 HBCU judges radio welcome back to our presidential series conversations with our distinguished leaders from historically black colleges and universities across the landscape today Our special guest is the new president of Claflin University to the ninth president dr. Duane Wormack Who arrives in? Orangeburg today, it's a great fanfare and great commentary from folks online. So doc first and foremost What what's your reaction to today? This is the second time you've been through something like this? It is what what was it? What was the feeling with you? You know your wife and daughter there the Claflin community there? How was how was the reception for you? I? Mean it was amazing man. It was a Claflin came out in forces man. It was a packed house people standing against the wall Draped in the proper Claflin colors I Know man, it was it was it was extremely warm walk a man from from a alumnet was a class of 61 to you know students that are current students now man, and so it was a Mazing warm welcoming we felt at home. We felt appreciated and so we're excited about this new journey and this new opportunity in our life so it was it was very refreshing to see that the The message from Haristow State Which will soon be your former institution was so positive and so laudatory about all the things you were able to accomplish there with enrollment And legislative lobbying and increasing sponsored research and doing all these great things And they really made it clear that it you know, it's going to be hard to replace you So what is it about Claflin that attracted you to this opportunity? What are some of the similarities and differences you see of course positively in both respects? But what are the things that you see that for this new chapter in your life? Right, I mean Haristow has been home for me right for the past five years You know they took a shot on one of the youngest college presidents in the country believed in me and believed in my leadership the board was Just just an amazing board that supported me through thick and thin and we were able to accomplish a lot together We were able to assemble a team that believed in the bold vision had outstanding students who came in Willing to learn and leaving there to go do remarkable things the global leaders So it was it was a great run at in a Haristow and it wouldn't have happened without the support of Faculty staff students in the board and in the same greatest in Lewis community And I think you know what that in timing is everything right because I was in a great space You know I wasn't actively searching, you know, but when there's opportunity for Claflin, you know number seventh HBCU in a country You know have just recently Completed a hundred million dollar capital campaign In 2014 was ranked then the best liberal arts institution in the state of South Carolina You know not just HBCUs and so they are they have a very strong foundation that's here and so when I think about some of the skill sets and abilities that I bring to the table and Looking at the job announcement and talking to the search firm and talking to the board some of the areas that they want to improve on Going forward, you know really leans to my level of expertise So I'm excited to come here build on the legacy as we continue to transcend into the future So you're following a very distinguished president and Henry Tisdale an academician Great scholar and the gentleman much in the vein that that you have led your former institution Have you had a chance to speak with him? Has he shared with you anything about the Claflin community about the the vision that has been in place for 19 or so years And how you can build upon it in areas in which you can Um offer a divergent but a complementary new strategic outlook for the school Oh, yes, indeed. So we've had a couple conversations my day today actually started off meeting with him before the press conference Just to I fundamentally believe, you know, I'm standing on the shoulders of a giant and I believe I've always believed this in regards to history You can't know where you're going if you don't know where you come from and so he brings a rich historical context of This institution and what it what it stands for and not just from 25 years of a presidency But he was also here as a student So he understand this is this is home for him and so he was gracious enough to share his wisdom and knowledge and Nuggets with me and as you know one thing he left me with he said, you know, that it's yours now, right? You know, I'm here to support you. I'm here to as as much as you may need me But know that it's important that you create and develop your own legacy, you know, and so um, so I'm We've had Intense conversations about, you know, the great things that are happening and they have a pretty robust strategic plan that's outlined their trajectory You know for the next couple years at least and so, you know I have that as a theoretical framework to work from and I think it's um, the board has been clear and you know And within the search process the things that they're looking for to do and to go to the next level And I think that's what attracted them to me, you know, classroom wants to grow You know, and I have a strong background in that classroom wants to increase some of the academic programs, you know and A couple other things so I'm excited to be able to come here and You know bring some of the skill sets that I've been able to do at other institutions and continue to build on a great legacy here Claflin, you know, they're their their mantra is very simple, you know, they want to um Prepare visionary leaders And install that this notion of you know, the Claflin confidence in those students And so that that resonates with me and I'm excited to continue to build on that You make an interesting point about some of the things that already exist So you're now moving from an institution where you had to put things in place To an institution where you have to build upon things already in place Is that do you think that that's a for anybody not just for you, but for any Leader who is wanting to follow in your footsteps How do you how would you instruct them or advise them to approach that kind of a transition where you have to go from an architect to Uh, almost a contractor of sorts and adding on to something that's already pretty good Right, and I think it takes um Different skill set and ability to be able to do it, but I will say this first and foremost Um, I do this because this is a calling for me and my ego is not tied to the work at all Right, so I'm there's not about nothing about me. I know stretch and his work and anyone who's work with me and serve with Me know that's just that's never me. And so um, I I'd go to do the work And so hairstyle at that time needed to you know, grow and build on some of the things that are there Um, I think you know a class land what they need uh in some of the areas that you know I think there are some growth