A Half Dozen African Americans Taking on New Administrative Duties at Colleges and Universities

Ann Marie Russell has been named associate provost for data and analytics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was the director of institutional research at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

Dr. Russell is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree in social psychology and a Ph.D. in psychology and social policy both from Princeton University.

Justin Rose has been named director of diversity and inclusion at the University of Illinois at Springfield. He was the coordinator of The Black Male Collegiate Society at the university.

Rose holds a bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in African American studies and a master’s degree in public administration both from the University of Illinois at Springfield. He is currently pursing a doctorate in education policy, organization, and leadership from the University of Illinois.

Lester Primus has been named vice president of administration and finance at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He was dean of administration at Capital Community College in Hartford, Connecticut.

Primus holds a bachelor’s degree from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Stephan Byam has been named vice president of information technology and chief information officer at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis. He was director of enterprise applications and systems operations at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Byam holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA in marketing from Howard University.

Laura K.J. Farr has been named director of state and local relations in the Government Relations Office at Northwestern University. She was a state legislative affairs manager at Chicago Public Schools.

Farr holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Loyola University Chicago.

Carlous Yates has been named director of African American Student Initiatives at Northern Kentucky University. He was the director of student support programs at Western Kentucky University.

Yates holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master of education degree in college student counseling and personnel services from the University of Louisville. He is currently pursing a doctorate in educational leadership at Western Kentucky University.