News Articles
Dec 12, 2023
For Immediate Release
December 11, 2023
Marshall, TX- The Higher Education Leadership Foundation, on Saturday, December 9, 2023, presented three prominent HBCU leaders with awards. Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy, Dr. Mary Evans Sias, and Dr. Daria J. Willis were recognized with the H.E.L.F. Vanguard Award, Dr. Eugene D. Stevenson Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, and Attorney Frank E. Emory, Jr. Trailblazer Award during this past weekend’s 2023 Fall Institute, which hosted over 40 higher education practitioners and 17 HBCU presidents and CEOs.
The awardees were selected for their distinguished careers as exceptional leaders who have significantly impacted higher education, especially HBCUs. “The selected awardees are the epitome of excellence in leadership. They have provided examples of how to lead our storied institutions and innovate for their future.” - Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr. Higher Education Leadership Foundation Co-Founder and Wiley University President/CEO
Each awardee has generously given to the field of higher education and is highly recognized by their peers and colleagues. Their extensive credentials and contributions are why they were selected for these awards.
Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy is the 2023 H.E.L.F. Vanguard Award Recipient
In addition to being the 2023 recipient, the award will be renamed in her honor as the Dorothy Cowser Yancy Vanguard Award. Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy is a retired president of Shaw University, having served as president at Shaw University twice and President Emeritus of Johnson C. Smith. Her career has spanned decades and includes such contributions as being the first African American to be promoted and tenured as a full professor at Georgia Tech and the first female President of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (C.I.A.A), the first African American appointed as Special Master for the Florida Public Employee Relations Commission, and a Fulbright Scholar Alumna. She has collaborated or been featured in over 50 publications and 100s of speaking engagements. Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy was selected for this award due to her unrelenting advocacy of HBCUs.
Dr. Mary Evans Sias is the 2023 Dr. Eugene D. Stevenson, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Dr. Mary Evans Sias serves as the Interim President at Texas Southern University. Dr. Sias most recently served as the Millennium Leadership Institute (MLI) director. Additionally, she is a former president of Kentucky State University and served as assistant to the president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Dr. Sias has spent more than three decades serving and has richly contributed to the higher education landscape through extensive written contributions and appearances. Dr. Sias was selected for this award due to her overwhelming lifelong contributions to HBCUs.
Dr. Daria J. Willis is the 2023 Attorney Frank E. Emory, Jr. Trailblazer Award Recipient
Dr. Daria J. Willis is the fifth president of Howard Community College. Before her appointment at Howard Community College, Dr. Willis was the president of Everett Community College. Her career has included serving as a faculty member and administrator. She has successfully obtained several grants for innovation in learning and is leading the way for fundraising and policy development. Dr. Willis was selected for this award due to her outstanding trailblazing efforts in higher education.
The Higher Education Leadership Foundation is preparing for its June 2024 Summer Institute at Wiley University in Marshall, TX. The Institute will host HBCU practitioners and include a new component focusing on women in HBCUs. H.E.L.F. will celebrate ten years of HBCU leader development with its 2nd IIC 2025 (Innovation, Ideation, and Collaboration) in Charlotte, NC.
For more information about the Higher Education Leadership Foundation, contact Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr. at herman@heleaders.org.
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About the Higher Education Leadership Foundation:
The Higher Education Leadership Foundation (H.E.L.F.) was established in March 2015 to provide bold, engaging, and innovative learning and mentoring opportunities for current and aspiring leaders. H.E.L.F. plays a vital role in encouraging leaders to “lift as they climb” to ensure that HBCUs survive and thrive as national models of achievement. www.heleaders.org
