Dr. Adriel HiltonAdriel A. Hilton, Ph.D. is Dean of Students and Diversity Officer at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Recently, he served as director of the Webster University Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Extended Campus. As the chief administrative officer, he worked to implement programs and policies to achieve Webster University’s overall goals and objectives at the extended campus. In the past, Dr. Hilton has served as Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the President at Grambling State University, Assistant Professor and Director of the Higher Education Student Affairs program at Western Carolina University, the inaugural Assistant Vice President for Inclusion Initiatives at Grand Valley State University, and Executive Assistant to the President and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees.
A prolific author and researcher, Dr. Hilton’s research is published in refereed journals, such as Teachers College Record, Journal of College Student Development, Community College Review, Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, and the Journal of the Professoriate. His numerous service commitments include membership on the editorial boards of the renowned Journal of Negro Education and the highly acclaimed College Student Affairs Journal. Dr. Hilton holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia; a Master of Applied Social Science degree, with a concentration in public administration from Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida; a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri; and a PhD in Higher Education with a concentration in Administration from Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. 
Dr. Theresa PowellA highly respected career professional in higher education administration, Dr. Theresa A. Powell currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Temple University. She is the past president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), where she has been honored as a Legacy of the Profession, a Pillar of the Profession and the recipient of the Fred Turner Award for Outstanding Service to NASPA. In addition, she served as a Team Chair, Consultant Evaluator, and as a member of the Accreditation Review Council for The Higher Learning Commission for the past eleven years.
Dr. Powell received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, her Master’s degree from Texas Christian University and her Doctoral degree from The Ohio State University. Before coming to Temple, she served as Vice President for Student Affairs at Western Michigan, where she also was a tenured professor. She is the recipient of the prestigious Maude Stewart Award, given by the faculty of the higher education graduate program at The Ohio State University to individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of higher education and student affairs. She has taught, presented, written and consulted widely on a broad range of student affairs issues, including student culture and diversity, career concerns of women administrators, student leadership and campus programming. Dr. Powell is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and The Links, Inc. 
Mr. Tramayne WhitneyTramayne Whitney is an accomplished senior global human resources executive who has led Fortune 500 companies through strategic and operational talent priorities. He is currently Head of Global People Consultants for Google.
Prior to his current role, Tramayne Whitney was Vice President, HR, for Siemens and The Hershey Company. Previously, Mr. Whitney was Senior Director of Human Resources for Hershey’s Delivery Optimization Organization, where he was responsible for providing strategic HR direction and enabling strong business partnering, process improvement, change management and talent attraction and development. Whitney holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University, where he was honored as a Rising Star Alumni in 2015. He has also been an adjunct professor at DeVry University. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and has been featured twice in Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati. 
Dr. Rosalind MorganRosalind A. Morgan is a native Chicagoan and received her undergraduate degree from DePaul University, master’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University, and earned a doctor of philosophy degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Following a thirty six-year career as an educator in public city and state educational institutions, Dr. Morgan retired from Chicago State University in the position of Assistant Vice President in the division of Student Affairs, and tenured professor emeritus in the University Counseling Department. Dr. Morgan is active in a variety of activities, including the American Counseling Association, Phi Delta Kappa International Educational Fraternity, and with the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals as a member on the editorial board for the NASAP professional journal. Dr. Morgan’s academic career included research on women’s coping styles for role conflict management related to their home, career and community responsibilities, with particular interest in black women. Since retirement, her research interests were redirected to genealogy and African American history in the United States. 
Dr. Royel M. JohnsonDr. Royel M. Johnson is Assistant Professor of Higher Education within the Department of Educational Policy Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, where he is also Research Associate in the Center for the Study of Higher Education. Prior to joining the faculty at Penn State, he worked as a Researcher and Policy Analyst in the Center for Higher Education Enterprise at The Ohio State University (OSU).
