Ten African Americans Who Have Been Assigned to Administrative Posts in Higher Education

Cheryl Gittens, an assistant vice provost in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been named interim deputy vice chancellor and chief diversity officer at the university. Dr. Gittens joined the staff at the university as an assistant vice provost in 2017.

Dr. Gittens earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She earned an educational doctorate at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Rakin Hall was appointed vice president for enrollment management at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania. He had been serving as director of foundation relations at the University of Utah. Earlier, he was executive director of admissions at the University of Utah.

Hall holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. He earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Southern California.

Sherri Ann Charleston has been named chief diversity and inclusion officer at Harvard University. Her appointment is effective on August 1. She has been serving as the assistant vice provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief affirmative action officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A native of Detroit, Dr. Charleston earned a bachelor’s degree at Columbia University, where she majored in history and African American studies. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan and a juris doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Karnell McConnell-Black was named vice president for student life at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. He has been serving as the vice president of student affairs and dean of students at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Dr. McConnell-Black holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Loyola University He earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah.

Akirah Bradley was named vice chancellor of student affairs at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She had been serving in the position on an interim basis since January. Earlier, Dr. Bradley was associate vice chancellor for student affairs and has been employed by the Division of Student Affairs since 2016.

Dr. Bradley earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. She holds a master’s degree in higher education student affairs administration from the University of Vermont, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of California, Davis.

Maurice Gipson has been named vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity at the University of Missouri. He was vice chancellor for diversity and community engagement at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Gipson is a graduate of Louisiana State University. He holds a master’s degree in history from Missouri State University and a juris doctorate from the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is completing work on a Ph.D. in history at the University of Mississippi.

Yohlunda Mosley is the new vice chancellor of enrollment management and student affairs at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana. She was assistant vice president of enrollment management at Portland State University in Oregon.

Mosley earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Iowa.

G. Christopher Hunt was appointed associate provost for community, equity, and diversity at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. He was dean of students at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Earlier, he was associate dean of students at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Hunt holds a bachelor’s degree and an educational doctorate from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. He also earned a master’s degree in administration from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Samuel Hayes III, a professional engineer and management consultant, has been selected to serve as interim chief facilities officer at the college of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He is principal and founder of Stratageum, a management consultant firm in Richmond, Virginia.

Hayes earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and public policy from Virginia Tech.

Melody Webb was promoted to director of athletics at Norfolk State University in Virginia. Since 2014, Webb has served as senior associate athletics director for administration and senior women’s administrator at the university.

Webb is a graduate of Savannah State University in Georgia, where she majored in accounting. She holds a master of public administration degree from Bowie State University in Maryland and is completing an educational doctorate at the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama.

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