Agnes M. Ogletree was the sixth child born to Mary and Edward L. Ogletree in Syracuse, NY. She attended Morgan State, where she received both her BA and MBA. Ogletree went on to become an active civic member of her community becoming a member of the Seeds of Greatness church in New Castle, Delaware. After 30 years as hotel/hospitality professional, she decided to venture out and went on to found the Rittenhouse Bed & Breakfast. Ogletree is affiliated with many Masonic Orders, Prince Hall Affiliated. Past President of Zeta Omega, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.and New Castle County National Panhellenic Council Past President. Life member of Morgan State University (MSU) Alumni Association and the Delaware Chapter Alumni Association (MSU).
When asked about her HBCU experience, she mentioned how much of a cultural shock it was to see such a plentiful collective of Black business owners and professionals as she toured HBCUs at seventeen.
Ogletree settled on Morgan State as she gathered that they had the most appealing integration of cultural exposure and academic excellence, as well as a dedication to support further development of Baltimore. After returning for her MBA, Ogletree surmised that she wanted to continue her interest in committing to a prosperous real estate community in other areas of the east coast.
She moved up to the Tri-state area and began a thirty-year career as a real estate developer and nonprofit contributor to invigorate the struggling areas of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Ogletree cites Morgan State as a main influencer in her honing in on a desire to continually create opportunities for job growth and nurture economic development.
While many young people may be unaware of the impact of HBCUs or their importance in our society, Agnes might be the perfect advocate for Morgan State. She expressed how the return on your investment in HBCUs is reflective in how employers seek out alumnus. However, it is in these alumnus where we must place our faith in the future of HBCU sustainability. Ogletree mentioned that between them and other corporate and local supporters, we find our “true stakeholders in the lifeline of HBCUs”.
Agnes M. Ogletree also sees the future of the impact of HBCUs going international. She feels that being in support of the interconnectedness of the African Diaspora would be benefited by a collaboration between those universities here and other prestigious ones in some African countries.
