Position Details

Wilberforce University has appointed Dr. Vann R. Newkirk to serve as its next president. Dr. Newkirk will be the 23rd president of the country's oldest private historically Black university beginning in July, 2023. Dr. Newkirk brings a wealth of experience in higher education, having served in various leadership roles at several institutions. He presently serves as an interim associate vice president at Alabama A & M University in Huntsville, and is a former president of the historic Fisk University in Nashville (TN) where he also served as provost and vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Newkirk holds a B.S. in sociology from Barber-Scotia College, an M.A. in history from Winthrop University, an M.S. from North Carolina Central University, and Ph.D. in history from Howard University. Read more here.