Appointments & Awards

A Pair of New Administrators Join the Forthcoming Xavier University of Louisiana Medical School

DeQuan M. Smith is the inaugural assistant dean for student success and Danita Beck Wickwire is the inaugural executive director of development for the Xavier Oscher College of Medicine, which is slated to become the fifth medical school at a historically Black educational institution.

Yale’s Marlene Daut Wins the 2025 Haiti Book Prize

Dr. Daut, professor of French and of Black studies at Yale University, was honored for her newest book, The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe, which examines the complex political and intellectual life of early nineteenth-century Haiti.

Three Black Leaders Appointed to New Roles at HBCUs

Joi Grabielle Artis is the new campus minister and chaplain at Benedict College in South Carolina. Shannon Trapp was appointed associate vice chancellor for administration and strategic operations at North Carolina A&T State University and April Thomas was named director of the Undergraduate Research Office at South Carolina State University.

The Association of Black Women Physicians Presents Its 2025 Humanitarian Award to Gail Wyatt

Among many other accomplishments, Dr. Wyatt is known for being the first person of color to become a licensed psychologist in the state of California, the first Black woman to be named full professor at UCLA's medical school, and the first person of color to receive training as a sexologist.

Four African Americans Appointed to Leadership Roles at Universities

The appointments are Christine Lovely at the University of California, Los Angeles, Reginald Ruffin at Tuskegee University in Alabama, Keith Hayes at Virginia Tech, and Laquetta Jones Bigelow at North Carolina A&T State University.

Langston University’s Corey Moore Receives National Award for Disability Studies Research

Dr. Moore is a professor and founding chair of the department of rehabilitation and disability studies at Langston University in Oklahoma. He was recently honored by the National Rehabilitation Association for his research contributions that have improved services to people with disabilities.

Princeton’s Patricia Smith Wins the 2025 National Book Award for Poetry

Professor Smith was honored for her newest poetry collection, The Intentions of Thunder. She currently teaches creating writing in the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University.

A Trio of Black Scholars Taking on Academic Leadership Roles at Universities

Troy Nash is the new director of the Lewis White Real Estate Center at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Carlyle Brewer is a new associate dean at Clemson University in South Carolina and Pearl Dowe was promoted to senior vice provost for academic affairs at Emory University in Atlanta.

Joycelyn Elders Honored by the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation

An expert in pediatric endocrinology, Dr. Elders was the second woman and the first African American to serve as U.S. Surgeon General. She currently serves as a professor emeritus at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Four African Americans Appointed to New Administrative Roles in Higher Education

The appointments are Anthony Campbell at Harvard University, Julie James at Tennessee State University, Charlotte Barns at Delaware State University, and Chantell Link at Lone Star College in Texas.

Four Black Scholars Selected for New Faculty Positions

Julius Crump of Carthage College and Allison McLarty of Stony Brook University were appointed to endowed positions at their institutions. Tori Young and Kristina Bowdrie are new assistant professors at Vanderbilt University and Case Western Reserve University, respectively.

The 2025 Recipients of Harvard’s W. E. B. Du Bois Medal

The W. E. B. Du Bois Medal is presented annually by Harvard University's Hutchins Center for African & African American Research in recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to African and African American culture.

Six Black Americans Appointed to Administrative Roles in Higher Education

Here is this week’s roundup of Black Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to [email protected].

New Academic Positions for Three Black Scholars

Marcia Douglas was named a Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. Regina Davis was appointed assistant vice provost for online learning and extended learning at North Carolina A&T State University and Kamal Kariem is a new assistant professor of anthropology at Bates College in Maine.

FAMU’s Areto Imoukhuede Receives National Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Education Law

Professor Imoukhuede was recently honored by the Education Law Association for his article, “The Walk Away from Racial Equality,” which examines how recent Supreme Court decisions have shifted away from Brown v. Board of Education's vision of racial equality.

Five Black Administrators Appointed to New Roles in Higher Education

Here is this week’s roundup of African Americans who have been appointed to new administrative positions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. If you have news for our appointments section, please email the information to [email protected].

A Trio of Black Scholars Selected for New Roles in the Academic World

Angela Gapa has been appointed to an endowed professorship at California State University, Chico; Vivian Gadsden of the University of Pennsylvania is the new vice president of the National Academy of Education, and Melanie George was named chair of the dance program at Marymount Manhattan College.

Yale’s Elijah Anderson Receives National Award for Ethnographic Research on Urban Crime

Dr. Anderson has studied inequality, structural racism, and crime and violence for nearly five decades. The author of five books, he currently serves as the the Sterling Professor of Sociology and of Black studies at Yale University.

New Administrative Positions for Four Black Leaders in Higher Education

The appointments are Rolanda Horn at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Victor McCrary at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Tamara Michel Josserand at North Carolina A&T State University, and David Halbert at Framingham State University in Massachusetts.

Three HBCUs Announce New Dean Appointments

Xavier Whitaker is the new vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Talladega College; Taviare Hawkins is the new dean of the School of Science at Hampton University; and Shannon Campbell is the new dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at North Carolina A&T State University.

Get the FREE JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News