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Comprehensive Standard 3.2.8

3. The institution has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience and competence to lead the institution. (Comprehensive Standard 3.2.8)


Narrative:

Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge (SUBR) employs well-qualified administrators with the experience, competence, and capabilities to provide leadership according to their credentials. Administrative and academic officers are selected through an open competitive process that involves peer administrators, faculty, staff, and student participation. SUBR seeks to ensure the best employment practices are followed, while utilizing university policies for filling vacancies. Policies dictate that all vacancies are advertised, unless an exception has been granted. Search committees are appointed and convened for the purpose of reviewing candidates. Recommendations are made by the supervisors and search committees through the administrative chain. These procedures appear in the SUBR Faculty Handbook (pages 23-24).

The recruitment and appointment of senior administrative officers are governed by the policy on regular searches and focused searches at the university. The university’s organizational chart reflects the officers’ reporting relationships.

Administrative and Academic Officers

Office Officer and CV
President-Chancellor Ray Belton
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost M. Christopher Brown II
Vice Provost Luria Young
Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President & Provost  Ronyelle B. Ricard
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Benjamin Pugh
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management 
Brandon K. Dumas
Vice Chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives Michael Stubblefield
Interim Athletics Director Roman Banks
Dean - College of Business Donald Andrews
Dean - College of Education, Arts & Humanities VerJanis A. Peoples
Dean - College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Albert Samuels
Dean - College of Sciences and Agriculture Laurence Henry
Dean - College of Engineering and Computer Science Habib Mohamadian
Dean - College of Nursing and Allied Health Janet Rami
Dean - Graduate School Damien Ejigiri
Dean - International Education and Service Learning
Barbara W. Carpenter
Dean of Libraries Emma Perry
Dean - Honors College Diola Bagayoko
Academic Outreach Programs Dana Carpenter
   

Biographies

Dr. Ray L. Belton serves as the President-Chancellor of the Southern University A&M College, the nation’s only historically black university system. He provides oversight to three campus sites and daily management for the Baton Rouge Campus. Notwithstanding, his service as a member of the U.S. Armed Services and his committed work in the human services sector, Belton has accumulated more than 27 years of experience in higher education. Dr. Belton has held several national leadership positions including serving on the Board of Trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), as a Commissioner on Diversity and Inclusion for the American Association of Community Colleges, the Executive Board of the Louisiana Campus Compact, and the National Advisory Board of Community Renewal International. His statewide affiliations include serving in senior leadership roles with the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology (CERT), Biomedical Research Foundation, Alliance for Education, Coordinating & Development Corporation of Northwest Louisiana and as a member of the local Chambers and Committee of 100. Dr. Belton served in administrative roles at the university level to include Director, Department Head, Associate Professor, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and Executive Vice Chancellor. His teaching experience spans more than twelve years, and his demonstrated leadership led him to be nominated and elected Faculty Senate President. Early in his career, he served on active duty in the United States Army for eight years on assignments stateside and abroad and was recognized as one the top non-commissioned officers of his brigade. He also endeavored to serve as a licensed professional counselor while engaging with individuals, groups and families in various therapeutic settings prior to venturing into higher education. Dr. Belton has received numerous awards, to name a few, they include: the Leader of the New Century, from the Shreveport Times and the Distinguished Achievement Award, from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is the recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Community Service Award sponsored by the Black Lawyers Association and is recognized as the “2001 Distinguished Graduate,” University of Texas at Austin, Community College Leadership Program, Austin, TX. Further, in acknowledging his scholarly work, he was the Recipient, W. K. Kellogg Graduate Fellowship 1996, 1997, 1998; Recipient, League for Innovation Graduate Scholarship 1996, 1997; Recipient, C. C. Colvert Scholarship 1997, 1998; Recipient, John and Suzanne Roueche Scholar 1997, 1998 and Recipient, Community College Leadership Program Fellowship 1996, 1997. Dr. Belton, is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana who graduated from Southern University at Shreveport. He continued his studies at Southern University A&M College where he graduated first in his class. He further earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. M. Christopher Brown II serves as Executive Vice President and Provost of the Southern University and A & M College System. After earning his Ph.D., Dr. Brown joined the faculties of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, and The Pennsylvania State University where he earned tenure. During a professional leave of absence, Dr. Brown served as Executive Director of the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute of the United Negro College Fund, Director at the American Educational Research Association, and Vice President at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Dr. Brown was named Professor and Dean of the College of Education at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas before being appointed a University Professor and Executive Vice President and Provost at Fisk University. He served as the 18th president of Alcorn State University and as Senior Fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Dr. Brown is the author/editor of 17 books and monographs, and author or co-author of more than 100 journal articles, book chapters, and publications related to education and society. Dr. Brown earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from South Carolina State University, a Master of Science in Education Policy and Evaluation from the University of Kentucky, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from The Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Luria Young serves as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Southern University and A&M College (SUBR). She is a 1993 graduate of SUBR (BS, Biology) and earned a Master of Education (1995) and Educational Specialist Certificate (1997) in Science Education from Louisiana State University (LSU) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Research (2004) from LSU. Dr. Young has a wealth of education, training and experience in higher education having served in many capacities, specifically as a staff member with Southeastern Louisiana University’s (SELU) Educational Opportunity Center, as a faculty member in SUBR’s Departments of Curriculum and Instruction and Science/Mathematics Education Doctoral Program, as an evaluator and program administrator with the Louis Stokes Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LS-LAMP) and as the Interim Dean of the SUBR College of Education, Arts and Humanities. Additionally, Dr. Young is a Principal Investigator of the SUBR Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) Science Education Center Partnership (SEC). She has numerous publications and presentations focused on her research interests: the persistence of students in college, maximizing the potential of African American males, and inquiry-based science and mathematics teaching and learning.

