Michigan's Only HBCU, Lewis College of Business, Set to Reopen in March

By Paige Boyd, Managing Editor

Almost a decade since closing its doors, Michigan's only HBCU (Historically Black College/University) is set to reopen this year.

MLive reports that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 5447 & House Bill 5448 on December 28, paving the way for the reestablishment of the Lewis College of Business, which will be renamed the Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design. Founded by Violet T. Lewis in Indianapolis in 1928, the school moved to Detroit in 1939, where it continued to operate until its 2013 closing.

Recently, Dr. D'Wayne Edwards, founder of Portland-based Pensole Design Academy, became the controlling stockholder of the school in the hopes of reopening. With this, the Pensole Lewis College of Business becomes the first previously-closed HBCU in the country to reopen. “Thank you to Governor Whitmer and all of our partners for helping the grandchildren of Violet T. Lewis, Pensole and College for Creative Studies establish an HBCU in the state of Michigan,” Dr. Edwards, who will be the school's president upon opening, said in a statement. “Our goal is to celebrate Violet T. Lewis’ life’s work she established in the city of Detroit in 1939. Today moves us forward to another major step in continuing her legacy with the support of our founding partners College for Creative Studies, Target, and The Gilbert Family Foundation.”

The college, which is Michigan's only HBCU, is set to reopen in March on the campus of Detroit's College for Creative Studies. Thanks to their founding partners, the school will provide free tuition and programs to Black creatives, engineers, designers, and more.