Provost Team

Office of the Provost and Sr. Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Tia A. Minnis

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

tminnis@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5997

Chief Academic Officer and Sr. Vice President for Academic Affairs

Ms. Aisha Singfield

Executive Assistant to the Sr. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

asingfield@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5997

Office Administration and Daily Operations

Management of General Inquiries

Administrative Initiatives in Collaboration with the Provost’s Office

Scheduling and Coordination of Meetings with the Provost/VPAA

Academic Leadership and Faculty Affairs

Dr. Desmond Stephens

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

dstephens@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5462

Faculty Advancement and Partnerships

Academic Policy and Program Strategy

Resolution of High-Level Academic and Student Matters

Promotion and Tenure

Memoranda of Understanding/Agreements (MOU/MOA)

Academic Policy and Program Support (Student Complaints)

Employee Degree Assistance Program (EDAP)

Academic Operations & Inclusive Excellence

Mr. Antonio T. Cole, M.A., SHRM-CP, sHRBP

Director of Academic Operations & Special Assistant to the Provost

atcole@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5687

Academic Business Operations

Faculty Appointments, Credentialing, and Compliance

Employment-Based Immigration and Sponsorship

Business and Operational Excellence

General Education and Faculty Excellence

Dr. Michelle Mosely

Director of General Education and Faculty Excellence

mmosely@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6353

Oversight of General Education Curriculum and Assessment

Faculty Development and Leadership Programs

Academic Chair Support and Training

Academy for Faculty Enrichment (AFE)

Academic and Operational AI Integration

Dr. Brian Sayre

Director of Academic and Operational AI Integration

bsayre@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6990

Implementation of AI-Driven Academic and Administrative Solutions

Strategic Planning for Instructional and Operational Innovation

Faculty and Staff Training in AI Tools and Practices

Data-Informed Decision Support and Process Optimization

Academic Finance, Policy, and Planning

Ms. Dot Yancey

Assistant Director of Finance, Policy and Planning

dyancey@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5423

Fiscal Operations: Travel and Lodging (Faculty, Staff, Students)

Academic Finance, Procedures, and Personnel Transactions

Business Administration and Coordination

Ms. Felicia James

Business Operations Manager

fjames@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5998

Supports the daily business and administrative operations of the office.

Coordinates financial, procurement, travel, and operational processes.

Promotes efficient operations through effective organization, planning, and customer service.

Academic Administrative & Business Units

Office of Research and Economic Development

Dr. M. Omar Faison

Vice Provost for Research and Economic Development

mfaison@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6793

Office of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness

Dr. Veronica Powell Shuford

Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation

SACSCOC Liaison | SCHEV Liaison

vshuford@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5206

Office of Distance Education and Professional Studies

Mr. Forrest Black

Executive Director for Distance Education and Professional Studies

fblack@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5883

Office of Information Technology Services

Mr. Derrick Jennings

Assistant Vice President/Chief Information Officer

djennings@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-1381

Office of the Registrar

Ms. Nedra Jones

University Registrar

njones@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6706

College of Graduate Studies

Dr. Benedict Uzochukwu

Dean and Professor, College of Graduate Studies

buzochukwu@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-1127

Honors College & Global Leadership & Talent Dev.

Dr. Daniel Roberts

Dean & Senior International Officer

droberts@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6459

Johnston Memorial University Libraries

Ms. Marika Barksdale Peterson

Dean & University Librarian

mpeterson@vsu.edu 

VSU Center for Responsible AI

Dr. Gabriella Waters

Director, Center for Responsible AI

gwaters@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5377

Advances AI research, innovation, and policy to position Virginia State University and Virginia as leaders in the field.

Drives interdisciplinary AI work across agriculture, cybersecurity, healthcare, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

Provides AI policy guidance and supports a full pipeline from K–12 through advanced study.

Builds talent pipelines and industry collaborations to support innovation and economic growth.

VSU Women’s LeadHERship Institute

Dr. Gabrielle D. Pina

Executive Director, WLI

gpina@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6456

Leadership Development Programs equipping women with the knowledge and skills to lead with confidence and purpose.

Professional Development & Mentorship supporting career growth through learning, coaching, and networking opportunities.

Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement building collaborative relationships that expand leadership opportunities and impact.

Signature Events & Leadership Initiatives coordinating programs and experiences that advance women's leadership at VSU and beyond.

