Paulette Dillard was named interim president of historically Black Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2017. A little more than a year later she became the eighteenth president of Shaw University.
Now the board of trustees has extended President Dillard’s contract for five years. Joseph N. Bell, chair of the board of trustees at Shaw University, stated that “President Dillard’s successful leadership has helped Shaw University remain stable during COVID-19. I believe that working together works. President Dillard, together with the board of trustees, has positioned the university for unparalleled success as they lead the university into its 2025 Strategic Plan.”
“I am grateful to the board of trustees for demonstrating their continued support of my leadership,” stated Dr. Dillard. “My focus will remain on bolstering student success and leading the academy’s stellar faculty and staff along with engaging our distinguished alumni.”
Before being named interim president in 2017, Dr. Dillard was the vice president of academic affairs and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the university. Dr. Dillard is a trained medical technologist certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology and has over 25 years of experience working in the field of diagnostic laboratory medicine. She began her career at International Clinical Laboratories in Nashville, Tennessee. She went on to hold senior positions at SmithKline and Quest Diagnostics.
A native of Mount Airy, North Carolina, President Dillard holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Barber-Scotia College in Concord, North Carolina, an MBA from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and a Ph.D. in cell biology from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia.
Here’s a classic example of misguided decision making by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Joseph Bell and other members. How is it possible to REWARD Paulette Dillard with the position of president of Shaw University when she woefully failed as the VP for academic affairs and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. For those who dissent, I would highly suggest that you review the abysmal graduation rate for Shaw University before you respond with an emotive comment.
Further, in order for HBCUs to be at the “tip of the spear” within the higher education landscape, it must extricate all of the so-called Black American upper echelon administrator who hold membership to these neoliberal, colorism, pseudo-elitist, and nepotism inclined so called Black Greek, Boule,& Links members because they pose an existential threat to HBCUs forward advancement.