Delaware’s state capital, a town known more for Dover Air Force Base (AFB), the Dover 500 racetrack, and traffic jams leading to the Delaware beaches, is the setting where higher education history is about to be made. May 15th, a day that should have been filled with exuberance for seniors celebrating their big moment graduating from Wesley College, was instead, bittersweet. All knew it would be the last time any graduate would walk across the stage as a Wesley Wolverine. Next year, the rising seniors will leave as Delaware State Hornets.

Two colleges located less than a mile apart will become one on July 1. Delaware State University, a 130-year-old Land Grant Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and proud owner of a successful Division I athletics program, is acquiring its neighbor to the east, Wesley College, a 148-year-old Minority Serving Institution (MSI), with a robust Division III athletics program.

My guest today is Dr. Scott Gines, Vice-President and Director of Athletics at Delaware State University. Scott and I talk about the acquisition of one college by another and what that looks like in real life. We also talk about his experience working at two minority serving institutions as a white man, and his history of embracing diversity and equity at each.