Kristi L. Smith has been named vice chancellor for institutional advancement at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Smith comes to her new role with nearly two decades of higher education experience, most recently serving as the associate vice chancellor for alumni and development at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Before assuming that role in 2022, Smith was the university’s senior director of alumni and development.
Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a master of public administration degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Alicia Williams has been named special assistant for government affairs at Grambling State University in Louisiana. Williams comes to the university with more 35 years of experience in government and public service. For the past eight years, she has served as senior special assistant to former Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. Earlier, she held roles supporting U.S. Senators J. Bennett Johnston and Mary Landrieu and former Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Melinda Schwegmann.
Williams is an alumna of Grambling State University.
Octavius Rice has been selected to serve as interim director of housing and residence life at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Rice has more than 15 years of experience in higher education, student development, mentorship, and youth advocacy. He most recently served as the resident apartment coordinator for Johnson C. Smith’s Mosaic Village.
Rice is an alumnus of Johnson C. Smith University, where he majored in business administration with a concentration in management. He holds a master’s degree in information technology management from Lindenwood University in Missouri.
Abiodun Durojaye is the new executive director of the Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Most recently, Dr. Durojaye was chief executive officer of Urban Alliance, a national nonprofit focused on creating pathways from education to career for young people in urban communities. Her experience in higher education includes service as director of career services and employee engagement at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis and as executive director of career services and placement at National Louis University in Chicago.
Dr. Durojaye received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in African studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She holds a doctorate in interdisciplinary leadership with a concentration in higher education administration from Governors State University.
Joshua Busby was promoted from dean of students to vice president of student affairs and dean of students at Langston University in Oklahoma. Since joining the university in 2008, Busby has served in a variety of roles, including director of student life, annual giving officer, and coordinator of counseling in the Office of Financial Aid. In August 2023, he was selected to serve as interim executive director of the Langston University Foundation.
An alumnus of Langston University, Busby holds a master’s degree in public management and nonprofit management from Indiana University.
