Johnny Moore, president of Philander Smith College, a historically Black educational institution in Little Rock, Arkansas, has stepped down “to pursue personal and professional opportunities.” Dr. Moore has led the college since July 2012 when Walter Kimbrough left to become president of Dillard University in New Orleans.
Dr. Moore was valedictorian of his high school class and then enrolled at Philander Smith College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1989. He earned a master’s degree at Arkansas State University and a doctorate at the Florida Institute of Technology.
Dr. Moore began his academic career at East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City. He then taught for nine years at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Florida. In 2010, Dr. Moore was named executive vice president of Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas.
The board of trustees appointed Lloyd E. Hervey, a faculty member in the Division of Education at the college, to serve as interim president of Philander Smith College until a permanent successor for Dr. Moore has been found. Dr. Hervey is a graduate of Philander Smith College and holds a master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and a doctorate in instruction and curriculum leadership from the University of Memphis.
