Appointment News: Five African Americans Assuming New Administrative Roles

Print_James-FeltonJames A. Felton III is the inaugural chief diversity officer at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland. The college enrolls more than 17,000 students and underrepresented minority students make up about a third of the student body.

Felton was the director for intercultural affairs at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in educational administration from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He is completing a doctorate in global leadership and academic administration at the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne.

GainesCharles Gaines was named assistant director of development in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He was director of public relations and communications for Field Agent Inc.

Gaines is a graduate of Abilene Christian University in Texas, where he served as student body president.

frysonDavid M. Fryson was promoted to vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at West Virginia University. Previously, he served as chief diversity officer and deputy general counsel at the university.

Fryson is a graduate of West Virginia State University and the West Virginia University College of Law.

Mia-HenryMia Henry was named executive director of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. For the past four years, Henry has served on the national leadership team for Black Space, an initiative of Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity.

Henry is a graduate of Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she majored in sociology and criminal justice. She earned a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Rodney-D.-ChismRodney D. Chism was appointed director of bands at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina. He was the assistant director of bands and director of the Jazz Ensemble at Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Chism is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He holds master’s degrees from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and Jackson State University.

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