A CALL
TO LEADERSHIP
Clark Atlanta University
Initiates the Search
for the Institution’s
PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT
FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
JANUARY 2016
THE SEARCH FOR THE PROVOST AND
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Clark Atlanta University invites nominations and applications for the
position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Reporting to
the President, Ronald A. Johnson, Ph.D., the provost is the number-two
executive officer of the University. Clark Atlanta seeks a distinguished
leader with successive levels of experience and a record of success as a
teacher, scholar, and administrator. The Provost will work collaboratively
with the faculty and administration to
provide leadership in the attainment of the
mission and goals of the University. The
provost will begin this leadership position
July 1, 2016.
Clark Atlanta University’s Research
enterprise comprises 10 research
centers, including the Center for
Cancer Research and Therapeutic
Development and the Center for
Functional Nanoscale Materials, and
seven research clusters. One of the
hallmarks of the University’s
approach to research, innovation and
discovery is student engagement and
experiential learning.
Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is a
comprehensive, private, urban, coeducational
institution of higher education with a
predominantly African American heritage. It
offers
undergraduate,
graduate,
and
professional degrees as well as certificate
programs to students of diverse racial,
ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Clark Atlanta was established in 1988 by the
consolidation of Atlanta University (1865), the nation's first graduate
school for African Americans, and Clark College (1869), the nation's first
four-year liberal arts institution to serve a predominantly African
American undergraduate student population.
Today, Clark Atlanta is one of the nation's foremost research institutions,
offering students from across the United States and several foreign
countries the opportunity to engage in 38 exciting areas of study at the
bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Located in the historic heart of
Atlanta, one of the world's great international cities, our nearly 4,000
students enjoy access to academic and co-curricular experiences, from
forensic debate to on-air broadcasting and cancer research with worldrenowned investigators. From the arts to zoology, CAU combines nearly
300 years of tradition with a solid focus on academic excellence to
produce leaders who will shape the future with IDEAS that matter. At
Clark Atlanta, IDEAS represents the core of the academic experience:
innovation and entrepreneurship, design and systems thinking,
environmental sustainability, the arts and humanities and the sciences and
technology.
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
2
A UNIQUE HISTORY
Considered the Dean of AfricanAmerican intellectuals, scholaractivist W.E.B. Du Bois wrote
most of his seminal works here on
the University’s historic campus.
He served on the faculty of the
history and economics
departments from 1897 to 1910,
and chaired the sociology
department from 1934 to 1944.
His legacy of intellectual and
research excellence today
constitutes an important
pedagogical underpinning of the
academy at Clark Atlanta.
Atlanta University, founded in 1865 by the American
Missionary Association with subsequent assistance from
the Freedman's Bureau, was, before the consolidation, the
nation's oldest graduate institution serving a
predominantly African American student body. By the
late 1870s, Atlanta University began granting bachelor’s
degrees and supplying black teachers and librarians to
public schools across the South. In 1929-1930, the
institution began offering graduate education exclusively
in various liberal arts areas and in the social and natural
sciences. It gradually added professional programs in
social work, library science, and business administration.
The institution during this period associated with
Spelman and Morehouse colleges in a university plan
known as the Atlanta University System. The campus
moved to its present site and the modern organization of
the Atlanta University Center emerged.
The story of Atlanta University Center over the next 20 years includes
significant developments. The schools of library science, education and
business administration were established in 1941, 1944, and 1946,
respectively. Atlanta School of Social Work, long associated with the
University, gave up its charter in 1947, to officially become part of the
University. One of the founding faculty in the School of Social Work was
W.E.B. Du Bois, who wrote his most influential works during the 23 years
he spent at Atlanta University, from 1897-1910 on the faculty of the
history and economics departments, and later, from 1934-1944 as chair of
the sociology department.
The Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which
later would become the United Methodist Church, founded Clark College
in 1869 as Clark University. The University today continues to celebrate
its historic bond with the denomination. Clark University was named for
Bishop Davis W. Clark, who was the first president of the Freedmen's Aid
Society and became bishop in 1864. In 1877, the school was chartered as
Clark University.
A DISTINGUISHED HERITAGE
3
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
A DISTINGUISHED HERITAGE
In 1883, Clark established a department in honor of Dr. Elijah H.
Gammon, known as Gammon School of Theology. By 1888, Gammon
School of Theology became an independent seminary and, today, is part
of the Interdenominational Theological Center.
In 1957, the controlling boards of six institutions (Atlanta University,
Clark College, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, Spelman
College, and Gammon Theological Seminary ratified new articles of
affiliation to create the Atlanta University Center, the most prevalent
consortium of African American private institutions of higher education
in the United States.
Clark Atlanta University was created on July 1, 1988. The new and
historic University inherits the rich traditions of two independent
institutions, connected over the years by a common heritage and
commitment; by personal, corporate, and consortia relationships; and by
location.
