Sean D. Burns was promoted to general counsel and vice president of government relations at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Burns has served as the organization’s assistant vice president of government relations since 2018. Earlier in his tenure at TMCF, he was director of government relations.
Burns holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and justice studies from Frostburg State University in Maryland and a juris doctorate from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Shawna Lynch-Watkins has been appointed director of transfer, adult, and graduate admissions at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. Most recently, Lynch-Watkins served as Meredith’s senior associate director of graduate admissions and lifelong learning. Earlier, she was director of strategic initiatives at the University of Oklahoma.
Lynch-Watkins holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master of public administration degree from Arkansas State University.
Robert E. Nobles III was named senior vice president for health sciences enterprise and research innovation at Florida A&M University. Most recently, Dr. Nobles was vice president for research administration at Emory University in Atlanta. Previously, he held research leadership roles at the University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Nobles received his bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and his master of public health degree in epidemiology from Florida A&M University. He holds a doctorate in health policy and management, health economics, and epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Tyrell Warren-Burnett is the new associate vice president for alumni engagement and annual giving at Georgia State University and the executive director of the Georgia State University Alumni Association. Warren-Burnett has spent the past nine years with the Oregon State University Foundation, most recently serving as senior director of annual giving programs. Earlier in his career, he led annual giving for the Washington State University Foundation.
A graduate of Michigan State University, Warren-Burnett holds an MBA from Ashford University.
Catherine Edmonds was named director of the Forever Learning Initiative at North Carolina A&T State University, where she recently concluded service as interim provost for the 2025–2026 academic year. Dr. Edmonds previously served as interim chancellor of Elizabeth City State University and chief of staff at North Carolina Central University. She also has experience in the public sector and K-12 settings, including stints as deputy superintendent of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, superintendent of Bertie County Schools, and superintendent of Elizabeth City Pasquotank Public Schools.
Dr. Edmonds is an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics education. She holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in educational leadership from North Carolina State University.
