Today, HBCU Campaign Fund‘s (HCF) Founder, President and CEO, Demetrius Johnson Jr., has announced the selection of Clark Atlanta University’s HBCU Executive Leadership Institute Executive Director Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins and Lawson State Community College President Dr. Cynthia Anthony as honorees of the eighth class of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders of 2025. Dr. Dawkins and Dr. Anthony are the first two individuals to be named to the eighth class and inducted into the prestigious national recognition for 2025.

“Dr. Dawkins and Dr. Anthony are exceptional leaders who have overcome all odds. That is what’s truly inspiring about them, and I appreciate the both of them for their contribution to the space of higher education and to historically black colleges and universities,” said Demetrius Johnson Jr., HCF Founder, President and CEO. “Both honorees are leaders who have transformed their strategic visions to ensure that everyone reaches their full potential under no other circumstances, and this is what makes a true dominant leader. We thank them for proving their responsibility of strong leadership and commend all they’ve accomplished in their careers. Join me in congratulating our honorees.” 

The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders Award & Class is a national recognition created by the HBCU Campaign Fund that identifies ten chancellors and presidents, and as of 2024, sports-affiliated individuals serving in the role at an HBCU, MSI, or affiliated with who exemplify a prominent and influential role in leadership and model the characteristics of following responsibilities in the progression of an institution or entity forward.

Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins serves as the Executive Director of the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta University. The institute endeavors to bolster the readiness of future HBCU presidents and executive leaders. She previously served as the Eighteenth President of Bennett College for nearly three years (including interim year).

Dr. Cynthia Anthony was named president of Lawson State Community College in March 2021, after serving as interim president at the college since September 2020.

Dr. Anthony has more than 30 years of higher education experience, serving as Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Success for the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) and Executive Vice President and Dean of Students at Lawson State. Prior to her leadership at Lawson State, Anthony served at Bessemer State Technical College, which merged with Lawson State in 2005. In addition to various other leadership roles within ACCS, she served as Interim President at three other ACCS institutions: Drake State Community and Technical College, Shelton State Community College, and Enterprise State Community College.

Dr. Anthony earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Phycology from Talladega College. She received both her Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and her Master of Education degree in Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership through a joint program at UAB and the University of Alabama. She was awarded UAB’s Department of Education’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2005.

The complete list of honoree of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders of 2025 and Eighth Class will be released in early 2025.

About the HBCU Campaign Fund
The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) was founded in 2012 and is a non-profit educational organization that remains a strong advocate for students and higher education. The mission of HCF is to support the significance and raise funds for scholarships, programs, and for private and public HBCUs and MSIs. For more information, visit www.hbcucampaignfund.org.

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