While at ´ó·¢²ÊƱ, history professor Jason Petrulis was partially tasked with researching the history of the university in advance of the 2019 bicentennial.
With Black History Month coming to a close, Petrulis (now a professor at Cal Poly Pomona) recently took to : four early African-American ´ó·¢²ÊƱ students went on to become college presidents.
William J. Simmons
Simmons attended ´ó·¢²ÊƱ from 1868–69 and was the second president of the eponymous Simmons College of Kentucky.
Matthew Gilbert
Gilbert graduated from ´ó·¢²ÊƱ in 1887 and was the president of Selma University.
John Brown Watson
John Brown Watson attended ´ó·¢²ÊƱ from 1900–01 and was president of Leland College and what is now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Samuel Howard Archer
Samuel Howard Archer graduated from ´ó·¢²ÊƱ in 1902 and received an honorary degree in 1932. He was the president of Morehouse University and was responsible for making their colors maroon and white.Related:
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