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Claire Oberon Garcia Is the New State Historian in Colorado

Dr. Garcis, who has been a professor at Colorado College for more than three decades, will also lead the State Historian’s Council. Dr. Garcia's research focuses on the experiences of women of the Black Atlantic in the beginning of the twentieth century.

Three Black Women Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions

Deleise Wilson is the inaugural AdventHealth Dean of Nursing at Polk State College in Winter Haven, Florida. Laurie Garrett-Cobbina is the new dean of the San Francisco Theological Seminary of the University of Redlands in California and Melinda Pettigrew will become dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in December.

University of North Carolina Bans Affirmative Action in Hiring and Contracting Decisions

The board of trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill approved a resolution on July 27 prohibiting the university from considering race, sex, or ethnicity in admissions decisions. But it went further and banned affirmative action in hiring and contracting decisions.

Derrick Warren to Lead the College of Business at Grambling State University in Louisiana

Dr. Warren previously served as associate dean and director of graduate programs for the College of Business at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Earlier, he spent over 32 years working for IBM.

The New Dean of the College of Education at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina

André Green is the new dean of the College of Education at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.  He was a professor of leadership and teacher education and associate vice president for academic affairs at the University of South Alabama.

A Trio of African Americans Who Have Been Appointed Deans at Universities

Reginald T. Braggs is the new assistant vice president and dean of students at Prairie View A&M University in Texas. Nikesha Nesbitt was appointed interim dean of University College at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and Dale Wesson was named interim dean for the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences at Florida A&M University.

Gwendolyn Sutton Is the First Woman to Lead the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Memphis

Dr. Sutton began her higher education career in 2001 as a financial aid officer. After two years at private colleges in Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, she joined TCAT Memphis as financial aid coordinator in 2003 and served in that role for 10 years. She has served as its vice president since 2017.

Gwendoyn Sutton Is the First Woman to Lead the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Memphis

Dr. Sutton began her higher education career in 2001 as a financial aid officer. After two years at private colleges in Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, she joined TCAT Memphis as financial aid coordinator in 2003 and served in that role for 10 years. She has served as its vice president since 2017.

Two African American Women Named to Provost Positions

Cynthia Hester was named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins, Texas, and Rhonda Porter was promoted to interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Albany State University in Georgia.

Francine Conway Named Chancellor of Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Francine Conway is the new chancellor of the flagship campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She has led Rutgers–New Brunswick under the hybrid title of “chancellor-provost” for the past two years. The separation of responsibilities between chancellor and provost mirrors the leadership structures of Rutgers’ other campuses.

Gwendoyn Sutton Is the First Woman to Lead the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Memphis

Dr. Sutton began her higher education career in 2001 as a financial aid officer. After two years at private colleges in Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, she joined TCAT Memphis as financial aid coordinator in 2003 and served in that role for 10 years. She has served as its vice president since 2017.

A Hire Gone Wrong at Texas A&M University

In June, Texas A&M University announced that Kathleen McElroy, who had a 20-year career at The New York Times, would join the university's communication and journalism department as a tenured professor. After objections from conservative members of the campus community, Dr. McElroy decided to stay in her tenured post at the University of Texas at Austin.

Michael McFrazier to Serve as Provost at Prairie View A&M University

Professor McFrazier holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and two master’s degrees from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He earned a doctorate in educational administration at the University of Arkansas. For the past three months, he has been interim president of the university.

Alcorn State University in Mississippi Has Its Third Leader in Four Months

Tracy M. Cook is the new interim president of Alcorn State University in Mississippi. He took office on July 8, replacing Ontario S. Wooden who led the university as interim president since April 2023. Dr. Wooden replaced Felecia Nave in April. No reason was given for Dr. Nave's departure.

Cynthia Bond Hopson Chosen to Lead Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas

Dr. Hopson has been serving as chief equity officer and assistant general secretary of the Black College Fund at the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville. Earlier, she served on the faculty of Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, Murray State University in Kentucky, and the University of Memphis. 

Edward Waters University Appoints Genyne Henry Boston as Provost

Prior to joining Edward Waters University, Dr. Boston served as associate provost for academic and faculty affairs at Florida A&M University and chief of staff to the provost at the university. Earlier, she served as the chair for the department of English at Florida A&M University.

Three African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions

Jenelle Pitt-Parker has been appointed dean of the College of Education and Integrative Studies at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Adrian L. Mayse is the new dean of the Division of Business Administration at Talladega College in Alabama and Lisa A. Crooms-Robinson was appointed interim dean of the Howard University School of Law.

Valerie Kinloch Named President of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte

In 2017, Dr. Kinloch was named the Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. Previously, she held positions as associate dean and professor at Ohio State University and taught at Teachers College at Columbia University.

A Change in Leadership at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis

Vernell A. Bennett-Fairs, president of LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis has resigned. No reason was given for her departure, just two and a half years since taking the job. Christopher Davis has been appointed as interim president.

Three African American Women Who Have Been Appointed to Provost Positions

Pamela E. Scott-Johnson was named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Spelman College in Atlanta, effective August 1. Allyson L. Watson was appointed provost and vice president for academic affairs at Florida A&M University and Ana Hunt was named provost of the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College.

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