Last week, @PVAMU officially installed the 33rd "Bench by the Road" in the nation. The Toni Morrison Society designated the "Bench by the Road" program as a way of paying homage to those important moments or people in our history who may have been overlooked due to the absence of historical markers that help remember the lives of Africans who were enslaved. And so, this bench is symbolic of our strong legacy...PVAMU was founded in 1876 on a 1,388-acre plot of land that was the Alta Vista plantation by two giants in our history - Senator Matthew Gaines and Senator William Holland - both born enslaved but gifted with the insight of understanding that true freedom is only obtainable when we are given the opportunity and access to educate ourselves.  These nearly 1400 acres of land that once served as a place designed for degradation and robbed individuals of humanity is now a transformational educational oasis that has freed the minds of over 80,000 PVAMU alumni! As I sat on the bench, my hope was that just as Mr. Gaines and Mr. Holland sowed the seeds that would grow into PVAMU, we all continue to plant transformational seeds to take our work to the next level, even amid adversity and challenge. I extend my sincerest gratitude to the Toni Morrison Writing Program leadership and staff for their dedication and hard work in ensuring that PVAMU realized this great honor. Excellence lives at PVAMU.  It always has.  It always will.