HBCU Digest November 29, 2010 Philander Smith President Dr. Walter Kimbrough Makes Ebony's Power 100 List President Walter Kimbrough joins an illustrious list of social, political, education, film and entertainment icons such as President Barack Obama, Tyler Perry, and Jay-Z as one of Ebony Magazine's Power 100. On page 88 of the November, 2010 issue of the premier African American publication, Kimbrough's name appears with this description following: "President, Philander Smith College. Since assuming the post in 2004 - and raising its student retention and graduation rates and its reputation - this young, dynamic and accessible president has been on a mission to return his college to its former glory." According to Ebony Magazine, Kimbrough was listed this year because he met the criteria of a formula editors used to select the nation's top 100 "doers and influencers within our community or the folks who make things happen in a wide range of disciplines." Those chosen were selected for one or all of the following reasons: They (1) consistently challenge the status quo; (2) forge new paths to opportunity and success; (3) are impactful due to the sheer breath of their sphere of influence; and (4) display efforts that positively benefit African Americans. "Last year I used the list to help select speakers for Bless the Mic," Kimbrough said. "For this year, those in the category of academia are Dr. Ruth Simmons, Dr. Henry Louis-Gates, Geoffrey Canada, Johnny Taylor (new CEO of the Thurgood Marshall Fund), Tim King (principal, Urban Prep high school in Chicago), Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, and some guy who is the president of Philander Smith College. You know my wife can't tell me ANYTHING now." Kimbrough spoke to Central Arkansas Alumni the day Ebony's November issue was released and shared with them his appearance on the list. Using this listing, and facts about how much work is still needed to move Philander Smith College and its students forward, he urged them to become stronger givers and supporters of their alma mater's programs and scholarship funds. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.