Relationships Over Resumes: Why Personal Connections Are the Key to HBCU Success

IDr. Walter M. Kimbroughn a world where tech bros, reality TV stars, and media moguls are being tapped for leadership positions in the federal government, it’s become increasingly clear that relationships often outweigh traditional qualifications. This is not a critique of the current administration’s cabinet selections—it’s a vivid reminder of what scholar Anthony Abraham Jack often says: it's not just what you know or who you know, but who knows you and how well they do. Simply put, relationships matter. Always have, always will.

This truth is especially vital for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). For decades, HBCUs have been celebrated for their familial culture, where students are nurtured academically, personally, and professionally. Yet, in an era that prioritizes efficiency and scalability above all else, institutions like ours face increasing pressure to conform to mass-production models of education.

But here’s the thing: HBCUs cannot—and should not—sacrifice quality for quantity. Our superpower lies in relationships. Where some institutions thrive at scale, HBCUs excel at connection. This isn’t a weakness—it’s a competitive advantage in what I call today’s “relationship economy.”

As the interim president of Talladega College and the former president of Dillard University and Philander Smith College, I’ve had the privilege of seeing this power up close. At HBCUs, students are more than ID numbers. They’re known by name, by story, and by potential. Faculty and staff don’t just teach—they mentor, guide, and advocate.

When a student asks for a letter of recommendation at an HBCU, it’s not generic; it’s personal. It reflects hours of conversation, years of observation, and a genuine belief in that student’s abilities. These personalized connections open doors to internships, jobs, and graduate programs—opportunities that wouldn’t exist without the trust and care that has become commonplace at HBCUs across the country.

This is especially critical for the many first-generation college students who call our campuses home. These students are often navigating systems that not only weren’t built in mind, but were purposely built to exclude them in the first place. The genuine relationships that students are then able to forge with faculty and staff provide the guidance, advocacy, and confidence they need to succeed.

Calls for HBCUs to emulate large-scale public universities are often made with good intentions—like increasing access and affordability. But let’s not lose sight of what makes us, us. HBCUs are more than degree factories. We’re incubators of potential, stewards of history, and builders of lifelong connections.