By Dr. Joan Singley Schrysen
From his earliest years Dr. Hi-ram Powell, Interim President of Bethune Cookman University (BCU) in Daytona Beach FL, and his four siblings watched their mother live out her faith. Growing up in Overtown in Miami they didn’t always know if there would be food or if the power or water would be on or off. Church people, aware of the situation, would bring her things, a bucket of fish or some groceries. The first thing she would do was decide who had a greater need and divide the goods up, dispatch-ing the children to deliver the packages. The children thought, “NOOO, we need that,” but wisely kept their dismay to themselves. She never worried but would gather the children around her bed and pray. Invariably, no matter how much she gave away, more came.
To this day, Powell keeps a Bi-ble and study books on his nightstand. First thing in the morning, before he gets up, he reads, meditates and prays. “So, I start the day suited up with spiritual ar-mor and that becomes the foundation for my day.”
As his mother redirected the food, the Lord seems to have redirected Powell repeatedly. In seventh grade, as a student in the science program for gifted students, he planned to be a medical doc-tor. During an enrichment cycle, he was introduced to band. “Music took hold of me like nothing ever had!” To the dis-may of his science teachers he opted out of the gifted program and chose music. By graduation he played numerous in-struments: oboe, bassoon, flute, clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet.
After high school, Powell planned to attend the University of Mi-ami until BCU recruiters persuaded him to come to Daytona, a fortunate interven-tion because the whole centerpiece of BCU is faith. “It allowed me to retain my Christian upbringing, a large part of the success I’ve had.”
Powell had no idea of going into education. His intention was to be a per-former until a wise counselor suggested he think about music education, insuring a steady paycheck. Following this ad-vice, he discovered he loved it. After three years teaching in a small town high school, he returned to BCU as Assistant Band Director and has never left. In the ensuing 40 years he has served in numer-ous roles from Head Band Director to Provost including Dean of several de-partments.
Although Powell’s mother was his first faith model, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune joined her in that role. Since joining BCU, he has kept Dr. Bethune’s picture in his office next to a copy of her last will and testament. Over the years he has visited her gravesite on campus to pray and talk to her. Following his appointment as president he made another visit and told her, “You know we’ve been through a lot, but I promise you we’re going to move your institution forward.” He tells everyone, “I intend to keep that promise.”
DR. HIRAM POWELL and his wife Gloria have been married 41 years. They have one adult daughter Brittany.