Bennett College leverages church support to expand opportunities for women
11 schools, 1 calling: How the Black College Fund sustains our HBCUs
The Bennett College choir performs in the college’s historic chapel, which was restored in part with capital funds from the Black College Fund. (Photo courtesy of Bennett College)
By Wendy R. Cromwell
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Support from The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund (BCF) is more than financial — it’s essential, says Dr. Teresa Hardee, CPA LSSBB, Bennett College’s interim president.
Dr. Teresa Hardee, interim president of Bennett College
Since taking office in July 2025, Hardee has overseen projects made possible by the fund, which provides annual support to the 11 UMC-related Historically Black Colleges and Universities through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). Bennett received about $424,000 in 2024 and $275,000 in 2025.
Those dollars addressed critical needs, Hardee says. In 2024, the college renovated Sallie Brown Dining Hall, the only dining facility on campus, repairing water damage, and replacing the roof and gutters. In 2025, the funds helped restore the college’s historic chapel, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke. Work includes HVAC upgrades and steeple repairs.
“I know that might not sound glamorous, but it was essential,” Hardee said of the dining hall project. “Our dining spaces should nourish more than the body — they should be spaces that feed the body, mind, spirit, and build community.”
Hardee calls the support a “multiplier.” Bennett uses the guaranteed dollars to leverage other grants and partnerships, including plans for a student entrepreneur’s hub. “We can use those dollars to connect with other grants or partnerships looking for a match for investment.”
In 2025, Bennett grew from 165 students to 210 in two months, with 35 more expected in the spring term. Applications for fall have surged past 650.
For Hardee, the impact goes beyond buildings and budgets. “This support means The United Methodist Church believes in Bennett,” she said. “You believe in what we’re trying to do. You believe in what we’re going to do.”
Her vision for the next five years includes expanding STEM and healthcare programs, creating an intergenerational community with housing and daycare, and partnering with a high school for girls focusing on STEM.
“When a Bennett Belle walks out of here, she is ready to make a difference in society,” Hardee said. “We prepare young women to lead, to change and to succeed.”
About the Black College Fund
The United Methodist Church expands access to quality education through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Black College Fund, supporting 11 affiliated Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As the largest church-based supporter of HBCUs, the fund provides essential resources for capital improvements, innovative programs, operating expenses, and initiatives that strengthen student success and institutional vitality.
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