Kentucky State University Academic Honors Convocation to feature keynote from international president of the nation's oldest African-American professional fraternity

Kentucky State University Academic Honors Convocation to feature keynote from international president of the nation's oldest African-American professional fraternity

Posted on March 25, 2019

Kentucky State University will honor its scholars during the Academic Honors Convention April 11 at 10 a.m. in the Carl H. Smith Auditorium of David H. Bradford Hall.

Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, current international president and CEO of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (also known as the Boulé), will provide the keynote address.

Vincent has devoted more than 30 years to equity and justice in education and the wider public arena during his work as an executive, tenured professor and attorney in higher education, government and the corporate sector.

Vincent also previously served as the president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. From 2005 until 2017, Vincent served at the University of Texas at Austin as vice president for diversity and community engagement, W.K. Kellogg Professor of Community College Leadership and professor of law.

University of Texas at Austin President Dr. Gregory L. Fenves selected Vincent to serve as university spokesperson as the UT Austin administration successfully defended its admissions practices before the United States Supreme Court. The landmark ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin allowed the university to continue recruiting a diverse student population, so all students received the benefits of a diverse learning environment.

Vincent has served as board chair and in service positions for multiple nonprofit and community organizations, including the Austin Area Urban League, Communities in Schools, St. James’ Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of Texas, the Bishop Quinn Foundation and is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

In 2016, Vincent was named the educator of the year by the University of Pennsylvania. In 2012, Vincent received The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Distinguished Service Award.

Vincent holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Vincent currently serves as an attorney in a private practice and advises a number of corporate and not-for-profit organizations.