Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough
President | Dillard University
New Orleans, LA, UNITED STATES
Actively engaging with students through innovative use of social media.
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Biography
A native of Atlanta, Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough was his high school salutatorian and student body president in 1985, and went on to earn degrees from the University of Georgia, Miami University in Ohio, and a doctorate in higher education from Georgia State University. He has enjoyed a fulfilling career in student affairs, serving at Emory University, Georgia State University, Old Dominion University, and finally Albany State University in 2000 where he became the Vice President for Student Affairs at the age of 32. In October of 2004, at the age of 37, he was named the 12th president of Philander Smith College. In 2012 he became the 7th president of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Kimbrough has been recognized for his research and writings on HBCUs and African American men in college. Kimbrough also has been noted for his active use of social media to engage students in articles by The Chronicle of Higher Education, CASE Currents, and Arkansas Life. He was cited in 2010 by Bachelors Degree.com as one of 25 college presidents you should follow on Twitter (@HipHopPrez).
A 1986 initiate of the Zeta Pi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at the University of Georgia, Kimbrough was the Alpha Phi Alpha College Brother of the Year for the Southern Region and served as the Southern Region Assistant Vice President. Dr. Kimbrough has forged a national reputation as an expert on fraternities and sororities, with specific expertise regarding historically Black, Latin and Asian groups. He is the author of the book, Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities.
Dr. Kimbrough was named the 1994 New Professional of the Year for the Association of Fraternity Advisors, and selected as a 2001 Nissan-ETS HBCU Fellow. In 2009, he was named by Diverse Issues in Higher Education as one of 25 To Watch. In 2010, he made the coveted Ebony Magazine Power 100 list of the doers and influencers in the African American community, joining the likes of President and Mrs. Obama, Jay-Z, Richard Parsons, Tyler Perry, Debra Lee, and Tom Joyner. Finally, in February of 2013 he was named to NBC News/The Griot.com’s 100 African Americans making history today, joining another impressive group including Kerry Washington, Ambassador Susan Rice, Kendrick Lamar, Mellody Hobson, and RG III.
Industry Expertise (7)
Research
Corporate Leadership
Program Development
Training and Development
Social Media
Education/Learning
Fund-Raising
Areas of Expertise (10)
Staff Development
Student Development
Curriculum Development
Public Speaking
Social Media
Greek Life
Hbcus
African-American Education
Higher Education Trends
Community Outreach
Accomplishments (6)
100 African Americans Making History Today (professional)
2013-02-01
Awarded by NBC News / The Griot.com.
One of 25 College Presidents You Should Follow on Twitter (professional)
2010-01-01
Awarded by BachelorsDegree.com.
Power 100 List (professional)
2010-01-01
Awarded by Ebony Magazine.
25 to Watch (professional)
2009-01-01
Awarded by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
Nissan-ETS HBCU Fellow (professional)
2001-01-01
Awarded by the Association of Fraternity Advisors.
New Professional of the Year (professional)
1994-01-01
Awarded by the Association of Fraternity Advisors.
Education (3)
Georgia State University: Ph.D., Higher Education 1996
Miami University: M.Sc., College Student Personnel Services 1991
The University of Georgia: B.A.S., Biology 1989
Links (1)
Media Appearances (6)
A proposed federal college rating system could hurt disadvantaged students
The Washington Post online
2015-01-01
Dillard’s current president, Walter Kimbrough, has analogized the challenge of designing a fair and reliable rating system to judging a diving competition — the ratings, as he puts it, must take account of the “degree of difficulty” in educating students. And fortunately, Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently told presidents of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that the ratings “will take account of the degree of difficulty that many institutions, including HBCUs, face in educating significant numbers of underprepared, disadvantaged students.”...
