Darrin Martin Appointed President of Bluefield State University in West Virginia
“Bluefield State is uniquely positioned to expand opportunities for its students and strengthen its impact in the region. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and the community to build on the university’s successes," said Dr. Darrin Martin.
Brown University Announces New Initiatives to Recruit and Retain a Diverse Student Body
"In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that greatly limited any consideration of race in admission decisions, Brown remains committed to complying with the law while fostering a diverse and inclusive community as integral to our mission of academic excellence," wrote Provost Francis Doyle and Patricia Poitevien, interim vice president for institutional equity and diversity.
Dexter Wakefield to Lead College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Alcorn State University
Dr. Wakefield joined the Alcorn State University faculty in 2021 as a professor and associate dean of academic programs for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. He has served as the college's interim dean for the past two years.
Rotesha Harris Appointed President of Knoxville College in Tennessee
"I am committed to ensuring that Knoxville College continues to be a beacon of opportunity and excellence. Together, we will strengthen our foundation and work diligently to regain accreditation, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come," said Dr. Harris.
Judge Rules That the U.S. Naval Academy Can Still Consider Race in Admissions Decisions
The U.S. Naval Academy enrolls about 4,450 students, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. Blacks make up just 6 percent of the student body. A federal judge has ruled that the USNA may continue to consider race in its admissions decisions.
Marlin Nabors Named Dean of Students at the University of Pittsburgh
With over two decades of experience in higher education administration, Nabors comes to the University of Pittsburgh from Endicott College in Massachusetts, where he served as dean of students for four years.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Georgia Southwestern State University Names a...
Dr. Ross has focused his career on advancing nursing education through evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary collaboration. He currently serves as dean of nursing and chief nurse administrator at St. Paul's School of Nursing in New York.
Saint Augustine’s University Will Appeal Accreditation Decision
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has recently voted to remove Saint Augustine's University's accreditation. The university will maintain its accreditation during the appeals process. To remain accredited, the HBCU has until February 2025 to provide evidence of its financial stability.
Soyica Diggs Colbert Appointed Interim Provost at Georgetown University
A Georgetown faculty member for more than a decade, Dr. Colbert has been serving as the inaugural vice president for interdisciplinary studies and the Idol Family Professor in the department of Black studies and the department of performing arts.
A Change in Leadership at Tennessee State University
Ronald Johnson, who has served as interim president of Tennessee State University for the past six monthly, has abruptly resigned his position. The university's board of trustees has appointed Dwayne Tucker, a Tennessee State University alumnus, as the new interim president of the university. He has been serving as CEO of LEAD Public Schools, a network of five charter middle and high schools in the Nashville area.
Steven Jones Appointed President of Mississippi Delta Community College
Dr. Jones has been serving as Mississippi Delta Community College's vice president of administrative and student services. He is slated to become the institution's 10th president on January 1.
Robert Q. Berry III to Lead School of Education at Indiana University
Dr. Berry, dean of the University of Arizona College of Education, has spent his career studying equity issues in mathematics. His new deanship at Indiana University will begin in April.
Floyd L. Wormley, Jr. Appointed Provost of Texas Christian University
“TCU has been my home for nearly six years, and I am thrilled to be able to build upon the academic excellence, important scholarship and creative activity already in progress," said Dr. Wormley.
DJ Washington Named First Black President of Union Commonwealth University in Kentucky
“This institution holds a special place in my heart, and it is a privilege to serve the Union community as we work together to build on our legacy and forge a path of continued growth and innovation," said Dr. Washington, the first Black president of Union Commonwealth University.
Monique Guillory Named Ninth President of Dillard University
Dr. Guillory has served as Dillard University's interim president for the past seven months. Her background includes over three decades of higher education administration experience.
GerShun Avilez Appointed Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of...
Dr. Avilez's background includes teaching and academic leadership appointments with the University of Maryland, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Yale University. His scholarship focuses on Black Diasporic literature and visual culture.
LaNiece Tyree Is the New Leader of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services
LaNiece R. Tyree, assistant vice president for auxiliary enterprises at Howard University in Washington, D.C., was recently elected president of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services. She is the first woman of color and the first official from a historically Black university to hold the position.
