Six Black Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Assignments

Ernest Nkansah-Dwamena is a new assistant professor of environmental studies at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He was a visiting assistant professor in the environmental studies department at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Dr. Nkansah-Dwamena’s research focuses on nature-society relationships, political ecology, critical development studies, sustainability, human rights, and social and environmental justice with a regional focus in Sub-Saharan Africa. He earned a Ph.D. at Arizona State University.

Deon Benton was appointed assistant professor of psychology and human development at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He also serves as director of the Computational Cognitive Development Laboratory at Vanderbilt. Dr. Benton was a visiting assistant professor of psychology at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Benton is a graduate of the University of Arizona. He earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Tomi Obe is a new assistant professor with the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and the department of poultry science at the University of Arkansas. Her current research focuses on understanding salmonella and campylobacter persistence in poultry production and processing environments.

Dr. Obe received her bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in poultry science, all from Mississippi State University.

Eric Buckles, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Dillard University in New Orleans, has been given the added duties of interim associate provost for the Division of Academic Affairs. He is the Conrad N. Hilton Endowed Professor of biology at the university.

Dr. Buckles holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Alcorn State University in Mississippi. He earned a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from Meharry Medical College in Nashville.

Kenneth Johnson was named assistant professor of African American literature and English at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. He was a visiting instructor in the department of English and modern languages at Florida A&M University.

Dr. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Florida A&M University. He holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in English from Florida State University.

Sonya Donaldson is a new assistant professor of African American studies at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She previously taught at New Jersey City University and Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Dr. Donaldson is a graduate of Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. She earned a Ph.D. in English language and literature from the University of Virginia.

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