Paula McClain to Be the First African American Dean of a School at Duke University

Paula D. McClain was named dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education at Duke University. She is a professor of political science at Duke and is the former chair of the university’s Academic Council. She joined the Duke faculty in 2000. Previously, Professor McClain taught at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Arizona State University, and the University of Virginia.

She will be the first African American to serve as a dean of one of Duke’s schools.

“Paula McClain is a distinguished scholar and outstanding university citizen whose work as a graduate mentor has been widely acclaimed,” said Duke President Richard H. Brodhead. “With her belief in the importance of graduate education and her concern for the well-being of individual students, she will make an exceptional dean.”

Professor McClain holds bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in political science, all from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Related Articles

6 COMMENTS

  1. Dr. McClain’s success as the first African American dean at Duke is a great accomplishment for cultural advancement in higher education.

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Four African Americans Appointed to University Administrative Positions

The appointments are Donald R. Pearsall at Alabama A&M University, Padonda Webb at North Carolina A&T State University, Michael Scales at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dawn Leaks Ragsdale at Yale University.

In Memoriam: Shani Mott, 1976-2024

Dr. Mott was a lecturer in the department of history and Center for Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins University where she worked for the past sixteen years. Her academic studies focused on racial language in American popular culture.

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Featured Jobs