Black History Month

Dr. Barbara L. Green was the first black student and alumna at Presbyterian College. She graduated in 1973 and went on to earn a master’s degree in 1975 from North Texas State University and a doctorate in 1980 from the University of Missouri. 

Blue Hose standout Marion “Dooley” Miller ’75 blazed several trails at PC. He was the college’s first black student-athlete, the first black male student, and the first to serve as captain of the men’s basketball team. After PC, Miller began a longtime career as a coach and educator, including two years as principal at Pacolet Middle School in Spartanburg County.

The late Dr. Norris L. Hogans was Presbyterian College’s first black trustee, joining the board in 1983. A longtime educator and the principal of George Washington Carver Comprehensive High School in Atlanta, Hogans was an exceptional educational leader and a tireless community activist. He founded the Carver Community Family Initiative Program in support not only of his students but also parents and members of the community.

Dr. Booker T. Ingram Jr., the Charles A. Dana Professor Emeritus of Political Science, became PC’s first black faculty member in 1987. His remarkable 34-year career at the college included Professor of the Year honors and service as PC’s first director of diversity and inclusion. Last year, the college announced that its annual Martin Luther King Day convocation would be named in Ingram’s honor.

A standout member of the Blue Hose women’s basketball and volleyball teams, Tonya Williams ’92 is a member of the Scotsman Club and became PC’s inaugural Women’s Honorary Captain at Letterman’s Day in 2020. A two-time captain during her playing years, Williams finished her college career with 1,219 career points and 512 career rebounds.

The late Dr. Barbara Medley was PC’s first female African-American professor. She joined the PC faculty in 1994 and taught in the sociology department until 2000 when she left to become director of the Center for Applied Social Research and the Community Outreach Partnership Center at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. She passed away in 2013.

A beloved figure in Neville Hall, retired housekeeper Rhudene Brooks was dubbed the Poet Laureate of Presbyterian College by the late Dr. Jim Skinner, a longtime professor of English whose classes she often attended. Known for her own poetry, Brooks’ insight and talent was a delightful part of the PC fabric and experience.

Elton Pollock ’95 is Presbyterian College’s first black head coach. A letterman in both football and baseball, Pollock was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates after graduation and spent three years playing in the minors. After a few years as an assistant, Pollock took over as head coach in 2005 and has amassed more than 300 career wins. His 2021 squad earned its first Big South Championship and national tournament bid. Last fall, PC named its baseball field in Pollock’s honor.

Dr. Tanisha Jenkins ’01 was Presbyterian College’s first African-American student body president. The Clinton native has built a stellar career in advancing inclusion and equity initiatives in higher education and is currently the associate vice president for belonging and inclusion at Ohio State University. She earned a master’s degree in counselor education from Clemson University and her Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Tennessee. She served as director of multicultural student life at UT, as director of multicultural affairs at Western Carolina University, and worked at the Gantt Intercultural Center at Clemson. In 2020, she was honored with the James E. Scott Outstanding Mid-Level Student Affairs Professional Award.

Members of Clinton’s Roberson family – Clarence, Bob, Walter, Paul, Olin, and Sarah – served a combined total of more than 150 years at Presbyterian College. Clarence Roberson worked at PC for 47 years and Walter Roberson for more than 45. In 2005, food services established the Walter Roberson Sr. Service Award to honor employees who “exemplify Mr. Roberson’s commitment to excellence, his exemplary work ethic, and his kindness displayed daily to co-workers, students, faculty, and staff at Presbyterian College.”

One of Blue Hose football’s finest student-athletes, Justin Bethel earned his business degree and was drafted 177th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the same month of May 2012. A two-time All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler – both as a special teams player – Bethel just completed his 10th year in the National Football League. In addition to playing for the Cardinals, Bethel also played one season each with the Atlanta Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens, three seasons with the New England Patriots, and currently plays for the Miami Dolphins.

Sen. Tim Scott attended Presbyterian College for one year on a partial scholarship to play football for the Blue Hose. A Republican, Scott is the first African-American to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate. He began his political career as a member of Charleston County Council and went on to serve one term each in the S.C. House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives. Scott began serving in the Senate in 2013.

Xavier Boatwright ’13, a biology major and standout defensive lineman for the Blue Hose, was recently featured by the Charleston Post and Courier as one of 12 Black Black Leaders to Know. After suffering a career-ending injury that ended his dream of playing in the NFL, Xavier rediscovered his love of nature by becoming the strategic partnerships director for the Conservation Voters of South Carolina.