Dr. Johnson is a social scientist whose interdisciplinary research aims to improve the educational opportunities, experiences, and outcomes of historically underserved and vulnerable student populations in education. He maintains an active scholarly research agenda, addressing important policy- and practice-relevant issues related to college access, equity and success; student learning and development; and impact of college on students, to name a few. He is co-editor of a forthcoming book on HBCUs, and has authored over 25 scholarly publications including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and reports. His work employs qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodological approaches. Dr. Johnson holds a B.A. in Political Science and Ed.M. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs, with a cognate in Race and Social Policy from OSU. 
Dr. Tiffany Fountaine BoykinTiffany Fountaine Boykin is the Dean of Student Engagement at Anne Arundel Community College. Dr. Boykin provides leadership, vision, innovation, and strategic direction for programs and activities that support student belonging, development, leadership, and wellness. In addition, Dr. Boykin interprets, articulates, implements, and monitors institutional compliance with appropriate laws, regulations, and policies. She is also an adjunct professor in the Community College Leadership Doctoral Program at Morgan State University where she primarily instructs courses in research methods, student development, and legal aspects of higher education.
Dr. Boykin’s research examines success and participation for Black students in postsecondary settings, the role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and legal aspects of higher education. A noted author and presenter, Dr. Boykin has numerous publications and proceedings to her credit including publications in refereed journals such as the Community College Journal of Research and Practice and the Journal of Negro Education. Dr. Boykin is a member of many professional and civic organizations. She currently serves as the Director of Legal Counsel for the Center for African American Research and Policy and as an editorial reviewer for the Journal of College Student Retention and the Journal of Negro Education. Dr. Boykin earned a BA in Communication from the University of Maryland, College Park, an MS in Communications Management from Towson University, a PhD in Higher Education from Morgan State University, and a JD from the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland state courts. 
Dr. Fred Bonner IIDr. Fred Bonner II is Professor and Endowed Chair in Educational Leadership and Counseling at Prairie View A&M University. He is formerly the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University and an esteemed expert in the field of diversity in education. Prior to joining Rutgers, he was Professor of Higher Education Administration and Dean of Faculties at Texas A&M University-College Station. He earned a B.A. in Chemistry from the University of North Texas, an M.S. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Baylor University, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration and College Teaching from the University of Arkansas.
Dr. Bonner has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Association for Higher Education Black Caucus Dissertation Award and the Educational Leadership, Counseling and Foundation's Dissertation of the Year Award from the University of Arkansas College of Education. His work has been featured nationally and internationally. He is the author of the recently released book Building on Resilience: Models and Frameworks of Black Male Success Across the P-20 Pipeline. 
Dr. Wanda DavisDr. Wanda Davis is a professor emeritus in the Higher Education Administration department at Buffalo State, where she previously taught since 1994. Her research interests include the history of American higher education and the study of social movements. Professor Davis serves on several national editorial boards and has numerous publications. Not only has she excelled in the area of scholarship, she also served in just about every level of management in Student Affairs.
She also served in academic administration as Assistant Vice Provost; as Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Studies and as Project Director for our year long distinguished lecture series (after obtaining a major grant from the New York Council of the Humanities Grant and procurement of over $100,000.00). Her honors are numerous and include being a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellow at Harvard University. Davis has completed extensive travel abroad. 
Dr. Leonard Donovan Taylor, Jr.Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Dr. Taylor grew up with a passion for education. A proud product of the Milwaukee Public School system, he became the first in his family to attend college. After seven years and two degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison he began a career in Student Affairs. Leonard has worked in several functional areas in higher education, including housing, greek-life, pre-college programs, and leadership education. His most recent role was as Director of the Higher Ed Redesign program in the Jandris Center for Innovative Higher Education at the University of Minnesota. As it pertains to higher education, especially those least served, Leonard is dedicated to creating meaningful and sustainable change on individual, institutional, and system levels.
