Three African Americans Appointed to Dean Positions

Albert Bimper was appointed executive dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of North Texas. Ruth A. Hodges has been named dean of the library and information services at South Carolina State University and Justin R. Smith was appointed dean of students at Goucher College in Baltimore.

Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman to Lead the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Dr. Gyamfi-Bannerman specializes in obstetric complications with a primary focus on preterm birth prevention. She became chair of the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the medical school in 2021. She holds the Samuel SC Yen Endowed Chair. Earlier, she was a professor at Columbia University in New York City.

Dennis Rome Chosen to Lead Indiana University East in Richmond

Dr. Rome currently serves as assistant to the president for community engagement and strategic partnerships at Northeastern Illinois University. Earlier, served as dean of the College of Letters and Sciences at Columbus State University in Georgia and as associate provost and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Kara Freeman to Lead the National Association of College and University Business Officers

When she takes office on June 1, Freeman will be the first African American woman to lead the organization. Freeman has been serving as the senior vice president and chief operating officer at the American Council of Education. She has worked there since 2006.

Willie May Named President-Elect of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Since 2018, Dr. May has served as vice president of research and economic development and professor of chemistry at Morgan State University in Baltimore. Previously, he served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Aubra Gantt Appointed Chancellor of Southern University Shreveport

Dr. Gantt currently serves as a clinician at various hospitals in Phoenix, Arizona. She began her professional educational career at Southern University Shreveport as an educational counselor. She later served as dean of enrollment management at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona and vice president for academic outreach and student success at the Tarrant County College campus in Fort Worth, Texas.

Four African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions

Yolanda Pierce was appointed dean of the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University and John W. Miller Jr. will be the next dean of the School of Social Work and Family Science at the University of Louisville. Kristina K. Bethea Odejimi was named dean of students at Emory University and Kelechi C. Ogbonna is the new dean of the School of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Alec Gallimore Will Be the Next Provost at Duke University

Since 2016, he has been the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. He previously served the college as associate dean for research and graduate education and associate dean for academic affairs. Dr. Gallimore founded and directs the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Michigan

Calvin White Jr. Appointed Provost at Arkansas State University

Currently, Dr. White is the associate dean of humanities in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He joined the University of Arkansas in 2007 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2013.

Three African Americans Appointed to Dean Positions

Albert Bimper was appointed executive dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of North Texas. Ruth A. Hodges has been named dean of the library and information services at South Carolina State University and Justin R. Smith was appointed dean of students at Goucher College in Baltimore.

Four African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions

Newly appointed to dean positions are Gregory E. Triplett Jr. in the School of Science and Engineering at Saint Louis University, Denise Taliaferro Baszile in the College of Education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Viola L. Acoff for the University of Mississippi School of Engineering, and Leon Geter for the School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences at Benedict College in South Carolina.

Anita Thomas Will Be the First African American President of North Central College in...

Dr. Thomas is currently the executive vice president and provost at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to arriving at St. Catherine University in 2019, she was the founding dean of the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. Earlier in her career, Dr. Thomas taught counseling psychology and school counseling at Loyola University Chicago.

Xavier Cole Selected as the First African American President of Loyola University New Orleans

Dr. Cole has been serving as vice president for student affairs at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Before joining the staff at Marquette in 2016 he was vice president for student affairs at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Earlier, he was assistant vice president for student development at Loyola University of Maryland.

Eric Turner Will Be the First Black President of Lasell University in Newton, Massachusetts

Turner was named Lasell’s provost in June 2020 after serving as the institution’s vice president of graduate and professional studies. Earlier in his career, he was a senior vice president at State Street Corporation, a financial services firm based in Boston.

Carl Goodman Selected as the Next Provost at Texas Southern University

For the past three years, Dr. Goodman served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Bowie State University in Maryland. Earlier, he was associate provost for academic affairs and student services at Florida A&M University.

A Change in Leadership at Savannah State University in Georgia

Kimberly Ballard-Washington has resigned as president of Savannah State University in Georgia for "personal reasons." The University System of Georgia named Cynthia Robinson Alexander as interim president of Savannah State University. She has been serving as associate vice chancellor for finance at the University System of Georgia. She joined the university system in 2009.

Marshall Fulbright III Named President of the Monterey Peninsula Community College

Dr. Fulbright is currently the vice president of academic affairs at Grossmont College in El Cajon, California. Previously he was an instructional dean at Norco College and the College of the Sequoias.

California State Universities Appoint Two African American Men to Dean Positions

Arnold Holland is the new dean of the College of the Arts at California State University, Fullerton and Mitch Mitchell has been appointed associate vice president for student success and dean of students at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata.

Christy L. Brown Will Be the Next President of Alverno College in Milwaukee

Since 2012, Brown has served as chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast. Prior to leading the Girl Scouts, Brown served as vice chancellor for finance and administrative affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 2007 to 2012. Earlier, she was executive vice president and general counsel at Milwaukee Area Technical College from 2002 to 2007.

