Shaw University Celebrates 160 Years of Legacy and Leadership at Founders’ Day Convocation

Shaw University proudly celebrated its 160th Founders’ Day on Friday, October 17, 2025, inside C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium. The Homecoming Founders’ Day Convocation brought together alumni from across the decades, faculty, staff, students, and community partners to honor the institution’s rich heritage and continued impact.

The day began in Memorial Gardens with a solemn graveside ceremony led by Rev. Dr. Mark G. Harden, Dean of the Shaw University School of Divinity. Miss and Mister Shaw University, along with Miss and Mister Homecoming, participated in the traditional Placing of the Wreaths. Attendees joined in a Litany of Remembrance and Renewal, reflecting on Shaw’s enduring motto Pro Christo et Humanitate, meaning For Christ and Humanity.

During the convocation, Dr. Paulette R. Dillard, President and CEO of Shaw University, extended a heartfelt welcome to the Shaw community and honored the founders whose vision birthed the first historically Black university in the South. Dr. Dillard spoke to the power of education, faith, and perseverance, values that have anchored Shaw’s mission for 160 years, and expressed gratitude to the alumni and partners who continue to invest in its legacy. Her leadership and presence underscored the university’s ongoing commitment to transforming lives through faith-driven learning and service.

The program also featured greetings from university and community leaders, including Ms. Portia Brandon, who brought remarks on behalf of the Woman’s Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary Convention and the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. She shared how Shaw University remains supported by faith-based partners who have stood alongside the institution since its founding in 1865.

The keynote address was delivered by Norman E. Joyner, a 1967 Shaw alumnus and president and CEO of NEJ Consulting. Drawing from his distinguished 35-year career with the YMCA of the USA, Joyner inspired students to pursue purpose and perseverance. Quoting Dr. Benjamin Mays, he reminded the audience, “It is you, the quality of your mind, the integrity of your soul, and the determination of your will that will decide your future.”

Multiple generations of Shaw Bears left the celebration with renewed pride, reminded that the university’s legacy continues to shape leaders who serve for Christ and humanity.