areas and and errors is there, but I think it's you know I'm I'm I'm not that egotistical to think that I have to solve all the problems If I can come into a place that has a solid foundation and I can build on that I'm okay with that as well. You know, um I was 37 well 36 when I accepted java hair still in 37 when I started I know spring chicken no more, right? So I I am uh, you know, I think I think I think you're still pretty young brother. Don't don't it's a lot of people listen to like, wait a minute now you What what what a difference is, you know, when you when you serve in these seats You uh, you think about the average tenure of hvp president And you know, and so the work is this is my 21st year now in higher ed man So I've been been been doing it for a minute. And so um, so so not that I'm I I'm excited about the opportunities. So just because it's a Sort of a solid foundation that doesn't mean it's not a lot of work to be done You know, so there's a lot of work to be done here as well. So I'm looking forward to Working with the team here and you know, um, and how do we continue to push for it to continue to do great things here? you were um, One of our leading presidents in the sector in the way that you kind of spoke out about the impact of legislative Appropriations and the political process on your hbcu And while a lot of folks kind of shy away from that you embrace the opportunity to say, hey, you look we need more resources We need more money and this is why um And now you're in a in a totally different realm Where there's not a lot of public or legislative engagement in that respect Um where you're making an appeal to you know lawmakers in your at your state level and at your you know Your county or your city level What do you think that that that transition is going to be like? Where you're now largely tuition and and philanthropy driven, um, you know to survive and thrive Right. So my in my 20 years. I've been 10 years public 10 years private So, um, so I've had a a keen understanding of both the public aspect and and the private institutions and so Um, I I think you know for me the the opportunity now, um To in some ways control my own destiny, you know, you know, there's notion of you know, you uh, What's the old saying, you know, you eat what you you eat what you yeah, exactly And so um, and so so for us understanding enrollment being enrollment driven The the fortunate piece for me is every hbcu I've served I've transformed the enrollment management process. So that's my gift, right? So when I think about that piece of it and Record enrollment multiple years at but then Cookman when I was there with enrollment management process We've had record enrollment every year at hairstow. So that's the area that I know So if I if I can control my destiny and it's based on enrollment, I feel pretty confident And so, um, you know, I think the other piece about that is that you don't have in some ways with the private You don't have as much red tape, right? You know, we can we can do things strategically That's in the best interest of our students degree program creation, you know Degree offering not happen to go through 10 levels of bureaucracy to be able to get degrees approved and things like that So there's some pros and cons to both the the instant piece about leaving public is you knew you were guaranteed that money, right? So that that was going to be in there Every time here is you got it. You got to go and get it, you know, and so, um So I'm excited about the uh, the opportunities and the challenges that come come with that and you know, I took that in Strong perspective of, you know, as we're thinking about the transition and what made sense for me next in my career And what type of institution I will go and serve and it made sense, you know, um, I am a small Institution guy. I'm not, you know, that that's who I am. That's what I believe in. I believe in that small that that intimate family feel to touch feel the students students know um On on they know who they present it is and be able to walk around and know my students on a first name basis So claffin still gives me that opportunity as well What do you want the alumni to know about their role in your transition? It was it was hilarious looking at some of the comments on the uh, facebook broadcast of the introductory press conference And some people are asking, you know, is he saved does he know the lord? Um And you gotta you gotta love asia see what i'm not for climbing in a moment like that But what is it that claffin has a solid alumni base? They really show up in a lot of different ways What is it that you want them to know about their role as advocates and stakeholders in your success? Right, I think to your point in the last question in regards to when you lose state appropriations You have to increase alumni given right, you know, and so that if you look at any of these non hbcu's their amount of alumni that support that institution and so, you know, and and for me it's just not about You know, given in it from a dollar perspective, you know I I need the alums to help as we continue to if we want to continue to be Great, you know, it can't happen without alumni support and I look forward to going to visit everyone in alumni chapters You know personally um to you know, put that plea and call out for them to support us You know, I think it's you know, people say what makes harvard harvard What makes princeton princeton what makes all of these ivy leaves is the alumni is that simple, you know, um, You know, they they believe in that brand and and what they end up doing not just from a giving perspective But they also help in facilitating relationships to help You know offset that and also create opportunities for the current students, you know Most time these corporations those alums are those different type of institutions The first place they go and recruit is their amamada And so how do we you know get our students and quality internships that lead to lifelong ships that helps with them You know when we think about your private institution, you know, I think part of that challenge is you know The debt students leave with you know, we claffling continues to serve a a Large percentage of you know first generation college students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds about 75 to 77 percent are You know pill eligible So, you know, how do we ensure that they graduate with less debt? So alums can help us, you know with that process as well And then not not just the less debt the game for employment How does the alumni help us get our students gainfully employed To ensure that they can come back and be contributing alums as well So I'm I'm excited about working with alums anytime you have over 50 percent alumni given people believe in this institution So clafflin has a great foundation of outstanding alums who love this institution I'm looking forward to working side by side with them as we continue to move clafflin for