Ron K. Patterson Appointed the Twelfth President of Chadron State College in Nebraska

Dr. Patterson has been serving as vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and director of the presidential mentor’s academy at the University of North Alabama in Florence. He joined the staff there in 2016. Previously he served as vice president for enrollment management at Marietta College in Ohio.

Steven Watkin Will Be the New Leader of Bakersfield College in California

Watkin was hired by Bakersfield College nine years ago to build an outreach program in partnership with local area high schools. Most recently, he has served as associate vice chancellor of enrollment management at the Kern Community College District. In addition, Watkin has been pastor of the Church of God in Christ in Arvin, California, for the past 11 years.

Rodney Bennett Selected to Serve as the Next Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

As required by state law, Dr. Bennett’s candidacy now undergoes a 30-day vetting period which will include a series of public sessions during which members of the university community and the news media can meet him and ask questions. After 30 days, the board of regents can vote on Dr. Bennett's appointment. If approved, he will be the first African American to lead the university.

Nerita Hughes Selected to Become President of Bay de Noc Community College in Michigan

Dr. Hughes has been serving as the interim associate vice president of academic affairs and workforce innovation and dean of the School of Business, Careers, Education, and Workforce Innovation at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. She will begin her term as president on July 10.

J. Luke Wood Selected to Lead California State University, Sacramento

Dr. Wood has been serving as vice president for student affairs and campus diversity and chief diversity officer and the Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education at San Diego State University. He joined the faculty there in 2011.

Kimberly Rogers Appointed the Fifteenth President of Contra Costa College in California

Before being named acting president of the college in 2022, Dr. Rogers was vice president for instruction. Earlier in her career, she held academic appointments at the University at Buffalo of the State University of New York System, the University of Massachusetts Boston, and the Université de Haute-Alsace in France.

Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus Names Its New Provost

Jill Drake had served in the role on an interim basis for only a month when her appointment to the post on a permanent basis was made. Previously, she was associate vice president for academic affairs and a professor of education at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton.

Dewayne Middleton Appointed President of Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi

The board of trustees of Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi, has named Dewayne Middleton as the ninth president of the college, effective July 1. Since 2021, he has been serving as executive vice president of the college.

A Change in Leadership at Tougaloo College in Mississippi

Carmen J. Walters is stepping down from her post as president of Tougaloo College in Mississippi. She has been president of the private HBCU since July 2019. No reason was given for her departure. An alumni group had been seeking her ouster. Donzell Lee, who worked as a faculty member and administrator at Alcorn State University for 45 years, has been selected to serve as interim president,

Three African American Men Who Have Been Appointed to Provost Positions at Universities

Stevie Lawrence II has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. Farrell J. Webb is the new provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and Ricardo Phipps is the new provost and vice president for academic affairs at Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Yolanda Page Selected as the Eighth President of Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Since last fall, Dr. Page has been serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Savannah State University in Georgia. Earlier, she was a professor of English and vice president in the Division of Academic Affairs at Dillard University in New Orleans.

State University of New York at Oswego Selects Peter Nwosu as Its Next President

Dr. Nwosu has been serving as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and student success at Herbert H. Lehman College, a campus of the City University of New York in The Bronx. Prior to this role, he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Clark Atlanta University.

Three Black Women Scholars Who Have Been Appointed University Deans

Pamela McCauley will be the next dean of the School of Engineering at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania. Cheryl Blackman was named dean of the College of Professional Studies at Bowie State University in Maryland and M. Evelyn Fields has been appointed dean of the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at South Carolina State University.

Michele Carter Will Be the First African American Chancellor of Central Texas College in...

Dr. Carter began her career at Central Texas College 32 years ago as a receptionist. Most recently, she has served as deputy chancellor of finance and administration. When she takes office on July 1, she will be the first woman and the first African American to lead the college.

The New Leader of Buffalo State University in New York

Bonita R. Durand was named interim president of Buffalo State University, a campus of the State University of New York System. She will not be a candidate for permanent president of the university. Bonita Durand retired in 2018 after 22 years of service to SUNY Buffalo State, where she served as chief of staff and a graduate faculty member in the university’s higher education administration department.

Raphael Florestal-Kevelier Selected to Lead the American College Health Association

Raphael Florestal-Kevelie is the assistant vice chancellor for student health and wellness and a clinical assistant professor of community health sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago. The American College Health Association has 750 higher education member institutions representing nearly 10,000 members.

Tony D. Hawkins Appointed President of Broome Community College in Binghamton, New York

Dr. Hawkins has served for the past eight years as the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs, continuing education, and workforce development at Frederick Community College in Maryland. Prior to this role, he was the college-wide dean of humanities at Montgomery College in Maryland.

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