Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have stood the test of time. At their inception in 1837, HBCUs began as a place for Black Americans to learn in a culturally relevant and safe space. Since then, they have led the way in higher education. At present, HBCUs function also as a place to have open and honest conversations around sexual wellness. Specifically, HIV prevention and treatment.
The We Are United initiative at AIDS United began their Spring HBCU tour in 2025 to prioritize Black students and conversations regarding HIV prevention, treatment and stigma reduction. Despite funding challenges, the spring tour was able to proceed for a second year. For the second year of the HBCU Spring Tour, we partnered with five schools and four digital ambassadors. Adding a digital component allowed our message to reach almost 100 thousand students on social media with culturally tailored posts that they could see themselves in.
Once the tour concluded, I was able to sit down with Destinee Kerr, Xavier alumni, social media extraordinaire and HBCU Friendsgiving founder, and Dr. Grace Loudd and Dr. Dominique Guinn, both professors at Texas Southern University. Beginning our conversation, I asked Destinee, Dr. Loudd and Dr. Grace about their journey to HBCU’s. Destinee began our conversation with how she started at Xavier University and received much more than just an education.
“As a proud Xavier University of Louisiana alumna, choosing an HBCU was an easy decision because I wanted to be in an environment where excellence, culture, and community were celebrated every day. As a first-generation college graduate, I knew my college journey would set the tone for generations after me. Inspired by my sister’s dream of attending an HBCU, I wanted to continue that legacy while building one of my own. At Xavier, I found more than an education—I found a family. I was surrounded by people who looked like me, believed in me, challenged me, and encouraged me to lead with purpose. That experience continues to shape the way I serve my community today.”
Additionally, Dr. Guinn’s first interaction with HBCUs was also as a first-generation college student when she attended an HBCU for her master’s program. Through her experiences, she discusses the pride that she held while being on an HBCU campus.
“It’s beautiful to know that although HBCUs make up only about 3% of America’s colleges and universities, they produce approximately 16% of Black college graduates, around 40% of Black engineers, and nearly 80% of Black judges. When you look at those numbers, you truly see the impact and importance of HBCUs.”
During our discussions, I realized that exposure and awareness of the existence of HBCUs isn’t a universal experience for Black students. Dr. Loudd alludes to that in her conversation when she first started working at Texas Southern University (TSU).
“The first time I visited the TSU campus, it felt as if I had been let in on a big secret. I saw students who looked like me and later learned that many of them shared backgrounds like my own as a student, trying to find an educational pathway despite social and economic barriers that can make higher education feel out of reach. In sharing my initial experience with my family, I learned that my grandfather had attended a tailoring program offered at TSU many years earlier. He was always an advocate for education and made sure all his children obtained a high school education. Learning that my grandfather once walked the TSU campus made my experience feel deeply personal. Discovering that connection made me feel as though TSU had been part of my family’s story long before it became part of mine. In many ways, it felt like TSU chose me.”
When thinking of HIV prevention and treatment, it is important to empower students and educate them in ways that allow them to have open and honest conversations regarding their sexual wellness. Dr. Loudd continued this conversation when she highlighted the stigma in communities that students come from that do not allow them to have conversations around sexual wellness.
“Having these conversations on HBCU campuses is especially important because many of the students we serve come from communities where conversations about sexuality have historically been influenced by stigma, cultural expectations, limited access to healthcare, or misinformation. At the same time, the majority of HBCUs are in the U.S. South, a region that continues to experience significant HIV-related health disparities driven by longstanding inequities in healthcare access, stigma, and social determinants of health. HBCUs are uniquely positioned to close this gap. Because students often view these institutions as trusted communities, campuses have a unique opportunity to normalize conversations about sexual wellness, increase access to prevention and testing services, and empower students to make informed decisions about their health without fear or shame.”
Destinee adds that it is important to continue to have conversations around HIV prevention and sexual wellness because,
“It’s important having these conversations on HBCU campuses because education is one of the most powerful tools we have in preventing HIV and promoting overall sexual wellness. HBCUs have a long history of producing leaders, and that includes leading conversations that promote healthier, stronger communities.”
Additionally, when looking at the data when it comes to HIV prevention and treatment, Dr. Guinn reminds us that,
“…Many disease states disproportionately affect African Americans. Then think about what an HBCU campus really is. It’s a city within a city. In that unique community, most of the residents are between the ages of 18 and 24, a stage of life where sexual and reproductive health are incredibly important. That’s exactly why these conversations belong on HBCU campuses.”
Understanding that these conversations are integral to the students attending HBCUs, the Spring HBCU tour prioritized National HIV Testing Day (June 27th). Dr. Guinn shared that she discusses and educates students on National HIV Testing Day, World AIDS Day and National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. She takes each of these days as an additional moment and opportunity to educate, reduce stigma, and encourage healthy conversations.
