Henry Givens Jr. to Step Down as President of Harris-Stowe State University

After serving 32 years as president of Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Henry Givens Jr. has announced that he will retire when someone is chosen to replace him. Dr. Givens grew up in St. Louis. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University in Jefferson City and holds a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and a doctorate from Saint Louis University.

President Givens began his career in the public schools serving as a principal and assistant superintendent in the Webster Groves School District. Later, he was the first African American to serve as assistant commissioner of education for the state of Missouri. He became president of Harris-Stowe in 1979.

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