Daniel Wims Will Be the Next President of Alabama A&M University
Dr. Wims has been serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs and for research, as well as a professor of agricultural sciences at the university. He will become the twelfth president of Alabama A&M on January 1.
Damara Hightower Mitchell Is the New Provost at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina
Dr. Hightower Mitchell came to Voorhees in 2020 to establish the Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation. Before coming to Voorhees College, Dr. Hightower Mitchell taught at Claflin University, the University of South Carolina, and Benedict College.
Gretchen Generett Is the New Dean of the School of Education at Duquesne University...
A Duquesne faculty member since 2008, Dr. Generett also has served as associate dean for graduate studies and research, chair of the department of educational foundations and leadership, and director of the Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice. She holds the Noble J. Dick Endowed Chair in Community Outreach.
Ericke Cage Is the New Leader of Historically Black West Virginia State University
Cage joined the university in July as vice president and chief of staff and has been serving as the university’s chief operating officer managing the day-to-day operations of the university since July 30. Before arriving at West Virginia State, Cage was the senior advisor to the president and university ombudsman at Norfolk State University in Virginia.
Sean Perryman to Lead the New Center for Social Justice at the Thurgood Marshall...
Perryman has served as director of social impact policy at the Internet Association leading the association’s efforts on diversity in tech, immigration, and its racial justice strategy. Earlier, Perryman served as the youngest-ever president of the Fairfax County, Virginia, NAACP.
Three Black Women Scholars Named to Dean Positions at HBCUs
Afua Arhin is the new dean of the College of Health, Science, and Technology at Fayetteville State University. Michelle McQueen-Williams was appointed interim dean of the School of Education at Virginia Union University and Julia Wilson was named interim dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University in Virginia.
Andra Johnson to Lead the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service
Dr. Johnson has been serving as associate director of Pennsylvania State University Extension. Earlier in his career, he was assistant director of research and graduate research at Alcorn State University in Mississippi and vice chancellor for research and technology development at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Journalist Meredith Clark to Lead a New Academic Center at Northeastern University in Boston
Meredith Clark has been named the founding director of the Center for Communications, Media Innovation and Social Change in the College of Arts, Media and Design at Northeastern University in Boston. Dr. Clark, who is a former print journalist for the Tallahassee Democrat and the Raleigh News & Observer will hold the rank of associate professor.
Don Essex Is the New Dean of Lyman Beecher Brooks Library at Norfolk State...
Before coming to Norfolk State, Dean Essex was an associate professor and director of the Theofield G. Weis Library at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland, for nearly seven years. Earlier, he served for 13 years as a legislative information specialist for the Washington office of the American Library Association.
Delaware State University President to Lead White House’s HBCU Advisory Board
Dr. Tony Allen was appointed president of Delaware State University in 2020 after serving as provost for nearly three years. Before coming to Delaware State, Dr. Allen was head of the corporate reputation group for Bank of America. He is the former executive vice president of MBNA, the large banking and credit card company.
Lerone Martin Named Faculty Director of Stanford’s MLK Research and Education Institute
Dr. Martin is currently an associate professor of religion and politics in the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, as well as associate professor of African and African-American studies, and director of American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. He will join the Stanford faculty in January.
The First Woman to Chair the Surgery Department at the Howard University College of...
Andrea A. Hayes has been serving as the surgeon-in-chief and division chief of pediatric surgery at the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital, where she also served as a professor of pediatric surgery and surgical oncology. A native of Los Angeles, she earned her bachelor's degree and medical doctorate at Dartmouth College.
Spelman College President Mary Schmidt Campbell Will Step Down at the End of the...
Dr. Campbell became president of Spelman College in Atlanta on August 1, 2015. She is dean emerita of the Tisch School of the Arts and University Professor of art and public policy at New York University. Early in her career she was the director of the Studio Museum in Harlem and was cultural affairs commissioner for the City of New York. She joined the faculty at New York University in 1991 and served as dean for two decades.
Three African American Women Who Have Been Appointed to University Dean Positions
Catherine R. Squires was named interim dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Denelle Wallace-Alexander has been appointed dean of the School of Education at Norfolk State University in Virginia and Carmen Renee’ Green is the new dean of the City University of New York School of Medicine
Laurie Shanderson Is the New Chancellor of Methodist College in Peoria, Illinois
Dr. Shanderson comes to Methodist College with more than 20 years of higher education experience, most recently as founding dean of the School of Health Sciences at Northcentral University, a private online university headquartered in San Diego, California.
A Legendary Figure In Black Higher Education Announces His Retirement
Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County has announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year. Under his leadership, UMBC is now the nation’s top producer of Black graduates who go on to earn a Ph.D. in the natural sciences and engineering.
School of Journalism & Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University Names Its Next Dean
Mira Lowe, a veteran journalist and editor, has been assistant dean for student experiences at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications since 2019. Before entering academia, Lowe enjoyed a successful career as a professional journalist.
