TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES NAMES DR. RONALD JOHNSON INTERIM PRESIDENT

The Tennessee State University Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Ronald Johnson to serve as the Interim President of the University, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Johnson’s distinguished career in higher education spans nearly two decades, with significant leadership roles at some of our nation’s most distinguished historically Black universities (HBCUs).

He is known for his commitment to amplifying student success and strengthening the financial health and long-term sustainability of colleges and universities through a culture of accountability, shared governance, mentorship, and continuous improvement.

Johnson is the former President of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) from 2015-2018, where he successfully led the transformation and comprehensive turnaround plans for the University. He recently served as Interim President at Kentucky State University (KSU), where he managed the day-to-day operations of the university and leveraged his leadership and financial expertise to build a foundation for long-term sustainability and to address the financial challenges facing the university.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ronald Johnson and have him join the TSU family,” said Board Chair Dakasha Winton. “Dr. Johnson’s distinguished higher education career, along with his accomplishments as an exceptional administrator, makes him the right fit for TSU at this time.”

Johnson, a well-respected and recognized leader in higher education, is also a former member of the President’s Advisory Board of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and served as the Chairman of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of the United States. He is also a co-founder and Advisory Board Member of the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) at CAU and a recipient of its inaugural Frederick S. Humphries Leadership Award.

“Fellow trustees and I look forward to collaborating with Dr. Johnson,” Winton added. “His proven leadership in strategically addressing complex issues, while developing innovative paths forward will further lead the University during this transition. I know working with our students, staff, alumni and fellow board members, this next chapter will cement TSU’s legacy of excellence.”

Retiring President Glenda Glover said Johnson’s experience and professional leadership will continue TSU’s legacy of excellence.

“Dr. Johnson is an excellent leader and did an incredible job at Clark Atlanta. I am especially proud because I had the pleasure of attending Clark Atlanta for business school. I will provide Dr. Johnson with any necessary support as he takes the helm of our great institution to continue the legacy of excellence that is the hallmark of Tennessee State University.”

Johnson has served as a faculty member at Texas Southern University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, and Northeastern University.

Johnson earned a PhD and MA in economics from Stanford University, after completing an MBA in finance and a BA in economics from Adelphi University.

Johnson will serve as Interim President for one year, while the Board of Trustees conducts a national search to hire a permanent President.

Watch Vice President Kamala Harris gives commencement address at Tennessee State University (full speech)

Watch Vice President Kamala Harris' full commencement address to graduates at Tennessee State University on May 7, 2022.

Vice President Kamala Harris Will Give Commencement Speech at Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University President, Dr. Glenda Glover has announced that Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver the commencement address at the 2022 Spring Commencement Ceremony.

“Commencement marks a major milestone in our student’s lives, but to have the Vice President of the United States as your guest speaker makes this moment even more special for our students and their families,” Glover said.

TSU is honored that Vice
Pres Kamala Harris will
be Commencement
speaker for our
undergrad ceremony.
Graduates are excited to
welcome VP Harris to
this maior milestone in
their lives. Birmingham
Mayor Randall Woodfin will address the graduate ceremony. Both are HBCU trailblazers pic.twitter.com/fGf1VvTcCW

— Dr. Glenda Glover (@gloverpres) April 22, 2022

President Biden selects Tennessee State University's President Glover as HBCU advisory board’s vice-chair

With a firm grip on the achievements of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) amid continuous challenges, including limited resources, Tennessee State University President Dr. Glenda Glover has agreed to serve as vice-chair of President Joe Biden’s HBCU advisory board.

The president’s office announced Dr. Glover’s appointment last week.

The board is crafted to advance the goal of the HBCU Initiative established by the Carter administration – to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education to their students and continue serving as engines of opportunity.

The eighth President of Tennessee State University (TSU), a position she has held since January 2013, Dr. Glover in October testified before a congressional committee regarding continued congressional support for HBCUs.

Appearing before the House Education and Labor Committee’s Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee, Glover, who is from Memphis, testified during a hearing dubbed “Homecoming: The Historical Roots and Continued Contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).” She was among the witnesses who stressed to committee members the importance of HBCUs and the economic necessity for continued financial support of them.

“HBCUs have changed the college landscape and have achieved in spite of the continuous challenges and limited resources,” testified Glover, who also is the international president and CEO of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

“HBCUs have consistently had to do more with less…The Build Back Better Act is a game-changer. It reflects the Biden administration’s understanding of investing in HBCUs.”

Through the American Rescue Plan and by forgiving the capital improvement debt of many HBCUs, the Biden-Harris administration has already committed more than $4 billion in support. Re-establishing the White House HBCU Initiative – and placing strong leadership at the head of the Board – is the administration’s move to build on that financial commitment with continued institutional support.

During her congressional testimony, Glover thanked lawmakers for legislation that provided financial support amid the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to HBCUs, but she said more was needed.

“The emergency funding was significant because it assisted students as they faced this sudden crisis. Today, we ask you to continue that financial support of HBCUs, not just on the emergency basis as the CARES Act and other emergency funding has done in the past. We ask you to assist HBCUs as they seek to grow, develop, become more competitive and sustainable for years to come.”

She outlined three specific areas that HBCUs need funding: infrastructure and deferred maintenance, technology, new academic programs and research.

TSU, which has received the Carnegie R2 “high research activity” designation, set a school record with nearly $71 million in research in 2020 during the pandemic.

Through her work as international president of AKA, Glover spearheaded a fundraising campaign to raise $1 million in one day for HBCUs. The goal has been exceeded for four consecutive years and culminated in $2.5 million this past September. The massive fundraising effort led to endowments at each of the 96 four-year HBCUs, including her alma mater, TSU.

A mathematics major at TSU, Glover earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Clark Atlanta University before completing her doctorate in business from George Washington University, where she also completed her law degree.

A certified public accountant, Glover is one of only three African-American women to hold the Ph. D-CPA-JD combination in the United States.

[SOURCE: TSD]