From the Desk of the President of Norfolk State University
As we look forward to our 90th anniversary at Norfolk State University in September 2025, the collective work we do NOW and in the next 11 months will have a lasting impact for this institution and for future generations of Spartans. The clock is ticking.
NOW Is Our Time: The Campaign for Norfolk State University is the most ambitious in the history of our institution. The success of this campaign—meeting and exceeding our $90 million goal—will allow the University to transform itself in ways we’ve never seen before.
I encourage you to think about the transformative impact your donation can have on the lives of students at our beloved university. By giving to our fundraising campaign, you are not only supporting their academic journey but also nurturing their growth as future leaders and change-makers. Your generosity can help fund scholarships, research initiatives, and campus improvements that will enrich the university experience for current and future students alike.
Imagine the difference you can make through your contribution to the university’s fundraising efforts. Your involvement in our campaign has the potential to create a legacy that will reverberate throughout generations to come. It has the power to shape the future of education and innovation.
Our strategic mission as an institution requires us to evolve—to strive for and achieve a higher tier in the higher education realm. We have been developing, striving and advancing ever since we opened our doors as a two- year institution in 1935 against the backdrop of the Great Depression.
Over the last 89 years, we have produced leaders and achievers in their professions and in their communities. This issue of Behold Magazine highlights the enormous impact Norfolk State has had. Alumni such as Marty Miller, Dr. Melvin Stith and Bishop Kim Brown (page 10) came to the university with little—Miller only a one-way ticket to Norfolk and $10 in his pocket. Dr. Stith hitched a ride with a relative to make it here from rural Greensville County, while Bishop Brown didn’t have the grades to be admitted. The university took a chance on each of them and today, they stand as examples of how transformative a Norfolk State University education can be. NSU is a place for first and second chances, and many Spartans have those same success stories.
By coming together as a collective force, we can champion the cause of higher education and empower ambitious minds to fulfill their potential. Your investment in Norfolk State’s mission is an investment in knowledge, progress, and the shaping of tomorrow’s leaders. Let us stand united in our commitment to excellence and seize this remarkable chance to make a difference.
Because Now is Our Time. Donate today.
Sincerely,
Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D. President, Norfolk State University
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