Hiram Rhodes Revels Institute for Ethical Leadership

06/14/2024

Many thanks to my Alcorn State University family for recognizing this milestone. It's an honor to share the roundtable with young leaders and Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III. Natchez, Mississippi native Bishop-elect W.R. Anderson made this opportunity possible. I am grateful to The Official Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Int'l Fan Page for recognizing Next is Now, and that Alcorn knows we can succeed against great odds.

Rev. Dr. C. Edward “CJ” Rhodes II, director of religious and spiritual life at Alcorn State University, will attend the Full Baptist Church Fellowship International’s Young Pastor Roundtable. During the event, invited participants will fellowship and discuss current issues with Presiding Bisho...

12/09/2023

YOU MADE IT!!! 🎉 Congratulations to the Class of 2023! We are proud of you and wish you well on your future journey. Go forth and be BRAVE!!!

“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

📸: Alcorn State University

12/07/2023

There are important conversations about Gen Z and the church that should give us pause. But as much as we need to address the decline in Gen Z church attendance, we would be wise to listen to the stories of young people who are still there.

One of the joys of my life is serving as chaplain at Alcorn. Each semester, I teach an Ethics course, and often ask students to share how their values systems were forged. The majority of them speak about the importance of their families and churches in giving them foundational character building experiences that sustain them in college. Many of them even profess to getting to know God for themselves now, yearning for multiple ways to practice and strengthen their faith.

Alcorn is a rural HBCU where knowledge and character matter to our mission. Though not a religious university, religious and spiritual importance is in our DNA. IYKYK But I don't believe these stories are unique to Alcorn. Several college and university campuses have similar testimonies. We would do well to listen and learn from young people who haven't given up on God.

03/08/2022

Preparing a university for another 150 years of success is no easy undertaking, but Felecia M. Nave has the know-how and personal commitment to make it happen.

02/17/2022

| Tonight State Representative Alyce Clarke will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame of Mississippi's Top 50 Most Influential. A native of Belzoni, Miss. Clarke paved the way for advancements in the state before making her mark in the state legislature. She was responsible for implementation of the first WIC program in Mississippi. The first African American female in the state legislature, she fought for the first drug courts and the state lottery, which are named in her honor. Clarke has numerous other accomplishments that have benefitted the citizens of Mississippi and beyond.

Read more — https://mstop50.com/winners/hall-of-fame-2022

02/16/2022

We love our students at Alcorn.

Check out our New Student Profile! Alcorn remains a leader in STEM among HBCUs, with over 50 percent of its student population selecting a major in this high-demand field. The top ten most popular majors at the institution are biology, business administration, general studies, psychology, education, criminal justice, agricultural science, agribusiness management, applied science, and social work.

02/14/2022

Though we don’t expect our leaders to think they are better than us, we certainly expect them to be the best among us. We desire that they possess the virtues that make them stand out, and the confidence that makes them stand up for us. Ultimately, leaders worth following guide us by a moral compass. In times like these, we need ethical leaders.

Are you one?

02/10/2022

Together, we stand united.

In the early morning hours on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, five of Mississippi's Historically Black Colleges and Universities received an unsubstantiated bomb threat to our campuses. Once the threat was received, we each worked with our Department of Public Safety and local emergency response personnel to thoroughly investigate and determine the extent of the threat. Subsequently, law enforcement officials cleared all campuses. The fact that these threats came on the first day of Black History Month proves these actions were intentional attempts to disrupt, invoke fear and discourage our faculty, staff, scholars, and the campus communities. Despite these threats, Mississippi's Historically Black Colleges and Universities - WE STAND UNITED!

Alcorn State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College, Tougaloo College, Coahoma Community College, and Hinds Community College, Utica have long served our state and nation as educational beacons and have been a critical engine of life-changing opportunities for thousands of graduates and current students. We remain committed to ensuring each institution's continued growth and success while guarding the safety of our greatest assets – our students.

Though we are forced to navigate some of the most politically and socially polarizing times in this nation's history, collectively, we will remain strong and resilient and not be intimidated or fearful. As Mississippi's HBCU community, we will continue our mission to inspire and empower the next generation of change agents who will go on to boldly confront hatred and injustice as it exists in all its forms.

The threats we received, along with several other HBCUs across the country, illustrate the need for us to support one other. We are stronger together. As HBCUs, our histories speak of trials and triumphs, contest and courage, limitations, and longevity. We are here on purpose, and we must be diligent in preserving and promoting our past, present, and future to further prove our importance and relevance to this nation's economy and landscape.

Together we will forge ahead with a common purpose to advance academic excellence, promote good moral character, maintain professional integrity, and stand on the truth, and our institutions will continue to persevere as many of us have done for more than 100 years. We ask that the alumni and friends/supporters of our institutions join us as we stand against hatred, bigotry, and intolerance. This is our voice. This is our fight. These are our HBCUs.



Felecia M. Nave, Ph.D., President – Alcorn State University

Thomas K. Hudson, J.D., President – Jackson State University

Jerryl Briggs, Ed.D., President – Mississippi Valley State University

Ivy R. Taylor, Ed. D., President – Rust College

Carmen J. Walters, Ph.D., President – Tougaloo College

Valmadge T. Towner, Ph.D., President – Coahoma Community College

Stephen Vacik, Ed.D., President – Hinds Community College, Utica

02/09/2022

Nowadays, ethical leaders are rare yet relevant. We need leaders who exemplify moral excellence, who don’t let power, privilege, or position get in the way of serving those in his or her charge.