Virginia State University Names Its New President

Makola M. Abdullah was named the 14th president of Virginia State University. He has been serving as provost and chief academic officer at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Before becoming provost at Bethune-Cookman in 2013, he held a similar position at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens. Earlier, he was dean of the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Harry Black, a rector and presidental search committee chair, stated that “Dr. Abdullah is an individual of unique character and ability. His dedication to student growth and moving Virginia State University forward will quickly become apparent to everyone associated with the University.”

Dr. Abdullah is a native of Chicago. He is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., and holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. At the time he earned his doctorate, he was the youngest African American to have ever received a Ph.D. in engineering.