A Quartet of African Americans in New Administrative Roles in Higher Education

Kathey Porter was appointed assistant director of purchasing for supplier diversity at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She was the coordinator of minority/women-owned business enterprises for the city of Savannah, Georgia.

Porter is a graduate of Savannah State University. She earned an MBA from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

Aleczander M. Whitfield was appointed director of student activities at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served 10 years as assistant director of residence life and assistant director of dtudent life at the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan.

Whitfield is a graduate of Hampton University and holds a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Karen Weddle-West was given the additional responsibility of new director of diversity initiatives at the University Memphis. She will continue in her role as vice provost for graduate programs.

Dr. Weddle-West holds master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Halima N. Leak was named the inaugural executive director of the Center for Fundraising and Philanthropy at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas. She has been serving as director of alumni relations and development for the School of Professional Studies at the City University of New York.

Leak is a graduate of Hampton University. She holds a master’s degree in educational sociology from New York University and is a doctoral candidate there.