Stillman College


Stillman College is a private Presbyterian and historically black liberal arts college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It awards the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 17 disciplines/majors housed within three academic schools. The college has an average enrollment of 650 students and is accredited by The Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

History

Stillman College, authorized by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1875, held its first classes in 1876 and was chartered as a legal corporation by the State of Alabama in 1895. At that time, the name was changed from Tuscaloosa Institute to Stillman Institute. The institute was a concept initiated by the Reverend Dr. Charles Allen Stillman, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa, "for the training of colored men for the ministry". The mandate for the Institution expanded over the years and it acquired its present campus tract of over. A junior and senior high school was organized and the Institute established a junior college program, which was accredited in 1937. In addition, between 1930 and 1946, it operated a hospital and nurse training school.
Under the administration of Dr. Samuel Burney Hay, the school sought to expand into a senior liberal arts institution and in 1948 the name was officially changed to Stillman College. The following year, Stillman expanded into a four-year college and graduated its first baccalaureate class in 1951. The college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1953. Under Dr. Hay, seven new buildings were constructed: a gymnasium, a library, an administration-classroom building, two women's residence halls, a prayer chapel, and a student center.
When John Rice became the Dean of Students at Stillman College in 1966, he lived on campus with his wife and daughter, Condoleezza Rice, who later served as the 66th United States Secretary of State.
Dr. Harold N. Stinson was the first African American to assume the presidency. Under his dynamic leadership, new programs designed to improve educational quality were instituted, and the physical plant was expanded with the addition of two men's residence halls, faculty apartments, a maintenance building, and a mathematics-science center. Snedecor Hall, Batchelor Building, and Birthright Auditorium were renovated.
Constance M. Rizzi was the 1st non-black graduate of Stillman College in 1978. Recruited out of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, West Virginia by Samuel Merriweather, she was also the 1st non-black cheerleader; the 1st non-black Associate Editor of the campus newspaper, "The Tiger's Paw;" and one of the original founders of the Stillman College Dance Team under the direction of Dr. Betty Smith. After graduating from Stillman, she went on to serve in the United States Army, worked for the federal government and in government contracting for Lockheed Martin as an IT Project Manager. Later, while serving in the Army National Guard, she was an instructor at the DC Military Academy. She has a Masters in Human Environmental Services from The University of Alabama and also a Graduate Certificate in Consumer Conflict Management, she earned a 2nd Masters from Central Michigan University. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Currently, she is a licensed Realtor of 17 years.
Under the leadership of the college's fourth president, Dr. Cordell Wynn, the appearance of the campus improved dramatically; Winsborough and John Knox Halls were renovated; and the Marie Lundy Wynn Hall and Johnson/Robinson Student Health Center were erected. The enrollment grew beyond 1,000 students; the endowment increased significantly; and the educational program was broadened to include the Stillman Management Institute and a community-service component.
On July 1, 1997, Dr. Ernest McNealey was named the fifth president. During his tenure, Stillman garnered national attention in the areas of technology, athletics and scholarly pursuits. One of the leaders in wireless computing, the college received the National Innovation in Technology Award by Apple Computers and continues to be on the cusp of technological innovations in higher education. The college's football program and marching band were revitalized and the College experienced its largest enrollment in the history of the institution. Dr. McNealey infused new life into the academic component by strengthening the curriculum, and attracting a highly qualified faculty, improving admissions standards, and enhancing the value of a Stillman education with the addition of guaranteed outcome programs. In 2004 the college received its first-ever ranking among top-tier schools in U.S. News & World Report. During Dr. McNealey's tenure, four new structures were erected. The sense of place was further manifested in the construction of the Thomas E. Lyle Band Center and NCAA regulation tennis complex.
On June 26, 2014 at a press conference in Birthright Alumni Hall, Stillman Board of Trustees named interim president Dr. Peter E. Millet the sixth president of the school. In August 2014, Stillman was awarded a donation of $2 million by an unknown donor to help with the long term stability of the college. On December 29, 2014 President Dr. Peter E. Millet announced via school email that tuition for the small liberal arts school would be reduced from $22,500 to $17,500 in an effort to boost enrollment and make college more affordable. On January 1, 2015, Stillman became a smoke-free campus in an effort to keep with its theme of promoting a healthier lifestyle. In December 2015, Stillman cut its current sports from 12 to 2. Currently, Stillman has four intercollegiate sports teams, Men's and Women's Basketball, Baseball, and Softball.
On December 14, 2016 Stillman College Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Cynthia Warrick as the new Interim President for Stillman College. She took office on January 3, 2017. On April 24, 2017 Dr. Cynthia Warrick was named the seventh president and the first female president of Stillman College. Dr. Warrick is a native of San Antonio, Texas and graduated from Howard University with the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, and completed the Masters of Science in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Doctorate in Environmental Science & Public Policy from George Mason University. With over 20 years of service in higher education through the faculty ranks, administrative and executive positions, Dr. Warrick's focus is on connecting students and the college to opportunities that advance academic excellence, degree completion, admissions into graduate and professional schools and fruitful careers.

