Dr. Ronnie Hopkins recently assumed the role of interim president of Voorhees College while the board searches for the institution’s tenth president.
Before serving as interim president, Hopkins served as the institution’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, accreditation liaison, and is a tenured professor of English.
He said as the Board of Trustees commences a search for the 10th President, he is both honored and humbled to serve as interim president of Voorhees College.
“I truly look forward to providing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and all other college constituents with dynamic leadership, guidance, and direction in support of our vision of academic excellence and distinction,” Hopkins said. “I offer my sincere congratulations and blessings for continued success to Dr. W. Franklin Evans, the college’s ninth president as God has enlarged his territory and as he begins a new chapter of his career trajectory. President Evans has been an extraordinary leader for Voorhees and a remarkable mentor to me.”
Hopkins added, “In the tradition of excellence and ambition instilled by our founder, Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, during my tenure as interim president, I will be highly engaged and my work will be intentional to ensure that Voorhees College continues to rise in its higher education ranks and continues to be a place where students Begin. Believe. Become.”
According to Hopkins, Evans will serve as a presidential consultant through the end of January.
During Hopkins’ productive and progressive career in public and higher education for nearly 30 years, Hopkins has served in many administrative and instructional positions that involve supervision of faculty, staff, students, budgeting, and strategic planning. He has authored over $30 million dollars in grant awards to advance higher education priorities.
Formerly, he served at Benedict College as the founding dean of the Freshman Institute and the School of Honors. Additionally, he served as the professor of English and chair in the Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Mass Communication. As well as dean of the School of Continuing Education, Graduate Studies and Lifelong Learning.
Hopkins actively serves as an Off-site and On-site Reaffirmation Committee Evaluator for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. He is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Possible Worlds Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides full-service career strategic directions and opportunities in education and employment for disenfranchised citizens impacted by homelessness, incarceration, and HIV/AIDS.
Hopkins’ synergistic activities include international scholarly research and presentations in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa; Buea, Cameroon, Central West Africa; the University of Technology at Quibdo, Choco, South America; Guilan, Beijing, and Shanghai, Republic of China; University of Ghana-Legon, Accra, Ghana, West Africa; Merida, Mexico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and, Cape Town, South Africa.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a secondary teaching certification from North Carolina Central University. Also, Hopkins earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in English from Michigan State University. Additionally, he completed postdoctoral studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa from Saint Monica University in Buea, Cameroon, Central West Africa.
Hopkins is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Bible Way Church of Atlas Road, and the Class of 2020 Executive Leadership Academy sponsored by the American Academic Leadership Institute for preparation of experienced college executive officers to become successful presidents and chancellors.
For more information, please contact the Office of Communications, at 803-780-1191 or at communications@voorhees.edu.
