Delaware State University Extends Search for New President

Delaware State University, the historically black educational institution in Dover, chose three candidates as finalists for the presidency of the university. Last August, Allen L. Sessoms stepped down as president of Delaware State University in order to become president of the University of the District of Columbia.

The three finalists who were brought to campus for extensive interviews and meetings with campus constituencies were:

• Tony Allen, an executive for the global card services division of Bank of America. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware and holds a master’s degree from Baruch College and a Ph.D. in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.

• Patricia Pierce Ramsey, former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bowie State University in Maryland. Dr. Ramsey is a graduate of Norfolk State University. She holds master’s degrees from Howard University and Harvard University and a Ph.D. in biology from Georgetown University.

• George W. Reid, assistant secretary for planning and academic affairs for the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Dr. Reid holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Carolina Central University and a Ph.D. in American history from Howard University.

After the finalists visited campus, the presidential search committee announced that none of the three candidates was the right fit for the job. Chair of the presidential search committee Wesley Perkins, a member of the university’s board of trustees, stated, “We have to make sure we make the right choice no matter how long it takes to get there.”

Copyright © 2009. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.