Seven African Americans Taking on New Administrative Roles at Universities

Timothy L. Hatchett was appointed vice president in the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Fort Valley State University in Georgia, effective October 25. Dr. Hatchett was assistant vice president for student success at the University of the District of Columbia.

Dr. Hatchett is a graduate of Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he majored in criminal justice. He holds a master of public administration degree from Troy University in Alabama and a Ph.D. in political science from Clark-Atlanta University.  

Santee Ezell was promoted to director of the department of health promotion and wellness at Mississippi State University. She had been serving as assistant director of health promotion and wellness.

Ezell holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree in community development from Delta State University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in human development and family science at Mississippi State.

Erica Alexander was named deputy chief compliance officer at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Most recently, Dr. Alexander served as administrative chief of staff for Inova Health System’s Clinical Enterprise in Northern Virginia.

Dr. Alexander received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Michigan University. She also earned a post-professional clinical doctorate in occupational therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh.

Mea E. Ashley was promoted to director of student life at Mississippi University for Women. She has been serving as interim director. Ashley is the former assistant director for student involvement in the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership at Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Ashley is a graduate of Jackson State University, where she majored in multimedia journalism. She earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York City and currently is a doctoral student in leadership and change at Antioch University.

Letitia C. Wall has been named chief of staff and operations officer in the office of the chancellor at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. She previously served as associate provost for administration and planning at the university.

Wall is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, where she majored in accounting.

Laiya Thomas was appointed director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Marquette University in Milwaukee. EOP is comprised of five programs: Student Support Services, McNair Scholars, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math and Science, and Educational Talent Search. Most recently, Thomas served as executive director of the Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs within the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in counseling and student affairs from Lakeland University in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

Jacqueline Blackett has been promoted to deputy director of intercollegiate athletics at Columbia University in New York City. Blackett has most recently served as the senior associate, athletics, physical education, and recreation and senior woman administrator since 2010.

A native of Barbados who grew up in Brooklyn, Blackett is a graduate of the University of Rochester, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

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