Ten African Americans Selected for New Administrative Posts in Higher Education

Charlene Alexander was named vice president and chief diversity officer at Oregon State University in Corvallis, effective June 30. She has been serving as associate provost for diversity at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She has been on the staff at Ball State for 20 years.

Dr. Alexander holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. She earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Ra’Sheda Forbes is the new assistant vice president for multicultural affairs at Mississippi State University in Starkville. She had been serving as interim assistant vice president and director of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center at the university.

Forbes holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a master of public policy and administration degree from Mississippi State University.

William Atkins is the new executive director of multicultural and diversity affairs at the University of Florida. He has served in the post on an interim basis for the past six months.

Atkins is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he majored in recreation, parks, and tourism. He holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Michigan and is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in curriculum and instruction at the University of Florida.

Rodney E. Trapp was named vice president for university advancement at the University of the District of Columbia. He was a fundraiser for the Dance Theater of Harlem and an adjunct professor of corporate and foundation philanthropy at New York University.

Trapp is a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he majored in speech communications and theatre arts. He holds an MBA from the University of Valencia in Spain, a master’s degree in international business development from the Novanica Business School in Paris, and a master’s degree in arts management from American University in Washington, D.C.

Tracee Smith was promoted to associate registrar at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. She has been serving as assistant registrar. She joined the staff at the university in 2010 as a data processor.

Dr. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an MBA from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. She earned a master of public health degree and a Ph.D. through Walden University.

Mary Young was appointed acting chief of police in the department of public safety at Texas Southern University in Houston. She was a community service specialist for the Houston Police Department.

Young is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University in Texas, where she majored in communications and law enforcement. She also earned a master’s degree in criminology from Prairie View A&M University.

Anthony J. Azama has been appointed the John M. Schael Director of Athletics at Washington University in St. Louis. For the past two years, he has served as the senior associate athletics director for external operations at Columbia University in New York City.

Azama is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he played football and earned a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development. He holds an MBA from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

James Tate was named director of public safety and chief of police at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He was chief of police at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Earlier he served on the police departments at the University of Arkansas and Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

Tate is a graduate of Regents College in Albany, New York, where he majored in liberal studies. He spent 17 years in the U.S. Army National Guard, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Donelda Cook was promoted to vice president for student development at Loyola University Maryland. She was associate vice president for student development. Dr. Cook joined the staff at the university in 1993 as director of the Counseling Center.

Dr. Cook is a graduate of Delaware State University, where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree in theology from the St. Mary’s Seminary and University Ecumenical Institute of Theology in Baltimore and a second master’s degree and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University.

Deidra Hill was appointed vice president of marketing and communications at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania. She has been serving as vice president for communications and marketing at City College of New York.

Dr. Hill is a graduate of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, where she majored in English. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in Washington, D.C., and an educational doctorate from Morgan State University in Baltimore.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Dr. Keith Motley and all of the educators in your bulletins contributes greatly to higher education.
    Thank you for the minds you each empower and inspire with your dedication to closing the disparities amongst the least in pursuit of a great education.

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