HCF raises funds for scholarships, initiative programming, and for private and public HBCUs and MSis. HCF is a strong advocate for students and higher education.
North Carolina Central University School of Library and Information Sciences Assistant Professor, Siobhan Day Grady, Ph.D., has received a $190,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help improve the function of self-driving cars.
Assistant Professor Grady said she will use the grant, provided through the Historically Black Colleges and Excellence in Research program at the NSF, to analyze and identify problems encountered by self-driving vehicles. The data will become part of a $1 million NSF project to analyze problems encountered by self-driving vehicles, with the aim of detecting and reducing such incidents in real time.
“This research is very timely and relevant; it’s the future,” said Grady. “I’m excited to contribute to the field as well as provide research opportunities to students.”
Lead investigator on the overall project is Daniel Limbrick, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University, where Grady become the first woman to graduate with a doctoral degree in computer science in 2018.
The researchers will analyze the fault-detection capabilities of autonomous vehicles and look for ways of improving reliability. Three types of faults will be examined: transient, which occur due to external factors, such as the environment; intermittent, where problems are known to occur on an occasional but regular basis; and permanent, which occur regularly because of a physical malfunction and must be corrected to achieve reliability.
The project will result in enhanced course options for students at both institutions, as well as outreach and engagement opportunities, Grady said.
“Dr. Grady is a pioneer in artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Jon Grant, Ph.D., of the School of Library and information science. “Students in the SLIS graduate program in information science will gain high-demand skills by working with Dr. Grady to develop the next generation of vehicles that will be more intelligent and make transportation in our society safer,” Grant said.
Grady joined the faculty of NCCU in 2019 as assistant professor of information systems. She earned her master’s degree in information science at NCCU in 2009. She also holds a master’s in computer science from NCAT, where she was a Chancellor Distinguished Fellow.
In September 2019, Grant was honored by the If/Then Initiative and the American Association for the Advancement of Science as one of 120 national STEM ambassadors. Life-sized 3D statues of the female scientists will be unveiled this summer at NorthPark in Dallas as part of a $25 million initiative Lynda Hill Philanthropies to highlight female scientists and encourage more girls to enter the STEM fields.
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About North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University, with a strong tradition of teaching, research, and service, prepares students to become global leaders and practitioners who transform communities. Through a nationally recognized law school, highly acclaimed and innovative programs in the visual and performing arts, sciences, business, humanities, and education programs, NCCU students are engaged problem solvers. Located in the Research Triangle, the University advances research in the biotechnological, biomedical, informational, computational, behavioral, social, and health sciences. Our students enhance the quality of life of citizens and the economic development of North Carolina, the nation, and the world. For more information, visit www.nccu.edu.
About the National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” NSF is vital because it supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future. For more information, visit www.nsf.gov.
HBCU alums help shape the lives of thousands of students. And, we at HCF are so proud of their success. Here is a pick of ten HBCU alumni in leadership and leading in exciting, cool, and well-known careers in several fields.
DeMarco Morgan – News Reporter and Anchor, CBS News
DeMarco Morgan currently anchors at KCBS, for CBS2 News This Morning.
Since joining CBS News in October 2015, Morgan has covered a number of stories ranging from a provocative series addressing the nation’s heroin epidemic to being the first on the air for the network anchoring a special report on the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. Morgan field anchored live coverage for the CBS Evening News from Houston, TX in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and also anchored the network’s special report for the shooting massacre at a small Texas church. He also sat down with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch for an exclusive interview at the Department of Justice on community policing.
A versatile reporter and anchor, Morgan has reported on a wide range of events, from the first national rally after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin to President Obama’s second inauguration. Morgan’s investigative reporting in Atlanta on the infamous House of Prayers resulted in the conviction of an accused child molestor. His extensive coverage on the impact of HIV/AIDS on African American women led to hundreds of people getting tested for the deadly virus.
Morgan joined CBS News from WXIA TV in Atlanta, where he was a reporter and co-anchor of the station’s 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM weekday newscasts since 2012. When he was not on the air, Morgan also taught broadcast writing and reporting at Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.
