Appointments

Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis Names Its Inaugural Regents’ Distinguished Professor

Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis Names Its Inaugural Regents’ Distinguished Professor

Dr. Kelvin Adams retired in December 2022 from his duties as superintendent of the St. Louis Public School District, a position he held since 2008. Prior to serving as superintendent, he was the associate dean of the College of Education at Southern University in New Orleans.

Five African Americans Who Are Taking on New Administrative Roles in Higher Education

Five African Americans Who Are Taking on New Administrative Roles in Higher Education

Taking on new administrative duties are Rico Munn at Colorado State University, Monika Williams Shealey of Rowan University in New Jersey, Renarde D. Earl at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, Natasha Hutson at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, and Misty Nunn at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Princeton University's Ludovic Tangpi Wins an American Mathematical Society Fellowship

Princeton University’s Ludovic Tangpi Wins an American Mathematical Society Fellowship

The AMS Claytor-Gilmer Fellowship is named for William Schieffelin Claytor and Gloria Ford Gilmer, the first African American man and woman to publish research articles in peer-reviewed mathematics journals. The year-long fellowship was established to further excellence in mathematics research and to help generate wider and sustained participation by Black mathematicians.

Four African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Four African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new assignments relating to diversity are Kendra Jason at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Rodmon King at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Chanelle Whittaker at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland, and Harold Wallace III at Wichita State University in Kansas.

A Trio of Black Scholars Taking on New Faculty Roles

A Trio of Black Scholars Taking on New Faculty Roles

Bree Alexander was appointed clinical assistant professor and interim coordinator for the bachelor of social work degree program at the University of South Carolina. Cajetan Iheka is the new director of the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale University and Earl J. Edwards is a new assistant professor in the educational leadership and higher education development at Boston College.

New Positions for Five Black Administrators in Higher Education

New Positions for Five Black Administrators in Higher Education

Taking on new administrative roles are Peter Gitau at the Spokane campus of Washington State University, Donald Miles at the University of South Carolina, Pat Kendrick at Xavier University in New Orleans, Joseph O. Montgomery at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Brittney Johnson at Florida A&M University.

Two Black Scholars in the United States Win the Dan David Prize

Two Black Scholars in the United States Win the Dan David Prize

The Dan David Prize is awarded by the Dan David Foundation at Tel Aviv University in Israel to up to nine early and mid-career scholars and practitioners in the historical disciplines. The honor comes with a $300,000 prize. Of this year’s nine winners, two are Black scholars with university affiliations in the United States: Saheed Aderinto of Florida International University and Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers of the University of California, Berkeley.

Three African Americans Appointed to Diversity Posts at Colleges and Universities

Three African Americans Appointed to Diversity Posts at Colleges and Universities

Altheia Richardson has been named the inaugural chief diversity officer at Newberry College in South Carolina. D’Angelo Taylor has been named as the vice president for hope, unity and belonging at Belmont University in Nashville and Monae Roberts is the inaugural chief diversity officer for the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis.

Five African American Scholars Who Are Taking on New University Assignments

Five African American Scholars Who Are Taking on New University Assignments

The five Black scholars in new posts or who are taking on new duties are Derrick Harriell at the University of Mississippi, Crista Johnson-Agbakwu at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Duane Watson at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Phylicia Rashad at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Misty De Berry at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Georgia State's Elizabeth Armstrong-Mensah Earns Early Career Teaching Excellence Award

Georgia State’s Elizabeth Armstrong-Mensah Earns Early Career Teaching Excellence Award

The Early Career Teaching Excellence Award is given to one faculty member each year from among the 138 member institutions in the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. The award recognizes faculty for outstanding teaching and mentoring of students in public health research, teaching, and practice.

Six African Americans Who Have Been Selected to Serve in Higher Education Adminitrative Roles

Six African Americans Who Have Been Selected to Serve in Higher Education Adminitrative Roles

Taking on new administrative duties are Antwan Lofton at Duke University in North Carolina, Mya Jolly at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, Timothy A. Minor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Lisa McClinton at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, Jessica Madison at Alabama State University, and Marcus Byrd at Alabama A&M University.

