Provost/Chief Academic Officers

Morris Brown College has appointed Dr. Anthony B. Johnson as its new Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Anthony Johnson brings to Morris Brown College extensive administrative experience having served at a broad range of higher education institutions including HBCU’s. He most recently served as the Interim Vice President for Academic Affair and Chief Academic Officer at Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi; a master’s degree in Elementary Education and a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Special Education, Research & Statistics from Jackson State University. Read more here.

After an extensive national search, Cleveland State University has selected Dr. Laura Bloomberg, a nationally recognized leader in public and global policy education, as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Bloomberg is currently Professor and Dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Read more here.

Blackburn College has announced the appointment of Dr. Karla McCain as Provost. She was the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Chemistry at Austin College, where her tenure spanned over 18 years. She held a variety of leadership positions prior to serving as AVPAA including Associate Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Director of Accreditation, and Assessment and Program Director of Gender Studies. Dr. McCain holds a Ph.D. in Physical/Analytical Chemistry from the University of Utah, and a B.A. in Chemistry from Ohio Wesleyan University. Read more here.

The University of Northern Iowa has appointed Dr. José Herrera as its new Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. He will begin on July 12. An extensive author and lecturer on varying environmental sciences themes, his experience also includes researching and advising on the challenges and opportunities of first-generation college students and minority-serving institutions.

Bennett College has appointed Dr. Laura Colson as their new Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Colson is currently serving as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for Johnson C. Smith University.  Prior to this position, Dr. Colson served as JCSU’s Dean of the Metropolitan College of Professional Studies. Dr. Colson brings her vast academic and administrative experience at HBCU’s to Bennett’s Senior Leadership team at a time of great transition for the College. She holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from Gardner-Webb University, a Master of Education in Curriculum & Supervision from The University of North Carolina, Charlotte and a BA in Elementary Education from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Read more here.

The University of Houston - Downtown has also announced the appointment of Dr. Sheila Lloyd as its new Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. She will officially assume this role on June 1, 2021. Dr. Lloyd, currently serving as the Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Affairs, the Director of the Center for Faculty Excellence and a Professor of English for Mills College, will apply her years of administrative experience in helping to advance the strategic planning and diversity initiatives of UHD. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English Literature from Cornell University and a B.A. in English Literature from Yale University. Read more here.

Southeastern University has appointed Dr. Meghan Griffin as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Dr. Griffin currently serves as the associate provost and dean of unrestricted education at Southeastern. She joined Southeastern in 2017 after serving six years at Daytona State College as assistant and associate professor of management, assistant chair and program chair. Her early career included roles as a research associate at the University of Central Florida and director of extension site student services at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Dr. Griffin earned a doctorate in texts and technology from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Business Administration degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Arts in English degree from Rollins College. Griffin also holds a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing. Read more here.

The University of North Dakota has named Dr. Eric Link as the university's new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs effective July 1, 2021. Dr. Link currently serves as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Houston-Downtown, a public, comprehensive institution of more than 15,000 students. In his role as provost, Dr. Link has provided leadership for the academic affairs, student affairs, and enrollment management operations of the university. An award-winning teacher and scholar, he earned his Ph.D. in American Literature from Purdue University. Read more here.

Point Park University has announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Soto as its new Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Soto currently serving as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Student Academic Issues and Retention and a Professor of English at Trinity University in San Antonio. Dr. Soto has been with Trinity University in positions of increasing responsibility since 1999. Building on his commitment to diversity in higher education, he served as the co-chair of the Retention and Graduation Task Force and director of the McNair Scholars Program where he supported students traditionally locked out of higher education on their path to advanced study. Dr. Soto holds a Ph.D. in English & American Literature & Language from Harvard University and a B.A. in Modern Thought & Literature/Humanities from Stanford University. Read More.

Dunwoody College of Technology has announced that Scott Stallman, Ph.D., has been named the College’s new Provost.  Dr. Stallman will be starting his new position in early January, 2021.  He brings with him 13 years of experience leading academic programs, most recently serving as Vice President of Instruction, Chief Academic Officer at Lone Star College in Tomball, Texas. Dr. Stallman earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri – Columbia, his Master’s degree in Adult and Higher Education Administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and his Doctorate in Higher Education Administration at Illinois State University. Read more here.