Meet PVAMU’s new BCAS Development and Philanthropy Board Chairman

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Dec. 9, 2025) – Prairie View A&M University has long been a place where legacies are shaped and futures are claimed.

Within the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, generations of thinkers, builders, and visionaries have been molded on the same “Hill” that has anchored excellence for nearly 150 years. It is into this proud lineage, and this moment of rising momentum, that philanthropist and lecturer Carlos Wallace steps with purpose.

Before titles or appointments, Wallace is a man shaped by legacy. He is a fifth-generation railroader whose early lessons in discipline, ethics, and responsibility became the compass for every chapter of his life. He carries his East Texas roots with pride, often saying he is “just a good ole’ country boy from Jacksonville, Texas.” The proclamation is not out of modesty, but to honor the values and principles that raised him. Those values guided him through service as a Navy veteran, into entrepreneurship, and into roles where mentoring young men and women became a calling rather than an obligation. As a lecturer in PVAMU’s Department of Psychology, he has been a steady presence, offering students guidance on behavioral sciences, labor relations, cultural sustainability, and the complex intersections of technology and underserved communities.

His influence reaches far beyond the classroom. Wallace is a Pulitzer Prize–nominated, three-time best-selling author, a member of the inaugural “Google Next Gen” cohort, and a respected voice whose thought leadership informs policy conversations affecting communities that have historically been overlooked. Fair, balanced, and unwavering in principle, he centers his work on investing in the future (financially, academically, and socially), believing that leadership is measured not by what one accumulates but by what one contributes.

It is from this lived foundation that Wallace accepts the appointment extended by Interim Dean Walle Engedayehu to serve as Chairman of the Development and Philanthropy Board for the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences at Prairie View A&M University. For him, this role is not simply an honor; it is an opportunity to build on a legacy he respects and a mission he has long supported.

Dr. Walle Engedayehu, Dean of the Brailsford College of Arts & Sciences, recognizes that this bold new initiative will be driven by three extraordinary leaders whose impact is already felt across our community. “The launch of the Development and Philanthropy Board marks a transformative moment for the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences”, he says. “I am profoundly honored to have Mr. Carlos Wallace, along with Ms. Heather Bourne, a celebrated best-selling author, actress, dynamic public speaker, and faith leader, and Mr. Charles E. Williams Jr., a two-time Emmy Award–winning editor, producer, and media entrepreneur, serve as our inaugural leaders. Together, their collective vision and unwavering commitment embody the spirit of our mission; this initiative is not just about fundraising; it is about building a foundation of independence and sustainability that aligns with our strategic vision, WE INSPIRE 2035.”

In Wallace’s eyes, PVAMU is not simply progressing; it is ascending. He often notes that the University stands at a defining moment in its history, stepping firmly into national prominence as an R2 Doctoral University with High Research Activity, expanding its research footprint, and achieving record enrollment that reflects its growing influence. He views President Tomikia P. LeGrande’s Journey to Eminence not as a slogan but as a strategic blueprint, reshaping expectations for what excellence looks like among HBCUs and setting a new standard for institutions committed to cutting-edge research, bold innovation, and student success. To him, the momentum building on The Hill is far more than statistical progress. It is the groundwork for something lasting; a permanent legacy of strength, stability, and innovation that future generations will look back on as the turning point in PVAMU’s evolution.

That belief informs the urgency and purpose Wallace brings to his new role. He is deeply aware that Historically Black Colleges and Universities have always carried the dual weight of excellence and expectation. For him, the path forward for the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences must be rooted in self-sufficiency. While federal grants and traditional funding sources have value, he believes the long-term sustainability of the College depends on building internal strength—through alumni engagement, philanthropic support, strategic partnerships, and a willingness to invest boldly in students, faculty, research, and the programs that define the academic experience.

Wallace often says that giving is not an act of charity. It is an act of building. In his view, every contribution creates opportunity for students who deserve a chance, funds research that can change lives, establishes scholarships that remove barriers, and strengthens programs across disciplines ranging from mathematics to military sciences. Every dollar invested in PVAMU remains in its ecosystem, multiplying its value and protecting a legacy that began nearly 150 years ago.

He believes this moment is not one to wait for permission. It is a moment to claim the future with intention, pride, and a deep sense of collective responsibility. Under his leadership, the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences is positioned to remain a beacon of strength, perseverance, and self-reliance—an enduring testament to what can be accomplished when purpose meets action and legacy meets leadership.

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