Patricia A. Hardaway, the 19th president of Wilberforce University, a historically Black educational institution in Ohio, is stepping down from her post in December. Dr. Hardaway became president in 2009 and is only the second woman to hold the post. Previously, she was named provost in 2007 and interim president in 2008.
The university has announced that a four-person transition team made up of members of the board of trustees will take over the duties of the president. Dr. Wilma Mishoe, one of the four team members, will serve as the day-to-day, on-campus representative of the transition team. Dr. Mishoe is the former dean of the Office of Instruction at Delaware Technical Community College. Her father was president of Delaware State University, a historically Black educational institution in Dover.
At the same time an executive search committee is continuing its work to find a new president for Wilberforce University.
I began my college career at Wilberforce as a non-traditional student. It’s a terrific school. It lifted me both academically, emotionally, spiritually and culturally. I sincerely hope that the problems can be overcome, it would a shame for it to close. All my best,