Four Black Scholars Who Are Taking on New Assignments at Major Universities

Four Black Scholars Who Are Taking on New Assignments at Major Universities

Appointed to new positions or taking on new duties are Michelle Robinson at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Charles D. Brown II at Yale University, Patricia Smith at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University in New Jersey, and Angela Byars-Winston of the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin.

New Administrative Roles in Higher Education for Five Black Americans

New Administrative Roles in Higher Education for Five Black Americans

Taking on new administrative duties are Kafui Kouakou at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, Rashonda Austin at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Teriya Richardson at Texas Southern University in Houston, Troy Miller at the University of Southern Indiana, and Christian Mitchell at the University of Chicago.

Penn State's Denise Okafor Wins the Mason Award for Women in the Chemical Sciences

Penn State’s Denise Okafor Wins the Mason Award for Women in the Chemical Sciences

First awarded in 2015, the Mason Award is a highly competitive award that attracts applications from the very best early-career female chemists across the country. Dr. Okafor’s research focuses on understanding how protein function is regulated.

Three African Americans Women Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts

Three African Americans Women Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts

Taking on new administrative roles relating to diversity are Vernese Edghill-Walden at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, B. Afeni McNeely Cobham at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Shawna Watkins at the Tulsa campus of the University of Oklahoma.

Four Black Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Positions or Roles

Four Black Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Positions or Roles

Taking on new duties are Soyica Colbert at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Arisa White at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, Samuel Johnson at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, and Sherard Robbins at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development in Nashville.

New University Administrative Appointments for Five African Americans

New University Administrative Appointments for Five African Americans

Taking on new administrative duties are Michelle Garfield Cook at the University of Georgia, Tasha A. Carson at Tennessee State University, Anthony D. Henderson, Sr. at Hampton University in Virginia, Brenda Tindal at Harvard University, and Anna Ponder at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Princeton University's Dan-el Padilla Peralta Wins Two Book Prizes

Princeton University’s Dan-el Padilla Peralta Wins Two Book Prizes

Dr. Padilla Peralta won the 2022 American Historical Association’s Herbert Baxter Adams Prize (given for an author’s first book in European history from ancient times through 1815) and was co-recipient of the 2022 Classical Association of the Middle West and South’s First Book Prize.

A Quartet of African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

A Quartet of African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Taking on new diversity roles are Joshua Quinn Tucker at the University of Mississippi School of Law, Lita Little Giddins at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Steven Kniffley Jr. at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Alicia Richardson at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York.

Harvard University's Tiya Miles Wins Another Award for Her Book Ashley's Sack

Harvard University’s Tiya Miles Wins Another Award for Her Book Ashley’s Sack

Tiya Miles, the Michael Garvey Professor of History and the Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at Harvard University, recently was awarded the 2022 Cundill History Prize by McGill University in Montreal. The $75,000 prize is given for a book that embodies historical scholarship, originality, literary quality, and broad appeal.

Three Black Scholars Promoted to Full Professor at Winston-Salem State University

Three Black Scholars Promoted to Full Professor at Winston-Salem State University

Historically Black Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina has announced that seven faculty members have been promoted to full professor. Three of these scholars are Black: Ike Okonta in philosophy, Tennille Presley in chemistry, and Pamela Jones in biological sciences.

Tressie McMillan Cottom Is the Winner of the Gittler Prize from Brandeis University

Tressie McMillan Cottom Is the Winner of the Gittler Prize from Brandeis University

The Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize was created in 2007 by the late Professor Joseph B. Gittler to recognize outstanding and lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic, and/or religious relations. The annual award includes a $25,000 prize and a medal.

New Administrative Duties for Five African Americans in Higher Education

New Administrative Duties for Five African Americans in Higher Education

Taking on new administrative roles are Johnny M. Smith at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, Kori Harris at Hampton University in Virginia, Kimberly Woods at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Jamar Jones at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, and Annya Lott at the University of California, Riverside.

Robert Bullard Honored by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Robert Bullard Honored by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education honors outstanding leaders (both academics and practitioners) who have made significant contributions to the advancement of sustainability in higher education over their lifetimes. Dr. Bullard, Distinguished Professor at Texas Southern University, is the fifth recipient of this award.

