The Dr. George Wiley Whitfield Memorial Scholarship

A MAN OF SUBSTANCE
“I learned SO much from my students and colleagues. I hold no grudges and ask for dispensation for my failings.”
-George Wiley Whitfield

After serving this nation honorably in the U.S. Army, George Whitfield earned his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctoral degree in English, Speech and Theatre. He made a lifelong commitment to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in the process and became assistant professor in the Department of English at Southern University Baton Rouge. Afterward, he became a charter member of the newly formed Department of Speech and Theatre.

Over the span of forty years, Dr. Whitfield was promoted to full professor and served from 1972–1984 as Theatre department chair. He received a gubernatorial appointment to serve as head of the Louisiana office of employment security from 1984–1988. On returning to the university, maintaining his professorship, he served successively as Director of Continuing Education, Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities, Coordinator of Performing Arts and Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Academics. During his tenure, he directed and performed in over 35 plays. He occasionally toured a one-act play to Angola, Dixon, and St. Gabriel correctional facilities where he regularly taught speech courses. Additionally, he toured plays to SUSBO, SUNO and high schools scattered across the state and Southwest Mississippi.

Dr. Whitfield’s passion for supporting students and providing them with an example of academic excellence was evident through his leadership, scholarship, and dedication to student success. He poured his all into his students and in honor of his life, accomplishments, and legacy we have created the Dr. George Wiley Whitfield scholarship fund to pay homage to his memory, as well as his sterling service to the entire Southern University Community. We ask for your support by donating to this scholarship fund. It will support students who display leadership, exemplary character, involvement in community service and will leverage their humanities education to help make a difference in the world.

If you’ve already donated, thank you for your generosity. We hope you will continue to donate to the fund annually.

If you have not donated, we hope you will consider doing so today or soon. Donations are tax deductible and can be made online or via mail with a check or money order. To make an online donation, continue below.

To donate via check or money order:

    • Make your donation payable to: Southern University System Foundation
    • Memo Line: DRGWW Scholarship
    • Mail to:
      • Southern University College Foundation
        ATTN: Robert Harrison
        Director of Development
        P.O. Box 9723 | Baton Rouge, LA 70813