Previously, Morgan worked as a weekend anchor for WNBC TV in New York while also serving as a cut-in anchor for MSNBC. Prior to that, Morgan worked as a weekday evening anchor and reporter at WTVJ TV in Miami, at WISN TV in Wisconsin, and WJTV TV in Jackson, Mississippi.
He has been honored with several awards including 2009 Thurgood Marshall Prestige Award for his community service efforts while working at WNBC; the Atlanta Business League’s “Men of Influence” Award in 2012.
He was named one of the nation’s Top Ten Collegiate Journalists in the country in 2001 by Scripps Howard and named one of the Ebony Magazine’s Top 30 Future Young Leaders of America in 2006. Morgan was also named one of South Florida Magazine’s top 40 most influential black professionals in 2008.
Morgan graduated from Jackson State University, where he received a bachelor’s of science in liberal arts. He also earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. While at Columbia University, Morgan was a Fred Friendly Scholar and interned at CBS News and 48 HOURS.
Michelle Curtain Stewart, Ed.D. – President of the Institute for Clinical Social Work
Dr. Michelle Curtain Stewart
Michelle Curtain Stewart was appointed as the eighth president of the Institute for Clinical Social Work in July 2019. Dr. Stewart came to ICSW from Lane College in Jackson, TN, where she served as vice president of academic affairs and an associate professor of sociology. Prior to joining Lane College, she served as executive director of the International Association for the Study of the Commons at Indiana University. In that position, she worked with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and donors to support the organization’s global mission. In addition to holding various leadership positions, Dr. Stewart has participated in the following regional and national leadership development programs: Tennessee’s Executive Leadership Institute, Higher Education Resource Services, and the American Council on Education.
Dr. Steward holds a bachelor’s in political science from Alcorn State University, a master’s in sociology and doctorate in educational leadership both from Indiana University – Bloomington. Dr. Steward has more than twenty-two years of combined experience in business management and higher education leadership. She is an accomplished administrator and is a passionate advocate for educational access, social justice, and sustainable community engagement and development.
Myetie Hamilton – Vice President and Executive Director of City Year Chicago
Myetie Hamilton
Myetie Hamilton is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience leading innovative change in K-12 education, and has a deep personal and professional commitment to Chicago’s south side communities. Myetie currently serves as the Vice President and Executive Director of City Year Chicago. Prior to she served as the executive director EPIC Academic, a public charter higher school on the far southeast side of Chicago. In this role, Myetie lead organizational strategy and vision, fundraising and external relations, and board engagement.
Prior to taking on this role, Myetie served most recently as deputy chief of schools for network 9 with Chicago Public Schools, managing transformation efforts for 28 schools in Chicago’s Woodlawn, Bronzeville and Hyde Park communities. She also held positions in Chicago Public Schools as deputy chief of staff in the CEO’s office and chief of school business services for the district. In addition to her work in education, Myetie serves as board chair for the Provident Foundation, a non-profit with a mission focused on providing urban youth with exposure, mentoring and scholarship opportunities in the field of medicine.
Myetie believes deeply in supporting the children of Chicago and the importance of providing all students with access to quality school options. She was recently acknowledged by lifestyle media outlet Make It Better as one of Chicago’s 38 Top Black Women of Impact, and was a 2018 recipient of the Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award. Myetie holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Alabama A&M University, a master’s degree in public administration from Illinois Institute of Technology and is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, Class of 2016.
Maurice Gipson, Ph.D. – vice chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, University of Missouri
Maurice Gipson, Ph.D
Dr. Gibson previously served as vice chancellor of diversity and community engagement at Arkansas State University, prior to being named vice chancellor of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at MU.
At Arkansas State, Gipson’s notable accomplishments include increasing overall minority student enrollment for three consecutive years, increasing community partnerships by 50% and developing strategic partnerships with 10 historically black colleges and universities as a graduate school pipeline. He also taught undergraduate courses in diversity and United Stats history.
