One of the longest serving presidents in higher education, Benjamin F. Payton of Tuskegee University, [1] has announced plans to retire. During Payton's tenure, Tuskegee broadened its educational offerings (and changed its name from Tuskegee Institute to Tuskegee University to reflect that shift). Tuskegee has a prominent role in the history of black higher education and a tradition of long-serving presidents, starting with Booker T. Washington. Since its founding in 1881, the university has had only five presidents.