Mona Lisa Saloy Is the New Poet Laureate for the State of Louisiana
Mona Lisa Saloy is the Conrad N. Hilton Endowed Professor of English at historically Black Dillard University in New Orleans. A native of New Orleans, Professor Saloy holds a master of fine arts degree in creative writing and a Ph.D. in English from Louisiana State University.
Gloria Thomas Selected as the Next President of HERS
Dr. Thomas comes to HERS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she served as the director of the Carolina Women’s Center. Prior to her time at UNC, Dr. Thomas served as the executive director of the Center for the Education of Women at the University of Michigan.
Two African American Who Have Been Named to Dean Positions
Ahkinyala Cobb-Abdullah is the new interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Virginia Union University in Richmond and Vincent Mumford was named Interim dean of graduate studies at West Liberty University in West Virginia.
Charles Robinson Has Been Named Interim Chancellor of the University of Arkansas
Dr. Robinson has been serving as provost and executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. He was named provost last year and has served as vice chancellor of student affairs since 2015. Dr. Robinson’s time at the University of Arkansas spans more than 20 years, beginning as an assistant professor of history.
Patricia Coats Is the New Leader of the DeSoto Center of the University of...
Dr. Coats, who brings more than 13 years of higher education experience to the role, has been serving as assistant director of academic support services for the campus and has been employed at the university for nearly nine years. Dr. Coats previously worked for Texas A&M University at Texarkana and the University of Central Arkansas.
Three African Americans Scholars Who Have Been Named Deans
J. Lee Brown III is the new dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. Ramona Denby-Brinson has been appointed dean of the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Karen C. Goff was appointed dean of students at Oberlin College in Ohio.
Aisha Francis Is the New President of the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in...
Previously, Dr. Francis was the college's chief executive officer at the institute overseeing the day-to-day operations of the college. Earlier, she served as chief of staff to the institute's president. Prior to joining BFIT, she served as the managing director of development for Harvard Medical School.
Three African American Women Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions
Venetria K. Patton was appointed the Harry E. Preble Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Michelle Corley was named dean of the College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture at Central State University in Ohio and Toneyce S. Randolph was appointed dean of academic services at Clinton College in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Orinthia T. Montague Named President of Volunteer State Community College in Tennessee
Since 2017, Dr. Orinthia T. Montague has been president of Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, New York. She previously served as vice president of student affairs and chief diversity officer, and dean of students, at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota, and as dean of students at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Charlotte Morris Appointed the Ninth President of Tuskegee University in Alabama
For over three decades, Dr. Morris has served in several roles at Tuskegee University including chief of staff to the president and secretary to the board of trustees. Most recently, Dr. Morris served as the director of the university’s Title III program.
Black Woman Named Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland
Yekemi Otaru, a 42-year-old native of Nigeria, holds four higher education degrees and has considerable industrial experience in engineering and marketing. She is co-founder and executive director at Doqaru Limited, a prominent Aberdeen-based sales and marketing firm.
Four African American Women Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions
The new deans are Ashley C. Benson at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Tywana Hemby at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina, Ethel Scurlock at the University of Mississippi, and Jackie Jones at Morgan State University in Baltimore.
Sheila Edwards Lange Chosen to Be the Next Chancellor of the University of Washington-Tacoma
Dr. Edwards Lange has been serving as president of Seattle Central College. She was the vice president for minority affairs and diversity for the University of Washington from 2007 to 2015. Dr. Edwards Lange is scheduled to become chancellor at the University of Washington-Tacoma on September 16.
Shaw University Gives a Major Vote of Confidence to President Paulette Dillard
Paulette Dillard was named interim president of historically Black Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2017. A little more than a year later she became the eighteenth president of Shaw University. Now the board of trustees has extended President Dillard's contract for five years.
La Jerne Terry Cornish to Lead Ithaca College for the 2021-22 Academic Year
Dr. Cornish has been serving as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ithaca College since 2018. Earlier, she was associate provost for undergraduate studies at Goucher College in Baltimore. She joined the faculty at Goucher in 1998 as an instructor of English.
A Change in Leadership at Historically Black Kentucky State University
M. Christopher Brown resigned his position as the 18th president of Kentucky State University. He was contracted to serve as president through 2025. The resignation comes on the heels of a state-ordered independent audit of the university's finances. The university's board of regents named Clara Ross Stamps, Kentucky State’s senior vice president for brand identity and university relations, as acting president.
Ronnie Hopkins Is the Tenth President of Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina
Prior to being named the president of Voorhees, Dr. Hopkins served as interim president, and before that, he was the institution’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. He is also a tenured professor of English. Before coming to Voorhees, Dr. Hopkins served at Benedict College as founding dean of the Freshman Institute and the School of Honors.
Two African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Provost Positions
Karyn Scissum Gunn was appointed provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Long Beach and Anthony B. Johnson is the new provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Morris Brown College in Atlanta.
Kembra Chambers Is the New Leader of Trenholm State Community College in Montgomery, Alabama
Dr. Chambers has been serving as the interim associate vice chancellor of teaching and learning and chief instructional officer at the Alabama Community College System in addition to her role as executive vice president and vice president of instructional services at Trenholm State.
