Dr. Verlindsey Brown Stewart Among 38 Selected HBCU Leaders
Stewart Joins Prestigious H.E.L.F. Leadership Institute
Dr. Verlindsey Brown Stewart recently participated in the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (H.E.L.F.) Leadership Institute at Wiley University in Texas. The event focused on leadership and learning at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Stewart was part of the Omicron Cohort, a group of 38 HBCU administrators selected for the 2024 H.E.L.F. Summer Leadership Institute.
“I was thrilled to represent my alma mater among this group of educators, leaders, and fundraisers from HBCUs across the country,” says Stewart. “The event's focus was ‘Lead. Inspire. Lift.’ We discussed innovative learning and mentoring opportunities for aspiring leaders.”
Stewart earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting and master's degree in business education at Alabama A&M and her doctorate in higher education leadership at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Her career at AAMU has been multifaceted. Following her graduation, Stewart served as an administrative assistant in the School of Business Marketing Department and as a receptionist for Cooperative Extension. She returned to AAMU in 2017, taking on the role of Freshman Academy Academic Advisor and Mentor, where she also teaches.
“The best part about working at AAMU is making a difference in students' lives,” says Stewart. “Many ask me to write their letters of recommendation, and seeing students I have taught succeed and share their achievements is incredibly rewarding.”
In 2022, Stewart became the Stewardship Coordinator in the Department of Marketing, Communication and Advancement. Beyond her academic career, Stewart is a certified Miss America Pageant Judge and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is also the proud mother of CPT Kelvin Lorenzo Stewart II. He and his wife Kala are both 2019 A&M alumni. Stewart is a loving grandmother to Ayden and Tre, and an active member of Spring Hill Church in Madison, Alabama.
“My daily prayer is based on Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” she says. “I'm looking forward to seeing the new students arrive on campus this fall. One of the first things I tell them is, ‘You don't need to wait for permission to succeed.’”