Tuskegee University President Dr. Mark A. Brown delivered a keynote address at the 19th Annual African American Male Education Network & Development (A²MEND) Summit, held March 6. The event brought together thousands of higher education administrators, corporate leaders, workforce development experts, and students to discuss strategies for improving Black male student success in college.
The summit is significant as it addresses persistent gaps in college enrollment and completion rates among Black men. In 2022, college enrollment rates for white youth aged 18–24 were at 41%, compared to 36% for Black youth. Men of all races enroll and finish at lower rates than women, with the widest gender gaps among Black and Hispanic students. At Tuskegee University, recent data shows that while overall enrollment reached a ten-year high of 3,366 for the current academic year, only 39% of students are male.
A²MEND operates primarily through student charters at community colleges, offering academic resources, mentorship opportunities, and professional development to help students excel and transition to four-year institutions. Despite these efforts, only about one in three community-college starters transfer to a bachelor’s program, and just one in six complete their degree within six years—figures that are even lower for Black men.
Dr. Brown praised A²MEND’s approach: “A²MEND is not admiring the problem,” said Dr. Brown. “These dedicated leaders are addressing the multi-layered root causes head-on and moving beyond statistics to drive strategy.” He also drew parallels between A²MEND’s mission and Tuskegee’s founding principles: “Much the same way our founding principal, Booker T. Washington asserted that investing in Tuskegee education gave Black people practical skills and built self-reliance… I know that young Black men can find that at Tuskegee University today.”
Sharing his personal journey from an average student with limited means to becoming Tuskegee’s first alumnus president after a distinguished military and public service career, Dr. Brown encouraged young Black men—and their families—to view higher education as a key pathway to success.
The two-day summit featured professional development sessions, career fairs, discussions on mental health among Black males, and conversations about supportive relationships between Black men and women—all aimed at fostering environments where students can thrive.
