TALLAHASSEE — Ann L. Wead Kimbrough has been appointed as Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) new dean of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, and Robert W. Taylor is the new dean for the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences.
The university also has announced it is beginning a nationwide search for a high-level administrator to oversee anti-hazing initiatives, as well as a new band compliance officer, in the wake of the hazing death of former Marching 100 band drum major Robert Champion in November that helped usher in James Ammons’ resignation as president last week.
The jobs of Special Assistant to the President for Anti-Hazing, and Music Department Compliance Officer, were posted on the university’s website just two weeks after FAMU began a nationwide search for a new Director of Marching and Pep Bands. This month Kawachi Clemons was named interim chairman of the Music department.
FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson said he was proud to announce the deans whose appointments take effect August 13 to lead the journalism and agriculture programs. “We made the decision after conducting a national search and believe that we have appointed individuals who are leaders in their fields and will produce graduates who will contribute greatly to the fields of journalism, agriculture and food science.”
Kimbrough currently serves as the senior administrator of Webster University’s two largest Arkansas graduate campuses. She is also a visiting professor at the Arkansas Baptist College instructing students in the areas of global communications, entrepreneurship, marketing, ethics and sustainability strategies.
A veteran, award-winning journalist, she has served as president of the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, and as the chief of staff to the chief executive officer of DeKalb County (Ga.), where she launched a countywide public awareness campaign for successful passage of a $250 million bond referendum.
She received her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga.; a master’s degree in financial journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.; and a doctor of business administration (DBA) in international business from Argosy University in Atlanta.
Taylor, professor of soil and environmental sciences at Alabama A&M University, formerly served as dean of the School of Agricultural and Environmental Science where he led three successful accreditations. Taylor has taught various undergraduate, graduate, and dual level courses, and has published more than 50 papers in professional journals.
He received his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala., and a master’s degree in soil microbiology and a doctorate in soil chemistry from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.
Photo: Ann L. Wead Kimbrough
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