Four Black Women Who Have Been Appointed to Positions as Deans

Allyson L. Watson has been named dean of the College of Education at Florida A&M University. She was dean of the College of Education at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

Dr. Watson is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. She holds a master’s degree and doctoral degree both in educational administration, curriculum, and supervision from the University of Oklahoma.

Stephanie G. Adams has been named dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas. She currently serves as a professor of management and systems engineering and dean of the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Dr. Adams is an honors graduate of North Carolina A&T State University where she majored in mechanical engineering. She holds a master of engineering degree in systems engineering from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary engineering from Texas A&M University.

Alicia Golston has been promoted to dean of students at Rhodes College in Memphis. She has served as the college’s associate dean of students since 2017.

Dr. Golston holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree both in sociology from the University of Memphis and a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Kentucky University.

Kristina Odejimi was appointed dean of students at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. She has been serving as the dean of students at St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, Virginia, a position she has held since 2014. Earlier, Dr. Odejimi held administrative posts at the University of Virginia and the University of Arkansas.

Dr. Odejimi is a graduate of Denison University in Granville, Ohio. She holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia and a doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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17 COMMENTS

  1. Good day,
    WRONG TITLE.
    It should be written as follows: Four Successful Women Who Have Been Appointed to Positions as Deans.
    End of the story

    • I respectfully disagree, the mention of colt and gender is needed. It means so much to other minorities. Otherwise we may as well drop the gender and say successful people who have been appointed as Deans

    • I must disagree. The underrepresentation of women of color historically and consistently in HE leadership positions suggests we are FAR from dismissing the intersection of gender AND race.

  2. Congratulations to these four prominent women of color. Their respective institutions will be better off because of them!

  3. Salute to these great women. We need more of us in the position of leadership. They are all a true inspiration for me.

  4. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wonderful news and great accomplishments. I have often hoped to live until gender and race won’t be mentioned in such announcements as this. In the meantime, I congratulate them all and rejoice! Ashe’

  5. Congratulations are in order in acknowledgment of these women who are blazing the trail as scholars in institutions of higher learning. Being appointed positions of this magnitude deserves all the desirous notoriety for their accomplishments. Wishing each of you success as you set out to not only perform duties that positively impact student success, but leave an indelible mark on society.

  6. I want to mention my former law professor, Danielle Conway, who was appointed Dean of the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State in January. She is a rock star.

  7. This is the type of information that should be shared with our younger women of color. It continues to give them the inspiration and documentation that they, too, are destined to be successful with determination, hard work, focus and commitment. I congratulate each of these women and hope there will be many more to walk in their footsteps!

  8. This is phenomenal news in academia! As a Black woman and nurse anesthesia educator, I aspire to become just like them! Many of our young Black women in various disciplines need to read this article and view mirror images of themselves and continue to strive for excellence! BRAVO!!!!!

  9. Not sure if it was covered but Dr. Pamela Holland-Obiomon was appointed Dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering at Prairie View A&M University this year as well.

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