A Quartet of African Americans Who Are Taking on New Administrative Duties in Higher Eduction

Melissa Shivers was appointed vice president for student life at Ohio State University, effective January 6. Dr. Shivers currently serves as vice president for student life at the University of Iowa, where she is also an adjunct associate professor of educational policy and leadership studies. Previously, Dr. Shivers spent seven years at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville as assistant vice chancellor and then associate vice chancellor and dean of students.

Dr. Shivers is a graduate of Georgia Southern University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication arts. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and guidance services from Clemson University in South Carolina and a Ph.D. in counseling and student personnel services from the University of Georgia.

George E. Battle III, has been selected as the inaugural vice chancellor for institutional integrity and risk management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For the past nine years, Battle has served as general counsel to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, one of the largest public school districts in the country.

Battle earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He will begin his new job in January.

Crasha Townsend has been named the interim director of Student Opportunities and Achievement Resources at Virginia Tech. She has been serving as a consultant in higher education and small business development.

Dr. Townsend is a graduate of Central Michigan University. She earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.

Etienne Thomas was appointed director of athletics at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. Thomas will lead a program that includes 10 teams, approximately 275 student athletes, and 33 athletics staff. She has been serving as director of athletics at Kentucky State University.

Thomas is a 1996 graduate of North Carolina Central University. She has completed course work for a juris doctorate from the College of Law at the University of Iowa.