Dr. Pierre assumed the presidency at a crucial time in the history of higher education in Texas. Two new public policy imperatives were extant at that time: The Texas A&M University System’s commitment to academic excellence, and the state’s commitment to the enhancement of Prairie View A&M University to spur greater integration. These two imperatives resulted in the Target 2000 Report published in May of 1983 and the Texas Plan published in August of 1983. They outlined short-term and long-term courses of development that have significantly changed and will significantly change Prairie View A&M University. The goals outlined were given credibility in the November 6, 1984 amendment to the State Constitution that names Prairie View A&M University as an “institution of the first class” and gives it an equitable share of the proceeds of the Permanent University Fund for academic excellence. Dr. Pierre worked feverishly for the passage of the amendment which also provided an additional $12 million per year to upgrade academic programs.
Pierre's presidency brougth new educational directions in the pursuit of academic excellence through the establishment of the Benjamin Banneker Honors College to address the needs for improving professionals in the STEM fields and improve the quality of life for all students. The college enrolled some 200 nationally recruited high school scholars for the inaugural class, increased the overall Scholastic Aptitude Test scores of freshman class by over 120 points from 1983-1987, and increased enrollment by 26% to 5600 in 1988-1989. For the first time in the 106-year history of the university, the state of Texas agreed to fund Prairie View A&M University on the same basis as Texas A&M and the University of Texas. Incidentally, the Banneker Honors College was one of 13 institutions in the country and the only one at the Historically Black College and University, later to be joined by Texas Southern University and Florida A&M University. The College of Engineering expanded with programs from the old College of Industrial Education through the elimination of most of the vocational and industrial technology programs; the upgrading of existing programs; and the introduction of three new programs in computer engineering technology and electrical and mechanical engineering technology. The Computer Science program was transferred from the Department of Mathematics. Additionally, the programs in the College of Home Economics and Industrial Education and Technology were merged into the new College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and Technology. This moved increased the efficiency and improve educational effectiveness.
The physical development of the campus proceeded according to the Master Plan of August 1984, which sought to enhance the historic part of the campus through new building construction, renovations, and exterior construction and landscaping. Among new buildings constructed were the five story John B. Coleman Library, the Agricultural Research Building, the Chemical Engineering Laboratory Building, the College of Education and Classroom Building, the Engineering Technology Building, the Johnson-Phillip All Faiths Chapel, the Central Receiving and Warehouse buildings, the new Gymnasium, and the Intramural Athletic Complex. Buildings renovated included the Field House, the Home Economics Building, the Harrington Science Building, the President’s House and Faculty Dining, the Physical Plant Building, the Power Plant, and the Gilchrist Engineering Building. Exterior construction converted the campus to a pedestrian campus with the construction of several major malls and broad walkways between them.
Since 1983, PVAMU’s enrollment increased more than 25 percent, and the university’s endowment increased from $300,000 to over $3 million. He also obtained $65 million from state sources for a construction program to redesign the campus into a pedestrian pattern and to add six major buildings, including a landmark new library. Pierre also raised endowment funds and achieved a 500% increase in endowment funds from $600,000 in FY 84 to $3,000,000 in FY 89. Part of the campus landscape included the construction of a new circular water fountain and the installation of the first bronze bust of the late Abner Davis, football player who passed away following an injury sustained in a game with Texas College in in Tyler on November 4, 1927. The original memorial to Davis was a White Oblisque with a Water (Drinking) Fountain, provided by his classmates and the supervisor along with the memorial plaque, in the middle of the campus.
