William J. Whitaker Jr., dean of the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College at South Carolina State University, passed away on June 3. He was 59 years old.
An HBCU graduate, Dr. Whitaker earned his bachelor’s degree in clothing, textiles, fashion, and interior merchandising from North Carolina A&T State University. He went on to receive his master’s degree in merchandising management from Michigan State University and his doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Whitaker worked in higher education for more than 30 years. He was appointed to his most recent role as dean of South Carolina State’s honors college in October 2023. Earlier in his tenure at the HBCU, he served as acting dean of the College of Agriculture, Family, and Consumer Sciences, acting provost, and chair of the department of family and consumer sciences, where he taught as a full professor.
Prior to his career at South Carolina State, Dr. Whitaker held administrative roles with several other HBCUs, including Voorhees University in Denmark, South Carolina; Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina; Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina; and Kentucky State University.
