Dr. Sheila Ards has been appointed associate vice president for community partnerships and development in the office of the senior vice president for system administration at the University of Minnesota. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas-Austin, and a master's and doctorate in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Dr. Lawrence F. Davenport has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer at Florida Atlantic University. Previously, he served as executive director of Hale House Center, Inc. He earned a bachelor's from Michigan State, two master's degrees from Leicester University and Michigan State, and a doctorate from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Dr. Sadie R. Gregory has been named provost/vice president of academic affairs at Coppin State College. Currently, she is interim vice president for academic affairs at the Richmond School of Health and Technology. Gregory earned a bachelor's from Virginia State, master's from Virginia Commonwealth and a doctorate from Howard University.

Dr. Ervin V. Griffin Sr. has been named president of West Virginia State Community and Technical College. Previously, he served as provost and chief operating officer. He earned a bachelor's degree from Bluefield State College, a master's degree from Western Illinois University and a doctorate in education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Tommy McDonald has joined Tennessee State University as its new public information officer. Previously, McDonald had a career in journalism and public relations, most recently with Communications Works, the largest public interest/public relations firm on the West Coast. He earned a bachelor's degree from Tennessee State.

Shereitte C. Stokes III has been named vice president for university advancement at Tuskegee University in Alabama. Stokes comes to Tuskegee from Spelman College where he was associate vice president of institutional advancement. He earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Wilberforce University in Ohio and is a certified fund-raising executive.