THE UNIVERSITY
Clark Atlanta University is
accredited to offer the bachelor’s,
master’s, specialist and doctoral
degrees in 38 major fields of
study. There are 171 full-time
teaching faculty, with 67 percent
holding tenure status. The facultystudent ratio is 1 to 15.
Carnegie classifies CAU as a Doctoral/
Research University (DRU). The University is
the only private, independent graduate research
institution in the HBCU community and the
only HBCU member of the Georgia Research
Alliance. CAU is accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); the
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business (AACSB); the National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GPSC); the Council
for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
(CACREP); the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); the
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
(NASPAA); and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division
II. CAU is authorized by Georgia State Nonpublic Postsecondary
Education Commission (GNPEC) to operate in the state of Georgia.
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
4
The University Senate of the General Board of
Higher Education and Ministry of the United
Methodist Church approves the University for
listing as a United Methodist Church-related
University.
Clark Atlanta University’s campus
spans some 126 acres, comprising
39 academic, administrative and
support buildings, located just 1.5
miles from downtown Atlanta. The
University sits in the heart of the
Atlanta University Center,
America’s largest consortium of
African-American scholars. Shown
here is the entrance to the
renowned Clark Atlanta University
Art Galleries, home to the
prestigious Hale Woodruff Murals
and one of the nation’s most
precious permanent collections of
African and African-American art.
The main campus, with 39 academic,
administrative, and student support buildings
spanning over 126 acres of land, is located about
1.5 miles southwest from the heart of metro
downtown Atlanta. The campus is accessible from
all major arteries, including I-20, I-75, I-85, and
I-285 and Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.
The University offers 38 major areas of study through four schools: Arts
and Sciences; Business Administration; Education; and Social Work, and
awards bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees. The highest
enrolled undergraduate fields are biology, business administration,
criminal justice, mass media arts, and psychology. The highest
enrollment for the graduate fields are: social work, education, business
administration , public administration, African-American studies, political
science and the sciences (biology and chemistry).
There are 171 total full-time teaching faculty, and 67% have tenure status.
The faculty-student ratio is 1:15.
During Academic Year 2014-15, the University awarded a total of 693
degrees (448 bachelor’s; 224 master’s; and 21 doctorates). Our graduates
are employed in sectors such as business, film and media, medical and
healthcare, education, social services and government.
The University’s Fall 2015 enrollment was 3,661 (2,741 Undergraduate;
920 Graduate). The Fall 2015 retention rate for first-year students
returning for a second year is 67%, with a six-year cohort graduation rate
of 38%.
5
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
During the 2015-16 academic year, Georgia students constituted 45% of
total enrollment; 51% of students come from out-of-state and 4%
represent the Caribbean Islands and more than 15 foreign countries.
Female students constitute 74% of the total enrollment while male
students comprise 26%.
Currently there are seven University-operated and two affiliated
residential facilities to house 2,448 students. There are more than 60
chartered student organizations including social fraternities and
sororities.
As a NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
member, the University provides athletic opportunities in varsity sports:
Men – baseball, basketball, football, track/field & cross-country; Women
– basketball, softball, tennis, track/field & cross-country, and volleyball.
During the year 2015-16, annual tuition and fees were $22,077; room and
board were approximately $10,434, depending on meal plan the residence
hall selected. The market value of the University’s endowment is
approximately $70,000,000 (as of January, 2016). The economic impact
on the local community is $461 million in combined
gross sales and labor, including 2,800 full and parttime jobs.
In 2013, the Board of Trustees approved the
following mission and vision statements:
Graduate students from Clark Atlanta
University’s MBA program discuss the
day’s business news on the University’s
Promenade. The school continues to be
one of the nation’s top producers of
African-American MBAs.
MISSION
Leveraging its distinctive history, Clark Atlanta
University is an urban research university that
transforms the lives of students and their
communities by preparing citizen leaders to be
problem-solvers through innovative learning
programs; supportive interactions with faculty, staff,
and students; exemplary scholarship; and purposeful
service.
VISION
Clark Atlanta University will increasingly become a
dynamic 21st century research university of choice
for a diverse student body with enhanced student
enrollment yields, success and global marketability.
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
6
STRENGTHS OF CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
Deep heritage as an academic leader: Atlanta University is where
W. E.B. Du Bois researched and published some of the most significant
academic, political and sociological works. DuBois founded the
Department of Sociology, which is considered one of the finest
Departments of Sociology in the world.
The Clark Atlanta University
academic experience is enriched by
the arts and a broad array of cocurricular activities designed to
enhance students’ opportunities for
personal, professional and social
enrichment and service learning.