Gipson also served two years as a special assistant to vice president for Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. While at UT. Prior to that, he served as an institutional advancement and diversity consultant at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, where he developed a strategic plan to address the poverty in the state. Prior to that, Gipson was a student diversity coordinator at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was responsible for developing a sustainable mentoring program.
Gipson is expected to receive a doctoral degree in history from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, in December, and holds a Juris doctor from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as a master’s degree in history for Missouri State University in Springfield, and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Dr. Jacqueline Gibson-Preastly
Jacqueline D. Gibson, Ed.D. – Vice President of Student Affairs, Mississippi Valley State University
Jacqueline Gibson earned a Bachelor’s in English in from Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), a Master’s and Doctorate from the University of Akron in Communication and Higher Education respectively. Dr. Gibson began her career in Higher Education in ’99 – teaching English, Speech, and Communication. In 2000, she taught in Georgia State University’s Department of Communication and later moved to Director of McNair TRIO Program, until 2006. She than became Director of Learning Resource Center at Lincoln University, PA until 2008, and was promoted to Director of Student Life. In 2008, she was promoted to Dean of Students/Director of Student Life at Lincoln until 2012. In 2012-2013, she served at Kentucky State University as Assistant Vice President of Student Engagement and is currently Vice President of Student Affairs at MVSU.
Dr. Gibon’s professional development includes NASPA/SACSA Mid-Manager’s Institute, ACE’s Women’s Leadership Forum, Peer Review Evaluator for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, President of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Leadership Class, and member of the National Council of Negro Women.
Dr. Roger W. Davis – President, Community College of Beaver
Dr. Roger W. Davis
Dr. Roger Davis currently serves as the President of Community College of Beaver County (CCBC). Since coming to CCBC in July 2016, and prior to being appointed as Acting President, Dr. Davis served as Executive Vice President and Provost where he provided innovative leadership in support of a learning environment that values student achievement and degree completion. He oversaw all credit and non-credit instructional programs and provided guidance and support for college operations such as strategic planning, enrollment management, student success, and retention initiatives, and a culture of assessment.
Dr. Davis came to CCBC from SUNY Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, where he served as Associate Vice President of Instruction and Academic Services. His previous experiences included leadership positions at Bauder Colleged in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served as Vice President of Academic Affairs; University of Maryland University College, where he taught and had responsibility for a wide range of academic services as an Associate Dean and Assistant to the Provost, and at Morgan State University, where served as Assistant Director and supported the University Honors Program and worked with over 700 gifted students annually.
Dr. Davis earned a doctoral degree in Urban Educational Leadership from Morgan State University; a master of science degree in Adult Education, with Honors, from Coppin State College; and a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Tammie Hall – Division Director and Assistant to the Secretary for HUB Outreach for the State of North Carolina
Tammie Hall
Tammie Hall currently serves in the position of Division Director and Assistant to the Secretary for HUB Outreach for the State of North Carolina. She began service on June 1, 2017. Tammie is responsible for developing policy and guidelines for the State’s HUB program. She also serves as the authority in the field of minority business development and public sector M/WBE and HUB Programs. Responsibility also includes working with inter-agencies; such as community colleges, state universities, public schools, public entities such as local governments, municipalities, towns, airport authorities and hospital authorities. The HUB Office will oversee statewide: Certification Compliance, Outreach and Training.
Tammie is returned to state government having previously in several leadership roles developing successful HUB/MWBE programs in North Carolina. Most recently, she came to state government as an entrepreneur and having worked in corporate America as the Senior Regional Supplier Diversity Manager for Lend Lease Construction. In this role, she had HUB/MWBE program and compliance oversight for North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco. She spent over eight years as a Congressional Staffer.
Tammie is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) where she earned a bachelor’s of science in Business Administration with a minor in Finance. She serves on the National Alumni Association Board of Directors where she is the Immediate Past President. Tammie has been a long time member of the NC MWBE Coordinators Network where she serves on the Board of Directors and is the Immediate Past President. She serves on the NC State HUB Advisory Committee and as a Board Member at Global Scholars Academy in Durham, NC. She is an active member of Union Baptist Church.
