changemakers who will grow here today so they can give back tomorrow.