Roderick Smothers Named President of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas

dr.smothersThe board of trustees of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, has chosen Roderick L. Smothers as the 14th president of the historically Black educational institution. According to the latest Department of Education data, there are 556 students enrolled at the college. African Americans make up about 90 percent of the enrollments and women make up two thirds of the student body.

Dr. Smothers has been serving as vice president of advancement at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in higher education administration, and doctorate in educational leadership, research, and development, all from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Artee Williams, chair of the board of trustees of Philander Smith College, said in making the announcement of the appointment that Dr. Smothers “is the right choice to continue the institution’s forward movement, to build upon its rich heritage, and to sustain its esteemed legacy.”

Dr. Smothers will become president of the college in January.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

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.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs