James A. Hefner
Encyclopedia
James A. Hefner was president of Tennessee State University
from 1991 to 2005. Before serving as the president of Tennessee State University he served as president of Jackson State University
in Jackson, Mississippi
. Earlier positions include provost
of Tuskegee Institute, and professor of economics at Morehouse College
.
Born in Brevard, North Carolina
, Hefner's family was too poor to own books. Recognized as exceptionally intelligent by his elementary school principal, Hefner was invited to visit her home and read her encyclopedias, an opportunity which he availed himself of every day after school for nearly eight years. Graduating as valedictorian
of his elementary class and salutatorian
of his high School, he matriculated to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
in Greensboro, North Carolina
, where he was a class mate of Jesse Jackson
. Here, too, Hefner was singled out as an exceptionally able student, by Dr. Janieta Tate, Professor of Economics, who invited him to come to her house frequently to discuss economics. Graduating with a B.S. in Economics in 1961, Hefner then earned a master's degree in economics from Atlanta University in 1962, where he taught for several years. In 1971, he earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado
. Hefner views his own role as carrying on the tradition of his teachers, encouraging young African-Americans to achieve their full potential.
During Hefner's 14-year tenure as president of Tennessee State University, he oversaw the implementation of a $112 million capital improvement plan, secured as part of the Geier agreement that attempted to end race-based disparity in higher education spending in Tennessee. Several new buildings were built, including a campus center, an administration building, and a performing arts center. Enrollment reached an all-time high of 9,100 students.
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
from 1991 to 2005. Before serving as the president of Tennessee State University he served as president of Jackson State University
Jackson State University
Jackson State University is a historically black university founded in 1877 in Natchez, MS by the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York. The Society moved the school to Jackson in 1882, renaming it Jackson College, and developed its present campus in 1902. It became a state supported...
in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
. Earlier positions include provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Tuskegee Institute, and professor of economics at Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
.
Born in Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County....
, Hefner's family was too poor to own books. Recognized as exceptionally intelligent by his elementary school principal, Hefner was invited to visit her home and read her encyclopedias, an opportunity which he availed himself of every day after school for nearly eight years. Graduating as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of his elementary class and salutatorian
Salutatorian
Salutatorian is an academic title given, in the United States and Canada, to the second highest graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. This honor is traditionally based on grade point average and number of credits taken, but...
of his high School, he matriculated to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant university located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest publicly funded historically black college in the state of North Carolina.NC A&T is a constituent institution of the University of North...
in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, where he was a class mate of Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
. Here, too, Hefner was singled out as an exceptionally able student, by Dr. Janieta Tate, Professor of Economics, who invited him to come to her house frequently to discuss economics. Graduating with a B.S. in Economics in 1961, Hefner then earned a master's degree in economics from Atlanta University in 1962, where he taught for several years. In 1971, he earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado System
The University of Colorado system is a system of public universities in Colorado consisting of three universities in four campuses: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and University of Colorado Denver in downtown Denver and at the Anschutz Medical Campus in...
. Hefner views his own role as carrying on the tradition of his teachers, encouraging young African-Americans to achieve their full potential.
During Hefner's 14-year tenure as president of Tennessee State University, he oversaw the implementation of a $112 million capital improvement plan, secured as part of the Geier agreement that attempted to end race-based disparity in higher education spending in Tennessee. Several new buildings were built, including a campus center, an administration building, and a performing arts center. Enrollment reached an all-time high of 9,100 students.