Lincoln University, PA - March 31, 2025 - Lincoln University is proud to announce the distinguished honorees for the 2025 Commencement. These individuals have excelled in areas of arts and sciences, and have championed the advancement of equitable education and social justice, and inspired us with their commitment to leadership and community service. In addition to Governor Wes Moore, the following recipients will be honored: Vincent O. Carter (B.S. '50), Edmund Wyatt Gordon, Myrtle Potter, Dr. Donald Julian Reaves and Rev. Dr. Ethelyn R. Taylor. Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of our honorees on May 4, 2025 at 11:00am on the campus of Lincoln University.
Vincent O. Carter (B.S. ‘50)
Vincent O. Carter, a 1950 graduate of Lincoln University with a degree in English, was an author, artist, and spiritual seeker whose life was shaped by intellectual curiosity, creative expression, and resilience. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Carter graduated from Lincoln High School before being drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served in France. His military experience broadened his worldview and influenced his later works.
During his time at Lincoln University, he was deeply involved in campus life, serving as editor of The Lincolnian, the student newspaper, and participating in the Glee Club, Drama Club, and Philosophy Club. As described by his peers in the yearbook, Carter was “not of this world... ever in the world of becoming rather than the world of being.”
Carter’s continuous pursuit of intellectual and personal growth led him to Bern, Switzerland where his artistic and literary talents and spiritual practice as a Buddhist flourished. While in Switzerland, Carter wrote and would later publish The Bern Book, an autobiographical narrative about a Black foreigner living in Switzerland, and Such Sweet Thunder, a story of a boy growing up in segregated Kansas City in the 1920s and 1930s.
Carter’s life was marked by his pursuit of authenticity and creative freedom. His decision to move to Switzerland, his literary achievements, and his exploration of visual arts stand as a testament to his resilience and courage in seeking a life true to himself.
Edmund Wyatt Gordon
Edmund Wyatt Gordon is a distinguished American psychologist and educator renowned for his extensive contributions to educational psychology and the advancement of African-American studies.
A graduate of Howard University, Gordon continued his studies at American University earning a Master of Arts in Social Psychology, and later achieved a Doctor of Education in Child Development and Guidance from Teachers College, Columbia University. Influenced by mentors such as Alain LeRoy Locke, Herbert G. Birch, and W. E. B. Du Bois, Gordon's scholarly work focused on the academic development of African-American and minority students, emphasizing concepts such as the "Achievement Gap," "Affirmative Development of Academic Ability," and "Supplementary Education." He has authored over 200 articles and 18 books, contributing significantly to the discourse on educational equity and the importance of addressing diverse human characteristics in pedagogy.
Gordon's career has been marked by significant roles in academia and public service. He served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Interim Dean at Teachers College, Columbia University, and held esteemed positions at institutions including Yale University, where he was the John M. Musser Professor of Psychology Emeritus, and the City College of New York, where he founded the Institute for Urban and Minority Education. In the 1960s, he played a pivotal role in evaluating the Head Start program, aiming to enhance early childhood education for disadvantaged communities. Gordon received numerous honors for his contributions to academia including the American Educational Research Association's Relating Research to Practice Award 2010, John Hope Franklin Award 2011 from Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine. He was also elected a 2017 Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Gordon’s professional and personal life achievements reflect a life long commitment to community and family. In 1967, Gordon purchased the childhood homesite of W. E. B. Du Bois, turning it into a landmark to honor the legacy of the esteemed scholar. In 2000, he and his wife, Susan Gitt, co-founded The CEJJES Institute in Pomona, New York, dedicated to serving the African diaspora.
Myrtle Potter
Myrtle Potter is a highly accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with over nearly four decades of transformative leadership in the global healthcare sector. Known for her visionary approach to business, she has advanced diversity in the corporate world by championing the inclusion and advancement of people of color and women in the C-suite and board roles. Potter is the sole inventor of three U.S. patents for computational analytics in healthcare and has been a pioneer in reimagining drug development methods and enhanced patient care, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
After graduating from The University of Chicago, Potter began a successful career in the healthcare industry where she held key leadership positions at prominent healthcare companies, including Sumitovant Biopharma, Roivant Sciences, Genentech, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. At Genentech, she played an integral role in launching seven breakthrough medicines, including Avastin™ and Xolair™. She also led the commercialization of multi-billion-dollar drugs at Bristol-Myers Squibb. As founder and owner of Myrtle Potter & Company, a global healthcare advisory firm, she has earned a reputation for guiding companies through successful business turnarounds and growth strategies.
