Keiko Price Carter has been promoted to vice president of student engagement and dean of campus life at Emory University in Atlanta. She has been serving in the role on an interim basis since November 2025. Carter first joined the Emory administration in 2020 as assistant vice president of campus life and the Clyde Partin Sr., Director of Athletics. Before Emory, she held leadership roles with Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Illinois.
Carter earned her bachelor’s degree in African American studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she competed as an All-American collegiate swimmer. She holds a master’s degree in language, literacy, and culture from the University of California, Berkeley.
Talibah M. Bayles was named director of the Women’s Business Center at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama. Bayles comes to her appointment with more than 18 years of experience in strategic management, entrepreneurship support, and small business capital readiness. She is the founder of TMB Tax & Financial Services, a tax strategy and financial advisory firm in Birmingham, Alabama.
Bayles is a graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a master’s degree from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.
Markel Quarles is the new vice president for student affairs at California State University, Stanislaus. His background includes more than 25 years of experience in student affairs, enrollment management, athletics, and teaching. Prior to his new role, Dr. Quarles served as associate vice president for student access and success at California State University, Bakersfield.
Dr. Quarles earned graduate and undergraduate degrees from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Traevena Byrd was named vice president and general counsel at George Washington University. She comes to her new role from American University in Washington, D.C., where she has been serving as vice president, general counsel, and board secretary. Her other experience in academia includes senior legal positions with Towson University in Maryland and Ithaca College in New York. Byrd has also served as director of the Commission on the State of African Americans for the State of Iowa.
Byrd received both her bachelor’s degree in African American world studies and her juris doctorate from the University of Iowa.
Rodney D. Smith was appointed senior vice president and chief administrative officer at Texas Southern University. Dr. Smith served as the inaugural president and chief executive officer of the University of the Bahamas, holding office from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2014 to 2022. He has also served as vice president for administrative services and chief administrative and university planning officer at Hampton University in Virginia and as president of Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Dr. Smith received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint John’s University in Minnesota and his master’s degree in clinical and educational psychology from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He earned a second master’s degree in education and a doctorate in administration, planning, and social policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Willie D. Moore was promoted to associate vice chancellor for institutional research and effectiveness at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina after serving in the role on an interim basis. Moore also serves as the HBCU’s chief data officer and director of institutional research. His work supports institutional effectiveness, assessment, enterprise data governance, and evidence-based decision-making across the university.
Moore received his bachelor’s degree in information technology from Fayetteville State University. He earned his master’s degree in information technology from North Carolina A&T State University, where he is currently pursuing a doctorate in applied science with a concentration in information technology.
