As Howard prepares for the upcoming school year, three new deans have been appointed to the College of Fine Arts, School of Communications and School of Social Work.
Announced on June 4, Sheara Jennings, Ph.D., will succeed Sandra Crewe as the dean of the School of Social Work. Jennings joins Howard’s management after serving at the University of Houston for 13 years, where she worked as the associate dean of doctoral education in the Graduate College of Social Work, the Humana Endowed Chair in Social Determinants of Health and special assistant to the provost.
Over her time at the University of Houston, Jennings aided in securing over $22 million for projects and initiatives across Houston. Her research portfolio includes support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Family and Youth Services Bureau.
Following her appointment, the College of Fine Arts and School of Communications welcomed interim deans, alumni Gwendolyn H. Everett, Ph.D., and Chukwuka “Chuka” Onwumechili, Ph.D., effective July 1.
Everett is a familiar face on campus, having served as the associate dean for the Division of Fine Arts while it was under the College of Arts and Sciences. She worked as a research consultant with the National Museum of African American History, directed the Howard University Gallery of Art and co-directed the Chair Leadership Academy.
“Although ‘interim’ is a temporary appointment, it is not a position to tread water and stand still. We have to continue the work of the college,” Everett said. “What I see in my role as interim dean is to continue the legacy and work of Dean Rashad, who brought a vision of moving the college forward. By addressing student expectations, faculty expectations, curricular issues, fundraising and development and patching facility issues, we keep moving towards the goal of excellence that we all share.”
Everett steps in for alumna Dean Phylicia Rashad, whose tenure ended on June 30.
Before his appointment, Onwumechili was a professor of communications at Howard for over 15 years. He’s authored more than 10 published books and articles in academic journals, served as the editor-in-chief of The Howard Journal of Communications, the vice president of the Digital Bridge Institute in Abuja, Nigeria and sat on the editorial board of the Communication & Sport journal, according to Howard University profiles.
“The School of Communications is usually very close, except last year the dean was very MIA, and we never got to see her,” said Reginald Burke Jr., a sophomore public relations major. “I’m fearful that an interim dean may not have the full qualifications a permanent dean would. This is a vital election year. I at least hope this year the students and student leaders have the opportunity to see our dean regularly.”
Copy edited by Jalyn Lovelady