Kyle Farmbry Has Resigned as President of Guilford College in North Carolina
Before being named the first African American president of Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2022, Dr. Farmbry served as a professor of public administration in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University in Newark.
American-Born Layli Maparyan Appointed President of the University of Liberia
Dr. Maparyan, a distinguished academic and prolific scholar, had been serving as the executive director of the Wellesley Centers for Women and a professor of African Studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
New Dean Appointments for a Trio of Black Scholars
The new deans are Titus Awokuse at Michigan State University, Chanel Fort at Gadsden State Community College in Alabama, and Maulin "Chris" Herring at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
American Born and Educated Scholar Is the First Black Woman Professor at University in...
A psychology faculty member with City St. George's, University of London for over a decade, Jessica Jones Nielsen has been named the institution's first-ever Black woman full professor. She has served as the university's assistant vice president for equality, diversity, and inclusion since 2021.
Rick Smith Appointed President of Dallas College Northlake
Dr. Smith has been serving as vice president of institutional advancement and administrative projects at Simmons College of Kentucky, Dr. Smith will assume the presidency of Dallas College's Northlake campus on February 3.
Three Black Leaders Who Have Received Dean Appointments in Higher Education
The African Americans appointed to dean positions are Luchara Wallace at Western Michigan University, Aneika Simmons at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, and Dale Hendricks at Amherst College in Massachusetts.
Two Black Professors Appointed to Dean Positions at HBCUs
Jeffery Fleming has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia. David Shabazz has been selected for the same position at Kentucky State University.
Jerry Dickinson to Lead the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Dickinson first joined the Pitt Law faculty in 2017 and has served as vice dean for the past two years. His academic expertise centers around constitutional law.
Bennett College President Suzanne Elise Walsh Announces Resignation
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to have led Bennett College through a period of significant transformation," said President Walsh. "Bennett College is well-situated for its next chapter of growth and impact."
The Staff of the Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program Has Been Abruptly Laid Off
Four months after the Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program director Richard Cellini told university administrators they could "fire [him] or let the HSRP do [their] work properly," the entire HSRP staff have been abruptly laid off.
Ibram X. Kendi Appointed Director of the Howard University Institute for Advanced Study
Dr. Kendi, a leading historian and influential scholar on the contemporary discourse of racism, on his new appointment at Howard University: "This is the most fulfilling career choice I have ever made. I can’t wait to get started on our new institute."
Pamela Wilkes Named Provost of Paine College in Georgia
Dr. Wilkes has an extensive background in HBCU academic and administrative leadership. Prior to her new appointment, she served as provost at Coppin State University for three years.
Penn State’s Danielle Conway Appointed President-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools
Professor Conway has led Penn State's law school for the past six years. Her decades of experience in law school leadership includes academic appointments at the University of Maine and the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
Robert Jones Named the First Black President of the University of Washington
Dr. Jones is slated to become the University of Washington's first Black president on August 1. He comes to his new role from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he has served as the institution's first Black chancellor for the past nine years.
Jermaine Whirl Selected to Lead Savannah State University in Georgia
“Savannah State has a rich history of producing world class artists, educators, scientists, military leaders, corporate executives and public policy advocates," said Dr. Whirl. "I look forward to working with the students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater Savannah community to continue the legacy of the state’s first public HBCU.”
Three Black Scholars Appointed to Dean Positions at Universities
The new deans are Kelley Bolden Bailey at Florida A&M University Online, Ayanna Thomas at the Tufts University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and J. Chris Ford at the Florida Memorial University School of Arts and Sciences.
Thierno Thiam Named Provost of Tuskegee University in Alabama
Dr. Thiam previously spent several years with Tuskegee University, serving in both academic and administrative capacities. Most recently, he served as the chief academic officer for Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina.
The Education Department Takes Aim at Colleges’ Diversity and Inclusion Programs
The acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the United States Department of Education, warned colleges and universities that they risked losing federal funding if they continued to use race as a factor in a wide range of programs.
Two Black Women Selected for Dean Appointments at Universities
The new deans are Malekah Salim-Morgan at Reach University in Oakland, California, and Cordelia Nnedu at Tuskegee University in Alabama.
