Leadership

Beginning January 1, Dr. McMeans will serve as interim president of Southern University in Louisiana. For the past six years, he has served as chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extensive Center and dean of the university's College of Agricultural, Family, and Consumer Sciences.

Ernest McNealey has stepped down as president of Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, effective December 15. The HBCU's board of trustees has selected Stanley Pritchett, Sr., former president of Morris Brown College, to serve as Allen's interim president.

Dr. Chambers has led the Michigan State University Honors College on an interim basis since the Spring 2024 semester. He has held several leadership roles at the university, including associate dean of the Honors College and director of the African American and African studies program.

Professor Matthews has taught creative writing and poetry at Bryn Mawr College since 2017. As a poet and educator, she centers her work on the intersections of language, economics, race, and social policy.

At historically Black Texas Southern University, Aisha Moultry has been named interim dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Cheree Daniels has been named interim dean of the College of Transdisciplinary Studies.

“I am inspired by the [MGH Institute for Health Professions'] mission to educate health professionals and researchers who will drive innovation in the delivery of equitable and interprofessional care,” said Dr. Jones. “This mission aligns deeply with my own purpose, which is to bring together people, ideas, and systems for the greater good, because the greater good is stronger than any individual part.”

Dr. Allen-Handy, professor of urban education at Drexel University, is slated to become dean of Hofstra University's School of Education on January 1. She is a leading scholar on the social foundations and social contexts of education.

Roscoe Jones, Jr., the first Black dean of the Drake University Law School, has been tapped to serve as co-chair of the national board of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. He has also been appointed to the Association of American Law Schools Deans Steering Committee.

Dennis Shields, president of the Southern University System and chancellor of Southern University and A&M College, has been dismissed from his post. He will join the HBCU's law school faculty after a sabbatical.

“This is an exceptional opportunity to collaborate with students and colleagues to build something new within such a storied institution, and I look forward to supporting and challenging undergraduates to maximize their learning across their varied experiences inside and outside of the classroom,” said Dr. McKnight, who will begin his new role on June 1, 2026.

In addition to his corporate background, Dr. Finley has extensive administrative experience with historically Black universities. Most recently, he has been serving as chief operating officer at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis. Earlier, he was an assistant vice president at Prairie View A&M University in Texas.

A full professor of mathematics and statistics at Pomona College in California, Dr. Goins is slated to become the Mathematical Association of America's first Black president in its 110-year history.

The new deans are Ebony Gilbreath at Tuskegee University in Alabama, Michelle Hayes at Talladega College in Alabama, Calvin Johnson at Texas Southern University, and DeOnte Brown at Florida State University.

Dr. Mason has led the Interdenominational Theological Center on an interim basis for the past year. He has over 35 years of experience in education, including academic leadership roles at several historically Black colleges.

A McNeese State University administrator since 2005, Dr. Nicholas was recently selected to serve as the university's interim president. Prior to his new role, he was senior vice president for student affairs.

“I have been deeply impressed by Germanna’s strong sense of community and its steadfast commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student success,” said Dr. Griffith. “I look forward to building upon this remarkable foundation as we continue advancing the College’s mission and impact across the region.”

Dr. Randolph has extensive experience leading academic affairs at historically Black colleges. Prior to her new role, she was the chief academic officer at both Morris Brown College in Atlanta and Clinton College in South Carolina.

William Harris is dean of academic affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences at Presbyterian College, Brittany Palmer is dean of industrial technologies and professional services at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, and Audrey Miller is dean of the School of Nursing at Barry University.

Dr. Gaba is the first woman and the first African American to serve as president of Atlantic Cape Community College in New Jersey. Before her current role, she was provost of Union County College in New Jersey for 15 years.

With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Bailey most recently served as director for research development at historically Black Virginia State University. A scholar of early childhood education, she has held academic and leadership roles with numerous universities across the United States.