Academic Colleges | Administrative Leadership

College of Agriculture

Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh

Dean and Professor, College of Agriculture | Director for Land Grant Programs

jbronuagh@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6961

Ms. Dorrie Banks

Executive Assistant to the Dean

dbanks@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5961

Dr. Ronald M. Howell, Jr

Associate Dean and Director, Agricultural Research Station

rhowell@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5957

Mr. Christopher Mullins

Interim Associate Dean/Administrator of Extension

cmullinsl@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5834

College of Education

Dr. Gerrelyn Patterson

Dean and Professor, College of Education

gpatterson@vsu.edu 

Mr. Matthew Treacy

Executive Assistant to the Dean/PR Specialist

mtreacy@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5742

Dr. Kristal Moore-Clemons

Interim Associate Dean and Program Director, Ed.D.

Professor, Educational Leadership

kclemons@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6973

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dr. Isis Walton

Dean and Professor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

iwalton@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5478

Ms. Latoya Waddy

Program Manager, JMLI/Executive Assistant

lwaddy@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6990

Dr. Jerry Crawford

Associate Dean

Professor, Mass Communications

jcrawford@vsu.edu 

Dr. Stephen Rockenbach

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

Professor, History & Political Science

srockenbach@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5910

Reginald F. Lewis College of Business

Dr. Venkat Mummalaneni

Interim Dean & Professor, Reginald F. Lewis College of Business

Sr. Associate Dean and Chairperson, Management & Marketing

vmummalaleni@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5808

Ms. Terethia Barrett Nicolson

Executive Assistant to the Dean

tbarrett@vsu.edu | Telephone: 524-xxxx

Dr. Hari Sharma

Associate Dean

Professor and Chairperson, Accounting and Finance

hsharma@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5324

Dr. Ephrem Eyob

Associate Dean

Professor and Chairperson, Computer Information Systems

eeyob@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-7096

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Dr. M. Omar Faison

Interim Dean & Associate Professor, College of Natural and Health Sciences

Vice Provost for Research and Economic Development

mfaison@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-6793

Ms. Fran Thomas

Executive Assistant to the Dean

fthomas@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5438

Dr. Lachelle Waller

Interim Associate Dean and Director, Undergraduate Research

Associate Professor, Biology

lwaller@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-5940

College of Engineering and Technology

Dr. Dawit Haile

Dean & Professor, College of Engineering and Technology

dhaile@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-1205

Ms. Andre A’Bryaana Key

Executive Assistant to the Dean

akey@vsu.edu | Telephone: (804) 524-1091

Academic Colleges | Department Leadership

College of Agriculture

Dr. Danielle Andrews-Brown, Assoc. Professor and Interim Chairperson

Department of Agriculture

Dr. Ivan Turnipseed, Professor and Interim Chairperson

Department of Hospitality Management

Dr. Jada E. Brooks, Professor and Interim Chairperson

Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

College of Education

Dr. C. Adrianne Thomas, Assoc. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Teaching and Learning

Prof. Tracy L. Jackson, Esq., Assoc. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

Dr. Tracy Walker, Professor and Chairperson

Department of Educational Leadership

Dr. Alishea Rowley, Assoc. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Counselor Education

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Prof. Stephanie O’Dell Daugherity, Asst. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Art and Design

Dr. Richard Chew, Professor and Chairperson

Department of History and Political Science

Dr. Latorial Faison, Asst. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Languages and Literature

Dr. Nsenga Burton, Professor and Chairperson

Department of Mass Communications

Prof. Eric Palicia

Department of Military Science

Dr. Samuel Rowley, Professor and Chairperson

Department of Music

Dr. Jimmie Fedrick, Asst. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Social Work

Dr. Nadjhia Normil-Skakavac, Professor and Interim Chairperson

Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice

College of Engineering and Technology

Dr. Joon Suk Lee, Professor and Chairperson

Department of Computer Science

Dr. Francis Erebholo, Assoc. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Mathematics and Economics

Dr. Nasser Ghariban, Professor and Chairperson

Department of Engineering

Dr. Peng Cheng, Professor and Chairperson

Department of Applied Engineering Technology

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Dr. Kathryn Shows, Asst. Professor and Interim Chairperson

Department of Biology

Dr. Karl Jackson, Assoc. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Chemistry

Dr. Sibena Samuel-Harris, Assoc. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Nursing

Dr. Shedrick McCall, Assoc. Professor and Chairperson

Department of Psychology

Reginald F. Lewis College of Business

Dr. Hari Sharma, Associate Dean and Chairperson

Department of Accounting and Finance

Dr. Ephrem Eyob, Associate Dean and Chairperson

Department of Computer Information Systems

Dr. Venkat Mummalaneni, Sr. Associate Dean and Chairperson

Department of Management and Marketing

VSU Personnel Directory | https://www.vsu.edu/personnel-directory/