William S. Parrish, Jr. LEEDAP BD+C

William S. Parrish Jr. is a visionary leader and staunch advocate for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As the Founder and Chairman of HBCU Greatness, Inc., he has dedicated himself to championing educational excellence and fostering opportunities within the HBCU community. With a blueprint for fundraising, increasing alumni engagement and expansion of corporate alliance partners within the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc. (NHAA, Inc.) his chapter, the North Jersey Chapter-NHAA, Inc. won the coveted NHAA, Inc. Chapter Merit Award in 2022 for their record-breaking accomplishments.

William’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2002, with the establishment of NobleStrategy, where he cultivated his expertise in construction management. His innate entrepreneurial spirit and relentless determination propelled him to establish strategic partnerships and secure state agency contracts, demonstrating his ability to transform vision into reality, growing to a staff of 35 full-time employees in 2015, with sales exceeding $6MM.

Motivated by his profound passion for education and empowerment, William founded HBCU Greatness, Inc. to provide vital support to HBCU students, graduates, and alumni. As Chairman, he leads the organization’s mission to offer funding, training, partnerships, and exposure opportunities, thereby uplifting the HBCU community.

William S. Parrish Jr.’s leadership and visionary outlook as the Founder and Chairman of HBCU Greatness, Inc. epitomize his steadfast commitment to advancing educational excellence and opportunities within the HBCU community, promoting Black excellence and combatting the wealth and achievement gaps. Through his unwavering efforts, he continues to drive meaningful change in the lives of HBCU students, graduates, and alumni, leaving behind a legacy of empowerment and success.

A Hampton University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction Technology-1989, William completed his master of science in Management of Technology at Polytechnic Institute of New York University-2001. William has been an Adjunct Associate Professor at NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate School of Professional Studies since 2007 and in 2011 he won its coveted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Faculty Award. William currently serves as the Academic Faculty Lead for New York University School of Professional Studies Continuing Education Program.

His motivational book Making Bold Moves: Creating Multimillion-Dollar Success in 500 Days or Less! Was published in 2012 and details his remarkable success and is geared toward aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners, industry executives and anyone hoping to foster major success in his or her life.

William is an active board member of several local non-profit organizations and a Life Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.—having been initiated at the Gamma Epsilon Chapter, (Hampton University) in 1987 and past president of the Eta Pi Graduate Chapter (Montclair, NJ) from 2008-2010. He is married to Dr. Jennifer Payne-Parrish, (Hampton ’91) with 2 children, both HBCU graduates; Khari (Hampton ’20) and Alieke (Howard ’23).