Potter’s business and healthcare leadership has been hailed by some of America’s most influential business publications including BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal, FORTUNE Magazine, TIME Magazine, Forbes, Fast Company and Harvard Business Review. She was named by Savoy magazine one of its Most Influential CEOs and Board Directors and by Black Enterprise as a Woman of Legacy. In addition, Potter was named to FORTUNE Magazine’s list of Most Powerful Women in Business on three separate occasions and the 50 Most Powerful Black Americans in Business.
In addition to her business achievements, Potter is a dedicated philanthropist and advocate for health equity. She serves on multiple corporate boards, including Liberty Mutual and Guardant Health, and is a trustee of The University of Chicago.
Dr. Donald Julian Reaves
Dr. Donald Julian Reaves is a distinguished leader in higher education and finance, known for his transformative impact on universities and commitment to financial stewardship. Dr. Reaves holds a doctorate in political science from Kent State University, where he also earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees. His academic background has provided a strong foundation in public policy, governance, and institutional leadership, all of which have informed his successful career in academia.
With a career spanning several decades, Dr. Reaves has held prominent roles in academia and public service, demonstrating a commitment to institutional excellence and student success. Dr. Reaves served as the Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) from 2007 to 2014, where he implemented key reforms that significantly enhanced the university’s financial health, academic offerings, and student experience. His tenure was marked by a focus on strategic planning, operational efficiency, and fundraising, which positioned WSSU for long-term growth and success. Prior to WSSU, Dr. Reaves held senior financial leadership roles as the Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Chicago and as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Brown University, where he guided institutional planning to ensure fiscal sustainability.
Throughout his career, Dr. Reaves has been recognized for his visionary leadership and ability to navigate financial challenges while fostering academic excellence. His contributions to higher education continue to inspire future leaders committed to institutional advancement and student achievement.
Rev. Dr. Ethelyn R. Taylor
Rev. Dr. Ethelyn R. Taylor has a distinguished career in education, ministry, and community service. After graduating from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, in 1951, Rev. Dr. Taylor studied at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music as a piano major before matriculating to Lincoln University on a Senatorial Scholarship. She was one of three female students on campus and worked alongside prominent figures such as Dean McRae and Dr. Horace Mann Bond. After her husband, Herbert Taylor, graduated from Lincoln University Seminary, they moved to Washington, D. C. where she continued her studies at Howard University while working at the School of Medicine for six years. In 1959, Rev. Dr. Taylor and her husband moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where she pursued ministry at the Pleasant Hill Reformed Church and earned her Bachelor’s degree in education from Calvin College.
Rev. Dr. Taylor’s ministry and educational career continued in Philadelphia, where she served as an organist and choir director at Reeve Memorial Presbyterian Church for fifteen years. While teaching elementary in the Philadelphia public school system, Rev. Dr. Taylor furthered her graduate studies at Temple University and University of Pennsylvania. She also taught part-time at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Education where she trained and prepared students for careers in public education. After retiring from education, Rev. Dr. Taylor pursued her theological studies at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary where she earned a Master of Divinity degree. She was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, USA in 1994, marking a significant milestone in her pastoral career.
Throughout her life, Rev. Dr. Taylor has been deeply involved in her community and the Presbyterian Church. For sixty-nine years, she has served in various capacities of the church: Elder, Deacon, Director of Christian Education; Music and Worship Leader; Youth Director; Workshop leader for the Presbytery of Philadelphia; Director of Summer Cultural Enrichment and Tutoring Programs. Rev. Dr. Taylor has also held significant positions within the Presbytery of Philadelphia and the National Black Caucus of the Presbyterian Church. She has trained over eighteen seminarians for ministry and contributed to many committees and initiatives. In recognition of her contributions, Rev. Dr. Taylor received the "Distinguished Daughters" Alumni award from Philadelphia High School for Girls and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Eastern University/Palmer Seminary.
Since retiring from active ministry in 2023, Rev. Dr. Taylor remains an active member of various community organizations. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Phi Delta Kappa, University of Pennsylvania. She is also an active member in many community organizations.
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About Lincoln University
Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU), educates and empowers students to lead their communities and change the world. Lincoln offers a rigorous liberal arts education to a diverse student body of approximately 1,800 men and women in more than 34 undergraduate and graduate programs.