This international conference, jointly hosted by Nubian American Advanced College and Johnson C. Smith University, brings together scholars, educators, and leaders from both Africa and the United States to discuss strategic partnerships between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and African institutions of higher learning.
The conference aims to:
Foster meaningful collaboration and knowledge exchange across continents.
Explore practical frameworks for academic partnerships, research initiatives, and student mobility.
Address the role of higher education in shaping global leaders and driving sustainable development.
With a lineup of a distinguished keynote speaker, panel discussant, and astute moderator, this conference creates a platform for participants to engage in forward-thinking conversations on transforming higher education through international partnerships and shared visions.
| 🗓️ Event at a Glance |  |
|---|---|
| Theme: | Bridging continents: The imperative of Strategic Partnership Between HBCUs and African Institutions of Higher Learning |
| Date: | Thursday July 17, 2025 |
| Time: | Â 10 am Prompt |
| Venue: | Lekki Hall, Radisson Blu Hotel, |
| Â | Â |
15th President of Johnson C. Smith University
Dr. Valerie Kinloch ushers in a new era of excellence at Johnson C. Smith University, beginning her tenure as the 15th president on August 3, 2023, as the second woman to hold the position. She previously served on the University’s Board of Trustees for two years.
A distinguished JCSU alumna, Dr. Kinloch has returned with an ambitious plan, leading the Admissions team to increase enrollment by 20% in one year. With nearly three decades in higher education, she has taught and served in administrative roles at The Ohio State University, Columbia University’s Teachers College, the University of Houston-Downtown, and the University of Pittsburgh.
As Renée and Richard Goldman Endowed Dean and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, she strengthened commitments to equity, justice, and innovation.
Dr. Kinloch is the immediate past president of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), a fellow of AERA and ACE, and Co-Chair of Remake Learning. Her dedication to research and scholarship has earned her several grants and numerous awards, including the AERA Scholars of Color Early Career Award and NCTE’s Advancement of People of Color Leadership Award.
An accomplished author, Dr. Kinloch has written books on race, place, equity, and literacy, including Harlem in Our Minds and Where is the Justice? She received her Bachelor of Arts from JCSU and earned her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Wayne State University.
A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Kinloch is a lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and lives in Charlotte with her husband, Tom.
Professor of Sociology, Stony Brook University, New York
Oyeronke Oyewumi retired this year as Professor of Sociology (Africana and Gender Studies) at Stony Brook University, New York. Born in Jos, she earned her B.Sc. in political science at the University of Ibadan and completed her MA and Ph.D. in sociology at UC Berkeley.
A renowned scholar, she won the 2021 Distinguished Africanist Prize of the African Studies Association and the 1998 Distinguished Book Award for The Invention of Women.
Her 2024 co-edited anthology Naming Africans was recognized as the best anthology by the African Studies Review.
Oyewumi has published widely, delivered lectures globally, and received numerous fellowships, including Fulbright, Rockefeller, and Ford Foundation awards.
(“Dr. See Love”)
Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa
Soul-Centered Educator | Policy Visionary | Global Bridge-Builder
Dr. See Love is a transformational educator, speaker, and soul-centered coach with over 25 years in public education, community empowerment, and SEL. She received a Doctor of Humane Letters – Honoris Causa in 2023 from AME University in Liberia for her work in educational equity and healing-centered leadership.
A graduate of the University of Santa Monica and the University of Phoenix, Dr. See Love also attended Howard University. She teaches in the Los Angeles Unified School District and chairs the English Department at Hope High School. As founder of the Soul-Centered SEL Classroom initiative, she bridges emotional intelligence, equity, and purpose-driven learning.
 Provost Nubian American Advanced College, Lekki, Lagos
Patrick Oyinkari is a professor of business leadership and management and the Provost of Nubian American Advanced College,
A seasoned professional with decades of interdisciplinary scholarship and performance, a Trainer and Volunteer Mentor with SEED (supported by UKaid) and as an Independent Consultant with W-Holistic Business Solutions on the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund project.
He was a senior lecturer on Christian Leadership at the International Institute for Christian Discipleship in Lagos and Johannesburg.
An articulate communicator, prolific writer, and award-winning author, Prof. Oyinkari is a conference, inspirational, and motivational speaker and an international business leadership practitioner.
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