In Spring 2016 he received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Leonard’s research is focused on how administrators, faculty, and staff in higher education institutions use research, data, and promising practices in the interest of enhancing student success efforts, particularly for underserved populations. Through this work he seeks to encourage more astute consumption of knowledge and promising practices by leaders within higher education institutions. He also does work in leadership education, characterized by his most recent publication “Building inclusive leaders: A critical approach to leadership education in the forthcoming (in press) book Breaking the Zero-sum Game: Transforming Societies through Inclusive Leadership by E. Shockman, A. Boitano, and R. Lagomarsino (Eds.). Here he uses critical theories to propose a framework for leadership education curriculum, and instructor development. In August of 2016, Leonard joined the faculty of Mississippi State University (MSU) as an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the College of Education. He is also a 2016 Fellow in the Educational Policy Fellowship Program, hosted by the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at MSU. Leonard also enjoys crossfit, traveling, and is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. |
Dr. Irvin ClarkIrvin R. Clark, EdD joined Radford University in October 2013 as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. In this capacity he serves five primary roles: supervisor for six departments; SGA advisor; senior judicial officer for conduct/ appeals; emergency/ threat assessment coordinator; and student resource/advocate. Dr. Clark received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Florida A&M University (1991), his Masters of Public Administration from Savannah State University (1999) and the Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and Change from The Fielding Graduate University (2003).
Dr. Martino HarmonDr. Harmon is the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Iowa State University. Prior to this, Dr. Harmon served as the university’s Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, where he oversaw admissions and enrollment management, student development, student activities, and diversity programming at Iowa State University.
Before Iowa State, Dr. Harmon was Executive Director of Student Success and Retention at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dean of Student Development at Rhodes State College, Lima, Ohio; and Dean of Admission, Retention and Student Life at Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Harmon earned his doctoral degree in Higher Education and Administration from the University of Toledo, and a master’s in Education from the University of Toledo. Dr. Harmon’s priorities for Student Affairs have been Student Success; Health, Wellness, Safety; Diversity and Inclusion; Space/Facilities; Staff Well-being; and Enrollment Management. 
Dr. Cheryl GreenAs the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Cheryl Green supervises many areas including admissions, financial aid, career services, counseling, student health, the child care center, student recreation and wellness, student government, student conduct, auxiliary services, and residence life. On July 1, 2018, Dr. Green expanded her duties to include managing the enrollment and student services areas at two community colleges. Her professional service to higher education spans three decades and includes a variety of administrative roles at five public universities. She has served as a director, academic chair, dean, tenured associate professor, assistant vice president, and interim vice president of student affairs. Green received a bachelor's from Manchester University in Indiana and a master's and doctorate, both in Counseling Psychology, from Southern Illinois University. Throughout her professional career she has been engaged in teaching, research, grant writing, and developing innovative student retention initiatives.
Dr. Terrell StrayhornDr. Terrell Strayhorn is Professor and Director of the Center for Higher Education Enterprise (CHEE) at The Ohio State University. A renowned student success scholar, highly acclaimed public speaker and thought leader, Strayhorn is author of 10 books including College Students’ Sense of Belonging, over 50 book chapters, and over 200 journal articles and other scholarly publications. He has presented over 300 keynotes and invited lectures across the globe, including a TEDtalk in 2011. He’s been quoted in Huffington Post, Business First, Chronicle of Higher Education, Ebony, and others, generating more than 5000 citations worldwide. He’s a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Known for using the hashtag #DoGoodWork on social media, Strayhorn was named one of the country’s top diversity scholars by Diverse: Issues and became the youngest full professor in Ohio State’s history in 2014.
