After 25 Years, Hampton President to Take Sabbatical

Curtis R. Holsopple Hampton President William R. Harvey, second from left, saw through the opening of the new Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications in September.

After 25 years, Hampton University President William R. Harvey has decided to take his first extended leave of absence.

Harvey said he plans to leave for six to nine months starting in September. He said he will write about Hampton's success and how it relates to his 10-point leadership model. That model emphasizes vision, a work ethic, academic excellence, team building, innovation, courage, good management, fairness, fiscal conservatism and a focus on results.

William R. Harvey

He said he hopes those writings will serve as "a learning tool for other college administrators interested in a successful model to emulate.

"After 25 years, I thought it would be appropriate to stop and reflect on the great progress that has been made at Hampton," Harvey said in an interview. He said that he has no plans to make the sabbatical permanent. "I intend to return and stay for a while," Harvey said. "This is a sabbatical, not a retirement."

Harvey said that while writing will take up a large part of his sabbatical, which he will most likely spend both on campus and at a "writing retreat," he also plans on having fun.

"I'm going to relax, play a little golf," he said.

In Harvey's absence, the university provost, Dr. Joann Haysbert, will serve as acting president.

Since becoming Hampton president, Harvey has erected 17 new buildings, added 45 new academic programs and increased the university endowment from $29 million to its current total of more than $175 million. Enrollment has increased from 2,700 students to more than 6,000 on the Hampton, Va., campus.

Talia Buford is a sophomore print journalism student at Hampton University and associate editor of the Hampton Script.