Student governance and participation was enhanced with increased student involved in a new structure for Student Affairs and Academic Planning. In 1984, Mary K. Powell became the first female elected President of the Student Government Association, followed by Zelia Wiley in 1987 President of the SGA, who became the first female Chair of the TAMU Chancellor Student Advisory Board. The Cultural and Academic programs were enhanced with the reintroduction of the Lyceum Series from the Department of Art, Music and Drama, the establishment of the Campus Activities Board which provided real life experiences for the students in program development and project management, leadership development and academic enrichment. Pierre insisted on student engagement and caused the implementation of Student Advisory Committees to all the Deans of the Colleges. Dr. Pierre also targeted several established programs for national and international recognition, including the famed Charles Gilpin Players, directed by Mr. C. Lee Turner, which performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, one of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities to ever advanced with the American Theater Festival. The Gilpin Players also performed on the central stage at the Worlds Fair in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1984. Prairie View A&M University also earned national recognition in pageantry with Dellenor Miles, Miss Prairie View A&M University 1984 being named 4th Runner-up to Miss Texas (America), the fourth Black to ever reach the finals in the 65 years of the pageant. Lillie Taylor Miss Prairie View A&M University 1985-86 won the Miss Collegiate Black America, the second title holder for the pageant and Shari Love, Miss Prairie View A&M University 1986-87 won the National Miss Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Pageant, the second title holder for the pageant, and Mary Ann Palmer, Miss Prairie View A&M University 1989 winning the Miss Collegiate African American Pageant in Los Angeles.
Dr. Pierre had a stellar career prior to becoming president of the university. Dr. Pierre is an American History Maker and an accomplished pioneer in electrical engineering and trailblazer known for his academic and professional accomplishments throughout the nation. Pierre attended St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, graduating as Valedictorian. Receiving scholarship offers from numerous prestigious colleges and universities, Pierre attended and graduated from the University of Notre Dame, obtaining his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering (1961), as well as his Master of Science (1963). In 1967 Pierre made history as the first African American in the United States to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in electrical engineering from John Hopkins University.
In 1969 Dr. Pierre was selected to serve in Richard Nixon’s administration as a White House Fellow and Deputy to the Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs from 1969 – 1970. Dr. Pierre then worked as a Systems Engineer for the RAND Corporation in Los Angeles, California, from 1968 until 1969 and again between 1970 and 1971.
Dr. Pierre was instrumental in forming the Sloan Engineering Program in 1998, the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, and the national minority engineering effort, initiated after serving as a co-chair of the National Academy of Engineering Symposium. The national minority engineering effort has been recognized as a significant initiative that has resulted in the increase and success of many minority students in electrical engineering. He also served as Howard University Dean of the College of Engineering, resulting in the university’s master degree programs in Urban Systems Engineering and Computer Science, as well as advocated for engagement and resources for numerous organizations such as GEM, MESA, DAPCEP, and SECME.
Some of his many accomplishments include Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s program officer, assistant secretary for the U.S. Army for Research, U.S. Army American Association for the Advancement of Science Lifetime Members Award (2008), acting secretary of the U.S. Army (where he becoming the first African American to hold that post), and Superior Public Service Award, US Navy (1993). Other awards and accolades include an Honorary Doctoral Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, US Army, Distinguished Service Medal (1981), University of Notre Dame, Honorary Doctoral Degree, (1977), National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering Founder’s award and he has served as a member of the EPRI Advisory Council, member of the National Academies Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, University of Notre Dame and Hampshire College Board of Trustees member, director of the White House Fellows Foundation and Association, director of TraciLabs Inc. and honored by Johns Hopkins University establishing The Percy Pierre Doctoral Fellowships to recognize outstanding incoming graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds who will contribute both to the intellectual life of their departments and to that of the broader graduate community.
Pierre stepped down as president of Priarie View A&M University in June of 1989 and served as a Distinguished Professor of Engineering until August 1990. He took a position as a Visiting Regent Professor at the University of California at Berkeley. In December 1990 he became Vice President, Research and Graduate Studies at Michigan State University until 1995, where he was responsible for several programs aimed at recruiting and retaining minority and women graduate students in the College of Engineering. He later became a full Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Vice President Emeritus.
Dr. Pierre retired from Michigan State University in 2018 and has returned to limited private consulting, travelling, lecturing and writing his memoir. He is married to the former Olga Markam and they have two daughters, Christian and Allison.
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