Dr. Mary Howard-HamiltonDr. Mary F. Howard-Hamilton is a Distinguished Research Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership in the Bayh College of Education at Indiana State University. She was a recipient of the Contribution to Knowledge Award from the American College Personnel Association in 2017, the Indiana State University Presidential Medal for Exemplary Teaching and Scholarship and the Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Award in 2015. She also received the Bayh College of
Education Holmstedt Distinguished Professorship Award for 2012-2013. Dr. Howard-Hamilton received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from The University of Iowa and a Doctorate of Education, Ed.D., from North Carolina State University. Dr. Howard-Hamilton has served as a higher education student affairs administrator for 15 years and a full time faculty member for 24 years. She has spent her entire professional career in higher education for a total of 37 years working at eight institutions. As a researcher, Dr. Howard-Hamilton has published more than 90 articles and book chapters. The most recent co-authored books are Diverse Millennial Students in College, Multiculturalism on Campus: Theories, Models, and Practices for Understanding Diversity and Creating Inclusion, Unleashing Suppressed Voices on College Campuses: Diversity Issues in Higher Education and Standing on the Outside Looking In: Underrepresented Students’ Experiences in Advanced Degree Programs. Dr. Howard-Hamilton has been a presenter at the Oxford Roundtable in Oxford, England. She has also served as a consultant and instructor for the Student Housing Training Institute in Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Currently, Dr. Howard-Hamilton is a member of the Editorial Boards for the Journal of College Student Development, The Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, and The Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education. Dr. Howard-Hamilton served on the Executive Board for the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) as the Member-at- Large from 2014-2016. She also served on the Board for the Association of College and University Housing Officer International (ACUHOI) as the Knowledge Enhancement Director from 2011-2014. Her other honors include being selected by the American College Student Personnel Association to serve as a Senior Scholar from 2013-2018, the Diverse Issues in Higher Education Top 25 Women in Higher Education and Beyond in 2018, the Champion of Diversity Award from the Indiana Minority Business Magazine in January 2013, The Terre Haute Human Rights Commission Diversity Award in October, 2013, The Garcia Exemplary Scholarship Award from the Council on Ethic Participation – Association for the Study of Higher Education, in 2011, “Robert S. Shaffer Award” for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member and the The University of Iowa, Albert Hood Distinguished Alumni Award. She also received The Monroe County (Indiana) Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor of the Year Award for 2006. Dr. Howard-Hamilton is a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and is the President of the Bloomington Alumnae Chapter as well as the Secondary Advisor for Zeta Nu Chapter at Indiana State University. She serves on the Delta Sigma Theta National Institutional Research Committee and the Sister Scholars Research Task Force. Serving the Terre Haute community, she is a member of the United Campus Ministry Board, a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, was a clarinetist for the inaugural New Horizons Community Band at Indiana State University, and former member of 100+ Women Who Care Vigo County. Her primary avocation is gardening in which she is a Bronze Certified Master Gardener and member of the Wabash Valley Master Gardener’s Association. 
Dr. Bettina C. ShufordDr. Bettina C. Shuford currently serves as an Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She previously served as an Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Bowling Green State University and held positions in the Office of the Provost and the Center for Multicultural and Academic Initiatives on the same campus. Other professional experiences have included positions in Residence Life, the Dean of Students Office and Multicultural Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from North Carolina Central University, her master’s in Guidance and Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University.
Her research interests, publications, and presentations have focused on functions in multicultural affairs offices, assessment of multicultural affairs programs, minority student development, retention of students of color, affirmative action, and African American women in student affairs. She is a member of the coordinating faculty for the long standing NASPA Preconference Session – The African American Women’s Summit. 
Mr. Sammy G. AllenSammy G. Allen is an award-winning journalist who lives in the Houston, Texas area. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University- Commerce and attended the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. He is currently a freelance writer for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and a member of the Pleasant Hill Restoration Project, which recently restored a school built in 1925 for children of color in his hometown of Linden, Texas.
He is the senior consultant for All Write Consulting Agency in Cypress, Texas, which offers writing, copy editing and web contents for clients for businesses and universities. 
Dr. Robert T. PalmerRobert T. Palmer, Ph.D. is Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Howard University. His research examines issues of access, equity, retention, persistence, and the college experience of racial and ethnic minorities, particularly within the context of historically Black colleges and universities. Dr. Palmer’s work has been published in leading journals in higher education, such as The Journal of College Student Development, Teachers College Record, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, Journal of Negro Education, College Student Affairs Journal, Journal of College Student Retention, The Negro Educational Review, and Journal of Black Studies, among others.
