The purpose of this case study was to examine how Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) implemented the negotiated ruling of the "Ayers" desegregation lawsuit and settlement to empower the institution and similarly situated historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The spoken and written words of three administrators of the MVSU Executive Council identified MVSU's need to increase enrollment, increase freshman retention rates and achieve student diversity. MVSU's ability to achieve student, programmatic and funding diversity after the "Ayers" settlement can be explained by the interest convergence principle of Critical Race Theory.