Madam President: Women Leading our HBCUs

Our HBCUs are a symbol of progression, culture and excellence for the Black community. However, many don’t realize that the success of some of our institutions lies in the hands of trailblazing women. Who said a Black woman couldn’t be President? The women listed below definitely put an end to that ideology.  

Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston

Beginning her tenure in 2019, Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston is the current President at Norfolk State University. Before her journey at NSU, Dr. Adams-Gaston was the first female African American Vice President for Student Life at Ohio State. She received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Dubuque, her master’s at Loras College, and her P.h.D. at Iowa State University. Since her role at Norfolk State, Dr. Adams-Gaston has secured over $64 million for scholarships and financial support to enhance student success. The school also introduced a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and launched the first online master’s degree in Cyber Psychology in 2020. Under her leadership, Norfolk State University gained partnerships with numerous companies like Apple, Amazon, and Netflix. 

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice 

A Georgia, Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice currently serves as the President and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine, making her the first woman to hold this position. Dr. Montgomery Rice received her bachelor’s in chemistry from Georgia Tech, a degree from Harvard Medical School, and an honorary doctorate degree from Rush University. Before securing her President position, she was a top-notch infertility specialist, completing her residency at Emory University in gynaecology and obstetrics. She was also the founding director of the Center for Women’s Health Research at Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s first research centers devoted to studying diseases that disproportionately impact women of color.  

Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis

Another woman making history, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis is the first woman to hold the position of President at Benedict College. However, it’s important to note that she actually made history TWICE, being the first female President of Florida Memorial University before her start at Benedict. An HBCU alumni of West Virginia State University, Dr. Artis received her doctorate from the prestigious Vanderbilt University. Under her leadership, Benedict College saw a record-breaking number of enrollment, reduced tuition, and she even developed the school’s first master’s of business administration program, ranging from subjects like sports management to cybersecurity.  In 2022, Dr. Artis was named one of Columbia Business Monthly’s 50 Most Influential people in South Carolina.

Dr. Heidi Anderson

A first-generation college student, Dr. Heidi Anderson is the President of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She received all three of her degrees from Purdue University and has experience leading other institutions, previously serving as Provost at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. The school has seen major success since her tenure began in 2018. They have received funding from sources like a $20million McKenzie Scott gift, a $30million NOAA grant, and several other individual estate gifts. Research grants have also increased by 33%, which brought Dr. Anderson’s overall fundraising total up to $38million in her first four years,  In 2020 and 2021, President Anderson was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women and she also received the Influential Marylander Award. 

As more women continue to step into these presidential roles and break barriers, they are also building the foundation for future generations to come. From increasing enrollment to securing funding, they are proving that women really are fit to lead and make an impact.