Since earning his PhD in 2007, Dr. Palmer has authored/co-authored well over 100 academic publications. His books include Racial and Ethnic Minority Students’ Success in STEM Education (2011, Jossey-Bass), Black Men in College: Implications for HBCUs and Beyond (2012, Routledge), Black Graduate Education at HBCUs: Trends, Experiences, and Outcomes (2012, Information Age Publishing), Fostering Success of Ethnic and Racial Minorities in STEM: The Role of Minority Serving Institutions (2012, Routledge), Community Colleges and STEM: Examining Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Minorities (2013, Routledge), STEM Models of Success: Programs, Policies, and Practices (2014, Information Age Press), Black Male Collegians: Increasing Access, Retention, and Persistence in Higher Education (2014, Jossey-Bass), Understanding HIV and STI Prevention for College Students (2014, Routledge), Black Men in Higher Education: A Guide to Ensuring Success (2014, Routledge), Exploring Diversity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Implications for Policy and Practice (2015, Jossey-Bass), Hispanic Serving Institutions: Their Origins, and Present and Future challenges (2015, Stylus), the African American Students’ Guide to STEM Careers (forthcoming, Greenwood Publishing), and Black Men in the Academy: Stories of Resiliency, Inspiration, and Success (2015, Palgrave Macmillan). In 2009, the American College Personnel Association’s (ACPA) Standing Committee for Men recognized his excellent research on Black men with its Outstanding Research Award. In 2011, Dr. Palmer was named an ACPA Emerging Scholar and in 2012, he received the Carlos J. Vallejo Award of Emerging Scholarship from the American Education Research Association (AERA). In 2012, he was awarded the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)-Mildred García Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award. In 2015, Diverse Issues in Higher Education recognized Dr. Palmer as an Emerging Scholar. Later that year, he also received the SUNY Chancellor’s award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities. This prestigious award is normally given to a full professor. Dr. Palmer is on the editorial boards of the Journal of College Student Development, Journal of Negro Education, Journal of African American Males in Education, ASHE Monograph Series, and Spectrum: A Journal on Black Men. He also serves as an occasional reviewer for a variety of journals in higher education. Dr. Palmer earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Morgan State University in 2007, M.S. in Counseling with an emphasis on Higher Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2003, and B.S. in History at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 2001. |
Dr. Melvin C. Terrell
Chair
Dr. Melvin Cleveland Terrell earned his B.S.Ed. Degree (1971) in History and Secondary Education from Chicago State University and his M.Ed. (1974) in College Student Personnel from Loyola University (Chicago). Dr. Terrell is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and was the chair of the Education committee in Toledo, OH from 1986-1988. He received his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Black Studies from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (1978) and he has continued postdoctoral studies at Harvard University and the University of Virginia. Dr. Terrell initiated his career in higher education, first at Kennedy-King College, then at Eastern New Mexico University, Chicago State University, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, University of Toledo, and finally at Northeastern Illinois University.
Dr. Terrell’s early experience in senior-level leadership in higher education began with his involvement as a fellow with the American Council on Education in the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost from 1993 to 1994. This fellowship consisted of his studying various aspects of higher education administration with major focus on senior-level leadership and management in academic affairs, being involved in directly observing and participating of central administration, intensive higher education seminars, campus visitations and conferences and being mentored by the President and Provost.
From 1988 to 2008, Dr. Terrell served as Vice President for Student Affairs (and he continues his role as Professor of Counselor Education) at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) in Chicago, Illinois. Selected previous positions held include: 1) Director of Minority Affairs at the University of Toledo; 2) Director of the Multicultural Education Center at the University of Wisconsin Osh Kosh; and 3) Director of the Learning Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. During this time, Dr. Terrell also held adjunct faculty positions in addition to his full-time administrative responsibilities. A leader in professional organizations as well, Dr. Terrell is Past President of the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals (NASAP) and served as Editor of the NASAP Journal, one of the premier student affairs journals, for eleven years.
His 20 plus years as a Vice President of Student Affairs, still stands as the longest tenure for an African American in that position at a predominantly White institution. During Dr. Terrell’s tenure as Vice President for Student Affairs at Northeastern Illinois University, he concurrently managed an extremely full and fulfilling life the University, also serving as president of the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education, and the American Association of Higher Education’s Black Caucus Executive Board and director of the American College Personnel Association Core Council for Professionals Issues.
