Livingstone College President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. has been appointed by U.S Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to serve on the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Capital Financing Advisory Board.
The board provides advice and counsel to Duncan and the Obama Administration’s designated bonding authority about the most effective means of implementing construction financing at HBCUs. The advisory board also advises Congress on the progress made in implementing the program.
Jenkins assumed the top administrative post at Livingstone in February 2006. Since then an Honors Residence Hall has been constructed, representing the first new construction on campus in more than 30 years.
Adequate housing for students and up-to-date classroom buildings are becoming increasingly important at colleges and universities across the country, particularly at HBCUs, as institutions vie for students. Jenkins plans to use his tenure on the board to ensure historically black colleges’ and universities’ perspectives are at the table when key financing and construction decisions are made.
“I’m honored to have been appointed to this position,” Jenkins said. “I believe it will give me an opportunity to represent institutions like Livingstone and the unique perspective they offer.”