On Monday, September 23, Clark Atlanta University held an opening convocation in celebration of their twentieth anniversary since the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College. This pivotal moment in Clark Atlanta University history welcomes two significant changes in the University: the arrival of a new President, Dr. Carlton E. Brown and the renaming of dormitory New Residential Apartments to James P. Brawley Hall, after Clark College’s nineteenth President.

Dr. Carlton Brown will be the University’s third President since the consolidation of the two institutions. The University states that Dr. Brown comes to the University with a plethora of executive experience. Dr. Brown’s resume includes serving as the Dean at the School of Education and Dean of Liberal Arts and Education at Hampton University for several years and also serving as President of Savannah State University for nine years.

The arrival of a new president has given students a positive outlook on the future of their university. Maquinta Killian, a junior psychology major at CAU, is very pleased thus far by the selection of Dr. Brown as the leader of the university. “Though I have not talked to Dr. Brown personally, I have seen notable changes on campus especially in the psychology department. Before there was minimal accountability from certain faculty members of the department, yet since his arrival Dr. Brown has required that there at least be a professor’s assistant available at all times for students,” Killian said.

Rashad Grisby, a junior at CAU, expressed similar sentiments. “Dr. Brown has come on the campus with great ambitions. I am pleased that I actually see him on campus physically interacting with students instead of leading from a [purely] hierarchal position.”

Dr. Brown’s arrival comes after the retirement of CAU’s second president, Walter Broadnax, who served as president from 2002 to spring of 2008. CAU students are hoping for a positive future for the institution because of previous negative attitudes in light of the direction in which the University was heading.

“Hopefully Dr. Brown will improve some issues on campus, because it seems like every year tuition is rising and there seems to be no increase in faculty nor renovations on campus to improve the way campus looks,” sophomore Loneia Powell said.

In a letter to the University, Dr. Brown expresses that, “Our financial efficacy is an increasingly important factor in our continual improvement,” He added, “We must continue aggressive improvement and upgrade all facilities.”

Besides the new president, the renaming of co-ed dormitory New Residential Apartments to James P. Brawley Hall is another significant change on the CAU campus.

James P. Brawley was the nineteenth president of Clark College, serving from 1941 to 1965. During his tenure at Clark College, Brawley was a recognized leader in the Atlanta community and the nation.

In honor of his significant contribution to the school and city, CAU built James P. Brawley Hall, an all-male dormitory in 1959 located on Fair Street. To male students on campus, “Brawley Hall” was a prominent fixture on campus but it was ultimately demolished last year. In an effort to keep the legacy of James P. Brawley alive on campus, CAU administration then made the decision to rename dormitory New Residential Apartments to James P. Brawley Hall.

Earl Clowney, University Editor, is one of the members of the board responsible for the decision to rename the residential hall. Clowney suggested though, that a thorough effort to keep the legacy of the great CAU president alive would consist of more than just the renaming of a residential hall. “To keep the legacy of Brawley alive, students must espouse the tenants of Brawley by always striving for excellence,” he said.

With the celebration of Clark Atlanta University’s twentieth year of existence continuing into homecoming this week, Dr. Brown gave a brief statement pertaining to the direction of the University in two decades.

“In 20 years I see Clark Atlanta University more powerful,” he said, “[More] significant, and assuming our rightful place in higher education.”

Published: September 29, 2008 09:06 PM