Katara Williams, Ph.D. – Chief of Staff, Southern University System
Dr. Katara Williams
Katara Williams, Ph.D., is the Southern University A&M College, Baton Rouge, and Southern University System’s Chief of Staff. As a three time graduate of the University, she strives to ensure that the University provides excellence educational and work environments for staff, students, and alumni. Katara is the first Black female in Louisiana’s history to be named the Executive Director for Highway Safety.
Katara holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in mass communication, and a Ph.D. in public policy.
Stevie L. Lawrence II – Vice President, Postsecondary Education – Southern Regional Education Board
Stevie L. Lawrence II
Stevie L. Lawrence II joined Southern Regional Education Board in September 2019 as vice president for postsecondary education. In this role, he leads SREB’s postsecondary programs, such as the Academic Common Market, Doctoral Scholars Program, education data services and state authorization reciprocity agreements. He is also charged with developing additional initiatives to support postsecondary state officies and institutions.
Lawrence came to SREB from Fort Valley State University in Georgia, where he is founding dean of the University College and previouisly led student affairs and enrollment management. He has also held positions at the University of North Carolina system, Shaw University, Virginia Union University and Halifax Community College. His background includes strategic leadership in academic affairs, specifically in student success and retention.
Lawrence earned a bachelor of arts degree from North Carolina A&T State University, a master of public administration from North Carolina Central University and a doctor of philosophy in urban higher education from Jackson State University.
Dannelle Whiteside – Interim President, Austin Peay State University
Dannelle Whiteside
Dannelle Whiteside was appointed as interim president of Austin Peay State University effective, Aug. 10, by the Board of Trustees. She has served as APSU Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board since 2017. Prior to coming to Austin Peay, Whiteside served as General Attorney for the U.S. Department of Education of Civil Rights, General Counsel for the Tennessee Board of Education and District Policy Advisor for Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Whiteside received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with honors and received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, graduating Sumna Cum Laude.
CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dannelle Whiteside as interim president, effective Aug. 10, in a called meeting. On June 18, Sam Houston State University named Dr. Alisa White, APSU’s current president, as the only finalist in its presidential search. If confirmed by the Texas State University System Board of Regents, White will assume her new role at Sam Houston in early August.
“Several outstanding candidates were considered for the interim presidency and Dannelle was the board’s consensus pick,” said Mike O’Malley, chair of the APSU Board of Trustees. “Dannelle background and experience makes her an excellent choice for this critical time in the University’s history.”
Whiteside has served APSU as Vice President for Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board since 2017. Prior to coming to Austin Peay, Whiteside served as General Attorney for the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, General Counsel for the Tennessee Board of Education and District Policy Advisor for Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Whiteside received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with honors and received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
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About Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a comprehensive university committed to raising the educational attainment of the citizenry, developing programs and services that address regional needs, and providing collaborative opportunities that connect university expertise with private and public resources. For more information, visit www.apsu.edu.
PINE BLUFF, AR – Operations become particularly challenging when officials at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) were faced with the task of moving employees and students off-campus and transitioning all course to online delivery. The Windgate Foundation provided a $200,000 COVID-19 grant that made the transition slightly less challenging.
While the University worked to realign existing resources to address the crisis, it was obvious that additional funding was needed, according to George Cotton, Sr., Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement. The Windgate grant will allow UAPB to manage operational costs directly related to COVID-19.
“The generosity of the Windgate Foundation is greatly appreciated,” said Cotton. “This type of support is incredibly important because of its ability to meet an urgent need at a time when discretionary resources are limited.”
“College campuses nationwide are faced with the challenge of responding quickly to a pandemic,” said Laurence B. Alexander, Chancellor of UAPB. “We are thankful to the Windgate Foundation and their willingness to assist with response during this difficult time.”
