Miles College Awarded Home Depot Innovation Lounge Grant
Fairfield, AL – April 16, 2025 –Miles College is proud to announce its selection as a recipient of The Home Depot’s 2025 Retool Your School Innovation Lounge Grant. This award will fund an adaptable, tech-forward space designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship among students and faculty.
“We are thrilled to partner with The Home Depot to bring this vision to life,” said Dr. Bobbie Knight, President of Miles College. “This Innovation Lounge will not only enhance our campus infrastructure but also provide our students with the resources and the environment necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving professional landscape.”
The Innovation Lounge design will feature modular furniture, collaborative zones, and personal pods to accommodate various learning styles and activities. It will serve as a knowledge hub, offering workshops, guest lectures, and networking events that connect students with industry professionals and alumni. “The space will also support research initiatives and partnerships with industries and non-profits, providing students with hands-on experience in solving real-world problems,” said Dr. Erskine “Chuck” Faush, Chief Innovation & Growth Officer and VP of Institutional Advancement.
Dr. Tonya Perry, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, emphasized the critical need for diverse learning environments on campus. “All students learn differently—some thrive in quiet, focused pods, while others flourish in collaborative, open settings. This Innovation Lounge gives our students the freedom to choose how they engage with their work. We’re grateful to The Home Depot for understanding that a one-size-fits-all model doesn’t serve today’s learners. With this grant, we can create something that works for all.”
President Knight, Dr. Perry, and Dr. Faush attended the awards ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia, held inside the Mercedes-Benz Dome on Monday. President Knight proudly represented Miles College and accepted the award on behalf of the institution, joined by members of her leadership team. The event welcomed leadership from numerous HBCUs across the country who were also recognized as grant recipients, further emphasizing the nationwide impact of The Home Depot’s investment in excellence.
As this vision moves forward, Miles College is grateful for the support of its institutional partners. We appreciate partners like Fortif Law who continue to be a valued resource to the institution, helping bring initiatives like this to life.
For more information about the Retool Your School program, visit RetoolYourSchool.com.
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About the College: Founded in 1898 Miles College is located in Fairfield, Alabama. We are a private, liberal arts, Historically Black College with roots in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The College, through dedicated faculty, cultivates students to seek knowledge that leads to intellectual and civic empowerment. Students are transformed through rigorous study, scholarly inquiry, and spiritual awareness, thereby enabling graduates to become responsible citizens who help shape the global society. Miles College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
