Tuskegee University President Dr. Mark A. Brown has issued a message to the university’s Board of Trustees, alumni, and supporters reflecting on the institution’s achievements in 2025 and outlining priorities for 2026.
Dr. Brown highlighted that student enrollment reached a decade high in 2025, with notable growth in the College of Agriculture, Environment, and Nutrition Sciences (CAENS). Over 20% of students are now enrolled in CAENS programs. Faculty from this college received recognition from organizations such as the White House and the U.S. Fulbright Program.
The university launched new academic offerings last year, including an Aviation Science Degree Program supported by three flight simulators donated by the U.S. Air Force. According to Boeing projections, there will be significant demand for pilots and maintenance technicians over the next two decades, underscoring Tuskegee’s continued role in aviation education.
In January 2025, renovated residence halls at Olivia Davidson and Lewis Adams were opened, providing nearly 300 modernized student living spaces. The university also began construction on a Center for Genomics and Health Disparity Research focused on addressing cancer disparities in the Black Belt region.
Tuskegee broke ground on a new School of Veterinary Medicine as well—the only accredited veterinary program at a historically black college or university (HBCU) in the United States—responding to an anticipated national shortage of veterinarians by 2030.
The Russell School Nursery is being repurposed into Tuskegee’s first REACH Center with an Artificial Intelligence learning initiative called “Booker.” This pilot project aims to address gaps in math achievement among high school seniors nationwide.
Dr. Brown reported that Tuskegee leadership advocated for federal higher education funding before Congress last year, resulting in bipartisan support for Pell Grants and key loan provisions important to students’ access to education.
Graduate offerings expanded with new doctoral programs in Computer Science and Occupational Therapy; tuition was reduced by half for select graduate students through institutional aid as part of efforts toward achieving R2 (High Research) status—a designation that would broaden research capacity and funding opportunities.
National media coverage increased across major outlets including USA Today, Forbes, CNN, NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas, among others.
During his investiture ceremony, Dr. Brown launched a $300 million comprehensive fundraising campaign focused on reducing student debt by growing the endowment to $200 million; upgrading campus infrastructure—including facilities for veterinary medicine and engineering—and increasing alumni giving rates above industry norms. From 2023 to late 2025 alumni giving grew approximately 32.8%, with participation rising from under 10% to nearly 17%.
The Athletic Department was recognized as best overall within its conference while scholar athletes maintained an average GPA of 3.2 across all sports teams; band membership also increased under new leadership.
Looking ahead to 2026, plans include breaking ground on Skegee Village—a housing development adding more than 400 beds primarily serving upperclassmen and international students—and submitting a formal application for R2 research status. The university will host Amazon Web Services’ Machine Learning University symposium as part of its expanding technology partnerships.
Other initiatives involve developing STEM-focused K-12 pipeline programs beginning with D.C Wolfe charter school expansion; launching job skills training programs through community college collaboration; growing international recruitment following faculty-student visits abroad; introducing online degree options via Tuskegee University Global Campus; and establishing men’s soccer this fall.
Reflecting on these developments Dr. Brown wrote: “Mother Tuskegee’s storied past is matched—indeed surpassed—only by the potential and promise of her future.”
He cautioned against complacency: “Our history is extraordinary but history alone will not secure our future…We must honor that legacy by rejecting complacency.”
Dr. Brown concluded his message stating: “The world is changing quickly but so is Tuskegee—and always for the better…Most importantly we are preparing young women and men not simply to enter the world but to solve that world’s most complex problems…the promise of 2026…and beyond is bright…it is ours to claim—together.”
