Today, Demetrius Johnson, Jr., Founder, President and CEO of the HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF), announced the selection of Dr. Charlie Nelms—a nationally recognized leader in higher education—as the second recipient of the Dr. Lawrence A. Davis Jr. Trailblazer of Higher Education Award. Dr. Nelms will be honored as part of the ninth class of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU leaders of 2026, alongside fellow honoree Dr. Forest E. Harris Sr., retired President of American Baptist College.

Dr. Charlie Nelms is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, a compelling storyteller, and a dedicated activist. He is the first African American to be appointed chancellor of an IU campus and vice president of the University. Dr. Nelms career also includes serving as chancellor at the University of Michigan-Flint, and North Carolina Central University (NCCU). During his tenure as chancellor of NCCU, U.S. News & World Report ranked it as one of the best public HBCUs in the nation for three consecutive years.

“Dr. Charlie Nelms is a true trailblazer in the higher education community, and we proudly recognize him for his exceptional leadership, steadfast commitment, and enduring contributions to the field. As an alumnus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff — and with this award bearing the name of Dr. Lawrence A. Davis Jr., a leader whose legacy reflects transformative impact and dedicated service—there is no one more fitting to receive this honor than Dr. Nelms. We express our deepest gratitude for Dr. Nelms’ invaluable achievements and congratulate him on this well-deserved honor, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire and elevate the future of higher education.”

— Demetrius Johnson, Jr., Founder, President & CEO, HCF

Dr. Nelms has more than 40 years of experience and leadership in student access, retention, and graduation; institutional effectiveness; and strategic planning. He is a founding member of the Millennium Leadership Initiative and professor emeritus at Indiana University. He is currently a senior scholar at the American Association of State Colleges and University, providing leadership in assisting minority-serving institutions. Additionally, he serves as President In-Resident with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Nelms is the author of From Cotton Fields to University Leadership: All Eyes on Charlie (Indiana University Press, 2019).

The Dr. Lawrence A. Davis Jr. Trailblazer of Higher Education Award, presented as part of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders, was established in honor—and now in memory—of Dr. Davis. As the highest Distinction within this prestigious recognition, the award is presented to a current or retired president or chancellor who has served at an HBCU or MSI, exemplifying a legacy of leadership, dedication, and transformative impact in higher education over the course of a decade or more.

Dr. Nelms obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and earned his master’s and doctorate from Indiana University.

The honorees of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders of 2026 and ninth class will be fully announced in early 2026.

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About The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders Award & Class
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.

About the HBCU Campaign Fund
The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) was founded in 2012 and is one of the nation’s minority educational organizations. HCF 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.