Inseparable from ASU's origins and impact is its evolution—its development through history as its leaders and student body have steered the institution into new eras.
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Dr. Ross became ASU’s 15th president on October 3, 2017. He leads by his guiding mantra of “Moving ASU 150 years forward” as well as by his self-styled brand “CommUniversity.” Early accomplishments include increasing fundraising at ASU by nearly 130% in his first two years, forging new partnerships, and re-energizing existing relations with international, federal, state, and local stakeholders.
Alabama State College began in the early 20th century and those classes were taught in old buildings and neighborhood churches. All of the buildings used on both campuses in Mobile, Alabama and Montgomery served as early training places for the determined students that enrolled.
The T-shaped lawn area at the heart of the campus was created in 1965. It is lined both on the South and North sides by academic buildings. There are several features on the Mall with the most imposing being the Equinox. This 20-foot high sculpture was erected in 1974 and is situated at the center of the Academic Mall. Other elements on the Mall include benches, trees, and a time capsule that was buried in 1974, during the University’s centennial celebration.
Levi Watkins Learning Center, 2012
The completely renovated 147,000 square foot, five-floor learning and research center is a cultural learning place with an internet café, courtyard, exhibition spaces, information commons, and other specialized spaces. The building was rededicated in 2012, with a 60,000 square foot addition consisting of two new wings, one added to the front of the building and the second added to the back. The building is named in honor of ASU’s sixth president, Levi Watkins, 1962 to 1982.
The five-story, tan brick building is named in honor of ASU’s sixth President, Levi Watkins, who served from 1962 to 1982. In 1977, the library was moved from Trenholm Hall. Its name was changed from Learning Resources Services to the University Library and Learning Resources in the Levi Watkins Learning Center. The $4.5 million dollar structure is a multi-level resources center featuring bronze tinted windows on upper levels and reflecting mirror effects on the lower level. The complex housed the University's central Library Learning Resources facility and classrooms for the College of Business Administration.
Built in 1955, this two-story brick house is located at 1023 Tuscaloosa Street and now serves as the headquarters for Alumni Affairs on the campus of ASU. Longtime ASU secretary-treasurer Willease Rosa Simpson occupied the house from 1959 until her death in 1977, at age ninety-four. The house was sold to ASU in 1998 by a relative of Willease Rosa Simpson, Cohen T. Simpson Jr., and Lynell Roberts
Aarin Christina Carver, the daughter or Stacey Carver and Adrienne Watson Carver, is a native of Baltimore County, Maryland, where she received her primary education in the Baltimore County Public Schools system. An honor student her entire life, Carver continues to demonstrate academic excellence as a student at the Alabama State University majoring in Dance.
During her high school years, Carver became extremely passionate about social justice and systemic racism, leading her to join the Carver Center Black Awareness Club and speaking and attending events surrounding Black Lives Matter. This passion, along with the influence and guidance from her nurturing parents, led Carver to begin advocating for the importance of attending HBCUs.
In addition to her academic and advocacy work, Carver is deeply involved in campus life, emerging as student leader. She became the first-ever Miss HBCU Teen 2021-22, advocating for HBCU attendance, is the founder of the first official Dance Ministry on an HBCU campus -- The ASU Praise Dance Ministry; is a charter member of the ASU National Council or Negro Women, and is a member of the NAACP, the Student Leadership Honor Society and Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. where she currently serves as President.
Carver, affectionally known as "SHOWTIME" because of her outstanding dance performances, began dancing as a toddler at her family-owned dance school, Studio A Modeling Etiquette and Dance Academy in Randallstown, Maryland. Technically skilled in ballet, modern, tap, African and hip-hop dance, she trained for three years under the direction of world- renowned dancer Debbie Allen at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, California.
A graduate of a national blue ribbon high school, George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology, Carver was accepted in the ASU BFA Dance program and awarded an annual scholarship. She was a dancer for three seasons with the highly acclaimed, sensational ASU Stingettes. She uses her gifts, talents, and social media influence to encourage and inspire youth to keep God first and to walk in Black Excellence with poise, grace, confidence, love, and
humility.
Carver's future goals are to travel the world as a professional dancer and to take over her family business, Studio A Modeling Etiquette and Dance Academy, expanding it to a global Performing Arts Company. In addition, she also aims to become a live correspondent and host for celebrity and Black community events. She gives all glory to God for the great things He has done in her
life.
Landon Hale, a senior hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, is pursuing a degree in Rehabilitation Services with a concentration in Addiction. Hale has been an active member of various clubs and organizations, including Student Orientation Services, Alabama State Royal Court, ASPIRE, Hornet to Hornet, and served as a Thurgood Marshall Yard Ambassador. Hale is a Spring 2023 initiate of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi. Throughout his involvement in these on-campus groups, he has held various leadership positions, including his internship at HBCU First, and was a Yale School of Medicine Enrichment Scholar, a Columbia University of New York Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons SHPEP Scholar, and ASPIRE Vice President. Hale is guided by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy." With this guiding principle, Hale is committed to effecting positive change in every community he is a part of and creating change here at Alabama State University.
»See previous ASU Student Government Association (SGA) Presidents«
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