PVAMU COMMEMORATES 135TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SECOND MORRILL ACT

Prairie View A&M University scholars are available to provide expert insight on historic legislation and its ongoing impact.

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas, Sept. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prairie View A&M University marks the 135^th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890, landmark legislation that required states to establish land-grant institutions for Black students. The Act led directly to the designation of Prairie View A&M and 18 other historically Black colleges and universities as land-grant institutions, forever shaping the landscape of higher education.

PVAMU commemorates this occasion by offering expert analysis and commentary from distinguished faculty who can speak to the history, significance, and continuing influence of the Act. This effort is part of an ongoing oral history project to preserve perspectives from an institution that has benefitted profoundly from the legislation.

Available Experts Include:

• Dr. Melanye Price — Has expertise in Political Science, African American Studies, and Race and Justice. She also serves as co-chair of the prestigious Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice. Dr. Price can address the Morrill Act's significance within broader struggles for access, justice, and equity in higher education.
• Dr. Marco Robinson — A historian specializing in African American and Texas history, Dr. Robinson can
• contextualize the 1890 Act's passage and PVAMU's role in shaping opportunities for generations of students.
• Dr. Bequita Pegram — Has expertise in African American History (Cultural Heritage, Civil Rights, and Community Preservation) and U.S. History (Social, Cultural, and Educational Developments). Dr. Pegram can speak to how these legacies inform community identity, historical preservation, and the continuing struggle for educational equity.
• Dr. Tiffany Thomas — An expert in urban planning and public policy, Dr. Thomas can connect the Morrill Act's emphasis on access to the ongoing need for inclusive educational policy and community development.

Why This Matters:
The Second Morrill Act helped expand the promise of higher education to African Americans at a time when opportunities were systematically denied. Today, PVAMU fulfills the land-grant mission of teaching, research, and Extension.

To schedule an interview with our faculty experts or to learn more about the significance of the Second Morrill Act at Prairie View A&M University, please contact:

Liz Faublas-Wallace, Communications Professional
936-261-1562 | [email protected]

Candace Johnson, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
936-261-1566 | [email protected]

Office for Marketing and Communications
936-261-1560 | pvamu.edu/marcomm

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PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY, founded in 1876, is the second oldest public institution of higher education in the state of Texas and the third largest Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in the nation. Designated as an "institution of the first class" in the Texas Constitution, the enrollment exceeds 9,000 students and over 80,000 graduates. PVAMU offers academic programs through its ten colleges, Undergraduate Studies and School of Architecture, boasting degree options leading to bachelor's to doctoral-level degrees. A Carnegie-classified high-research (R2) University and a member of The Texas A&M University System, PVAMU is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service. For more information, visit www.pvamu.edu.

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SOURCE PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY