Three African American Men Who Have Been Appointed to University Dean Positions

Tyrone Tanner was named dean of graduate studies at Prairie View A&M University in Texas. He has served as interim dean since June 2021. He has also served as the executive director of the university’s Northwest Houston Center, but will step down from that post in June. Dr. Tanner joined the faculty at the university in 2011 after teaching at Texas Southern University in Houston.

Dr. Tanner is a graduate of Newberry College in South Carolina, where he majored in history education. He holds a master’s degree in school administration and supervision from Southern University in Louisiana and a doctorate in educational leadership and cultural studies from the University of Houston.

Jerlando F. L. Jackson was selected to be the next dean of the College of Education at Michigan State University, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Jackson will also hold the title of Michigan State University Foundation Professor of Education. Currently, he holds both the Rupple-Bascom Professor of Education and Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he has spent more than two decades of his career. In addition, he chairs the department of educational leadership and policy analysis and is founder, director, and chief research scientist of Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory.

Professor Jackson is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he majored in music education. He holds a master’s degree in hgher education administration from Auburn University in Alabama and a Ph.D. in higher education from Iowa State University.

John D. Jones is returning to Alabama A&M University to serve as interim associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies. He served as dean of graduate studies at the university from 2019 to 2021. Dr. Jones is currently serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fisk University in Nashville. Earlier in his career, Dr. Jones served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Dr. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. He earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in education administration and higher education leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.