Bernice B. Rumala was appointed director of the Ph.D. program in health sciences at Trident University in Cypress, California. She was the interim research director at Mentoring in Medicine in New York City.
Dr. Rumala is a graduate of the Excelsior College of the State University of New York. She holds three master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in health equity focus from Columbia University in New York City.
Rita Walters was appointed vice president for advancement at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. She was the chief development officer for the Washington National Cathedral. Previously, she served as senior associate director of development for the School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Walters is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. She earned a master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University.
Maurice D. Gipson was named assistant vice chancellor for diversity at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He was the special assistant to the vice president for diversity and community engagement at the University of Texas.
Gipson is a graduate of Louisiana State University, where he majored in interdisciplinary studies. He earned a law degree at the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Missouri State University.
F. Erik Brooks was appointed interim director of the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center on the campus of Western Illinois University in Macomb. He is chair of the African American studies department at the university and has served on the university’s faculty since 2012.
Dr. Brooks holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Troy University in Alabama. He holds a master of public administration degree from Auburn University, a master’s degree in education from Alabama State University, and a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
