Glenn Chambers has been named dean of the Honors College at Michigan State University. He began his appointment on December 1.
Dr. Chambers was tapped to lead the Honors College on an interim basis during the Spring 2024 semester. In this role, he helped the college exceed its $3.1 million fundraising goal to renovate the university’s Campbell Hall into the inaugural Honors College living-learning community. He also guided the development of various scholarship programs and worked to enhance honors course offerings.
In addition to leading the Honors College, Dr. Chambers currently serves as interim dean of the Residential College for the Arts and Humanities, and will retain this position through June 2026. He has served in several other leadership capacities at Michigan State throughout his tenure, including associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Honors College, director of the African American and African studies program, and associate dean for undergraduate studies in the Office of Undergraduate Education.
A full professor of history, Dr. Chambers specializes in the history of the modern Caribbean. His research focuses on the former British colonies post emancipation, specifically on the social and cultural history of African descended populations during the period between the Spanish American War and World War II and the political and economic expansion of the United States into the region. Dr. Chambers is the author of two books: Race, Nation, and West Indian Immigration to Honduras, 1890-1940 (Louisiana State University Press, 2010) and From the Banana Zones to the Big Easy: West Indian and Central American Immigration to New Orleans, 1910-1940 (Louisiana State University Press Press, 2019). His current book project is a biography of jazz saxophonist Eric Dolphy.
“I am excited about the opportunity to serve Michigan State University as the dean of the Honors College,” said Dr. Chambers. “The college and its amazing students are some of the most innovative that I have encountered over the years. I look forward to assisting in their continued development as scholars and leaders, and expanding our programs to enrich the broader campus community.”
Dr. Chambers received his Ph.D. in Latin American and Caribbean history from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