Clark Atlanta University Center for Cancer Research and
Therapeutic Development (CCRTD): Established in 1999 out of the
strengths of the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, the
CCRTD is the nation’s largest academic prostate cancer research center.
It is currently supported by the National Center for Research Resources
(NCRR)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored Research Center
in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program; the National Center on
Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD); National Cancer
Institute (NCI); Department of Defense (DoD); and Georgia Research
Alliance.
World-class faculty: 81% of CAU faculty possess terminal degrees in
their disciplines, and all faculty are uniformly committed to pursuing
scholarship, teaching and research.
Important and challenging research agenda: CAU has a first-class
Center of Excellence focused on prostate cancer research, education and
outreach. The Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development
is the nation’s largest academic prostate cancer research enterprise. Other
research centers include: the Center for Functional Nanoscale Materials,
the Center for Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation, The Center
for Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, the Center for Cyberspace
and Information Assurance, and the Center for Undergraduate Research
and Creativity.
Strong and supportive alumni: CAU has graduates who are leaders in
medicine, law and Fortune 100 companies. Notable alumni include: Ralph
David Abernathy, Marva Collins, James Weldon Johnson, Dorothy
Yancey, Hosea Williams, Kenny Leon, Georgia Congressman Hank
Johnson, ESPN Host Bomani Jones, and Alexander B. Cummings, Jr.,
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of The CocaCola Company.
7
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
Prime urban location: CAU is the largest member of the Atlanta
University Center Consortium (AUCC), a contiguous complex of
institutions that include Spelman College, Morehouse College, and
Morehouse School of Medicine. The AUCC has the largest body of
African-American students and scholars in the United States.
Diverse undergraduate and graduate students: Clark Atlanta
University’s diverse student population hails from across the United
States and 15 foreign countries.
Affiliation with the United Methodist Church: The United Methodist
Church provides the foundation of the University’s core values.
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
8
PRESIDENT RONALD A. JOHNSON
Ronald A. Johnson, Ph.D., assumed the presidency of Clark Atlanta University (CAU) on
July 1, 2015.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., President Johnson earned the B.A. in economics and the MBA in
finance from Adelphi University. He earned the M.A and the Ph.D. degrees in economics
from Stanford University. As the new president of CAU, he is harnessing a tremendous
wealth of academic talent from among faculty and students and a nationwide base of
passionate alumni to create strategic alliances that will elevate CAU’s competitive advantage.
Dr. Johnson is committed to sustaining the vibrancy of CAU as a premier institution of
higher education. He wants to help build a CAU community that is inspired by social
purpose and fueled by intellectual vitality, cultural diversity, and global awareness.
Prior to becoming the president of CAU, Dr. Johnson served as Dean of Texas Southern
University’s Jesse H. Jones (JHJ) School of Business. Under his leadership, in 2014, the JHJ
School of Business was listed as one of The Princeton Review’s 295 best U.S. business
schools, and GetEducated.com listed its eMBA program as one of the best online buys.
In 2015, U.S. News & World Report listed the JHJ School of Business as one of the best
graduate schools. Dr. Johnson also served as Dean of Western Carolina University College
of Business in Cullowhee, N.C., where the MBA program was included in The Princeton
Review’s Best Business Schools in the nation; its online master’s degree program in project
management earned GetEducated.com’s distinction as the nation’s top-ranked online
program in quality and affordability.
9
Dr. Johnson built his career around teaching, mentoring and preparing future leaders,
serving with distinction for two decades as BB&T
Distinguished Professor of Capitalism and professor of finance, Western Carolina
University. He also served as JP Morgan Chase Professor of Finance, Texas Southern
University; visiting associate professor of finance, School of Business and Industry at
Florida A&M University; assistant professor of finance, Northeastern University; and
visiting assistant professor of economics, Howard University. He served as president and
chief investment officer of Smith Graham & Company, an institutional investment
management company in Houston, Texas, where he managed $3 billion in
assets. Prior to joining Smith Graham, he served as director of global fixed income
research and senior portfolio manager for Templeton Worldwide
Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he oversaw assets valued at $2
billion.
Dr. Johnson also served as the chief strategist and chairman of the
investment committee for Americas Trust Bank in Miami, Florida;
division chief for domestic financial markets with the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York; and as an economist with the International
Monetary Fund, as well as The Federal Reserve System Board of
Governors in Washington, D.C.
In his role as president of CAU, Dr. Johnson will work with talented
faculty, dedicated staff, and engaged students to produce the next
generation of global leaders of research, innovation, and education
that touch the lives of millions of people in the United States and
worldwide.
HALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
NEXT PRESIDENT OF CLARK ATLANTA
UNIVERSITY
CAU President Ronald A. Johnson
addresses the University community
upon the announcement of his election
as the historic university’s fourth leader,
July 1, 2015.
