Bennett College in Greensboro officially has a new leader. Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins will take the position at the historically black women's private college.
Dawkins will serve as the institution's 18th president. She's served in the interim role since last August when Rosalind Fuse-Hall resigned. Before that, Dawkins also was provost at the college.
Prior to arriving at Bennett, she was the interim president at Cheyney University, a black college near Philadelphia.
Dawkins assumes the top academic post at Bennett with several primary goals: increase enrollment and retention; strengthen academic offerings; boost both funding and the accreditation status; implement and assess the strategic plan.
Board members say Dawkins has accomplished a lot in her short time with the college and has been visible in the Greensboro community.
According to a news release, she has worked to extend Bennett's reputation internationally and will travel to South Africa later this month to continue that effort.
“I have been thoroughly impressed with the students, staff and faculty of Bennett College since arriving in Greensboro in November 2015,” says Dawkins. “For years Bennett has been one of the community's best-kept secrets, but I plan to work in concert with the BOT, faculty, staff, students and alumnae to ensure the institution's visibility is raised.”
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