Langston U. President to speak at HU Founder's Day

Hampton, VA - Hampton University will welcome Langston University President and former HU provost Dr. JoAnn W. Haysbert, as the keynote speaker for the 113th Annual Founder’s Day Ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 11:30 a.m. in Ogden Hall.

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.

The Founder’s Day Ceremony and the wreath-placing ceremony are free and open to the public.

During the ceremony HU President William R. Harvey will present President's Citizenship awards to James L. Eason, Director of Economic Development for the City of Hampton and former mayor of the City of Hampton; Lt. Col. James A. Johnson (Retired) and Attorney Frankie M. Freeman, former past national president of Delta Sigma Theta, a public service sorority.

Haysbert was appointed the 15th President of Langston University on May 21, 2005. With her appointment, she is the first African-American woman to serve as college president in the State of Oklahoma. A native of Kingstree, South Carolina, Haysbert is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and Auburn University. She earned her master and doctorate in Educational Administration with a teaching specialization in Psychology.

Prior to her appointment at Langston, Haysbert served as provost at Hampton University. Haysbert is the 15th HU administrator to advance to an executive position under the leadership of HU President William R. Harvey.