The grant provides direct funds in hiring additional security for the campus during the limited closure, increased sanitization of campus facilities, purchase of software upgrades for online course delivery, and assists with emergency aid to students.
“Windgate is grateful to be able to provide support to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as they face the difficult challenges and decisions that must be made to ensure appropriate and safe environments are in place for their students and staff,” said Ashley Moore, Grants Administrator for the Windgate Foundation.
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About The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a public comprehensive HBCU 1890 Land-Grant Institution. The University embraces its land-grant mission of providing cutting edge research, teaching, outreach, and service programs that respond to the social and economic needs of the state and region. For more information, visit www.uapb.edu.
About The Windgate Foundation
The Windgate Foundation is a private grant-making foundation established in 1993 and has awarded more than $855 million in grants. For more information, visit www.windgatefounation.org.
INSTITUTE, W.VA – The West Virginia State University (WVSU) Board of Governors has chosen Dr. Nicole Pride to become the 12th president of the University.
Pride currently serves as the vice provost for academic strategy and operations at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
“I am excited to join West Virginia State University. it is an institution with such a rich history, and I look forward to working with all the members of the State family to continue to advance its land-grant mission,” said Pride. “The opportunities for the University in the years ahead to continue to meet the economic development and prosperity needs of the state and region are immense and I am honored to be selected to lead this growth.”
Pride began her career in the corporate and non-profit sectors, and left industry to begin her service in higher education at North Carolina A&T State University, where she served as principal liaison and senior adviser to the chancellor, a member of the chancellor’s executive cabinet, and provided strategic and operational support for internal and external constituencies.
Pride also served as the university’s chief of staff and chief communications officer, responsible for communications, marketing, branding, media and public relations and crisis communications. Her work defined the university’s brand in the state, nation and global marketplace, and her successes track with the institutions arrival as the largest historically black university in the nation.
Prior to joining North Carolina A&T State University, Pride served as vice president for development and communications for Child Care Services Association in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
She also served in numerous capacities at IBM including marketing program manager, corporate learning division and manager of corporate community relations and public affairs for nearly a decade. In addition to her professional appointments, Pride has served on numerous boards and committees, and her research interests are in the areas of board governance and leadership.
Her awards and honors include the Triad Business journal’s 2018 Outstanding Women in Business award and the PR News’ 2017 cohort of Top Women in Public Relations in the nation.
She earned bachelor’s degrees in business management and economics from North Carolina State University, a master’s in corporate and public communications from Seton Hall University, and a doctorate in leadership studies from North Carolina A&T State University.
An Orange, New Jersey native, Pride is mother to grown sons, Turner Jr. and Todd, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
WVSU has been searching for its 12th president, since the announcement that former President Anthony L. Jenkins was leaving to become President of Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. R. Charles Byers has served as interim president of the University since May 16.
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About West Virginia State University
West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which as evolved into fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service, and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research. For more information, visit www.wvsu.edu.
ELIZABETH CITY, NC – Elizabeth City State University’s vice chancellor for operations and general counsel, Alyn Goodson, has been named as a member of the University of North Carolina System’s Executive Leadership Institute.
The 10-month program is designed to build the next generation of leaders from within the UNC System. The program will focus on providing an overall view of the system and leadership opportunities.
“I am honored to be a member of the first cohort for this executive leadership institute,” said Mr. Goodson. “Through this process, I hope to strengthen my leadership skills as I continue to support Chancellor Dixon and her pursuit to advance the interests of Elizabeth City State University and northeastern North Carolina.”
Mr. Goodson is a graduate of North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University School of Law, and Georgetown University Law. He began his work at ECSU in 2012 as assistant general counsel before being named general counsel. He was letter promoted to chief operating officer and general counsel, and he now serves as vice chancellor of operations and general counsel.
“Alyn’s hard work and dedication to ECSU has been invaluable,” said Karrie G. Dixon, ECSU Chancellor. “This is an exciting opportunity for him, and his work at the university.”
