The Enduring Legacy of Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson

This year, 2025, Virginia Union University will open the doors of the Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson Graduate Center of Virginia Union University. It will be the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) with a formal presence in the state of New York. The Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson Graduate Center will occupy over 19,000 square feet within the Urban Empowerment Center, the National Urban League's new headquarters, in Harlem, New York.  

A Historic Institution in a Historic Location

The Center brings a 160-year-old institution dedicated to the advancement of African Americans to a location that uniquely represents the richness of the Black experience.

Graduate Programs of Study

The Graduate Center will offer individuals the opportunity to enroll in any of Virginia Union's graduate programs, including the following:

• Executive MBA​

• Masters of Public Health​

• Masters of Science in Biology​

• Masters of Science in ​Data Analytics​

• Masters of Social Work

• Master of Arts in Curriculum Education

• Master of Arts in Political Science

• Master of Science in Criminal Justice

• Master of Science in Hospitality Management

• Masters of Divinity

Students who complete any one of Virginia Union's graduate degree programs will enter their profession with the confidence, expertise, and resiliency that is a hallmark of an HBCU education. 

More Than Just Graduate Programming

The Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson Graduate Center of Virginia Union University will leverage its location to enhance the experience of students and the community.  Rotating lecture series, community workshops, and annual symposiums open to the public are among the examples of how this historic Graduate Center will bring the classroom to life and add value to the community.

There has never been an HBCU presence in New York.  Through Virgnia Union University's Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson Graduate Center, Harlem will have a new institution dedicated to providing individuals the opportunity to improve their lives.