ECSU celebrates Founders Day on March 9
Kesha Williams
February 20, 2007
Elizabeth City State University will celebrate Founders Day at 10 a.m., on March 9 in the auditorium of the Fine Arts Center with Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, former chancellor of ECSU and current president of Livingstone College, as its keynote speaker. The university celebrates 116 years of public higher education. A 1965 graduate of Elizabeth City State University and longtime educator and administrator, Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. has an extensive history with his alma mater. From 1984 to 1995, Dr. Jenkins served as the Chancellor of Elizabeth City State University, becoming the first alumnus to serve as its chief executive officer. At the end of his tenure as Chancellor, the Board of Trustees bestowed upon him the honor of Chancellor Emeritus. Preceding the chancellorship, Dr. Jenkins served ECSU as an Assistant Professor of Biology, Assistant Academic Dean, and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. In his role as Chancellor, Dr. Jenkins achieved many successes. He secured the support of the State Legislature of North Carolina for construction of six major buildings on the ECSU campus. He also launched a $5 million capital campaign, completing the fundraising a year ahead of schedule. In appreciation for his many contributions and untiring commitment to his alma mater, Dr. Jenkins was honored to have the then newly constructed science building named in his honor. After leaving ECSU, Dr. Jenkins served as President of Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida from 1997 to 2005. During his tenure, the College expanded its faculty and broke ground on its first new building in decades while reducing its debt from $8.5 million to $500,000 in three years and growing its enrollment from 300 to 1,300 students. Recently, Edward Waters named this new building after Dr. Jenkins as a tribute to the tremendous progress made under his leadership. In 2005, Dr. Jenkins was appointed President of Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. As the 12th chief executive officer, he is providing visionary and progressive leadership for that institution. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in Biology at ECSU, he obtained his teaching certification in Biology from Howard University (DC). He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in Biology Education from Purdue University (IN). Dr. Jenkins is married to Dr. Faleese Moore-Jenkins (’66), also an ECSU alumna, and they have three children: Dr. Lisa Lopez, Attorney Ginger Cartwright, and Jimmy Jr., a graphic artist and college lecturer.