The institute is designed to share best leadership practices by building collaboration and partnerships among participants and their campuses. In turn, experienced administrators will be prepared for more demanding roles and re-energized in current roles.
As a part of the UNC Board of Governors’ commitment to diversity, the board’s Committee on Historically Minority-Serving Institutions (HMSI) worked closely with the ELI leadership team with the goal of entrusting that at least one-third of participants would be selected from the System’s six HMSIs.
Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate, an assessment of the pilot experience and the benefits of a mentoring relationship. Participants will have the opportunity to pay it forward as mentors for future Institute participants, entrusting promising talent continues to develop across the UNC System. For more information, visit the ELI website.
Delta State University featured Claflin University President Dwaun J. Warmack in the recent Winter/Spring 2020 edition of its alumni magazine. Dr. Warmack earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1999 and a master’s degree in sociology in 2000 from Delta State University.
The story reflects on the influences at Delta State that prepared him for leadership and service in higher education. “I learned so much from alumnus and President Emeritus Dr. Kent Wyatt,” said Dr. Warmack in the article. “One lesson he taught me: create an environment that is welcoming and caring. To achieve this, campuses must develop the whole student – academically, personally, socially, and spiritually. Holistic development provides students with broader perspectives and prepares them for global leadership.”
Thank you for your outstanding achievements, leadership, and contributions to the space of higher education and HBCUs, Dr. Warmack!
TUSKEGEE, AL – Tuskegee University President Dr. Lily D. McNair has been named to the Board of Directors for Campus Compact. Campus Compact is a national coalition of 1,000+ colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education and work to build democracy through civic education and community development.
McNair joins member institutions that reflect the full range of diversity among colleges and universities, including public and private, two-year and four-year, rural and urban, faith-based, women’s, tribal, Hispanic-serving, and historically black colleges and universities. Campus Compact’s mission is to support civic engagement and “engaged citizenship” among students. “In today’s turbulent times – Campus Compact’s values and programs are what we need to support our students’ advocacy in the public sphere,” said McNair.
Campus Compact advances the public purposes of colleges and universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. In addition, they envision colleges and universities as vital agents and architects of a diverse democracy, committed to educating students for responsible citizenship in ways that both deepen their education and improve the quality of community life.
INSTITUTE, W.VA. – The West Virginia State University (WVSU) Presidential Search Committee has selected three higher education leaders as the finalists to become the 12th president of the University.
Dr. Nicole Pride, vice provost for academic strategy and operations at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Dr. Patricia Ramsey, senior executive fellow at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund; and Dr. Rodney Smith, president and CEO of the University of The Bahamas, have been invited to campus next week to meet with constituent groups.
The meetings with students, faculty, staff and community leaders will take place in the James C. Wilson University Union and will follow state and CDC social distancing and safety guidelines for events. The meeting will also be available virtually via Zoom.
WVSU has been searching for its 12th president, since the announcement that former President Anthony L. Jenkins was leaving to become President of Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. R. Charles Byers has served as interim president of the University since May 16th.
MEET THE FINALISTS
Dr. Nicole Pride began her career in the corporate and non-profit sectors, and left industry to begin her service in higher education at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she served as principal liaison and senior advisor to the chancellor, a member of the chancellor’s executive cabinet, and provided strategic and operational support for internal and extent constituencies. Pride has held C-Suite positions in University Advancement and the Office of the Chancellor, and has the distinction of holding three senior-level positions, with increasing responsibility within eight years of service.
She has utilized her diverse skillset to engineer the strategy to overhaul the university’s brand perception among prospective and current students, parents, alumni, potential donors, research partners, and peer institutions; raise funds; enhance operational excellence; build diverse teams; increase student success; mitigate crises; and advance mission-driven organizational change.
Pride also served as the university’s chief of staff and chief communications officer, responsible for communications, marketing, branding, media and public relations and crisis communications. Her work defined the university’s brand in the state, nation and global marketplace, and her successes track with the institutions arrival as the largest historically black university in the nation.
