“I think the best thing about this job is going to give you an opportunity to learn and hang around with young people,” said Virginia State University President Dr. Makola Abdullah.
This month, Abdullah is celebrating his ten year anniversary of being the president at VSU. President Abdullah first started out at VSU as the vice president and in a few years after that, he became the president.
“I was a Vice President, and I got into a point in my career where I wanted to apply to see if I could be a president,” said President Abdullah describing why he wanted to become president.
Throughout his ten-year tenure at VSU, President Abdullah has established and implemented many things. One of the things that was implemented during Abdullah’s ten-year term was the building and the opening of the Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons Building. The Academic Common building recently opened to all students and faculty this semester.
“My most proudest accomplishment would probably be the new building. The Alfred W. Harris Academic Commons Building, I’m really proud of that accomplishment,” Dr. Abdullah said.
Besides overseeing the implementing and opening of the Academic Commons Building. Abdullah has also helped to oversee the increase in student enrollment growth. He has also helped oversee the highest recorded four year graduation rate in VSU history.
“I think also being around young people watching them chase their dreams and being part of that is also kind of cool,” Dr. Abdullah said. “It’s really a super cool to have students come back after three or four years and you get a chance to see, all of this.”
Dr. Abdullah hopes to continue to make VSU the most affordable four-year college in the state of Virginia. He also hopes to continue in raising the enrollment and graduation rate at Virginia State.
“Even though we’re the most affordable four-year institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia, it’s still difficult for many young people to afford going to college,” Dr. Abdullah said. “So if we give provide what I believe is equality education to more students that would bring.”
Dr. Abdullah also hopes to continue to make VSU a university in which students can not only come back to, but to also give back to the university.
“If I was to give people a message, it would be to continue to be excellent at what you do and let people know that your excellence is tied to Virginia State University,” Dr. Abdullah said. “When you say you love it, call back and say thank you to those people who made you love Virginia State, whether there was a student or faculty or staff member, and to make sure you give to your alma mater so that students who come after you can have a better chance to go to school.”
