Dr. Henry Givens, Jr., president of Harris-Stowe State University, was recently recognized by the Minority Contractor Initiative (MCI) for his outstanding support of the organization. MCI was founded in 2010 through a partnership between the Vashon/Jeff-Vander-Lou initiative and Community Renewal and Development, Inc. The recognition luncheon took place at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
“This award is an incredible honor for not only me, but the entire University,” Dr. Givens said. “As one of only two Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the state of Missouri, Harris-Stowe places incredible value on our commitment to diversity and ensuring equal opportunity for all.”
During the past 15 years Harris-Stowe has expanded tremendously, both in student population and physical structure. The University has established a solid history and track record of MBE/WBE participation on each of its construction projects. “Our current project, the construction of a new residence hall and student dining facility, has a goal of 25 percent MBE/WBE participation,” Dr. Givens said. “We are pleased to report that we are currently exceeding this goal, and our total MBE/WBE participation on this project is 33.9 percent.”
A native St. Louisan, Dr. Givens has been president of Harris-Stowe State University since 1979. Under his leadership, the University has greatly expanded its degree programs, tripled its enrollment, increased its facilities from one building to seven and changed its status from College to University. These changes include the new state-of-the-art William L. Clay, Sr. Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center and the Rev. Dr. William G. Gillespie Residence Hall and Student Center, the institution’s first on-campus housing in its long history of more than 150 years. An eighth building, a second residence hall, is currently under construction and is scheduled to open for the 2011 Fall Semester. Additionally during Dr. Givens’ tenure, Harris-Stowe opened its Anheuser-Busch School of Business at a satellite campus in south St. Louis.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 4:35PM
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