Colleagues:
As we envision the University’s long-term strategic direction to strengthen student success and academic excellence, I am announcing the following leadership updates:
Student Affairs Leadership
Effective October 1, 2023, Dr. Beverly Copeland will transition from Vice President of Student Affairs to the role of Special Assistant to the President for Special Projects for the remainder of the academic year. Dr. Copeland has a record of significant commitment to Prairie View A&M University as a student, faculty member and administrator. She has served as Vice President of Student Affairs for the past two (2) years, in addition to holding the rank of Associate Professor of Nutrition in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. We are appreciative of Dr. Copeland’s contributions to Student Affairs and anticipate that she will contribute greatly to the future of PVAMU in a new capacity.
Edward Willis
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Edward Willis as Interim Vice President of Student Affairs. Mr. Willis is a seasoned university professional with over 30 years of progressive university experience and a strong background in providing vision and leadership for student affairs in diverse student environments. Currently a consultant, Mr. Willis has served as interim Vice President for Student Affairs at Southern University, Vice President for Student Affairs at Norfolk State University, and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida A&M University. He has also been the Dean of Students at the University of Michigan and the University of Toledo, in addition to having held leadership roles at other institutions and agencies. Mr. Willis possesses a deep understanding of the academic process and its relationship to student issues. He has a strong commitment to student leadership development and has been valued at previous organizations for his ability to identify and implement initiatives that promote student-centered learning environments, improve the quality of the student experience, and bolster university relations.
A national search for our next permanent Vice President for Student Affairs will launch later this fall. Once the search begins, detailed information will be provided on a Vice President for Student Affairs Search webpage. Please join me in welcoming Edward Willis to “The Hill”!
Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Search Update
I have appointed a search committee, co-chaired by Dr. Munir Quddus, Dean of the College of Business and Dr. Cynthia Carter-Horn, Senior Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, to begin our national search for our permanent provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. The Search Committee will be assisted by Witt Kieffer, an executive search firm, and will begin its work this month with the hope of filling the position by summer 2024. My thanks to the committee members for undertaking this very important responsibility.
The Search Committee is charged to (a) develop a strong and diverse pool of candidates, (b) screen eligible applicants, (c) invite finalists for campus interviews and (d) provide its assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each interviewee.
This position is critically important in ensuring the continued transformation of Prairie View A&M University. We need a leader and a partner who:
- believes in and fosters shared governance,
- is committed to and experienced in supporting and developing faculty success in teaching, research/scholarship, and service
- is committed to deploying a holistic student success model, and
- understands the unique needs of today’s diverse student body and the complexities of the faculty experience.
The search committee members and timeline are posted on the Provost’s Search website. Other updates on the process will also be available on the site as the search progresses.
Excellence does indeed live at Prairie View A&M University, and it must remain our constant pursuit. I am confident that the changes outlined above will enable us to continue striving, stretching, and transforming to ensure we are giving our students, our faculty, our staff, alumni, and community the best version of ourselves.
With Panther Pride,
Tomikia P. LeGrande, Ed.D.
President