Dr. Loudd encourages students to think about HIV testing beyond a single awareness event and make it more a part of an ongoing conversation about overall wellness. Specifically, Dr. Loudd mentions that,
“Throughout the year, we intentionally connect HIV awareness to broader conversations about wellness, relationships, prevention, and healthcare access so that testing becomes part of routine health maintenance rather than something associated only with risk or crisis. My goal has always been to reduce fear, normalize HIV testing as a routine part of preventive healthcare, and help students understand that knowing their status is an act of self-care, not something to be ashamed of.”
In conjunction with in-person events and educational efforts, Destinee uses her social media platform to provide resources to her peers regarding HIV testing, encouraging people to know their status and helping to lift up HIV prevention resources available to students and the community. She believes using digital platforms is a powerful tool in reducing stigma and reminding young adults that getting tested is a normal and important aspect of their overall health.
Through my own experience of working with HBCU campuses there have always been so many moments that stand out and have a lasting impact. I asked the group about memories that had a lasting impact on them. Destinee describes,
“One of my favorite memories was seeing students genuinely engage in conversations about HIV prevention and sexual wellness without fear or judgment. What stood out most wasn’t just the information being shared—it was watching students ask questions, support one another, and realize that taking care of their health is something to be proud of, not something to hide. That experience reminded me that education goes beyond handing out resources. It’s about creating safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to make informed decisions. Working with HBCUs reinforced for me that when we lead with community, culture, and compassion, we can reduce stigma and encourage more students to prioritize their health. That’s the lasting impact I hope to continue making wherever I serve.”
Dr. Guinn and Dr. Loudd have had similar impactful moments when watching students become advocates for one another and leading the conversations. Dr. Guinn describes a time when her students in her Human Sexuality class held an HIV testing event.
“What made it especially memorable. During our practice sessions, I noticed that the young men seemed especially engaged and committed. So, I made a last-minute decision. The women would focus on promoting the event, while the men would facilitate the curriculum. I’ve been teaching Human Sexuality at Texas Southern University for the past 10 years, and I have never seen anyone present that curriculum the way those young men did. They absolutely nailed it, and I was incredibly proud of them.
At the forefront of continuing this work is the need for funding. In addition to more funds, Dr. Loudd mentions having culturally responsive programming, dedicated personnel and long-term partnerships with leaders in the HIV prevention and sexual wellness space. Most importantly, to continue this work students must remain at the center in curating these spaces and conversations. Dr. Guinn reminds us that conversations regarding HIV prevention will continue, but we must remain ready with sustainable funding to meet students where they are once, they are ready to take the next step in their wellness journeys.
Through the past two years we have reached almost 800 students at events that ranged from fashion shows to spring fests on 8 HBCU campuses. Additionally, with our four HBCU ambassadors we reached 74,000 students through social media content that focused on a day-in-the-life of getting an HIV testing. Looking towards the future Destinee explains that,
“My hope is that we continue creating environments where students feel comfortable asking questions, getting tested, seeking treatment when needed, and supporting one another. When we invest in students’ health, we’re investing in future leaders who will carry these conversations far beyond campus.”
The future also holds a lot of competing priorities for students, Dr. Guinn touches on how today’s students have been faced with vaping, opioid and fentanyl crisis along with other health issues. For students, HIV may not always be in the forefront of their minds which empowers change makers like Dr. Guinn, Destinee and Dr. Loudd to continue decreasing stigma and reminding students to not be afraid and instead, educate themselves to be the most prepared while they navigate the world. Dr. Loudd shares with us the importance of prioritizing HBCU campuses and young adults in decreasing HIV stigma and encouraging sexual wellness conversations.
“I believe the future of the HIV movement will increasingly recognize HBCUs not simply as institutions of higher education, but as national leaders in developing culturally responsive, sustainable strategies that improve health outcomes for communities disproportionately affected by health inequities. What gives me hope is that administrative leadership and today’s students are increasingly willing to have conversations that previous generations often avoided. When institutions and their leaders are willing to listen, partner with students, and invest in culturally responsive approaches, I believe HBCUs will continue leading the way in transforming not only HIV prevention but also how we think about student health and well-being more broadly.”
Although I never had the pleasure of attending an HBCU, I have had the honor of working with students, faculty and staff who have put their all in leading the next generation forward. Through our collaboration over the last two years, we have attended amazing campuses, reaching students in-person and through social media. Although funding has shifted, and we will not be doing a year three of the HBCU spring tour, our commitment to educating college students on sexual wellness and HIV testing has not stopped. Make sure to sign up for AIDS United’s newsletter and stop by Together.TakeMeHome.org to order free HIV tests along with other STI testing resources.
Special thanks to our collaborators at Grambling State University, Miles College, Morgan State University, Stillman College, Texas Southern University and Xavier University. Along with our Digital Ambassadors, Destinee Kerr, Landon Mumphrey, Calin King and Ma’at Firven.