Dr. Melva Robertson Honored with the Drs. Charles L. Harper and Ann S. Cochran Award for Distinguished Achievement in Education
(December 11, 2025) - Dr. Melva Robertson, Assistant Professor of Management and Founding Director of the Center for Strategic Leadership Development at Clayton State University, was honored with the Drs. Charles L. Harper and Ann S. Cochran Award for Distinguished Achievement in Education during the Morris Brown College Foundation’s Tower of Strength Gala, held during the university’s Homecoming Week celebration.
Hosted at Savanna Hall at Zoo Atlanta, the gala recognized distinguished alums and community leaders whose professional excellence and service embody the enduring spirit of Morris Brown College. The annual event serves as a major fundraiser supporting scholarships and institutional advancement initiatives for the historic HBCU.
Dr. Robertson, a proud alumna of Morris Brown, was recognized for her leadership in higher education and her dedication to cultivating the next generation of values-driven leaders. At Clayton State University, she teaches in the College of Business and leads the newly launched Center for Strategic Leadership Development. She has also been honored as a past Teaching Professor of the Year for the College of Business and as the most recent recipient of the Alice J. Smith Faculty of the Year award.
“To be honored by my alma mater in this way is truly humbling,” said Dr. Robertson. “Morris Brown College shaped the foundation of who I am as a leader, communicator, and educator. To come home and be recognized for contributing to the same mission that inspired me as a student is an indescribable feeling.”
In addition to Dr. Robertson, the 2025 Tower of Strength Gala celebrated the following distinguished honorees:
- Greg Jackson: Andrew J. Young Chairman’s Award for Philanthropy & Community Impact
- Derrick Avery: Frank Glover Sr. Award for Distinguished Achievement in Athletics
- James “Jay” Bailey: Stewart Wiley / Wesley John Gaines President’s Leadership Award
- Arreanna Cromartie: Oscar Burnett Award for Distinguished Achievement in Business
- Corey Dunlap: S. Truett Cathy Entrepreneurial Award
- Reverend Frank Turner: Bishop Henry McNeal Turner Award for Distinguished Achievement in Religion
- Bryan Wilson: Dr. Ruth Hall Hodges Award for Distinguished Achievement in Art
This year’s gala theme, “Back to Our Roots: Harnessing the Power of Community,” celebrated Morris Brown College’s resilience and its long-standing legacy of producing leaders who empower communities.
Dr. Robertson’s recognition underscores her lifelong commitment to advancing education, fostering leadership development, and creating spaces where others can learn, lead, and thrive.
For more information about the Morris Brown College Foundation and the 2025 honorees, visit mbcfoundationinc.org/2025-gala-honorees.