Pride now serves as vice provost for academic strategy and operations at North Carolina A&T State University, where she also holds a faculty appointment. Prior to joining the university, Pride served as vice president for development and communications for Child Care Services Association in Chapel Hill, N.C. She also served in numerous capacities at IBM including marketing program manager, corporate learning division and manager of corporate community relations and public affairs for nearly a decade. In addition to her professional appointments, Pride has served on numerous boards and committees, and her research interests are in the areas of board governance and leadership.
Her awards and honors include the Triad Business Journal’s 2018 Outstanding Women in Business award and the PR News’ 2017 cohort of Top Women in Public Relations in the nation — the prestigious award that recognizes women at the forefront of public relations who have made bold advances in developing brand messages, and protecting and building brand reputations among other things.
An Orange, New Jersey native, Pride lives and plays in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. She earned bachelor’s degrees in business management and economics from North Carolina State University, a master’s in corporate and public communications from Seton Hall University, and a doctorate in leadership studies from North Carolina A&T State University. She is mother to grown sons, Turner Jr. and Todd, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Patricia Ramsey is a visionary leader and a scholar with a deep commitment to excellence and a passion for making a difference, with the distinction of being named a “National Role Model” by Minority Access, Inc.
Dr. Ramsey currently serves as a Senior Executive Fellow at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and formerly served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at both Lincoln and Bowie State universities. Dr. Ramsey also served as Interim President at Bowie State University, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Shaw University and Associate Vice President for Development (fundraising) at Norfolk State University. Dr. Ramsey has a wealth of knowledge regarding higher education practice; she serves as an accreditation evaluator, where she has served on visiting teams evaluating stand-alone institutions, institutions in small systems, institutions in the largest university system in mainland USA, as well as institutions in the University System of Puerto Rico. She is currently serving a three-year term on the appeals panel of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as well as a three-year term on the Middle States Regional Council of the College Board. Dr. Ramsey has represented HBCUs from the state house to the halls of Congress.
In addition to her impact in the United States and its territories, Dr. Ramsey has impacted higher education on the continents of Europe and Africa. In Europe, she provided oversight for Bowie State University’s graduate programs on the military base in Heidelberg, Germany, where she won front-page headlines in the military news for her bold position in allowing a 5 year old military dependent to stand proxy to receive the master’s degree for deployed soldiers. On the continent of Africa, Dr. Ramsey was one of four provosts in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) delegation to Liberia, where she served in an education advisory capacity to the country’s president, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. In Nigeria, Dr. Ramsey was instrumental in the success of a biotechnology training partnership and conducted a leadership workshop for the administration of Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu State, Nigeria.
Dr. Ramsey is a seasoned strategist and action-oriented leader with a strong skill of quickly implementing initiatives that yield positive outcomes. She negotiated a $1.3 million award after only three months as a fundraising officer at Norfolk State; she developed the infrastructure that resulted in $10 million in grants and contracts in less than two years at Shaw University; she led the university management team in a focused effort to tie budget and planning, within one month of her arrival at Bowie State and within six months at Lincoln, she cultivated a relationship with a new industry partner that resulted in a memorandum of understanding to provide scholarships, internships, and endowed professorships.
A biologist, by training, Dr. Ramsey has a research interest in the biological activity of plants used in folklore and has collected 110 species of Agave in the Sonoran Desert and traveled a 450-mile span of highway collecting Sapium sebiferum (popcorn tree) leaves in the southeastern United States. Dr. Ramsey earned the Master of Science in Botany from Howard University, the Master of Arts in Biology from Harvard University and the Doctor of Philosophy in Biology from Georgetown University. Dr. Ramsey obtained her undergraduate degree from Norfolk State University, where she earned the Bachelor of Science in Biology Education. Dr. Ramsey completed leadership programs in the Millennium Leadership Institute, Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management (IEM), and the CIVIC Leadership Institute.
Dr. Ramsey is married to Dr. Roscoe Ramsey Jr, a physician and a minister; they have three adult children.
