Three African Americans Who Are Taking on New Higher Education Administrative Positions

Kenyon Bonner has been appointed as vice president and chief student affairs officer at the University of Virginia. His first day will be January 16. Dr. Bonner has been serving as vice provost for student affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Bonner is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. He holds a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Kent State University in Ohio and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.

J. David Bratton was named artist-residence and director of choirs at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. Grammy-nominated Bratton is one of the most popular and respected gospel singers, songwriters, and producers in the country. He plans to take the Benedict College choir on tour to Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, and Paris in December 2024.

Bratton is a 1986 graduate of Benedict College, where he received a degree in business administration.

Jamila Lee-Johnson is the inaugural assistant dean of inclusive excellence for the Graduate School at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Most recently, she served as the equity, diversity, and inclusion manager for the University of Wisconsin System.

Dr. Lee-Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in mass media arts from Clark Atlanta University. She earned a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.