Dr. Willie L. Todd, Jr. is the 22nd President of Talladega College, a historic liberal arts institution founded in 1867 and located in Talladega, Alabama. A nationally respected higher education leader with more than 33 years of experience, President Todd has dedicated his career to advancing access, excellence, and opportunity within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Prior to his appointment at Talladega College, Dr. Todd served as President and CEO of Denmark Technical College in South Carolina, where he led a nationally recognized institutional turnaround. His leadership was marked by strategic vision, fiscal stabilization, strengthened academic programs, and a renewed focus on student success. Throughout his presidency, he cultivated a culture grounded in accountability, compassion, and innovation—expanding student leadership while building a campus-wide ethos of care and belonging.
Driven by a deep passion for the mission of HBCUs, President Todd is now leading Talladega College through a bold era of transformation anchored in his guiding framework, “Reimagining Liberal Arts Education.” His vision emphasizes student-centered learning, experiential education, innovation, and institutional sustainability—while honoring Talladega’s historic legacy as the “Alpha Lyrae Vega” among institutions of higher learning.
President Todd’s distinguished leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including being named CEO/President of the Year by the South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners, a “Shining Star” Award from the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs, and the Diamond Award for excellence in education, leadership, philanthropy, humanitarianism, and community engagement from the Not Alone Foundation and the Academy of the Diamond. He also served as President of the Presidents’ Council for the South Carolina Technical College System during 2023–2024, becoming the first Denmark Technical College president to hold that position.
His prior leadership roles include serving as president and also as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs at Denmark Technical College; Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Wiley University; Vice Provost and also Associate Vice Provost at Norfolk State University, and various roles at Clark Atlanta University.
A committed servant-leader beyond the academy, President Todd is an active member of the Presidents’ Roundtable of African American CEOs, the HBCU Learning Ecosystem, 100 Black Men of America, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., where is he a regional and national Life member. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board for Talladega County and also a member of the Presidents’ Advisory Board for the National HBCU Title III Administrators.
A native of West Point, Georgia, and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Dr. Todd holds a Ph.D. in English from Georgia State University, a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Regent University, and both a Master of Education in English Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Albany State University. He is the proud father of two daughters, Tatia and Jessica.
President Todd continues to lead his life and work grounded in faith and purpose, guided by two principles he first penned in his senior yearbook and still lives by today:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and
“The intention is not to see through one another, but to see one another through.”
