A Trio of African American Administrators Taking on New Roles in Higher Education

Changamire “Shanni” Durall has been named assistant vice president of campus safety and chief of police at Xavier University of Louisiana. She was the lieutenant in charge of investigations at Norfolk State University in Virginia.

Lt. Durall holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree both in criminal justice from Saint Leo University in Florida. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Walden University.

Alison Williams has been named vice president for equity and inclusion and Title IX officer at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She currently serves as associate provost for diversity and intercultural education at Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

Dr. Williams is a graduate of Wesleyan University where she majored in chemistry. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. both from the University of Rochester in New York.

Alfred Degrafinreid II has been named associate vice chancellor for community relations for the Division of Government and Community Relations at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He was the chief administrator officer for the Office of the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk.

Degrafinreid holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Tennessee State University and a law degree from Indiana University.

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