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.
