Faculty

Four Black Scholars Appointed to New Faculty Positions

Duchess Harris was selected for an endowed appointment at Macalaster College and Samson Okoth Opondo was promoted to full professor at Vassar College. Christy Swinson is associate dean of the Fayetteville State University School of Nursing and La'Tesha Sampson is director of the MSW program at Seton Hall University.

Lonnie T. Brown to Lead the Temple University School of Law

Professor Brown has been serving as dean of the Winston College of Law at the University of Tennessee. He will begin his new role of dean of the Beasley School of Law at Temple University in Philadelphia on August 1.

A Trio of New Deans at Historically Black Universities

Tracey Gregory is dean of the School of Education and Psychology at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. Angela Johnson is dean of the Chapel at Dillard University in Louisiana, and Erin White is dean of the Lloyd College of Health, Science, and Technology at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina.

Two Black Women Scholars Selected for Endowed Professorships

Margarita Guillory is the C. Allyn and Elizabeth V. Russell Professor of Religion and Culture in the United States at Boston University. Candis Watts Smith was named the Robert O. Keohane Professor of Political Science at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

The New Dean of the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Before his appointment as interim dean in January 2025, Dr. Chitiyo, a professor of special education, served five years as chair of the university's department of specialized education services.

New Appointments for Four Black Scholars in Academia

The Black scholars named to new posts are Ozzie Abaye at Virginia Tech, Suban Nor Cooley of Michigan State University, A. Bolu Ajiboye at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and Dustin Bessette at Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon.

Kesha James Named Dean of Online Learning at Miles College in Alabama

As the new dean of online learning at Miles College in Alabama, Dr. James will provide strategic leadership for the HBCU's online initiatives and oversee academic data reporting and analytics.

New Faculty Appointments for Three Black Scholars

Tanja R. Darden was selected for a faculty fellowship in the College of Business & Economics at Towson University in Maryland, Leapetswe Malete was appointed to an endowed professorship at Michigan State University, and Igho Ofotokun is chair of the department of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

African American Studies Professor Sues the University of Arkansas for Discrimination

Najja Baptist, associate professor at the University of Arkansas, has filed a lawsuit against the university after an administrator called for his dismissal. The recommendation for Dr. Baptist's termination followed an internal audit that identified some of his research fieldwork, including visits to Black churches and community organizations, as “personal events.”

Joseph Karl Grant Appointed Dean of the North Carolina Central University School of Law

Professor Grant comes to North Carolina Central University from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he most recently served as interim dean and the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Chair in Legal Education in the School of Law.

Marika Peterson Named Dean of Libraries at Virginia State University

Peterson, a two-time graduate of Virginia State University, returns to her alma mater after nearly two decades with Southside Virginia Community College, where she most recently served as the college-wide librarian.

Three Black Scholars Selected for New Roles at Universities

Monica L. Baskin and Tycie Coppett are taking on interim leadership roles at Virginia Commonwealth University and Yale College, respectively. Christina Edwards Bailey was selected for an endowed faculty appointment at Vanderbilt University.

University of Nevada College of Education Dean Receives No-Confidence Vote

Dr. Easton-Brooks has led the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Education for seven years. Recently, over 85 percent of the college's faculty issued a vote of no-confidence in his leadership capabilities.

Kymberly Pinder Reappointed Dean of the Yale School of Art

Dr. Pinder was named dean of the Yale School of Art in 2021, making her the first Black woman to serve as a dean at the Ivy League university. She has been reappointed to her role for a second five-year term.

Tiece M. Ruffin to Lead the School of Education at Fort Lewis College in Colorado

Dr. Ruffin comes to her new role from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she taught for the past 16 years. Dr. Ruffin focuses her research on learners with special needs, diverse learners, and pedagogical approaches for the diverse and inclusive classroom.

New Academic Appointments for Four Black Professors

The appointments are Robert Winn at Temple University in Philadelphia, Chanita Hughes-Halbert at the University of Southern California, Caroline M. Kingori at Hampton University in Virginia, and Lawrence Udeigwe at Manhattan University.

New Appointments for a Trio of Black Scholars in Academia

Cacey Bester was promoted to associate professor at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and Tonya Peeples was named a special adviser to the provost at Pennsylvania State University. North Carolina A&T State University's James Daniels was appointed the second Poet Laureate for the city of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Marjorie Shavers to Lead the Missouri State University College of Education

Dr. Shavers has served as associate dean of the College of Education at Missouri State University for nearly three years. She is slated to serve as the college's interim dean on July 1.

Three Black Scholars Promoted to New Faculty Ranks

Mercy Mumba was named a Distinguished Research Professor of Nursing at the University of Alabama. Krystle McLaughin was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor of chemistry at Vassar College in New York and Nsoki Mavinga was promoted to professor of mathematics at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Columbia University to Build National Dataset on University Governance and Health for Black Professors

The newly launched Black Professors Study at Columbia University aims to create the first integrated data set on Black faculty in the United States, providing actionable evidence for universities seeking to strengthen institutional equity and accountability.
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