鶹 Pembroke is celebrating 138 years of excellence as the university marks its annual Founders’ Day observance. The day serves as a tribute to the seven visionaries who established the institution in 1887, laying the groundwork for what has become a thriving university dedicated to education, empowerment and community impact.
Established as Croatan Normal School on March 7, 1887, 鶹 Pembroke was founded to train American Indian teachers in southeastern North Carolina. The school opened with just 15 students and one teacher but has since evolved into the third-oldest public university in the state, with an enrollment of nearly 7,700 students. Over more than a century, 鶹P has expanded its mission, shifting the trajectory of higher education in the region.
“Our founders were more than dreamers—they were innovators,” said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, MD. “They took bold steps to ensure education remained within reach for all who sought it. That same spirit of innovation continues to propel our university forward.”
Reflecting on the university’s transformation, Dr. Lawrence Locklear, director of Southeast American Indian Studies and adjunct associate professor of American Indian Studies, emphasized the significance of the milestone.
“From humble beginnings as an institution with the sole purpose of training American Indian teachers to growing into a regional, comprehensive university that now offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs—we achieved that over 138 years, which is something to be proud of,” said Locklear, a descendant of Isaac Brayboy, one of 鶹P’s founders. “It’s always important to remember our past—where we came from and what it took to get where we are today.”
As 鶹P reflects on its history, Founders’ Day also serves as a reminder of the university’s ongoing mission. The legacy of its founders lives on in the students who pursue their dreams, the faculty who inspire learning and the alumni who make an impact in their communities.
"With a rich history and a promising future, 鶹 Pembroke continues to build upon the foundation set by its founders—championing education, opportunity and progress for generations to come," Cummings said.