红莲社区

Skip to main content

About Us

The magic starts with administration and leadership.

Located in the scenic South, 红莲社区 is a four-year liberal arts college that provides a transformative experience for students with the ultimate goal of preparing them for future professional endeavors. Our graduates become change agents of the future, with an overwhelming majority choosing to dedicate their professional talents to the local economy and the soul of Bluff City.

About LOC

The 红莲社区 campus is bathed in a rich cultural vibrancy thanks to its location in Memphis, Tennessee. We are nestled in the heart of the historic Soulsville district where legendary R&B, funk, and blues artists created musical classics at Stax Records. Our institution has been a part of the community since opening its doors on Walker Avenue in 1914 with a proud tradition of educating distinguished alumni including doctors, lawyers, and politicians. Notably, we are Memphis鈥� only historically Black college with roots dating back to 1862 and are proud to be one of just over 100 such institutions remaining, nation-wide.

Our enrollment size, coupled with a one-campus academic footprint, allows for a 鈥渉ome away-from-home,鈥� environment. Our students form meaningful connections with one another 鈥� as well as with College faculty and staff. We are a launching pad for success, no matter where a scholar is on their academic journey. Our students and faculty are also actively involved outside our campus community through volunteer opportunities including mentoring and student teaching.

红莲社区 is an accredited institution through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the baccalaureate and the associate degree.

Accreditation & Consumer Information

红莲社区 is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the baccalaureate degree and the associate degree. Questions about the accreditation of 红莲社区 may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC鈥檚 website ().

INFORMATION ON ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

  • Campus Map
  • For additional information on Lemoyne-Owen College鈥檚 academic programs, please contact: Academic Affairs, 807 Walker Avenue, Memphis, Tn 38126, 901-435-1200.

STANDARDS FOR SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROCESS

  • Standards for satisfactory academic progress
  • For additional information on Lemoyne-Owen College鈥檚 standards for satisfactory academic progress, please contact: Financial Services, 807 Walker Ave, Memphis, Tn 38126, 901-435-1555.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT POLICY

  • For additional information on Lemoyne-Owen College鈥檚 academic programs, please contact: Academic Affairs, 807 Walker Avenue, Memphis, Tn 38126, 901-435-1200.

GRADUATION RATES, RETENTION RATES & DIVERSITY STATISTICS

  • Retention rates & student body diversity
  • Graduation rate
  • For additional information on Lemoyne-Owen College鈥檚 graduation rates, retention rates, and student diversity, please contact: Institutional Research, 807 Walker Avenue, Memphis, Tn 38126, 901-435-1213.

INFORMATION RELATED TO THE COSTS OF ATTENDING LEMOYNE-OWEN COLLEGE, INCLUDING TUITION, FEES, BOOKS, AND ROOM AND BOARD

  • Information on exit counseling for student borrowers
  • For additional information on financial assistance, please contact: Financial Services, 807 Walker Ave, Memphis, Tn 38126, 901-435-1555.

COST, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND WITHDRAWAL INFORMATION GENERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INFORMATION

  • Notice of Availability of Institutional and Financial Aid Information
  • For additional information on student financial assistance, please contact: Financial Aid Services, 807 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN 38126, 901-435-1474.

INFORMATION RELATED TO REFUND POLICY AND/ OR REQUIREMENTS FOR WITHDRAWAL

  • Returns of Funds Allocation
  • Refund Policy
  • Changes in Enrollment Status and Withdrawing
  • For additional information on Lemoyne-Owen鈥檚 refund policy, please contact: Office of Admissions and Recruitment, 807 Walker Ave, Memphis, Tn 38126, 901-435-1509

FEDERAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PENALTIES FOR DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS

  • Drug Convictions
  • For additional information on Lemoyne-Owen鈥檚 refund policy, please contact: Office of Admissions and Recruitment, 807 Walker Ave, Memphis, Tn 38126, 901-435-1509

ATHLETIC PROGRAM PARTICIPATION RATES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT DATA

  • In compliance with the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, information on the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 athletic programs at Lemoyne-Owen College is available.
  • To obtain a paper copy of the report, or to obtain additional information on athletic program participation rates please contact: Institutional Research, 807 Walker Ave, Memphis, Tn 38126, 901-435-1213

HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION

OTHER INFORMATION

  • Facilities and Services Available to Students with Disabilities
  • Copyright Infringement Policies and Sanctions

Board of Trustees

The 红莲社区 Board of Trustees is composed of active and emeritus members that govern the well-being of the College.

