Hakim J. Lucas

Past Chair and Trustee. President and CEO, Virginia Union University

The Virginia Union University Board of Trustees named Dr. Hakim J. Lucas the 13th president of the University effective September 1, 2017. Dr. Lucas brings nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience in higher education. His career successes include fundraising, strategic planning, and the engagement and retention of students at historically Black colleges and universities. He served as the vice president for institutional advancement at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Under his leadership, unrestricted and restricted giving rose by 30%, and the endowment increased by 53%. He developed a strategic government relations plan that resulted in millions of dollars in appropriations from the state of Florida. These funds aided in the development of new academic programs and a Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. His responsibilities also included chairing the Strategic Growth and Sustainability Taskforce and leading the sponsored research team that secured more than $45 million in research grants. Prior to his accomplishments at Bethune-Cookman, Dr. Lucas served as director of development at the State University of New York at Old Westbury and the dean of institutional advancement and development at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York. He was also a tenured lecturer and deputy chair of the philosophy and religion department at Medgar Evers College. Dr. Lucas earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, a master’s degree in education from Tufts University, and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary. He earned his doctoral degree in education from Fordham University.