Dr. Haywood L. Strickland, President Emeritus of Wiley College, has more than 50 years of experience as a transformational leader in higher education that spanned presidencies at Wiley College, Texas College and Kittrell College.

During his 18-year tenure at Wiley College as its President and CEO, Dr. Strickland tripled the enrollment, constructed and renovated major facilities and led the college’s receipt of regional accreditation with commendations and specialized accreditation of the business programs by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools Programs (ACBSP). He also spearheaded increased recognition of the college’s intellectual legacy by revitalizing The Great Debaters team, which eventually led to the formation of a National HBCU Debate League.

While at Wiley, Dr. Strickland also served as President of the Council of the United Negro College Fund and on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Developing Colleges, the University Senate of The United Methodist Church and the Texas United Methodist Colleges Association (TUMCA). Dr. Strickland also served as National Director of Campaign 2000, which generated $250 million for UNCF member institutions.

Dr. Strickland was and remains an ardent ambassador for higher education generally, and HBCUs especially, through his leadership and advocacy as: the founder and President of the President’s Advisory Board of the National Association of Title III Administrators, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mary Holmes College, President of the Stillman College National Alumni Association, Chair of the Education Committee of the Board of Trustees of Lane College and as a Trustee of Benedict College and LeMoyne Owen College.

Since 1981, Dr. Strickland has been President of the Associates for Institutional Development, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in higher education governance, administration, planning, management and evaluation. Previously, he was Senior Program Officer, Director of the Student Services Institute, Director of Trustee Management and Administration, Program and Black College Development for the Southern Philanthropy Program and Director of the Academic Administration Program at the United Board for College Development.

He has also served tirelessly as a consultant to numerous higher education associations, including: the Board of Directors of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), the American Council on Education, the Association of Governing Boards, the Moton Foundation, Southern Education Foundation and the former Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), where he remains active as an advisor for presidents and their leadership teams, the Lilly Endowment, Mott Foundation, Pew Memorial Trust and the Kellogg Foundation.

Dr. Strickland is equally as dedicated to community service and fulfilling his stewardship responsibilities to the Presbyterian Church. In his unwavering commitment to his community, he has served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Historical Foundation of the Church and still serves as Elder of the New Life Presbyterian Church. He has also served on the trustee boards of: the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, the Tyler Economic Development Council, Tyler Metro Chamber of Commerce, Tyler Sister Cities, United Way, People Attempting to Help (Path) and the East Texas Medical Center Foundation Board. He has also served as a member of the Tyler and Marshall Rotary Clubs.

An HBCU graduate, Dr. Strickland earned his undergraduate degree in history and English at Stillman College and degrees in history at the University of Wisconsin. He also holds several honorary doctorate degrees.