Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr.
The Livingstone College Board of Trustees named Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., the school’s 12th president in 2006. A longtime educator and administrator, Dr. Jenkins was chosen from among five finalists.
Jenkins most recently served as president of Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, FL, from 1997 to 2005. During his tenure, the college expanded its faculty and broke ground on its first new building in decades while reducing its debt from $8.5 million to $500,000 in three years and growing its enrollment from 300 students to 1,300 students. Recently, Edward Waters named this new building after Jenkins as a tribute to the tremendous progress made under his leadership.
Prior to his tenure at Edward Waters College, Jenkins served as a chancellor of Elizabeth City State University from 1977 to 1995, becoming the first alumnus to serve as its CEO. While there, he secured the support of the State Legislature of North Carolina for construction of six major buildings on campus. He also launched a $5 million capital campaign, completing the fundraising a year ahead of schedule. He was honored to have the then newly constructed science building named in his honor.
Jenkins earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Elizabeth City State University, teaching certification in biology from Howard University, and a master’s degree and doctoral degree in biology education from Purdue University. He is married to Dr. Faleese Moore-Jenkins, and they have three children: Dr. Lisa Lopez, attorney Ginger Cartwright, and Jimmy Jr., a graphic artist and college lecturer.