His personal mantra was “attaining excellence while maintaining balance.” Since his days as a trailblazing early career professional, who secured a senior-level leadership role and a PhD prior to the age of 30, Dr. Terrell set the benchmark for the Black male professional in higher education. He has immeasurably impacted the diversity in the field of student affairs through his work and commitment with the NASPA Minority Undergraduate Mentoring Program. He has provided 40 years of mentoring to Black males in education producing: College Presidents, Vice Presidents, Deans of Students, Senior Leaders in Student Affairs, and Endowed Professors to name a few.
One of the leading names in student affairs scholarship and practice today, Dr. Terrell has authored more than 30 publications including monographs, book chapters, and articles in refereed journals. This includes countless publications on topics such as mentoring, cultural diversity, student development in higher education, and current trends in higher education. In 2002, he co-authored the groundbreaking book, How Minority Students Experience College: Implications for Planning and Policy. In 2007, he co-edited the book, Creating and Maintaining Safe College Campuses: A Sourcebook for Evaluating and Enhancing Safety Programs, published by Stylus Publishing. In 1990, Dr. Terrell was the first minority administrator to receive the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Student Personnel Administrator, NASPA, Region IV East.
Of all the accolades and awards that Dr. Terrell has received, one of the most significant is his being recognized as the first recipient of color in 35 years to receive the outstanding Contribution to Literature or Research award on behalf of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)—one of our country’s premier student affairs organizations. He has striven to maintain an active research agenda and has been vigilant in regularly publishing to essentially “get the message out” regarding effective student affairs practices—this done in an effort to assist others to remain ready and relevant for the important work in the field.
In addition to working with valued colleagues and staff, Dr. Terrell has been afforded the privilege of creating and developing programs, such as the Student Mentoring Program at the University of Toledo and Partners for Success – Minority Mentorship Program, which was recognized by the National Student Affairs Administrators of Higher Education (NASPA) as an exemplary program aimed at integrating student life and learning. Dr. Terrell has received numerous award from various organizations including the Outstanding Contributions to Higher Education Award from Buffalo State, State University of New York, the Distinguished Service Awards from the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals and the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education, the Administrator of the Year Award from the University of Toledo, and the Outstanding Performance as a Senior Student Affairs Officer from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
Additionally, Dr. Terrell has received two honors from NEIU since his retirement in 2008. The title of Vice President Emeritus was bestowed upon him in August 2008 and recently an award was named in his honor. The Melvin Cleveland Terrell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research and Literature will be presented annually during Black History Month at NEIU.
In recognition of his significant contributions to student affairs, Dr. Terrell has also recently received the Warrior Award from the International Colloquium on Black Males in Education; this international award and distinction is given to individuals who have provided longstanding service, commitment, and leadership focused on the “most difficult” challenges impacting Black males in education globally. Individuals who have tirelessly fought for what they viewed as right for Black males, thus demonstrating the “warrior” spirit, are sought out for this award.
Dr. Terrell’s life’s work has been centered on better understanding and developing innovative practices and strategies to enhance the lives of college students. Over the past twenty years, his primary goals have been to serve as a vocal advocate for students, as a contributing colleague to faculty, and as a proactive leader among his administrative peers.
Chair
Dr. Melvin Cleveland Terrell earned his B.S.Ed. Degree (1971) in History and Secondary Education from Chicago State University and his M.Ed. (1974) in College Student Personnel from Loyola University (Chicago). Dr. Terrell is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and was the chair of the Education committee in Toledo, OH from 1986-1988. He received his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Black Studies from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (1978) and he has continued postdoctoral studies at Harvard University and the University of Virginia. Dr. Terrell initiated his career in higher education, first at Kennedy-King College, then at Eastern New Mexico University, Chicago State University, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, University of Toledo, and finally at Northeastern Illinois University.
Dr. Terrell’s early experience in senior-level leadership in higher education began with his involvement as a fellow with the American Council on Education in the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost from 1993 to 1994. This fellowship consisted of his studying various aspects of higher education administration with major focus on senior-level leadership and management in academic affairs, being involved in directly observing and participating of central administration, intensive higher education seminars, campus visitations and conferences and being mentored by the President and Provost.
