Anthony Graham has been named chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He is scheduled to take the helm of the historically Black university on July 1.
According to the most recent federal data, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) enrolls over 1,900 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students. Black students represent about 90 percent of all undergraduates.
With nearly 25 years of experience at HBCUs, Dr. Graham currently serves as a tenured professor of education at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. He first joined the university in 2018 as provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs. He had a one year stint as interim chancellor from July 2023 to July 2024.
Before joining the Winston-Salem State University administration, Dr. Graham spent nearly two decades at North Carolina A&T State University – the largest HBCU in the country. He held several leadership roles during his long tenure, including dean of the College of Education, associate dean, and chair of the department of curriculum and instruction. Earlier, he was a high school English teacher.
As an academic, Dr. Graham’s career has focused on increasing the number of classroom teachers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, who enter the teaching profession in under-resourced rural and urban schools. He previously served as managing editor of The Negro Educational Review.
“I am eager to collaborate with exceptional faculty, dedicated staff, devoted alumni, and valued partners to foster a culture of excellence that drives student success, growth, and development,” said Dr. Graham. “As chancellor, one of my priorities is to ensure that UAPB thrives as a catalyst for social and economic mobility. Our mission is to provide students with a strong return on investment by expanding experiential learning opportunities that prepare them for meaningful careers and lifelong success. Leading UAPB is more than a role – it is a calling – as the university has a proud legacy of producing transformative servant leaders. I look forward to elevating the UAPB brand, which is synonymous with excellence.”
Dr. Graham is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in English with a minor in mathematics. He holds a master’s degree in secondary English education and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
