David H. Swinton, president of Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, announced that he will step down from his post on June 30, 2017. Dr. Swinton will have served as president of the historically Black educational institution for 23 years, the longest-serving president in the college’s history. Upon his retirement, he will hold the title of president emeritus of Benedict College.
A native of New Haven, Connecticut, President Swinton attended high school in New York City. He is a graduate of New York University, where he majored in economics. Dr. Swinton went on to earn a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in economics at Harvard University.
Before becoming president of Benedict College in 1994, Dr. Swinton was dean of the School of Business at Jackson State University in Mississippi. Earlier, he was director of the Southern Center of Studies in Public Policy and a professor of economics at what is now Clark Atlanta University.
