Luns C. Richardson, PhD

Luns C. Richardson, PhD, native of Hartsville, is a prominent educator whose distinctive career has been marked by intensive preparation and study. Graduating from Butler High School, Hartsville, as Valedictorian of his class, he graduated magna cum laude from Benedict College and received a master’s degree in higher education administration from Teachers College of Columbia University.

Richardson served 15 years at the South Carolina Area Trade School (now Denmark Technical College), Denmark, in several academic and student personnel positions; two years as Principal of St. Helena High School, Frogmore; and one year (1967-68) as Principal of Wilson High School, Florence. He served as Coordinator of the College Education Achievement Project (CEAP) at Benedict College and Allen University jointly. At Benedict College, Richardson worked (successively) as Director of Basic Studies, Associate Dean of Faculty, Director of the Institutional Self-Study for reaffirmation of accreditation, Dean of Admissions and Records and acting President. Leaving Benedict, he served one year as Executive Vice President at Voorhees College.

In 1974, Richardson was elected ninth president of Morris College. His educational, managerial and administrative experiences have given the college greater academic recognition and distinction. The college has completed three successful ten-year reaffirmation of accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has earned specialized accreditation of three academic programs. Richardson has expanded the academic program, added an Army ROTC Unit, and advanced the technological development, as well as increasing the enrollment and financial support. The endowment has grown from $30,000 to exceed $8 million. New and renovated facilities have made excellent improvements to the campus.

Richardson holds memberships in and renders active service to numerous educational, fraternal, religious, social and community organizations: Life Member and Golden Heritage Member of the NAACP and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a member of the Executive Council; and Board of Directors of the UNCF. Richardson is also the recipient of several honorary degrees and numerous awards including the Order of the Palmetto and the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame. Both Benedict College and Teachers College have named him Outstanding Alumnus. Richardson has served as the pastor of Thankful Baptist Church, Bamberg, since 1958.