HUNTSVILLE, AL – During a regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting last Friday, Alabama A&M University (AAMU) announced the approval of various new community partnerships and initiatives.

Alongside institutional updates from President Daniel K. Wims and other Cabinet members, the meeting showcased a series of collaborative efforts aimed at advancing the university’s mission.

Notable among the approvals were Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Bishop State Community College and Washtenaw Community College, underscoring AAMU’s commitment to enhancing recruitment initiatives.

Another significant MOU was forged between Alabama A&M University and Somali National University, paving the way for faculty and student exchange programs, as well as professional development services.

Additionally, MOUs with the Madison County Community Garden and the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce received a green light, further solidifying the university’s community engagement efforts.

President Daniel K. Wims underscored several key achievements during his address, including the university’s growing enrollment, heightened research endeavors, and the national acclaim garnered by the Marching Maroon and White’s participation in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

He also emphasized strides in development efforts as AAMU gears up for its 150th Anniversary celebration. Wims extended gratitude to the campus team, led by Dr. John Jones and Dr. Rhonda Moore Jackson, for their diligent preparations ahead of the upcoming SACSCOC accreditation visit.

Updates on campus development initiatives were also shared, including the ongoing demolition of the former Councill Training School to accommodate future campus expansion and the completion of selective reconstruction and building modeling of the Hillcrest building.

“We’re looking at about a year and a half before the total project will be complete,” said Dr. Wims. “This will be a capstone project. Hillcrest will be a very beautiful facility for the University family and community.”

In a historic move, the Board approved the establishment of the Vivian Malone Endowed Chair in Business Excellence, marking the university’s first endowed chair. Named in honor of Alabama A&M alumna Vivian Malone, who made history as the first African American student to graduate from the University of Alabama, the endowed chair celebrates her legacy as a trailblazer in higher education integration.

Malone’s sister, Margie Tuckson, spearheaded the initiative with a generous gift of $250,000 to the AAMU Foundation, underscoring the profound impact of their shared alma mater.

Dr. Roderick Watts, Board President Pro Tempore, expressed his optimism for Alabama A&M’s trajectory, citing record enrollment, expanding fundraising efforts, and international recognition fueled by the Marching Maroon & White’s participation in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. His sentiments echoed a collective satisfaction with the university’s current standing and trajectory.