From 1988 to 2008, Dr. Terrell served as Vice President for Student Affairs (and he continues his role as Professor of Counselor Education) at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) in Chicago, Illinois. Selected previous positions held include: 1) Director of Minority Affairs at the University of Toledo; 2) Director of the Multicultural Education Center at the University of Wisconsin Osh Kosh; and 3) Director of the Learning Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. During this time, Dr. Terrell also held adjunct faculty positions in addition to his full-time administrative responsibilities. A leader in professional organizations as well, Dr. Terrell is Past President of the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals (NASAP) and served as Editor of the NASAP Journal, one of the premier student affairs journals, for eleven years.
His 20 plus years as a Vice President of Student Affairs, still stands as the longest tenure for an African American in that position at a predominantly White institution. During Dr. Terrell’s tenure as Vice President for Student Affairs at Northeastern Illinois University, he concurrently managed an extremely full and fulfilling life the University, also serving as president of the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education, and the American Association of Higher Education’s Black Caucus Executive Board and director of the American College Personnel Association Core Council for Professionals Issues.
His personal mantra was “attaining excellence while maintaining balance.” Since his days as a trailblazing early career professional, who secured a senior-level leadership role and a PhD prior to the age of 30, Dr. Terrell set the benchmark for the Black male professional in higher education. He has immeasurably impacted the diversity in the field of student affairs through his work and commitment with the NASPA Minority Undergraduate Mentoring Program. He has provided 40 years of mentoring to Black males in education producing: College Presidents, Vice Presidents, Deans of Students, Senior Leaders in Student Affairs, and Endowed Professors to name a few.
One of the leading names in student affairs scholarship and practice today, Dr. Terrell has authored more than 30 publications including monographs, book chapters, and articles in refereed journals. This includes countless publications on topics such as mentoring, cultural diversity, student development in higher education, and current trends in higher education. In 2002, he co-authored the groundbreaking book, How Minority Students Experience College: Implications for Planning and Policy. In 2007, he co-edited the book, Creating and Maintaining Safe College Campuses: A Sourcebook for Evaluating and Enhancing Safety Programs, published by Stylus Publishing. In 1990, Dr. Terrell was the first minority administrator to receive the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Student Personnel Administrator, NASPA, Region IV East.
Of all the accolades and awards that Dr. Terrell has received, one of the most significant is his being recognized as the first recipient of color in 35 years to receive the outstanding Contribution to Literature or Research award on behalf of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)—one of our country’s premier student affairs organizations. He has striven to maintain an active research agenda and has been vigilant in regularly publishing to essentially “get the message out” regarding effective student affairs practices—this done in an effort to assist others to remain ready and relevant for the important work in the field.
In addition to working with valued colleagues and staff, Dr. Terrell has been afforded the privilege of creating and developing programs, such as the Student Mentoring Program at the University of Toledo and Partners for Success – Minority Mentorship Program, which was recognized by the National Student Affairs Administrators of Higher Education (NASPA) as an exemplary program aimed at integrating student life and learning. Dr. Terrell has received numerous award from various organizations including the Outstanding Contributions to Higher Education Award from Buffalo State, State University of New York, the Distinguished Service Awards from the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals and the Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education, the Administrator of the Year Award from the University of Toledo, and the Outstanding Performance as a Senior Student Affairs Officer from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).
Additionally, Dr. Terrell has received two honors from NEIU since his retirement in 2008. The title of Vice President Emeritus was bestowed upon him in August 2008 and recently an award was named in his honor. The Melvin Cleveland Terrell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research and Literature will be presented annually during Black History Month at NEIU.
In recognition of his significant contributions to student affairs, Dr. Terrell has also recently received the Warrior Award from the International Colloquium on Black Males in Education; this international award and distinction is given to individuals who have provided longstanding service, commitment, and leadership focused on the “most difficult” challenges impacting Black males in education globally. Individuals who have tirelessly fought for what they viewed as right for Black males, thus demonstrating the “warrior” spirit, are sought out for this award.
Dr. Terrell’s life’s work has been centered on better understanding and developing innovative practices and strategies to enhance the lives of college students. Over the past twenty years, his primary goals have been to serve as a vocal advocate for students, as a contributing colleague to faculty, and as a proactive leader among his administrative peers.