Kelley Bolden Bailey has been named dean of Florida A&M University Online. With over two decades of experience in higher education, she currently serves as an assistant professor and instructional designer for the HBCU’s online MBA program. She specializes in curriculum design, technology integration initiatives, student success, technological innovation, and workforce alignment.
Dr. Bailey holds a doctorate in educational leadership and human services from Florida A&M University.
Ayanna Thomas has been named dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University in Massachusetts. A full professor of psychology, she has served as dean of research for Tufts’ School of Arts and Sciences since the fall 2021 semester. Her research investigates the various contexts that result in episodic memory failures.
Dr. Thomas is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where she double-majored in African American studies and psychology. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Washington.
J. Chris Ford has been appointed chief research officer and dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at historically Black Florida Memorial University. He comes to his new role from Florida International University, where he was the principal scientist for the Applied Research Center and a lecturer of engineering entrepreneurship. Outside of academia, he also serves as CEO of Solis Power, LLC and Golden Technologies, Inc.
An HBCU graduate, Dr. Ford received bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and engineering from Morehouse College in Atlanta. He holds a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
