Cheyney University was founded on April 19, 1837. Originally called the African Institute, it’s the oldest African-American institution of higher learning in the country.
The university’s establishment was made possible by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who donated $10,000 – one-tenth of his estate – to create a school for individuals of African descent.
Cheyney University has produced an impressive roster of alumni, including the late Ed Bradley, a renowned television journalist for 60 Minutes; Bayard Rustin, a prominent civil rights leader; and Robert Bogle, the president and CEO of the Philadelphia Tribune.
The university offers degrees in more than 30 disciplines and a master’s degree in education, and also boasts one of the most respected men’s and women’s basketball programs in NCAA Division II history.
