HAMPTON, Va. - Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has declared Saturday, June 11 as "Dr. William R. Harvey Day" in recognition of the significant contributions the outgoing Hampton University president has made during his career.
Dr. Harvey has been president of the university for 44 years, having been appointed its 12th president in July 1978. He announced in 2020 that he would retire this year.
Hampton University will celebrate his service at the Harvey Years Gala.
“Virginia has been my family’s home for 44 years, and it is a wonderful community,” said Dr. Harvey. “This honor is truly a surprise and is much appreciated. I want to thank Governor Glenn Youngkin for this recognition. This is a wonderful gesture from the leader of the Commonwealth.”
Some of his most notable achievements include instituting Project H.O.P.E. (Hampton’s Opportunity Program for Enhancement), which admits college-bound African American males into Hampton, and in 1992, he initiating the Job Education Training (JET) Corps, a program modeled after the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps.
The governor's proclamation closes with the state commending Dr. Harvey for his “four decades of dedication and lifetime of contributions to strengthening the Spirit of Virginia."
In February,News 3 anchor Barbara Ciara spoke with Dr. Harvey about his legacy.
