Former Dillard Presidents Dr. Michael Lomax and Dr. Walter Kimbrough Join Current President Dr. Monique Guillory for a Conversation on Leadership, Education, and Stewardship
Dillard University will welcome home two of its own as Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO of UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) and former President of Dillard University, returns to campus alongside Dr. Walter Kimbrough, also a former Dillard President and current Executive Vice President, Research and Member Engagement at UNCF, for a rare and meaningful gathering: Three Generations of Dillard University Presidents, together for one conversation.
Dr. Lomax and Dr. Kimbrough will be joined by Dr. Monique Guillory, current President of Dillard University, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on leadership, education, and the stewardship of Dillard University for the future. Together, they will discuss the state of higher education, the future direction of UNCF, and the strategies small, liberal arts institutions like Dillard must embrace to remain strong and relevant in an increasingly uncertain higher education landscape.
Since 2004, Dr. Lomax has led UNCF through a period of remarkable growth and influence, transforming the organization into one of the nation’s most powerful champions of educational opportunity for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Under his leadership, UNCF has expanded scholarship access, strengthened HBCU institutional capacity, and elevated the national conversation around equity in higher education. Dr. Kimbrough, who succeeded Dr. Lomax as Dillard’s President, went on to serve as President of Philander Smith College and Morehouse College before joining UNCF’s leadership team — bringing his own distinct perspective on the evolving demands facing HBCU leadership today.
“Bringing together three generations of Dillard leadership reflects who we are as an institution — rooted in legacy, yet always looking forward,” says Dr. Guillory. “This conversation is a gift to our community as we chart the next chapter for Dillard, and I’m grateful to Dr. Lomax and Dr. Kimbrough for returning home to share their wisdom with us.”
The conversation will take place on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Georges Auditorium on Dillard’s campus, and will serve as part of this year’s Fall Faculty/Staff Institute, themed “A Culture of Care and Accountability.” The Institute comes at a pivotal moment for the University as Dillard launches a bold new strategic plan focused on building operational efficiencies and reimagining its academic programs to meet the evolving needs of students and the demands of a changing higher education environment.
Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and members of the community and members of the media are invited to attend this historic conversation and celebrate the enduring legacy of Dillard leadership — past and present.
