Hampton, Va. – The President of the National Hampton Alumni Association Joan McMillan Wickham will give the keynote address at the 119th Annual Hampton University Founder's Day ceremony on Jan. 29 at 11:30 a.m. in Ogden Hall.

HU President Dr. William R. Harvey will present the President's Citizenship award to Rueben Burrell, HU photographer for more than 60 years; Commonwealth Attorney Linda Curtis and Retired Educator Fostine Riddick Roach.

Founder's Day activities also will include the commemorative wreath placing ceremony at the gravesite of the University's founder, Gen. Samuel Chapman Armstrong, in the Hampton University Cemetery at 9:30 a.m.

Wickham has been an educator and administrator of 34 years. She is currently a music educator and director of special projects at Lee Hall Elementary School in Newport News, Va. As an educator and music instructor, Wickham has been a third grade teacher in Ludwigsburg, West Germany; music educator in Harrisonburg, Va. and Columbia, S.C.; choir director and music theory instructor at Allen University in Columbia, S.C. and City Colleges of Chicago, Stuttgart, West Germany Campus. She also has expertise as a choral director on the high school, middle school, and elementary school levels and is currently the director of the Crusaders Male Chorus. Wickham is a mezzo-soprano and has been a featured soloist locally, nationally and internationally.

Wickham is a Hamptonian many times over and has received three degrees from HU and is now in a doctoral program. She earned the Bachelor of Science in music education in 1978, a Master of Arts in secondary education in 1982, a Master of Arts in education leadership in 2010, and is currently a doctoral candidate in the education leadership and management program.

Wickham has served her alma mater through many positions in the National Hampton Alumni Association and the Boosters club. She became the president of the National Hampton Alumni Association in 2010. She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated and Music Educators National Conference. Wickham has been recognized for her work in education and the community including the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award, Hampton University Outstanding Twenty Year Alumnus Award and a National Appointee to the Education Foundation of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

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