Livingstone College was founded as Zion Wesley Institute by a group of A.M.E. Zion ministers for the purpose of training ministers in the Cabarrus County town of Concord, North Carolina in 1879.

After three brief sessions, directed by principals Bishop C. R. Harris and Professor A.S. Richardson, the Institute ultimately closed in Concord. In 1881, Dr. Joseph Charles Price and Bishop J. W. Hood changed their roles as delegates to the Ecumenical Conference and became fund-raisers with the mission to re-establish Zion Wesley Institute.

The Rowan County town of Salisbury, just 20 miles northeast of Concord, gave the Trustees a generous donation of $1,000 and an invitation to relocate the school in Salisbury. They accepted both gifts, and the College re-opened in Salisbury in 1882 with Dr. Price as President. The new site was J. M. Gray’s farm called Delta Grove, which consisted of one building and 40 acres of land.

Dr. Joseph Charles Price, Founder and first president of Livingstone College, served 1882-1893
Dr. William Harvey Goler, served during the period of 1893-1917
Dr. Daniel Cato Suggs, served during the period of 1917-1925
Dr. William J. Trent, Sr., served during the period of 1925-1958
Mr. John H. Brockett, Jr. served during the period of 1957-1958 as interim president.
Dr. Samuel E. Duncan, served during the period of 1958-1968
Dr. Victor Julius Tulane, served during the period of 1968-1969 as interim president.
Dr. F. George Shipman, served during the period of 1969 and 1982
Dr. James W. Young, served during the period of 1982-1983 as interim president
Dr. William H. L. Greene, served during the period of 1983-1987
Dr. Ozell K. Beatty, served during the period of 1988
Dr. Bernard W. Franklin, served during the period of 1989-1995
Dr. Roy D. Hudson, served during the period of 1995-1996 as interim president.
Dr. Burnett W. Joiner, served during the period of 1996-2000
Dr. Albert J.D. Aymer, served as interim president of Livingstone College and Hood Theological Seminary during the period 2000-2001
Dr. Algeania Warren Freeman, served during the period of February, 2001-August 2004
Dr. Catrelia Steele Hunter, served during the period of August 2004-February 2006 as interim president
Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. began serving February 2006 until June 2022
Dr. Athony J. Davis began serving June 2022 until present.