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
10
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROVOST
Clark Atlanta University is seeking a Provost and Vice President for Academic
Affairs who will partner with President Johnson and the University faculty in
mobilizing for the University’s future by positioning the University for continued
and enhanced academic excellence. The University seeks a Provost and VPAA
who can build on CAU’s past, capitalize upon its current forward momentum and
further strengthen the University’s academic programs such that the University is
“first choice” for the country’s brightest students, especially the country’s
brightest African American students.
The primary opportunities/challenges for the new Provost will be:












11
Identifying the role of Clark Atlanta in addressing the complex
issues of higher education in today’s world and the issues facing
HBCU’s in particular;
Enhancement of the role of the University in the Georgia Research
Alliance;
Development of a strategic plan that will involve the assessment of
the undergraduate and graduate programs;
Capitalize on the historic role of Atlanta University’s tradition of
developing and maintaining the distinctiveness of research
oriented graduate programs;
Develop undergraduate programs that involve experiential
education;
Strengthen enrollment management of the University;
Address the issues of regional as well as specialized accreditation;
Development of institutional policies relating to faculty and
administrators
employment,
professional
development,
accountability and performance;
Academic program review and the assessment of new program
options;
Engaging faculty in the development of quality teaching using
contemporary methods and delivery platforms;
Analyzing and possibly reconfiguring the organizational structure
of areas reporting to the Provost; and
Assess the potential of attracting more international students.
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
The responsibilities of the Provost are broad and will require strong
academic leadership, as well as the ability to partner with financial,
enrollment and student life leaders across the University.
DESIRED ATTRIBUTES FOR THE PROVOST
The Provost will require the following professional skills and personal attributes:













An understanding and appreciation of the mission, culture and
history of this distinctive historic University;
An earned doctorate in an academic discipline with a
distinguished record of scholarship and teaching appropriate for a
position as a full professor with tenure;
Significant experience as a faculty member and academic leader
who can partner with the President and the University faculty to
lead the University in mobilizing for the future;
Listening and communication skills that can lead to the building of
relationships within the University and community;
An understanding that one is accountable for the successes and/or
failures within an area;
An appreciation for measuring performance quantitatively and
qualitatively;
An understanding of the financial aspects of the University and an
ability to develop and manage budgets in consultation with
constituents;
A strong manager who is a visionary and collaborative leader;
An understanding of the future of higher education for both
undergraduate and graduate education (technology, liberal arts,
stackable education);
Demonstrated record in building, enhancing and sustaining
excellent academic programs;
A warm, engaging, self-confident leadership style;
Understanding of the academic, organizational and financial
issues facing major universities and especially HBCUs;
Demonstrated leadership in working transparently with faculty,
administrators, staff, students, and alumni in a manner that
evidences understanding of shared governance, accountability and
team building;
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
12








Demonstrated ability to attract, support and retain excellent faculty
and academically talented students;
Demonstrated ability for innovation and organizational change as
appropriate;
Ability to be flexible while making “tough”, academically sound and
principled decision that support the best interest of the University;
Demonstrated ability to promote interdisciplinary curricula and
research activities;
Management style that supports and empowers administrators and
faculty;
Ability to work effectively with a Board of Trustees and its staff;
A persistent, decisive, collaborative style with a strong value system
and a good sense of humor; and
The need to strengthen the enrollment management work of the
University—attracting more students and retaining those who select
the University are the two key elements that must be systematically
addressed.
The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will partner with President
Johnson and the University faculty in mobilizing for the University’s future by
positioning the University for continued and enhanced academic excellence.
13
Clark Atlanta University Provost Search
NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
The Provost Search Committee will begin reviewing applications in late
February and will continue until the appointment is made. To assure full
consideration, applications should be received by
Friday, March 4, 2016, and must include a letter of
interest, curriculum vitae, and five professional
references with email and telephone numbers
(references will not be contacted without prior
authorization from the applicant). Applications
and nominations should be sent electronically
(MS Word or Adobe PDF) to
clarkatlantaprovost@agbsearch.com. Additional
information is available at http://agbsearch.com
under “Current Searches” or
http://www.cau.edu/employmentopportunities/executive-and-administrativepositions.html .
The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
will maintain and strengthen Clark Atlanta University’s
academic programs and provide appropriate leadership
to support the historic traditions, to advocate change
when necessary, and to represent the college effectively
both internally and externally.
The search is being assisted by:
Oscar C. Page, Ph.D.
Senior Consultant
AGB Search
ocp@agbsearch.com
(903) 870-8303
14
Clark Atlanta University
223 James P. Brawley Drive, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30314
www.cau.edu
Clark Atlanta University is an equal
opportunity institution.