Rotesha Harris has been named the thirty-second president of Knoxville College, a historically Black college in Tennessee. She has served as the HBCU’s interim president since June, following the resignation of former president Leonard Adams.
Knoxville College was founded in 1875 by the United Presbyterian Church of North America. At its peak in the 1960s, enrollments reached 1,200 students. The college lost its accreditation in 1997. By 2015, there were only 11 students enrolled for the spring semester. That spring, Knoxville College announced that it would not hold any classes for the 2015-16 academic year. In 2018, the college once again began to offer classes, but only online. This past November, the campus was dealt another blow as its century-old administration building was destroyed by fire.
Dr. Harris brings two decades of professional experience to her new role, including a background in higher education administration, accounting, compliance, and audit. She previously served as associate vice president of internal audit grants and contracts accounting at Clark Atlanta University, an HBCU in Georgia.
“I am deeply honored to serve as the thiry-second president of Knoxville College,” said Dr. Harris. “As we approach this historic milestone of 150 years, I am committed to ensuring that Knoxville College continues to be a beacon of opportunity and excellence. Together, we will strengthen our foundation and work diligently to regain accreditation, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come.”
Dr. Harris received her doctorate from Clark Atlanta University.
Congrats Dr. Harris. Clark Atlanta alumni doing it big!