12/24/2025
Tuskegee Wesley Foundation Purchases Property for Future Ministry
December 16, 2025

(Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig) - The Tuskegee University Wesley Foundation is proudly entering a new chapter in its story. The TU Wesley Foundation has recently purchased property to house its ministry, a permanent home that promises to deepen the impact of spiritual formation, fellowship, and service on campus and throughout the surrounding community. This achievement follows a renewed commitment to United Methodist campus ministries made by Alabama West-Florida’s resident bishop, Bishop Jonathan Holston. He reflects, “It is indeed a joyful occasion to celebrate milestones like what TU Wesley has achieved!” He continued, “Revitalizing campus ministries and expanding our United Methodist impact on college campuses across the Alabama Panhandle Episcopal Area is a top priority. I am so proud that Alabama West-Florida is the home of such a prestigious HBCU and am confident that the TU Wesley Foundation will flourish in this new chapter of their ministry.”
This development aligns beautifully with the larger story of Tuskegee University itself. Founded on July 4, 1881, as the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers, the future Tuskegee University was born with Booker T. Washington serving as their first faculty member. Early students built the legacy that has become TU with their own hands as they formed bricks, constructed buildings, and developed farmland. Under Washington’s leadership, students learned practical skills, dignity in labor, and the belief that education and self-reliance foster community progress. Tuskegee later became home to the famed Tuskegee Airmen, whose courage and excellence reshaped the history of military aviation and Civil Rights in the United States.
Over the decades, the university has expanded its academic offerings, launched doctoral programs, and cultivated nationally respected engineering, veterinary medicine, and business curricula. It became the only Historically Black College or University in the nation with an accredited College of Veterinary Medicine and remains a leading producer of aerospace engineers. Tuskegee University has nurtured and produced some of the most distinguished alumni in American history. Its alumni include figures whose influence spans science, agriculture, the arts, military leadership, invention, civil rights, and popular culture.
George Washington Carver transformed agriculture through his research and educational outreach. General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. became the first African American four-star general in the United States military. Lionel Richie, Grammy winning performer and songwriter, continues a strong relationship with his beloved TU, even maintaining a residence near TU’s campus. Alice Coachman, the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal, is also among the alumni of TU. Amelia Boynton Robinson stood at the forefront of the civil rights movement, paving the way for the Voting Rights Act. Lonnie Johnson reshaped the world of engineering and invention. Tom Joyner became a legendary voice in American radio. These leaders represent the character and history of an institution that has shaped generations.
This rich heritage of academic achievement, community uplift, innovation, and social change provides a powerful backdrop for the growing role of the Wesley Foundation at Tuskegee University. The Wesley Foundation serves as the campus ministry for United Methodist students and the broader university community. Over the years it has offered a place for worship, connection, mutual support, community service, and personal development. The move to purchase property marks a milestone in what has already been meaningful work supporting students in their spiritual, social, and personal lives. This milestone cannot be separated from the larger narrative of Tuskegee University itself, a story defined by resilience, innovation, and excellence.
The significance of this new chapter is expressed by board member Rev. Dr. Kitsy Dixon, who said, “TU Wesley adds to the rich and interwoven history of resilience and success in Tuskegee. Having Dr. Stevenson lead this ministry speaks volumes about the endless opportunities before us to nurture both the college and the wider community through ongoing spiritual development and spaces where students can seek God safely and assuredly. I am truly blessed to be part of TU Wesley’s unfolding history and to serve alongside this dedicated board.” Chair of the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, Rev. Jenni Hendrix, shared her excitement, “The Tuskegee Wesley Board has been working for years to find a building to serve their Wesley Foundation. It is a joy to celebrate with them and for the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry to be able to financially contribute to the purchase. This will allow them to have a place for the students to identify as their own for years to come. We look forward to how God will use this!”
Former Wesley Foundation Director and current Southwest District Superintendent, Rev. Sheila Bates also reflected on the emotional and spiritual meaning of the moment. She shared, “As a former Wesley Director, my heart is so full. The Wesley students finally have a place to call their own. A space to grow, to worship, to gather in community. What a gift to witness this milestone. I am reminded that seeds planted in faith do bear fruit. What a blessing for this generation and the ones yet to come.”
Current director, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Miles Stevenson, expressed hope and gratitude as she looks toward the future. She said, “This is an exciting time for us. We are growing and the acquisition of this property will give our students space for worship, fellowship, and connection with the community. Because it is in direct proximity to Bowen United Methodist, I believe it will serve as a conduit for our students and church members to share intergenerational wisdom and ideas that will prove beneficial for all. I am grateful to the work our board members have done as well as assistance received from the AWF United Methodist Foundation, BHECM, and the Southeast District Trustees that have made this possible. We look forward to what God has in store for TU Wesley in 2026 and beyond!”
Just as early Tuskegee students built structures and farmland with their own hands, today’s Wesley students will now have a dedicated space where faith, community, service, and leadership can grow. With ownership of a property, the TU Wesley Foundation can plan for the long term. Regular worship services, small group Bible studies, community outreach, fellowship opportunities, mentorship, and intergenerational programming with local churches and organizations will become far more sustainable. Their proximity to Bowen UMC creates opportunities for students and community members to share history, faith, and witness across generations.
For students, alumni, donors, and supporters, this new ministry home represents both a beautiful history and endless potential for the future, a structural representation of mission, hope, and belonging. For both the church and the larger Tuskegee community, it is a bridge connecting campus life with community life in meaningful and transformative ways. The TU Wesley Foundation stands ready to be a faithful partner in shaping lives, strengthening communities, and carrying forward the resilient legacy of Tuskegee University.
This remarkable achievement was made possible by the generous spirit and cooperation of the United Methodist connection. Through shared vision, faithful support, and collaborative commitment from Bishop Jonathan Holston, the Alabama-West Florida Foundation, AWF Board of Trustees, local churches, and AWF’s Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, the Wesley Foundation at Tuskegee is poised to flourish. With gratitude and anticipation, the community celebrates that this new space is more than a building. It is a home for ministry, growth, and faith for generations to come.
