Elizabethtown native Dr. Vann Newkirk a force at Wilberforce

WILBERFORCE, OHIO – Wilberforce University’s description of itself in a nutshell is, “WilberforceUniversity an Institution Situated at the Intersection of a Noteworthy History and a Promising Future.”

It is an Elizabethtown native and East Bladen High School graduate that is the perfect educator and administrator to lead that University to their promised land.

Growing up as a hardworking young man not limited by his small rural environment, Newkirk has risen to a very prestigious position where he is making a difference at the University and in the lives of so many students.

It seems almost unattainable at times for kids not growing up with a silver spoon in their mouth or in the midst of such a rural area, but Newkirk is filled with wisdom and advice, challenging students to make more of themselves than anyone could have imagined.

“My advice to young people, is work at the A&P,” he said with a wry grin on his face. “Oh, I don’t know if it’s the A&P anymore, but the message is to keep yourself busy. I learned while getting my job as a bag boy at 16 years of age things that I didn’t learn in a school building.”

He said that he learned to stock shelves, bag groceries, become good with numbers and above all – he learned that the success of business is never full unless it follows the rule of kindness. He also said that as for his learning, he never limited himself to shut certain people out and that everyone had something to teach him.

In coaching circles, that’s called “coachable” and it was Al Horford, famous NBA player, during a coaching clinic outlined the one thing that made good players great.

“Are you coachable,” Horford would ask the young players. “I don’t care if you’ve got talent. I don’t care if you are the smartest player on the court. The great ones always remain ‘coachable.’”

Newkirk, Sr., is the 23rd president of Wilberforce University (Wilberforce, Ohio), the nation’s first, private historically Black college university (HBCU).

According to his bio posted at WU, Newkirk immediately prior to accepting the presidency, served as interim associate vice president at Alabama A & M University in Huntsville and he is a former president at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to his presidential appointment at Fisk, Dr. Newkirk was that university’s provost and vice president of academic affairs.

After graduating from East Bladen High School, he went on to earn many degrees and accolades. The first collegiate experience he had was at North Carolina A & T, but received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Barber-Scotia College.

He currently holds a Master of Arts degree in history from Winthrop University, a Master of Science degree from North Carolina Central University, and a doctor of Philosophy degree in history from Howard University.

In addition to presiding currently at WU he is a published author and in his first book, Lynching in North Carolina: A History, 1865-1941. He talks about stories of the first lynching in his hometown of Elizabethtown down by the river as recalled by his father and grandfather.

In his synopsis of the book, he said, “From the end of the Civil War through 1941, a total of 168 North Carolinians lost their lives to lynching. This form of mob violence was often justified as a means of controlling the Black population, ‘protecting’ white wives and daughters, and defending family ‘honor.’ Legal attempts to deter lynching—including an 1893 law that classified it as a felony and sought to hold a county liable for damages—generally failed because of a lack of local support and ineffectual enforcement by state officials.”

Currently, Dr. Newkirk is writing a history of African Americans in Alabama,” his bio states. “In another written work, “New Life for Historically Black Colleges and Universities” (HBCUs), to improve the long-term viability of HBCUs, he moves to identify their challenges, explore their management systems, and identify models of success. A noted historian, he has written extensively on crime and punishment in North Carolina. He has also authored the 2008 seminal work, “Lynching in North Carolina,” which won the 2009 Willie Parker History Award for the best nonfiction study of North Carolina.”

Since coming on as the president at WU he is following previous ideas that worked for him and for Fisk University. He is fundraising along with adding to the WU reputation as a university that is nationally ranked in academic programs among other top universities.

“What is most important in learning to succeed, is you have to learn to serve,” Newkirk said. “You cannot lead until you know how to serve.”

A true servant leader, he has been taught well. He listened when other people were talking. He became a visionary for his generation and the generations to come. Truly the WU moto is appropos for him: ‘Suo Marte’ – By one’s own toil, effort and courage.

Newkirk’s mother, Bettye McLaughlin still lives in Elizabethtown and remains a strong mentor and a proud mother that encouraged her son that he could do anything.

And he pretty much has. His current idea in the rural area of Ohio is to be able to plant more windfarms and to one day be sustainable as far as their energy goes. He also plans on selling energy to nearby universities.

He went on to marry an Elizabethtown girl, Genel Lee Newkirk. She is the force behind the force, so to speak and has been a trusted confidant and support for her husband. To leave her out of an article on his accomplishments would be folly.

Genel Lee Newkirk is a native of Elizabethtown, North Carolina. She has lived most of her adult life in Durham and Wake counties of North Carolina. She is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina of Chapel Hill. Mrs. Newkirk worked for 20 years in the corporate telecommunications industry. Subsequently, after becoming a Certified Senior adviser, she was an entrepreneur. She founded and operated CenterPeace Home health care for 16 years that served nine counties, thousands of clients and employed hundreds in the surrounding local communities. In 2021, Mrs. Newkirk sold the company and retired. She intensified her civic and community service in various capacities.

Her community service has included the board of directors for the Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce where she was also the past Chairperson of the DEI Council of the Chamber. She served on the Board of Adjustments for the Town of Fuquay-Varina, the board of directors of The Guardian Angel (Alzheimer’s Research based), board of directors for Cultural Arts Society and their 2019 Co-Chair for the F-V MLK Celebration, and as a Board member of Family and Community Empowerment Services (FACES) to name a few. Most recently, she has become a volunteer at Wilberforce University, in the Career Services Department.

Mrs. Newkirk also completed the Leadership Fuquay-Varina initiative and was a member of the ninth graduating cohort. As well, she completed the Fuquay-Varina Police Department’s Citizens Academy.

Over the years, she was a writer for the TCP Magazine (a regional Gospel and Christian magazine), owned a small publishing company and was a Realtor in central North Carolina.

Mrs. Newkirk has assisted and served in various capacities of local churches, including the organizing of women’s and youth ministry activities. She is a woman of faith and believes that the light of God is represented in her life based on her service, love and care of others.

She said that she is a blessed mother of two young adult sons, and one daughter in love. And this power couple from E-Town has set the bar high for those walking across the stages in our community this month.