Associate Provost Dr. James A. Wilson Jr.
Dr. Wilson was a Prince University trained historian. In 2009, he joined Prairie View A&M University as an Associate Professor of History and Director of PVAMU’s Honors Program. He later became the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and the Director of Faculty Innovation and Enhancement (FIE), and had recently been selected as a 2019-2020 American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow. Throughout his tenure at PVAMU, Wilson established and enhanced foreign language and study abroad opportunities for students to study Chinese and Arabic. He oversaw the opening of PVAMU’s Confucius Institute in 2014 and formally launched a partnership with Xi’an International Studies University.
Dr. Patricia Smith James
Dr. Smith grew up in Baytown, Texas where she attended public school. She was a high achiever who graduated a year early, at age 16, from Ross S. Sterling High School. Patricia enrolled in Prairie View A&M University when she was 17 years old where she earned two degrees: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education. Her passion for learning and education helped to fuel her determination to earn a Doctor of Education, Administrative and Policy Studies degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002. In 2007, Dr. Smith fulfilled her dream of teaching at her Alma Mater, Prairie View A&M University, where she worked energetically until her retirement in 2017.
Mr. Ivory L. Jenkins
Mr. Ivory came from Helena, Arkansas, he received his Bachelor of Science from Arkansas State University. He worked at Prairie View A&M University as technology support for Student Affairs and recently moved to Information Technology as part of a reorganization. Jenkins was highly involved in the life of PV students. He chaperoned student trips, advised young men, was advisor to the Rho Theta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and three-time Advisor of the Year and two-time Omega Man of the Year. Always bringing a smile with his support, he was loved across our university community.
Mr. Jenkins was a very active member and deacon at Greater Macedonia Baptist Church in Houston. Working as hard in his church as he did at PV, he was a member of the Male and Adult Choirs, a leader in New Member’s Orientation, Santa Claus for Christmas programs, and volunteer for food distributions.
Dr. Frank T Hawkins
Dr. Hawkins held various faculty positions at Prairie View including, director of Freshman Studies Mathematics, head of the Department of Mathematics, and professor of mathematics. He also served as PVAMU’s coordinator for the Texas School Mathematics Initiative for the state of Texas, a position he held until his retirement in August 2004. He taught at the Department of Mathematics for some 39 years before retirement and founded of the Research Association of Minority Professors (RAMP). Dr. Hawkins was a true visionary and was held in high esteem by all who knew and him.
Dr. Jermaine Vesey
Dr. Vesey began teaching at PVAMU in 2012 while completing his doctorate in management at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Before he arrived at PVAMU, he served as an adjunct faculty at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Huston-Tillotson University, and Clark Atlanta University. At PVAMU, in addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, Vesey championed the subject areas of leadership and management, spearheading efforts to create the new human resources minor in the COB and a course in leadership in a global environment, which was recently added to the university’s core curriculum.
Opal Johnson-Smith
Opal entered the university at the age of 16, following in the footsteps of her parents and four of her seven older siblings. Graduating at the age of 19 with a degree in math, she was very popular among her campus peers and had been voted Miss Prairie View in 1954. She thereafter continued to represent the Miss PVAMU title with pride and often served as a judge in the annual Miss PVAMU Scholarship Pageant. In 1958, Opal Johnson married fellow alumnus, Joe Edward Smith. Opal and Joe relocated several times during their 62-year marriage, but she always found and joined a local Prairie View Alumni Association. Well known for her service to the Dallas Alumni Chapter, she organized the annual Dallas Alumni Chapter Scholarship Gala, an event that generated nearly $1 million in scholarships for PVAMU students. During her tenure as president of the National Alumni Association, she secured many additional gifts for the university and was inducted into the National Black College Hall of Fame in 2003.
Dr. Flossie M. Byrd
Flossie M. Byrd served as the first Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Byrd earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics at Florida A&M University (FAMU); the Master of Education degree in Home Economics Education at Pennsylvania State University and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Home Economics Education with minors in Child Development and Educational Psychology and Measurement at Cornell University. Born in Sarasota, Florida to John and Elizabeth Smith Byrd, Dr. Byrd was the oldest of 17 children. She enrolled in FAMU intending to be an English major because she wanted to eventually become a teacher. When one of her professors told her that agriculture teachers made more money than English teachers, Dr. Byrd changed her major to home economics. Dr. Byrd began her professional career as a high school home economics teacher in the Florida public schools. She taught at FAMU before coming to Prairie View A&M University, where she served as the Dean of the College of Home Economics for 23 years. She was appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1991. A title change led to Dr. Byrd’s official appointment as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1993 by then President, Lt. Gen (Ret) Julius Wesley Becton, Jr.
Dr. Evelyn E. Thornton
Dr. Evelyn was an esteemed educator, she was the first African American to complete her PhD in Mathematics at the University of Houston. During a lifetime of teaching and community service she was instrumental in improving the quality of math education across the nation. A Prairie View A&M University math professor for more than half a century, she headed the Mathematics Department there for 13 years and was Coordinator of Graduate Studies and Director of the Undergraduate Research Institute for talented students. Dr. Thornton served as Director of the Network Center for Mathematics Learning and Research Development. She also served as the Director of Project TIMES: Teachers Improving Mathematics Education for Students and the NASA Sharp Plus Apprenticeship Program. She served as Principal Investigator on numerous research projects for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation and the National Science Foundation. She was a Golden Soror and Lifetime Member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Past President of the Missouri City chapter of The Links, Inc. Over the years she coordinated numerous programs and events which focused on improving the health and education of young people.