From Campus to Classroom: Stories That Shape Education
- Five Black leaders appointed to senior academic and student-support roles across U.S. colleges and universities, signaling leadership growth in higher education.
- Jennifer A. Wade-Berg named dean of the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Long Beach.
- Kyaien O. Conner promoted to dean of the School of Social Work at University of Pittsburgh; directs Center on Race and Social Problems.
- James Bridgeforth joins Middle Tennessee State University as vice president for student affairs and dean of students.
- Brandi Renée Avila named dean of student support services at Fullerton College; researches racialized stress affecting Black women educators leading DEI.
Herman Holt Jr. is dean of the STEM division at historically Black Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Holt comes to his deanship with more than 25 years of academic and administrative experience in higher education. Most recently, he served as chief research officer at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Earlier in his tenure there, he was interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. A professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Dr. Holt specializes in organic and bioorganic chemistry.
Dr. Holt is a graduate of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he majored in chemistry. He holds a master’s degree in chemistry from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati.
Jennifer A. Wade-Berg is the new dean of the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Wade-Berg comes to her new role from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, where she was a professor in the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services. She also served as the university’s first chief diversity officer and first assistant dean for student success. Her scholarship spans social enterprise, cultural fluency, sports philanthropy, competency-based learning, and student success.
Dr. Wade-Berg holds a bachelor’s degree in American government from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and master’s and doctoral degrees in public administration from the University of Georgia.
Kyaien O. Conner was promoted to dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Conner, the Donald M. Henderson Chair, has been serving as the school’s associate dean. She also directs the Center on Race and Social Problems at the university. Her research examines the drivers of disparities in health and mental health care access, use, and outcomes, with a focus on advancing responsive behavioral health interventions. In addition to her work at Pitt, Dr. Conner serves in a leadership capacity with the National Institutes of Health-funded Advanced Research Institute for Geriatric Psychiatry.
Dr. Conner is a four-time graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master of social work degree, a master of public health degree with a specialization in minority health and health disparities, and a Ph.D. in social work.
James Bridgeforth has joined Middle Tennessee State University as vice president for student affairs and dean of students. He will also serve as an assistant professor of education. Dr. Bridgeforth has spent the past six years with Virginia Tech, serving as the inaugural assistant vice president for student affairs and ExperienceVT, a student leadership development program. During his tenure with Virginia Tech, he also served as senior advisor to the Undergraduate Student Senate and interim assistant vice president for housing, dining, and student centers.
A first-generation college student, Dr. Bridgeforth is a graduate of Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he majored in sociology. He holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Ph.D. in higher education administration and institutional research from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Brandi Renée Avila has been named dean of student support services at Fullerton College in California. Her appointment marks a return to the college, where she previously spent seven years in a variety of student services roles. Most recently, Dr. Avila was dean of student development and wellness at Moreno Valley College in California. As a scholar, she examines the impact of racialized stress and trauma on Black women who are community college educators that lead diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Dr. Avila is a two-time graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology and Pan-African studies and her master’s degree in sociology. She received a second master’s degree in counseling from San Diego State University and a doctorate in educational leadership for social justice from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
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