Guest column from Dillard president Walter Kimbrough: TOPS more an engine of inequality than opportunity, should have income-level cap
The Advocate online
2014-12-23
The Louisiana Board of Regents recently released a report analyzing the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students from 2003 to 2014. The program, initiated in 1998, had four major objectives. They include promoting success and providing financial incentives. But a key point is to “promote access and success” in postsecondary education. Sadly, TOPS is more of an engine of inequality than it is of opportunity...
Dillard's president speaks about inviting Benjamin Crump, attorney for Michael Brown's family, to speak at university
The Times Picayune online
2014-12-03
In introducing the civil rights attorney, who also represented the family of Trayvon Martin, Dillard president Walter Kimbrough explained that he had invited Crump to speak in June, two months before Michael Brown was killed. "We exchanged emails on June the 16th. Two days later, our guest tonight confirmed that he would be here on December the 2nd," Kimbrough said. "So we were all set on June 18th for the annual Revius Ortique Lecture on Law and Society."...
The smartest investment is creating responsible citizens: Walter M. Kimbrough
The Times Picayune online
2014-07-01
Recently the CNN documentary series "Inside Man" focused on the issue of income inequality. Having lived in New Orleans two years now, I immediately recognized my new home in the opening scene. So I was quickly drawn in to the show. Within a few minutes, host Morgan Spurlock indicated that one in five Louisianans depend on food stamps...
My Brother's Keeper: Stop writing letters and start doing the work
The Root online
2014-06-21
Over the past few days my Twitter feed has buzzed about the letter signed by 1,000 women and girls urging President Barack Obama to broaden his My Brother’s Keeper initiative. The letter and subsequent commentaries attack the president, accusing him of any number of sins for not including women and girls in this program. Yes, the issues facing women and girls of color are significant, and while ignored in research and programming as the letter states, they do deserve attention and focus...
The Hazing Problem at Black Fraternities
The Atlantic online
2014-03-17
I receive a Google news alert by e-mail every time the phrase “fraternity hazing” is mentioned in the press. As one who has studied fraternities and sororities for over two decades, worked in student affairs as a Greek advisor, now a college president, and an expert witness in hazing cases, it is important to stay current. As you can imagine, I get lots of news alerts. Lots...
Event Appearances (3)
Keynote Speaker
Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation Alabama State University
2015-01-13
The Role of the Student Affairs Professional: Reflections by a College President
Guest Lecture Series The University of Georgia
2014-09-10
Multicultural Greek 101
Invited Speaker University of Minnesota
2010-04-07
Articles (5)
Bottom line—Should black fraternities and sororities abolish undergraduate chapters?
About Campus
2005-01-01
This past spring, I set off on a four-month lecture tour, eager to interact with bright and interesting students and present my thoughts on black fraternities and sororities—the subject of my recent book. As I prepared for the opportunity to share strategies with colleagues ...
Trends in Black student involvement
Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice
2001-01-01
This study examines trends in Black student involvement within traditional campus organizations at predominantly White campuses. Studies of Black students studying on predominantly White campuses report that their marginal participation within traditional ...
Notes From the Underground: Despite a Ban, Pledging Remains
Black Issues in Higher Education
2000-01-01
Presents information on a study which attempted to get the perceptions of Black college students toward the `membership intake program' developed by presidents of several Black fraternities in the United States, to end pledging. Methodology and findings of the study; Conclusions...
The impact of membership in Black Greek-letter organizations on Black students' involvement in collegiate activities and their development of leadership skills
Journal of Negro Education
1998-01-01
Despite numerous recent events that have cast collegiate Black Greek-letter organizations (BGOs) in a negative light, many view these and other Greek organizations as important leadership development vehicles. This article reports on a study that examined the impact ...
Self-Assessment, Participation, and Value of Leadership Skills, Activities, and Experiences for Black Students Relative to Their Membership in Historically Black Fraternities and Sororities
The Journal of Negro Education
1995-01-01
This study reports on the views held by African American students about Black Greek-letter organizations (BGOs) and their role in leadership development. Background information on the history, contributions, and status of BGOs is presented prior to describing the details of ...
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