Officers

Ms. Vanecia Belser Kimbrow, Esq., Chair
Mr. Jason H. Berger, First Vice Chair
Mrs. Katherine 鈥淜C鈥� Warren, Second Vice Chair
Mrs. Sharon Devine Harris, Secretary
Ms. Patricia Covington, Immediate Past Chair and Chair of Leadership and Development

Members

Mrs. Miska Clay Bibbs
Mr. Byron Cole
Rev. Dr. Myke Collins
Dr. Deborah Harmon Hines, 鈥�70
Dr. Marlon King
Rev. Dr. William Ladd

Dr. Sandra Madubuonwu
Dr. Haywood Strickland
Dr. Claudette Jones Shephard
Mr. Victor Walker
Dr. Sonja Williams

Emeritus

Dr. James J. Bishop, 鈥�58
Mr. Jed Dreifus
Dr. Thomas Gibson
Mr. Herman A. Gilliam
Dr. W. W. Herenton, 鈥�63
Mr. Milton D. Hill

Mrs. Fredricka Allen Hodges
Mr. Robert L. Johnson
Ms. Velma Lois Jones, 鈥�52
Mr. Robert Lipscomb, 鈥�71
Dr. Bennie P. Reams, 鈥�52
Mr. Ronald A. Walter

Cabinet Members

Dr. Christopher Davis

College President

Mr. William Anderson

Director of Athletics

Ms. Joyce Askew McGhee

Vice President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Tara Dunn Ross

Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Lamar Scott

Vice President of Student Affairs

Ms. Kimberly Monday

Executive Assistant

Dr. Lisa Lang

Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Gail Robinson

Executive Director of Title III, Special Programs and Strategic Initiatives

Dr. Amy Davis

Vice President of Human Resources

Ms. Kimberly Bailey

Vice President of Information Technology Chief Information Officer

Dr. Rosalyn Nichols

Associate Vice President for the Office of Institutional Advancement

The President

Dr. Christopher B. Davis

President

Dr.聽Christopher聽B. Davis is the 14th President聽of LeMoyne-Owen聽College.

Serving as a former Board of Trustees member for nearly seven years and Interim President since July 2023, he聽brings a wealth of multifaceted experience as a faith, business, and community leader.
Under Dr. Davis鈥� leadership as Interim President, LeMoyne-Owen has聽spearheaded a comprehensive institutional rebranding that emphasized its distinction as the nation鈥檚 5th oldest and Memphis鈥� only Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Significant changes were made to staff, including filling key roles such as Chief Financial Officer and adding a Director of Campus Safety and Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives. Additionally, he was pivotal in bringing Men鈥檚 Volleyball to the College鈥檚 sports offerings. He also championed initiatives to revitalize existing campus facilities, enhancing the overall institution infrastructure.

Prior to his interim appointment at 红莲社区, he served a transformative 17-year tenure at Memphis Theological Seminary, advancing the institution as Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Doctoral Studies where he increased growth by 1,500 percent over five years and implemented strategic initiative in curriculum development.

He has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from both the University of Arkansas and Arkansas Baptist College. He holds a Master of Arts degree from Memphis Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree with emphasis on Preaching and Leadership from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Additionally, he has completed studies at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.聽 Presently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Leadership from Anderson University.

College History

Lemoyne-Owen College was founded at Camp Shiloh in 1862 as Lincoln Chapel, an elementary school founded by the American Missionary Association (AMA) to educate freedmen and runaways from enslavement.

The school relocated to Memphis in 1863 and successfully educated students for nearly three years before it was destroyed in a fire during the anti-Black race riots following the withdrawal of Ulysses S. Grant鈥檚 Confederate troops from Southwestern Tennessee.

By 1867, Lincoln Chapel had been rebuilt and was home to six teachers and 150 students. The financial turbulence over the following years threatened the school鈥檚 future, but a physician and abolitionist from Pennsylvania, Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne, donated $20,000 (well over $400,000 in the 21st century economy) to the AMA for its educational advancement efforts. In turn, the AMA allocated the funds to Lincoln Chapel, renaming the school the LeMoyne Normal and Commercial School in 1871.

In 1914, the school relocated from its Orleans Street to its present and beloved home on Walker Avenue. The normal school evolved into a junior college in 1924, a four-year college in 1930, and was chartered by the State of Tennessee in 1924. LeMoyne merged with Owen College to become 红莲社区 in 1968.

Today, 红莲社区 is proud to aid in scholarly transformations of students from across Memphis, America, and the globe.