Grambling State News

Alvin J. Schexnider, Ph.D., will deliver the keynote address during Grambling State University’s 123rd Founder’s Celebration on Thursday, October 31. With the theme, “Achieving Excellence Through Service,” the event will be held at 10 a.m. in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

The day’s activities will begin with an opening ceremony at 8 a.m. outside of Lee Hall to don the bust of founder Charles P. Adams with a wreath to honor his legacy and impact.

Founded on November 1, 1901, as the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School, Grambling State University has evolved into a global institution. Initially established by the North Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association, the school transformed into a state junior college and later became Grambling College in 1946, expanding its academic offerings. The institution earned accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 1949 and adopted its current name in 1974 with the introduction of graduate programs. What started with three teachers and 125 students has grown into a global brand that has produced over 40,000 graduates and boasts a student body representing 44 states and 30 countries. As the nation’s only HBCU with a Digital Library building, Grambling State University continues to cultivate an environment that empowers students to become trailblazers, thought leaders, and innovators.

Dr. Schexnider, a Grambling State University alumnus, is the managing principal at Schexnider & Associates, LLC, where he consults on board governance, strategy, and provides executive coaching. Prior to his retirement in 2007, Dr. Schexnider held key leadership positions, including serving as executive vice president and interim president at Norfolk State University, and as chancellor of Winston-Salem State University. His career also includes faculty and administrative roles at prestigious institutions such as Syracuse University, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and Wake Forest University.

A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Dr. Schexnider earned a B.A. in political science from Grambling State University. He went on to earn both an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University, where he was a Norman Wait Harris, Ford Foundation, and Woodrow Wilson Fellow. Dr. Schexnider is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a Senior Fellow at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB).

Dr. Schexnider’s achievements have earned him numerous honors, including the J. Sergeant Reynolds Award for Outstanding Service in Public Administration, the Alpha Phi Alpha Distinguished Educator of the Year Award, and the Urban League Silver Star Award for Education. A member of the Grambling State University Hall of Fame, Dr. Schexnider’s work in higher education has had a lasting impact on numerous institutions. He is the author of Saving Black Colleges and co-author of Blacks and the Military. His latest book, Confessions of a Black Academic: A Memoir, was published in 2024, adding to his prolific career as an educator, administrator, and author.

Following Founder’s Convocation, Dr. Schexnider will host a book signing at noon for his memoir, Confessions of a Black Academic, in the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Favrot Student Union.

Learn more at gram.edu/founders.