By Asia Nail
The Truth Reporter
Some campuses educate students.
Others transform lives.
For nearly 140 years, Central State University has done both. Born from resilience and shaped by generations who believed education could change lives, the Central State has always been more than a place to earn a degree. It is a place where opportunity grows, leaders are developed, and futures begin.
Founded in 1887 as the Combined Normal and Industrial Department of what was then Wilberforce University, Central State emerged during one of the most challenging periods in American history. At a time when many Black Americans were denied equal access to higher education, Central State opened doors that had long been closed. The university became independent in 1947 and today stands as Ohio’s only public Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
Its story is remarkable for another reason.
Central State University is also one of the nation’s 1890 Land-Grant Universities, a designation held by only 19 HBCUs across the country. In Ohio, only two universities carry the land-grant mission: Central State University and The Ohio State University. That distinction means Central State’s impact reaches far beyond the classroom. From helping small farmers and supporting families to mentoring young people and conducting research that improves lives, the university is making a difference in communities across the state.
A Mission More Than a Century in the Making
Central State’s land-grant designation is also a story of perseverance. Although the university sought land-grant status when Congress passed the Second Morrill Act in 1890, Ohio’s federal funding was instead directed entirely to The Ohio State University, leaving Central State outside the system for more than a century. That changed in 2014, when the federal Farm Bill officially recognized Central State as the nation’s newest 1890 Land-Grant Institution, fulfilling a vision that had been more than 124 years in the making. The designation was more than symbolic, it affirmed Central State’s expanding role in agricultural research, education and statewide community engagement.
Today, that historic mission reaches far beyond the university’s Wilberforce campus. Through its teaching, research, and Extension programs, Central State serves communities across Ohio by supporting urban and rural families, empowering small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs, developing youth leadership programs, and advancing sustainable agriculture. Together, Central State and The Ohio State University now stand as Ohio’s only two land-grant universities, each carrying a distinct but complementary responsibility to strengthen the state’s future through education, innovation and public service.
Leading With Purpose
Now, under the leadership of its 10th president, Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, PhD, the university is writing its next chapter. A 1985 graduate of Central State University, Kuti became president of his alma mater on July 1, 2024.
For Kuti, leadership has never been about titles.
It has always been about removing barriers.
“When I became president,” he says, “my vision was physical, academic and operational.”
His goals reach beyond new buildings or new degree programs.
“I believe my responsibility is to make education as accessible as possible to anyone who wants to attain an academic degree.”
That philosophy influences every decision his administration makes. Kuti envisions Central State as what he calls a “destination learning environment,” a university where students, faculty, staff, families, policymakers and community partners all find the resources they need to thrive.
He wants a campus where success is determined not by obstacles, but by effort.
“The only thing that should limit a person’s achievement is the effort they put into it,” he shares.
That conviction did not begin in a boardroom.
It began thousands of miles away in Nigeria.
Believing You Belong
Growing up, Kuti attended one of Nigeria’s premier boarding schools, Comprehensive High School, an institution founded through a partnership involving Harvard University, the Ford Foundation and regional leaders. Living and learning alongside classmates for most of the year created an environment where education extended well beyond textbooks.
The experience shaped him profoundly.
“It helped me grow as an individual,” he reflects. “I began asking myself, ‘How can I create that same kind of environment for as many students as possible wherever I go?'”
That question has guided his career ever since.
Research That Reaches Beyond the Classroom
Today, that vision comes alive at Central State, where classrooms stretch into laboratories, farms, research fields and communities across Ohio.
Unlike many universities, Central State’s research is intentionally connected to everyday life.
Faculty and students study food security from field to table. They examine soil conservation and water quality. They research genetics, agricultural technology, sustainable farming and the critical role honeybees play in pollination. Each project addresses challenges identified as priorities for improving the health and well-being of communities throughout Ohio and the nation.
“Our research isn’t just in laboratories,” Kuti explains. “It’s research that improves communities and our everyday lives.”
That practical approach reflects the university’s land-grant mission.
Teaching.
Research.
Extension.
Those three responsibilities work together like the roots, trunk, and branches of a thriving tree. Knowledge is created, shared and then carried directly into communities where it can make a measurable difference.
Central State currently provides extension services in 42 Ohio counties, connecting university expertise with farmers, families, entrepreneurs, youth, and local organizations. It is a level of community engagement few institutions can offer.
Students don’t simply study solutions.
They become part of creating them.
Kuti believes that combination makes Central State unlike any other university in Ohio.
“Students can earn their degree, conduct meaningful research that addresses societal problems,” he says. “You can only receive that HBCU experience here.”
Affordability also remains central to the university’s mission.
Central State is the least expensive public university in Ohio, allowing scholarships and financial aid to stretch farther while reducing the financial burden many families face. For first-generation students and those from historically underserved communities, that affordability can make the difference between postponing a dream and pursuing it.
Kuti understands that journey personally.
He, too, was a first-generation college graduate.
When he entered graduate school to pursue his MBA, he initially questioned whether he belonged.
For several weeks, he remained quiet in class.
Then something changed.
“I realized,” he shares, “I’m just as smart as these students.”
From that point forward, he found his voice, eventually becoming a leader in the classroom.
Today, that experience shapes the advice he offers every Central State student before graduation.
“Your Central State degree is as valuable as a degree from any other university,” he asserts. “The question is how much effort you put into it.”
It is a message rooted not in theory, but in lived experience.
Leadership, however, is rarely without difficult moments.
When asked about one lesson no textbook ever taught him, Kuti answers with refreshing honesty.
“Difficult decisions don’t get any easier the longer you postpone them.”
Sometimes wisdom arrives in a single sentence.
Looking Ahead
As Central State continues to expand partnerships with government agencies, industry leaders, K-12 schools, community colleges and economic development organizations, Kuti remains focused on preparing graduates for Ohio’s evolving workforce while demonstrating the university’s value to communities across the state.
The work is about more than enrollment numbers.
It is about ensuring every graduate leaves equipped to contribute meaningfully to society.
Looking ahead, Kuti paints an inspiring picture of Central State’s future.
He envisions smooth sidewalks and welcoming buildings. Modern research laboratories filled with discovery. Residence halls where learning continues long after classes end. Technology that empowers instead of frustrates. And beautiful green spaces that invite both conversation and reflection.
He smiles as he imagines visitors walking onto campus a decade from now.
“I want them to say this is an academic oasis,” he says smiling.
An oasis.
The image feels fitting.
An oasis is a place where weary travelers find refreshment and hope in the middle of difficult terrain.
For generations, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have served exactly that purpose. They have opened doors where others erected walls. They have cultivated excellence where expectations were once limited. They have produced leaders who changed communities, industries, and history itself.
Central State University proudly continues that legacy.
Under Morakinyo Kuti’s leadership, the university is striving to become something even greater: a campus where every classroom, every research project, every partnership, and every opportunity reminds students of one simple truth..
Their future should never be defined by barriers.
Only by the courage to pursue it.
Interested in learning more? Central State University will host CSU Day in Toledo on September 26-27, 2026, at Third Baptist Church, 402 Pinewood Ave., Toledo. Students and families from Northwest Ohio are invited to meet with university representatives, learn about admissions, scholarships, financial aid, academic programs, and student life.