Huron University is proud to have conferred a Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) to entertainment industry legend and community advocate David Freeman Wooley, MBA.
“For over 30 years, David has been a champion and role-model for those in underserved communities facing barriers,” said Dr. Barry Craig, President, Huron University. “His life hasn’t been lived simply for himself. He has lived to create meaningful change and help those around him experience their full potential – a perfect fit for the vision we have here at Huron.”
Dr. Craig conferred the Doctorate to Wooley on December 8th during Huron’s annual Scholarships and Awards ceremony within the campus’ Frank Holmes Leadership Building theatre.
Wooley traveled from Wilmington, Delaware to receive the doctorate, “What I want to be able to do is show kids of color, young girls and boys, that if it’s possible for me it’s possible for them too, and encourage them to open that door. And I think that’s what your fantastic president is doing here. He’s opening the door for a generation that has often been overlooked. We’re one race, the human race.”
Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Wooley has been a life-long entrepreneur while producing and directing many world-class entertainment events including television, sporting broadcasts and musical tours. He has worked with legendary artists including Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, James Brown, Carlos Santana, Run-DMC, Elton John, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah and Alicia Keys. In the early 80’s he started Dave Wooley Productions – a prominent sports and entertainment company. Later, Wooley went on to become an adjunct business professor at Wilmington University where he has taught and mentored hundreds of young students for over 25 years.
For Wooley, the recognition comes with great responsibility, “As an African-American man who grew up in the projects of Harlem, which is a very, very tough neighborhood to grow up, I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility with this. And it’s not so much for my life, it’s to pass that wisdom on to the next generation.”
Wooley has written three books, one of which received a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. He’s also the co-author of music legend Dionne Warwick’s best-selling autobiography, My Life, as I See It. Wooley also wrote, produced, and co-directed the award-winning “Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over” documentary film featured on CNN and HBO Max. Wooley was named Talent/Content Advisor for the Joe Biden Presidential Inaugural Committee.
During the ceremony, Wooley addressed the nearly 450 students, family members, staff, and faculty with these words of encouragement, “Our potential is limitless but success may not happen overnight. I’m a firm believer in ‘you get out what you put in’. Believe in the impossible and remember, it’s only impossible until someone does it. Make sure that someone is you.”
Wooley is excited to return to Huron in 2024 and mentor students in a workshop-style platform to help them realize their entrepreneurial dreams and further nurture leaders with heart.
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