Dr. Walter Kimbrough, Dillard University’s self-proclaimed “Hip-Hop Prez” announced Monday he will be stepping down in May 2022. Kimbrough ends his decade long tenure as the HBCU’s president in search of new opportunities, reports the New Orleans Advocate.
A native of Atlanta, Kimbrough has had a successful run as president at the New Orleans, Louisiana university. His accomplishments include increasing the university’s endowment to $80 million and expanding academic programs to increase enrollment. Dillard’s alumni donations have also gone up 19 percent during Kimbrough’s tenure. Kimbrough says there is a need for growth, both personally and for the university.
“Dillard University and New Orleans have been awesome for our family, and we are thankful for the love and support. But it is time for a new challenge where my gifts and graces match the needs of an institution at this point in their history, and Dillard is ready for someone new to do likewise,” Kimbrough said in his announcement.
How He Became the “Hip-Hop Prez”
Kimbrough has been called the HBCU president for millennials. In 2004 he was called the “Hip-Hop Prez” by Arkansas Times when hired as president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock. Kimbrough welcomed it. “Having a brand as a president doesn’t exist, now, it’s who I am,” he said. Kimbrough left Philander in 2011 after seven years to accept his current position as Dillard University president. He incorporates the Culture on the university’s social media accounts and in various panels hosted throughout the year, including a female MC cypher panel in 2018.
I just cannot disappoint my students by saying we are closing at 12:30 due to weather- they won’t accept that.
Dr. Kimbrough has been featured in Ebony magazine and NBC News for his writings on African-American men in college and HBCUs. He also teaches a course called “Hip Hop, Sex, Gender and Ethical Behavior.” Recently, he has been vocal about safety during the pandemic after losing his brother to Covid-19 earlier this year.
The “Hip-Hop Prez” also hosts a lecture series, Brain Food ,that connects notable speakers and celebrities with the Greater New Orleans community. Brain Food has welcomed Jemele Hill, Issa Rae, Lena Waithe and Gabrielle Union among others.
Yes. Brain Food is a series and we are committed to bringing different perspectives. So we’re going on a completely different direction next week… LENA WAITHE pic.twitter.com/m2chaIsMWK
I hope #myDU enjoyed the Half-Day @Beyonce Birthday Holiday. It was nice and sunny pretty much ALL DAY. I would have been sooo mad if I had cancelled class for #TSGordon 😂
So unless Gordon rapidly moves “to the left, to the left” we’re back on schedule tomorrow!
Board chairman Michael D. Jones says Kimbrough has made a significant contribution to the university and that he is an “innovative” leader.
“His commitment to our mission has resulted in significant growth financially, academically, and in the community. I am excited about Dillard’s future as we enter this next era of leadership,” says Jones.
While he has not stated what his future plans are, he is certain that his legacy is in the students he inspires. On that legacy, he says, “I think legacy is living, and so students that you meet and are a part of this project, that’s a legacy.”
