Ofosuwa M. Abiola is the new dean of the Graduate School at Bowie State University in Maryland. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the HBCU has a graduate population of over 1,100 students.
Dr. Abiola comes to Bowie State from another HBCU, Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she taught for more than a decade. She held several leadership roles during her tenure, including coordinator of the dance program and associate dean of research and creative endeavors. As an Africanist historian, Dr. Abiola specializes in the dances and culture of Africa and the diaspora. She is the author of several books, including her most recent monograph, Afrikinsesis: A Paradigm for Research on African and African Diaspora Dance (Routledge, 2023).
A two-time HBCU graduate, Dr. Abiola earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Virginia State University and her Ph.D. in history from Howard University.
Vonda M. Easterling is the new dean of students at Fort Valley State University in Georgia, where she will lead efforts to enhance the campus experience for a population of nearly 2,800 students.
With nearly three decades of higher education experience, Dr. Easterling has an extensive background in HBCU leadership, spanning the areas of student affairs, enrollment management, academic support, and student success. Most recently, she worked in housing and residence life at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Earlier, she held senior positions with Elizabeth City State University, Shaw University, and North Carolina Central University.
Dr. Easterling received her bachelor’s degree in English from historically Black Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, her master’s degree in English literature from North Carolina State University, and her Ph.D. in higher education leadership from Capella University.