A Trio of African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to University Diversity Posts

A Trio of African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed to University Diversity Posts

Taking on new roles relating to diversity are Steven H. Kenney, Jr. at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, Felicia Benton-Johnson at Clemson University in South Carolina, and Sonia Toson at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

Jason King Named Dean of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California

Jason King Named Dean of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California

Dr. King currently serves as chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at the Tisch School of the Arts of New York University. He is the institute’s founding full-time faculty member. He will become dean of the School of Music at the University of Southern California on July 1.

A Quartet of Black Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Assignments

A Quartet of Black Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Assignments

Stacy Gee Hollins was appointed interim associate provost of academic affairs at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis and Getiria Onsongo was granted tenure at Macalester College in St. Paul Minnesota. Candis Watts Smith was named interim vice provost for undergraduate education at Duke University and Terrell Brown was appointed director of the master of social work degree program at Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Colleges and Universities Appoint Four African Americans to Administrative Positions

Colleges and Universities Appoint Four African Americans to Administrative Positions

The four African Americans in new administrative roles are LaMar Bunts at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, W. Rebecca Brown at Florida A&M University, Derrick Robertson at Talladega College in Alabama, and Jackie K. Brockington Jr. at Delaware State University.

New Appointments of African Americans to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

New Appointments of African Americans to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Garrett Green was appointed chief diversity officer at Augusta University in Georgia. Nicole Joseph has been named associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion for Peabody College at Vanderbilt University and Chemen Neal is the chief diversity officer for the Indiana University School of Medicine.

A Trio of Black Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Roles

A Trio of Black Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Roles

Marlon M. Bailey, a professor of African and African American studies at Washington University in St. Louis, was granted tenure. Salome Brooks has been appointed clinical professor and program director of the department of physical therapy at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, and Arnetta Villela-Smith was named co-chair of the ethnic studies department at Skyline Community College in San Bruno, California.

New Administrative Assignments in Higher Education for Three African Americans

New Administrative Assignments in Higher Education for Three African Americans

Misha G. Cornelius was appointed director of public relations at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Zac Selmon was appointed director of athletics at Mississippi State University and Anne Edwards was named director of the Black Cultural Center at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Miriam Mobley Smith Honored by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists

Miriam Mobley Smith Honored by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists

Miriam Mobley Smith is the interim dean of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Prior to coming to the University of Hawai’i in 2021, the veteran pharmacy academic served as interim dean and visiting professor at the Northeastern University Bourvé College of Health Sciences in Boston and as dean and tenured professor at the Chicago State University College of Pharmacy.

Three Black Scholars Who Have Been Given Duties Relating to Diversity

Three Black Scholars Who Have Been Given Duties Relating to Diversity

Wilmore Webley will serve as the inaugural senior vice provost for equity and inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Cornelius Gilbert was appointed chief diversity officer at the State University of New York Adirondack and Krista L. Walker was named assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion for the College of Nursing at Michigan State University.

Kelly Brown Douglas Wins the Grawemeyer Award for Religion

Kelly Brown Douglas Wins the Grawemeyer Award for Religion

Kelly Brown Douglas is dean of the Union Theological Seminary’s Episcopal Divinity School in New York City. She also serves as a canon theologian at Washington Cathedral. She is one of the first Black female Episcopal priests in the United States and the first Black person to head an Episcopal Church-affiliated educational institution.

Three African Americans Who Have Been Named to New Higher Education Administrative Posts

Three African Americans Who Have Been Named to New Higher Education Administrative Posts

Lou Avotri has been promoted to associate vice president and executive director of student success at Talladega College in Alabama. Jared Russell has been named associate dean for academic and faculty affairs at Auburn University in Alabama and M. Ray McKinnie has been selected to lead Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Professor Jerrilyn McGregory Wins the Chicago Folklore Prize From the American Folklore Society

Professor Jerrilyn McGregory Wins the Chicago Folklore Prize From the American Folklore Society

Jerrilyn McGregory, a professor of English at Florida State University, was honored for her book on Boxing Day traditions in the Anglicized Caribbean world, which encompasses the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, St. Croix, and St. Kitts.