Dr. Ronyelle Bertrand Ricard serves as the Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President and Provost of the Southern University and A&M College System. Dr. Ricard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from the Pennsylvania State University. Prior to her current appointment, Dr. Ricard served as the Special Assistant to the Chancellor at Southern University and A&M College. At Howard University, she was named Coordinator for the Presidential Commission on Academic Renewal and Coordinator for the University-wide Reaffirmation Accreditation Initiative. A native of Opelousas, Louisiana, Dr. Ronyelle Bertrand Ricard has published articles related to higher education and most notably co-authored the book, Ebony Towers in Higher Education: The Evolution, Mission, and Presidency of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Mr. Benjamin W. Pugh serves as the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. He has been employed in the Southern University System for thirty-eight years. He has served in various positions such as Accountant, Accounting Supervisor, Comptroller, and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at both the Shreveport and Baton Rouge Campuses. He received an undergraduate degree from Southern University and a graduate degree from Central Michigan University.

Dr. Brandon K. Dumas serves as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at Southern University and A&M College. He provides leadership to approximately 300 staff, including administrative professionals, directors, classified staff, and student workers in the areas of Admissions & Recruitment, Campus Dining, Career Services, Center for Undergraduate Student Achievement, First Year Experience, Financial Aid, Pre-College Programs, Horace W. Moody, Sr. Intramural & Recreational Sports Complex, Leadership Development, New & Transfer Student Orientation, Residence Life & Housing, Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union, Student Health Center, Student Life, Student Programs & Greek Life, Student Media, Student Organizations, and the University Counseling Center. He also serves as a Faculty Research Fellow in the International Center for IT and Development and is a member of the institution's SACS Reaffirmation Committee. Dr. Dumas oversees an annual budget in excess of $10 million and is responsible for planning, developing, managing, and administering programs and strategies for enrollment management and student affairs that support the University's strategic plan and mission and collaborates with academic and campus leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to recruit, retain, and serve a vibrant and diverse student body. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, Dr. Dumas has served as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Chief Student Affairs Officer, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Executive Director of Student Affairs, Coordinator of Student Relations, Executive Associate to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Southern University System.

Dr. Michael A. Stubblefield is currently the Vice Chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives for Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. In addition, to managing the research administration process, he guides Institutional Effectiveness and Research and Economic/Strategic Engagement for the University. Dr. Stubblefield received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern University and completed his doctoral studies at Louisiana State University in Engineering Science. He serves(d) as a member on the Louisiana Board of Regents Sponsored Programs Advisory Board, the Louisiana Innovation Council, and the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (Chair), a statewide cyber network partnership of the state’s lead research universities. While serving as the representative on the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Mentor Protégé program and as Councilor for the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), he served on the National Science Foundation’s Advisory Committee on Cyberinfrastructure. Dr. Stubblefield has authored/co-authored twenty-five refereed journals and served as principal and co-principal on more than 30 projects supported by Departments of Commerce, Defense, NASA, and the National Science Foundation, as well as from Louisiana Funding agencies, and private groups.

Mr. Roman Banks serves as the interim athletic director of the Southern University athletic department and is in his fifth year at the helm of the SU men’s basketball program. Banks accepted his appointment to head the SU athletics department with the vision of restoring the academic profile and establishing a new standard of excellence while overseeing the Jaguars 15 NCAA Division I programs. The Shreveport, Louisiana native became the 12th head coach in Jaguar men’s basketball history on May 1, 2011. As head coach of the program, Banks has compiled a 77-54 record in four seasons and reached the pinnacle of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, winning the league's tournament title in 2013 and the regular season championship in 2014. During his tenure, Banks is a two-time SWAC Coach of the Year Award recipient and is responsible for producing seven All-SWAC performers, two Newcomers of the Year and one Freshman of the Year.

Biographies continued.

Supporting Documentation
SUBR Faculty Handbook 2016-2020
HR Job Descriptions
Individual Curriculum Vitae or Resumes