Two African Americans Named to Leadership Posts at Universities in Texas

Soncia Reagins-Lilly was named vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the University of Texas at Austin. She has served as interim vice president for student affairs since June and as dean of students for the past 10 years. Before joining the staff at the University of Texas in 2006, Dr. Reagins-Lilly was assistant vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles.

In accepting her new role at the University, Dr. Reagins-Lilly stated that “the Division of Student Affairs has a critical role in the college experience of our students throughout their longhorn journey, and I look forward to building on that foundation of excellence.”

Dr. Reagins-Lilly is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, where she majored in economics. She holds a master’s degree in education from California State University, San Bernardino and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

James Douglas was appointed interim dean at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston. He is the former president of Texas Southern University and was a Distinguished Professor at the law school. Dr. Douglas is the current president of the Houston chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Professor Douglas has also taught at the law schools at Northeastern University in Boston, Florida A&M University in Orlando, and Syracuse University in New York. He is the former chair of education for the American Bar Association.

Professor Douglas is a graduate of Texas Southern University, where he majored in mathematics. He holds a juris doctorate from the Thurgood Marchall School of Law and master’s degree in law from Stanford University.