Alonda Thomas has been appointed chief marketing and communications officer at Florida A&M University. She comes to hew new role from Jackson State University in Mississippi, where she served as chief communications officer and associate vice president of marketing and communications. Earlier in her career, she was the director of public relations for Howard University.
Thomas received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Florida A&M University and a master’s degree in integrated marketing and management communication from Florida State University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in urban higher education from Jackson State University.
Kevin Linder has been named faculty ombudsperson at Howard University. His background includes over two decades of experience in conflict resolution, mediation, and employee advocacy. He most recently served as associate ombudsperson and certified mediator for Denver Colorado Public Schools.
Linder received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in New Jersey. He holds a juris doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a master of social work degree from the University of Georgia.
Tiffany Bellafant Steward has been named vice president of student enrollment and success at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She most recently served as assistant vice chancellor for student enrollment and retention services at the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Dr. Steward holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a doctorate in higher education from the University of Memphis, as well as a master’s degree in education with a focus on enrollment management from Capella University.
Anthony Hightower has been appointed interim vice president of audit, compliance, ethics, and risk management at Augusta University in Georgia. He served previously as the university’s senior associate general counsel. He has extensive experience in law and higher education, including service as a supervisory attorney with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights
Hightower received his bachelor’s degree from Clark Atlanta University, a master’s degree from Harvard University, and a juris doctorate from the University of Iowa.
Jessica Carr has been appointed assistant athletic director for communications at Louisiana State University Shreveport. She comes to her new role from Alcorn State University in Mississippi, where she was the assistant athletic director for sports information. She previously served as a lecturer at Grambling State University in Louisiana.
Carr holds a bachelor’s degree in visual journalism and a master’s degree in sport administration from Grambling State University.
Ansley Booker has been named the inaugural Penny and Coulter 1982 Executive Director of Dartmouth NEXT, an initiative dedicated to expanding STEM opportunities for students at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. She comes to her new role from Mercer University in Georgia, where she was the inaugural director of diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Dr. Booker is a graduate of Georgia Southern University, where she majored in biology with a minor in chemistry. She holds a master’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Mercer University.
