ROCK HILL, SC – The Clinton College Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks as the 14th President of Clinton College. Dr. Wilks, a nationally respected higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience – primarily at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) – will officially assume the presidency on June 1, 2025. Dr. Wilks is a former board member of the HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) Board of Directors.

Dr. Wilks brings a dynamic record of visionary leadership, academic innovation, and institutional transformation into this chapter of Clinton College’s legacy of faith, resilience, and academic excellence. She currently serves as Provost and Executive Vice President at Paine College and has previously held senior administrative roles at Wilberforce University, Edward Waters University, and Coppin State University.

Bishop Eric L. Leake, Chairman of the Clinton College Board of Trustees, expressed full confidence in the new president’s leadership.

“Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks’ impressive credentials and vision for Clinton College resonated deeply with us. We are excited about the beginning of her tenure as our 14th President. The Board went through an extensive national search and was pleased to consider many distinguished candidates. It is our confident hope that with Dr. Wilks at the helm, Clinton College is positioned for greater growth and sustainability. We envision a Clinton College that will emerge with great possibilities and will continue to thrive as one of the strong beacons of education and empowerment in the A.M.E. Zion Church.”

“I am deeply honored to serve as the next President of Clinton College. Clinton holds a sacred legacy grounded in faith, resilience, and opportunity. I look forward to working with the Board, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the Rock Hill community to expand access and research, elevate student success, and position Clinton College as a bold, faith-driven institution for the future.”

– Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks, Clinton College President-Elect

Dr. Wilks is a first-generation college graduate, earning her undergraduate degree from North Carolina A&T State University and a Ph.D. in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Known for her commitment to student-centered learning, cross-sector collaboration, and data-informed leadership, she has successfully secured significant funding for academic programs and infrastructure development throughout her career.

HCF Founder, President & CEO Demetrius Johnson, Jr., expressed his confidence and admiration for Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks’s remarkable achievement.

“We are thrilled to join the Clinton College campus community in welcoming Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks as the 14th president. Dr. Wilks’ extensive experience will ensure that Clinton’s rich legacy continues to thrive with resilience. Her unwavering commitment to sacred institutions like HBCUs and higher education will be instrumental in guiding Clinton into its next phase of academic excellence. We wholeheartedly trust Dr. Wilks’ leadership and extend our heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable achievement. We look forward to witnessing Clinton College’s immense success in the future.”

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About Clinton College
Founded in 1894, Clinton College is a private historically Black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the College is committed to transforming lives through liberal arts education, spiritual development, and leadership for 21st-century success. For more information, visit www.clintoncollege.edu.