Investing in Student Success: Prairie View A&M University Welcomes Two Visionary Leaders
Behind every thriving university is a commitment to its greatest asset: its students.
Prairie View A&M University is strengthening that commitment with the appointment of two accomplished higher education leaders whose experience, vision, and dedication to student success will help shape the Panther experience for years to come.
Effective Sept. 1, 2026, Dr. Fran’Cee Brown-McClure will serve as Vice President for Student Affairs, and Nechell Bonds will assume the role of Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success.
Together, they bring more than four decades of executive leadership experience and a shared passion for creating opportunities that help students thrive academically, personally, and professionally. Their appointments reflect Prairie View A&M University’s strategic investment in every stage of the student journey, from attracting talented students to ensuring they graduate prepared to lead, serve, and make an impact.
Strengthening the Student Experience
As Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Brown-McClure will provide executive leadership for the University’s comprehensive student affairs division, overseeing the programs and services that shape life beyond the classroom.
From residential life and student engagement to leadership development, wellness initiatives and campus culture, her work will focus on creating an environment where every Panther feels supported, connected and empowered to succeed.
Dr. Brown-McClure joins Prairie View A&M University from Louisiana State University, where she serves as Associate Vice President and Dean of Students. Throughout more than 20 years of leadership at public and private institutions, including research universities, liberal arts colleges, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, she has built a distinguished record of strengthening campus communities, advancing student wellbeing, fostering collaboration across academic and student affairs, and creating environments where students are inspired to learn, belong, and thrive.
Her career includes executive leadership roles as Vice President for Student Affairs at Jackson State University, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Union College, Dean of Students at Spelman College, and Associate Dean of Residential Education at Stanford University.
Dr. Brown-McClure earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Social Work from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Jackson State University.
She succeeds Ed Willis, who will retire Aug. 31 after years of dedicated service to Prairie View A&M University. The University extends its sincere appreciation for his steadfast leadership, lasting contributions, and unwavering commitment to generations of Panthers and wishes him continued success and happiness in retirement.
Advancing Access, Enrollment, and Student Success
As Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success, Bonds will lead the University’s enrollment strategy while overseeing initiatives designed to strengthen recruitment, retention, persistence and graduation.
Her work extends beyond growing enrollment. It is about ensuring talented students have access to the opportunities, resources and support they need to achieve their educational goals and reach their full potential.
A nationally respected enrollment management executive, Bonds brings more than two decades of experience leading transformative enrollment and student success initiatives at institutions ranging from regional universities to large multicampus systems.
Most recently, she served as Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Oregon State University. Previously, as Vice President for Enrollment Management at East Texas A&M University, she developed the institution’s first integrated strategic enrollment plan, helping position the university as the fastest-growing public university in Texas in 2023 while achieving record enrollment growth.
Throughout her career, Bonds has become known for combining strategic planning, technology, data-informed decision-making and collaborative leadership to improve student access, strengthen institutional effectiveness and remove barriers that can prevent students from reaching graduation.
She also held executive leadership positions at Valencia College and has earned national recognition for advancing enrollment strategy and student success.
Bonds earned a Master of Education from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Ferris State University.
Building on a Legacy of Excellence
Although their responsibilities are distinct, Brown-McClure and Bonds share a common purpose: ensuring every Panther has the opportunity to succeed. The University is confident that these strategic appointments are a sound investment in PVAMU’s future.
At its heart, this is a story about people. It is about creating opportunities, removing barriers and surrounding students with the leadership and support they need to achieve more than they imagined possible. That commitment has defined Prairie View A&M University for 150 years and will continue to shape its future for generations to come.
The Prairie View A&M University community looks forward to welcoming Dr. Fran’Cee Brown-McClure and Nechell Bonds to The Hill this September.
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