Professional Appointments

Dr. Leon Wright Bey has been promoted to dean of the school of liberal arts and education at Virginia State University in Petersburg. Bey has been an employee of Virginia State for 22 years, serving most recently as chair of the health, physical education and recreation department. Bey received a bachelor's at VSU; a master's from Indiana University and a
doctorate from Temple University.

Paula D. Cunningham has been named the fourth president of Lansing Community
College in Michigan. Cunningham is the first African American woman president in the state and only the sixth female community college president in Michigan. Cunningham received a bachelor's in journalism and a
master's in labor/industrial relations from
Michigan State University.

Nikki Giovanni, poet and professor of English at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, was one of nine winners who received the Virginia Governor's Award for the Arts 2000, given for distinction in creative achievements. Giovanni won in the individual artist category. She received a bachelor's in history from Fisk University and holds several honorary degrees.
Dr. Rose M. Harris has been named the sixth visiting scholar for the African American Studies Program Research Initiative at the University of Houston for the 2000-01 academic year. Harris earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Southern University; a master's degree in political science from Howard University and a doctorate in
political science from Rutgers University.

Dr. William D. Lawson has been named dean of the college of arts and sciences at
Tennessee State University. Previously,
Lawson served as professor of sociology and dean of the college of arts and sciences at
Alabama State University. Lawson earned his
bachelor's from Knoxville College; his
master's from Atlanta University and his
doctorate from Iowa State University.

Doretha Spells has been named vice
president for business affairs and treasurer at Hampton University in Virginia. Previously, she was assistant vice president for business affairs and comptroller. Spells earned a
bachelor's degree in business administration from South Carolina State University and a master's in business administration from
Tennessee Technological University.