Nationwide — Charles Whitman Dabbs, an African American Navy veteran from Nashville, Tennessee, finally earned his doctorate degree at 85 years old after a nearly 70-year academic journey that began in 1958 and ended at Tennessee State University, an HBCU.
TSU’s graduation ceremony in Nashville brought together nearly 1,400 graduates, each with a different path to the stage. Some were just starting their academic journeys, while others were completing long-delayed goals, including Dabbs’ doctorate in education.
Dabbs described the moment as emotional as he prepared to graduate. “Well, it’s very exciting. I’m a little bit nervous, a little frightful here. I’m just really happy that my family is going to be able to be here,” Dabbs told WWNYTV.
His journey began in 1958 after high school graduation, when he faced limited opportunities as a Black man in the United States. He joined the U.S. Navy, then later built a career as a drug counselor and mental health worker while also raising a family.
Decades later, Dabbs returned to education during the COVID-19 period, enrolling in online classes at Tennessee State University. What started as a simple return to learning eventually developed into a doctorate in education after years of continued study.
At TSU, Dabbs studied alongside much younger students who supported him with technology and campus navigation. He said their help made a major difference in his experience, and he felt welcomed in the academic environment.
“But you know, the young people at this school have been so nice to me and so wonderful to me and so helpful in terms of the technology and where to go when I need something,” Dabbs said.
Now known as Dr. Dabbs, he plans to continue working and hopes to join a historically Black college or university. He also shares a simple message from his journey, saying, “It’s never too late. It’s never too late.”