Two African American Women Who Have Been Appointed to Endowed Professorships

Robin R. Means Coleman was named the inaugural Ida B. Wells and Ferdinand Barnett Professor in the department of communication studies in the School of Communication at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She will also serve as vice president and associate provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. She has been serving as vice president and associate provost for diversity and a professor in the department of communication at Texas A&M University. Dr. Coleman is the author of several books including Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present (Routledge, 2011).

Professor Coleman received her bachelor’s degree in communications from what is now Chatham University in Pittsburgh. She holds a master’s degree in communications from the University of Missouri and a Ph.D. in mass communications from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Whitney Pirtle was named to a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Chair in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts at the University of California, Merced. Dr. Pirtle is a sociologist with interdisciplinary expertise in race and nation, racial identity constructions, racial/ethnic disparities in health, and Black feminist sociology.

Dr. Pirtle is a graduate of Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. She earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

 

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Three African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Terrence Mitchell was appointed executive director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Faye Belgrave has been named vice president and chief diversity officer at Virginia Commonwealth University and Tammy Bennett is the inaugural vice president for inclusive excellence in philanthropy at the University of Cincinnati Foundation.

Federal Government Calls on States to End Funding Disparities at Black Land-Grant Universities

The federal government sent letters to 16 governors emphasizing the over $12 billion disparity in funding between land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their non-HBCU land-grant peers in their states. Unequitable appropriated funding of the 1890 institutions in the states ranges from $172 million to $2.1 billion.

A Trio of Black Scholars in New Faculty Roles at Universities

The City College of New York has appointed Jervette R. Ward as director of the Black Studies Program. Scotti Branton is a new assistant professor of communication at the University of Arkansas, and professor Danille Taylor was appointed director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum.

Shaw University to Expand Its Presence to Research Triangle Park

The collaboration will secure Shaw University a dedicated office space within Frontier RTP innovation campus, located in the heart of the city's new vibrant downtown area. The space will include private offices and an administrative area dedicated to Shaw University, as well as classroom space.

Featured Jobs