Student activities

Athletics

The college's intercollegiate athletic teams, the Tigers and Lady Tigers, compete in the Southern States Athletic Conference in Division I of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The college currently fields four varsity athletic teams, including: men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball. Beginning in Fall 2018, the college will be adding Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field.
Recent Athletic accomplishments include:

Band

Stillman College's band program was started in 1955. The band has had many leaders, including:
The "Pride of the South", also known as the "Blue Pride" Marching Tiger Band, includes a concert band, and jazz band.
With an average membership of 120, the "Blue Pride" Marching Tiger Band is a historically black college musical show unit that is organized during the fall football season. Membership is open to all qualified students enrolled at the college, regardless of their major field.
In February 2010, Stillman College dedicated a brand new facility, the Thomas Lyle Band Center, named in honor of former band director Thomas Lyle, in conjunction with the Wynn Fine Arts Center. In the fall of 2013, the "Blue Pride" Marching Tiger Band participated in the Annual Turkey Day Classic against Alabama State University. The marching band is represented in the Xbox 360 game playing selections of Sing a Song and Word Up.
The band offers two honor and service organizations: Kappa Kappa Psi, Kappa Omicron Chapter & Tau Beta Sigma, Theta Chi Chapter.

Choir

The Stillman College Concert Choir, under the direction of Jocqueline K. Richardson, is a choral ensemble of students, both music and non-music majors. The choir's repertoire consists of a variety of sacred and secular choral literature from the Renaissance to the contemporary periods in music history. The concert choir performs at college events, local and regional churches and special events throughout the academic year and serves as an ambassador of Stillman College.

Fraternities & Sororities

Seven of the National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations currently have chapters at Stillman College. These organizations are:
OrganizationSymbolChapterChapter Symbol
Alpha Kappa AlphaΑΚΑDelta SigmaΔΣ
Alpha Phi AlphaΑΦΑEpsilon NuEN
Delta Sigma ThetaΔΣΘEpsilon EtaEH
Kappa Alpha PsiΚΑΨEpsilon EpsilonEE
Omega Psi PhiΩΨΦRho GammaΡΓ
Phi Beta SigmaΦΒΣGamma ChiΓΧ
Zeta Phi BetaΖΦΒEpsilon GammaΕΓ
Sigma Gamma RhoΣΓΡEta KappaΗΚ
Iota Phi ThetaΙΦΘInterest Colony-

National Honor Societies

Other Organizations

Miss Stillman College serves as an official Hostess of the college. After winning a pageant style competition during her Junior year, Miss Stillman is usually present at collegiate student functions and on other occasions when appropriate, as an official representative of students. During her tenure, she presides over the Campus Queens/Kings Association -- which includes other elected campus queens and sweethearts—and works collaboratively with the Student Government Association Vice President for External Affairs in coordinating the Stillman Ambassadors—the official student recruitment and hospitality club. She participates in the West Alabama Christmas Parade, and other activities and programs upon request.

Residential Life

There are four dorms in use. On campus there are two male dorms: Knox, and Wynn, and two female dorms: Hay and Roulhac. It is recommended that freshman students reside on campus. Campus Evolution Village is off-campus housing managed by Stillman. Single bedrooms in a 4-bedroom suite with kitchen, washer/dryer, and living area is a short drive from campus with shuttle bus service.

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

used to teach British history at Stillman before founding the League of the South, a neo-Confederate and white supremacist organization.