In many ways, HBCU pride is ingrained in Dr. Makola Abdullah’s DNA.
The fourteenth president of Virginia State University (VSU) – the historically Black university in Petersburg – the Chicago native earned his undergraduate degree from Howard University in civil engineering. Abdullah went on to get his doctorate and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Northwestern University.
His mother, Samella Abdullah, a Howard alum, encouraged him to attend the prestigious university in Washington, DC. At age nineteen, Abdullah was recorded at the 1990 Honda All-Star Challenge (think Battle of the Brains for HBCUs), saying that his goal after graduating from Howard was to earn his PhD in civil engineering from Northwestern University and return to Howard as an educator.
Fortunately for students at VSU, that last part didn’t work out.
“Let me run through this for you – my mom went to Howard, my aunt went to Howard, my sister went to Fisk, my other sister went to Dillard, and my wife went to Tuskegee,” he explains. “My brother-in-law went to Howard. My other brother-in-law went to Tennessee State. My three sisters-in-law all went to Florida A&M while I taught there,” he continues. “My wife got her master’s and PhD at Florida A&M. My son took classes at Bethune-Cookman before finishing at Morehouse. My daughter took classes at Hampton before finishing at Virginia State. She has two degrees from Virginia State.”
A husband, father, and award-winning administrator, Abdullah credits Howard University for much of his academic and personal success.
“Howard made me,” says Abdullah. “Everything that HBCUs are about, I needed coming out of high school. Don’t get me wrong – I had high test scores and high GPAs from some of the best high schools in Illinois, but I needed someone to believe in me. I needed a community to help turn me into the man I am today. I credit Howard University for that.”
Achieving Excellence in Education
Abdullah was named VSU president in 2016. Under his leadership, the public, historically Black, land-grant university, which was founded in 1882, has launched new programs, historical partnerships, and innovative initiatives. Among them are the John Mercer Langston Institute for African American Political Leadership; the Center for Policing Leadership and Social Justice; the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging; the Hybrid Education Residency Opportunity; the Military Cultural Competency Training Certification Program; and the new teacher residency program to help address Petersburg’s teacher shortage and provide future educators with an immersive educational experience.
In 2023, VSU achieved its single most significant year-to-year enrollment increase in over a decade and its highest student retention rate in over twenty years. It also announced its highest enrollment of first-year students in school history (1,443).
“When I came to Virginia State, the first thing I saw was an incredible institution,” Abdullah says. “We had some challenges related to our budget and accreditation, so housekeeping had to get done, but I believe coming in as an outsider was an advantage because it gave me a perspective many close to VSU did not have at the time. At that moment, I decided the number one thing for me was to continue to paint the picture: I didn’t come here to make VSU great – the foundation of greatness already existed. My mission was to let people know what we at VSU already knew.”
Lifting Up Virginia State University
Abdullah took on the challenge of changing the narrative about VSU and, by default, the dialogue about HBCUs. Stereotypical and grossly inaccurate myths about HBCUs offering substandard education, only educating Black students, and not preparing students for post-graduate education, have been debunked time and time again, yet the misconception persists.
When Abdullah took the leadership of VSU, enrollment had seen a two-year decline. As a result, revenue was down, campus buildings were closing, faculty and staff had been cut, and VSU faced mounting debt. Abdullah will tell you VSU was not a turnaround job for him. Yet, others, including members of his inaugural board of visitors, faculty, and students, offered a more nuanced opinion.
“There has been a clear energy shift,” says Wes Bellamy, chair of political science and executive director of the John Mercer Langston Institute at VSU. “First and foremost, President Abdullah is brilliant,” says Bellamy. “You tend to forget that because he is so relatable, but he is always three or four steps ahead,” says Bellamy, whose time at VSU nearly mirrors Abdullah’s tenure. “I call him T’Challa because he is the embodiment of Black Panther. The way he puts our students first in everything he does permeates throughout the university and empowers our faculty, administrators, and everyone associated with VSU to be bold and unapologetic.”
Today, the about-face is evident throughout the VSU learning community. The university increased its four-year graduation rate to the highest recorded rate in VSU history. With an enrollment of 5,190 students for fall 2023, VSU experienced more than an 11 percent increase from fall 2022. This marked the highest year-to-year enrollment increase of any college in the Commonwealth of Virginia, according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
According to Abdullah, the energy shift Bellamy noted has come from within. “I think [the change] was more internal than external. Once our campus started believing that greater things happen at VSU, everybody was forced to adopt this belief,” says Abdullah.
Chain Reaction of Positivity at VSU
Abdullah, who can’t pinpoint one moment during his tenure when he felt the tide turn, highlights a combination of factors that initiated a chain reaction. “It started with athletics, probably not dissimilar to VCU,” says Abdullah, noting VCU’s 2011 Final Four NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament appearance and a 20 percent increase in enrollment for the university the following year. “We won a basketball championship in my first year. Lonnie Blow Jr. is one of the best coaches in the country, and our athletic director, Peggy Davis, is fantastic,” he remarks. “We won a football championship soon after,” he explains. “I think that helped kickstart some renewed recognition and awareness.”
Social media has also played a significant role in VSU’s and Abdullah’s rise in visibility. In 2021, a video clip of Abdullah playing basketball with popular VSU social media creator Afolabi Oyeneyin (Afo) went viral, with millions of views and placement on ESPN’s SportsCenter, in Newsweek, and on TMZ.
“While that moment may have seemed trivial, that is one of the first times that I can remember thinking to myself, He gets it,” says Bellamy about Abdullah. “He understands where this younger generation is and how to capitalize on their interest to promote and uplift VSU.”
