From Tuskegee to NACAC: Championing HBCU Visibility in Independent Schools
Jamon Pulliam, Viewpoint School
February 21, 2025

Happy Black History Month!

What’s more Black History than Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)? 

I will never forget the first time I stepped on Tuskegee University’s campus. The history of the school, the camaraderie among Black students who looked like me, and the welcome I felt from the moment my mother and I walked into the admissions office completely unannounced is still hard to put into words. On our way to visit a family friend at Alabama State University, my mother noticed the sign for Tuskegee University, suggested we stop, and the rest is history. The things I learned, the love I felt, the connections I made—Tuskegee remains the best decision I could have made for my college experience. 

HBCUs have been staples in both American history and higher education, as they were created at a time when Black people were almost universally excluded from predominantly white institutions (PWIs). While Black people now have wider access to PWIs, HBCUs still remain prevalent today, evident in their enrollment increases in recent years.

As an HBCU graduate and former Morehouse College admissions officer, I’ve always been committed to celebrating and advocating for these institutions. However, when I transitioned to working in independent schools, I quickly noticed that HBCUs lacked visibility. As a new college counselor, my expertise was in HBCUs, but I had to expand my knowledge to fit the diverse range of colleges my predominantly white students considered. Meanwhile, the few Black students at my school rarely inquired about HBCUs or had them on their lists—a missed opportunity. Regardless of whether they applied, it was crucial they at least knew these institutions existed.

So, I made it my mission. At my new school, I brought students to the Black College Expo, invited HBCU representatives to our annual case studies program, and launched the school’s first-ever HBCU tour in 2022, which we proudly repeated last fall. But how can we expand this impact? How can we increase HBCU visibility, create stronger partnerships, and truly walk the walk in supporting these institutions?

Takirah Crenshaw (Wildwood School) and I had a bold vision: sponsoring HBCUs to attend NACAC in Los Angeles. What once seemed like a big dream became a reality with the support of incredible colleagues from Brentwood, Chadwick, Sierra Canyon, Marlborough, Crossroads, Wildwood, Harvard-Westlake, Milken, Oakwood, Cate, and Viewpoint. Together, we sponsored Dillard University, Fayetteville State, Tuskegee, Lane, Lincoln (MO), Jackson State, Southern University, Coppin State, Central State, and Tougaloo College.

After countless hours of planning and collaboration, we pulled it off! For some of these HBCUs, it was their first NACAC experience—made possible through full sponsorship (flight, registration, and accommodations), an HBCU college fair hosted by an LA independent school, and a networking event with dozens of independent school counselors. Huge thanks to Takirah Crenshaw and Maude Bonde (Cate School) for their dedication in making this dream a reality.

This pilot project aims to set a precedent for future NACAC host cities to support HBCUs by reducing financial barriers that often prevent their participation. Many HBCUs face budget constraints, making NACAC inaccessible. Last year’s NACAC was especially meaningful for the LA Independent School College Counseling community, as 11 independent schools came together to host the first-ever NACAC x HBCU Fly-In—a milestone we proudly coined!