Dr. Rodney Smith has served in several senior administrative leadership positions in higher education, including President of a public institution of higher education, President of a national multi-campus University system, and program coordinator of Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management (IEM). Dr. Smith also served in several vice president positions, including student affairs, administrative services, and planning. He also served as director of strategic planning, dean of the graduate college and professor in a PhD. Program in Educational Management. Dr. Smith has taught graduate courses in Educational Research and Strategy and Strategic Planning. He is currently President and CEO of University of The Bahamas; and before that, served as Administrative Vice President at Hampton University, with responsibility for strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, quality service training programmes, assessment of all academic and non-academic programs, university athletics (Division 1, NCAA), Internal Auditor and the Office of Institutional Research, (Operations Analysis and Research), and all aspects of Enrollment Management (offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, and Registrar).
Dr. Smith received his doctorate of education degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in the area of Administration, Planning and Social Policy. He earned a Master’s Degree in Education with a Concentration in International Development from Harvard University, a Master of Arts degree from Fisk University in Clinical/Educational Psychology, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. He is the recipient of the 2016 JCN International Person of the Year Award, and has been inducted into Chi Alpha Epsilon Academic Honor Society, Alpha Chi Chapter; Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society; and Delta Mu Delta, National Honor Society in Business Administration. Dr. Smith has participated in several professional development institutes, including the Millennium Leadership Institute (MLI) of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management (IEM), the Harvard Institute for New Presidents, Harvard Seminar on Institutional Advancement, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Management Institute for Emergency Management Planning, Preparedness, Training and Education for Colleges and Universities.
Dr. Smith has served as trustee, chair and member of several national and international boards, associations and government committees; including, member of the Board of Directors for AASCU, member of the American Council on Education (ACE), New Jersey Department of Education Board of Examiners, New Jersey Presidents’ Council, National Association of Student Affairs Administrators, Virginia State Graduate Deans Council, Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, Hackensack Medical University Foundation, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (Chair of the Committee on Lifelong Learning and Higher Education), National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, The Bahamas National Trust, The National Advisory Council on Education, and the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB). As appointed Chair, he has led several successful initiatives, including the African-American Jewish Community Relations Symposia at Hampton University, 100 Templeton Foundation Character Building Colleges, and the New Jersey United Nations Day Celebrations Committee in New Jersey. Dr. Smith is the spouse of Dr. Christina C. Smith, an academic administrator and former dean. They have two grown children – Samantha, a practicing physician in Blacksburg, Virginia; and Sean, a luxury real estate developer in Florida and The Bahamas.
Founded in 1891, West Virginia State University is a public, land-grant, historically black university (HBCU), which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution. The University, “a living laboratory of human relations,” is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service, and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. It’s mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research. To learn more, visit www.wvstateu.edu.
JACKSON, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Dr. Logan Hampton, President of Lane College, to the State Capitol Commission West Tennessee citizen seat. Governor Lee also announced Finance & Administration Commissioner Butch Eley will serve as the commission chairman, filling Stuart McWhorter’s vacancy.
“Dr. Hampton is a thoughtful leader of a respected Tennessee Institution and I am pleased to appoint him to the State Capitol Commission,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank him for accepting this role and his willingness to serve his fellow Tennesseans.”
Since 2014, Dr. Hampton has served as the President of Lane College, a Christian Methodist Episcopal Church affiliated institution. He received his doctorate of higher education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a master’s degree in student personnel services from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Arkansas Tech University. He also is a graduate of the Harvard Institute of Management and Leadership in Education. Before UALR, Hampton held positions at Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, and the University of Central Arkansas.
Prior to coming to Lane College, Hampton served in numerous student services capacities at UALR. His most recent appointment at UALR was Vice Provost for Student Affairs. In this position, Dr. Hampton served as the chief student affairs officer and led the student development and student life programs, including judicial affairs, budgetary and administrative services. In addition to working as a higher education administrator, Hampton was a member of the Board of Trustees for Arkansas Baptist College.
More information on the State Capitol Commission can be found here.