2023 was a great year for the university. VSU’s Trojan Explosion Marching Band was named the 2023 HBCU Division II Band of the Year by ESPN, and the network selected VSU’s campus as a host location for its popular Black College Live pre-game tailgate show in September.
As VSU’s social and organic media visibility converted to general interest, there was, ultimately, an increase in enrollment applications. Simultaneously, VSU’s academic programs sought out and secured their individual accreditations, which is the hallmark of validation for all institutes of higher education. In 2018, VSU successfully completed its reaffirmation of accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The university was reaffirmed for ten years with no recommendations.
“A shift started to happen once we started publicizing our successes,” Abdullah says. “When we started to get the word out, people could see a flurry of exciting things happening at VSU, and it was across academics and athletics.”
Family Commitment and HBCUs
Dr. Ahkinyala Cobb-Abdullah, Abdullah’s wife of twenty-seven years, attended Tuskegee University and Florida A&M. With more than twenty-five years of experience in higher education, Cobb-Abdullah was part of the leadership of Virginia Union University in Richmond until last year. “My own educational experiences with the nurturing faculty, mentors, and sponsors were preparing me to pay it forward to help my people fulfill their dreams to complete their education in a place that helps them to become their full selves,” says Cobb-Abdullah. “It also helps that my husband, who is a few years ahead of me in this industry, is my best mentor and greatest supporter. We both value education and helping people.”
Both of the couple’s children attended HBCUs. Their son Mikaili graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine with a PhD, and their daughter, Sefiyetu, is a two-time graduate of VSU with a master’s in computer science.
“We have always been upfront with our children about the history and relationship Black people have with the United States and the world, for that matter,” Cobb-Abdullah explained. “We have worked to provide space for our children to thrive in every area of their lives. As our children prepared for college, we communicated our support for them to attend an HBCU. We knew that our children would be cared for, encouraged, nurtured, and expected to excel at an HBCU since we are both graduates of HBCUs.”
Given the aforementioned HBCU admiration from the Abdullah family, one might think the couple required their children to attend HBCUs. The Abdullahs’ daughter Sefiyetu says she never felt pressured by her HBCU-loving parents. “I learned how to skateboard in college and had the chance to meet an entire range of people who exist in Black culture,” she says. “It helped me find myself from a hobby standpoint and gave me lasting connections with a wide range of people.”
Not one to tell family members or any young person what school to attend, Abdullah recommends having at least one HBCU on the college consideration list. He also advises students to visit at least one HBCU before making their decision. “What I tell kids is that I sincerely believe that our HBCUs are among the best universities in the country – bar none. And I don’t mean that just for African Americans,” Abdullah says. “In terms of value and out-of-classroom mentoring, you’ll get more bang for the buck going to an HBCU,” he says.
Building Excitement on Campus
Another essential development under Abdullah’s leadership at VSU is capital construction. New buildings and renovations are in the works all over VSU’s campus, and the visual overhaul is noticeable. VSU is currently building the largest academic building in its school’s history. The $130 million Alfred W. Harris Commons will be the centerpiece of the VSU campus and home to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Education.
“Adding the Alfred W. Harris Commons to other capital projects coming soon – the new admissions and advancement building will break ground this summer, and our new health and wellness building will break ground next year – and seeing the progress and the cranes in the sky makes everyone excited. Our students will have state-of-the-art classrooms, and the new capital construction will allow our faculty to see the physical embodiment of their work,” says Abdullah.
Former VSU Board of Visitors member Wayne Turnage says Abdullah is the perfect leadership fit for VSU. “Many colleges and universities often hire presidents who I would call specialists,” says Turnage, adding that a specialist might do one thing well: fundraising, developing the administration, or even navigating politics.
“What is impressive about Dr. Abdullah is that he does so many things well,” Turnage says. “He hired and empowered outstanding leadership to carry out VSU’s 2020-2025 strategic plan.”
Above all, Turnage believes Abdullah possesses an often-overlooked element critical to the success of the president of a university: “He has a deep and authentic connection with the student body. Trojan Pride is at an all-time high, and it is remarkable to see.”
What the Future Holds for VSU
From increased enrollment to new construction to bold and innovative academic programs, VSU is charting a clear path under Abdullah’s leadership.
As rector of VSU’s Board of Visitors, Dr. Valerie K. Brown has had a front-row seat to Abdullah’s presidency, navigating some challenging times in VSU’s history, including the COVID pandemic. I asked her what, if anything, has surprised her about the VSU president.
“Nothing surprises me about Dr. Abdullah,” she says. “Dr. Abdullah is known for his intellectual abilities. Dr. Abdullah is known for being a great communicator with students,” she says. “Maybe the question is not what surprises me about Dr. Abdullah, but rather, how can VSU hold on to Dr. Abdullah as our president for years and years to come?” says Brown.
It’s an inevitable question. Success at an HBCU like VSU is noticed by other boards and search committees worldwide. Like a highly sought-after coach, the constituencies of small and mid-size schools always have the gnawing feeling of not if, but when their leader will move on to another opportunity.
The good news for families and higher education is that Abdullah has extended his contract with VSU through 2029, and he has been transparent about his role at VSU. “The work that we’ve been able to get done at VSU, the people I have a pleasure to work with, and the students that I have a chance to meet and enjoy make it so that VSU is just an incredible place to work,” says Abdullah. “I do get calls and I am ambitious, but many times, when I compare those opportunities to the opportunity sitting right in front of me, it’s very hard for other institutions to compete with VSU.”
That answer alone is the epitome of Trojan pride.
