Dallasnews.com November 27, 2012 Training center for fundraising to open at Paul Quinn College by Norma Adams-Wade Historically black colleges and universities exist under the cloud of the unfortunate reality that they receive limited financing from supporters and alumni. Although many supporters are faithful in giving, their offerings often are dwarfed by the still overwhelming needs of these learning institutions, which arose from slavery and segregation. A number of naysayers still proclaim that the importance of historically black educational institutions has disappeared with the past. But ever-innovative 140-year-old Paul Quinn College in Dallas is introducing a new way to secure much-needed funding to sustain its existence and help students pay their way. Quinn's new Center for Fundraising and Philanthropy is set to open on campus in January. Quinn officials say it will be the only center of its kind at a historically black college or university and one of few national undergraduate fundraising programs. The center will house a forward-thinking academic program that will train students for careers in fundraising and development. The program also plans to give students a deeper understanding of philanthropy and to facilitate research and discussion about existing resources. Additionally, students will be a part of the new collegiate chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals that was created in July in collaboration with the association's Dallas chapter. Halima Nicole Leak of New York was hired in October to be the center's inaugural executive director. The public will meet the 15-year veteran fundraising practitioner and educator at Quinn's Media and Community Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 25 at the college. Leak previously was director of alumni relations and development at City University of New York's School of Professional Studies. Quinn President Michael Sorrell said in a prepared statement that he anticipates that the doctoral candidate at New York University's Steinhardt School of Education will help build "one of the pre-eminent fundraising centers in America." Two other national educators helped create Quinn's new center: Dr. Marybeth Gasman of the University of Pennsylvania and Nelson Bowman III of Prairie View A&M University, both of whom are leading authorities and authors on fundraising research and practice. Quinn was the 2011 Historically Black College or University of the Year and Sorrell was the 2012 HBCU Male President of the Year. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree 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.