Leadership Fellows Residency I

Ms. Autumn A. Arnett

Founder and CEO, A Black Child Can

Autumn A. Arnett is a writer and education advocate whose work centers around issues of equity and access in education. She has previously served as editor of U.S. News & World Report, Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, Education Dive, and the HBCU Digest. She is also the author of Let’s Stop Calling It an Achievement Gap, now available from Information Age Publishing, and her work has also appeared in The Atlantic, Complex Magazine, The Grio, and a number of local and regional publications. She has moderated and participated in numerous panels around issues of access, opportunities and outcomes for African-American students. The Clark Atlanta University alumna is a passionate advocate for historically Black colleges and universities and equity in education wherever students of color are enrolled.

 Autumn also serves as a copy editor for the Journal of African American Males in Education and a contributor to the National Association of Black Journalists’ NABJ Journal. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the American Consortium for Equity in Education, and the Education Writers Association. Autumn previously served on EWA’s Journalist Advisory Board and is a founding member of the Pflugerville (TX) Equity Commission.

Dr. Goldie Byrd

CASL Advisor on Leadership & Education

Dr. Goldie S. Byrd recently is Professor of Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Director of the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity. At Wake, she leads the integrating Special Populations (ISP) for the Clinical Translation Science Institute and she co-leads the Outreach and Recruitment Core for the Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC). Prior to this appointment, she served as Chair of Biology, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Endowed Professor of Biology at North Carolina A&T State University. Dr. Byrd also served as a biology professor at Tennessee State University and North Carolina Central University, and as adjunct professor of Genetics, in the School of Medicine, at Duke University.

Dr. Byrd conducts research on the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease in African Americans. She has contributed significantly to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of underrepresented students in medicine and the biomedical sciences. While serving as dean, she co-founded the STEM Center of Excellence for Active Learning , the Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s Aging and Community Health (Merck Foundation) and was a founding investigator to create the Center for the Advancement of STEM Leadership (CASL). Dr. Byrd received extensive NIH support to increase diversity in the Biomedical Science workforce, leading the Minority Biomedical Science Research in Scientific Initiative (RISE) for eight years. She also co-led the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE program at A&T to increase women leadership and advancement in STEM careers.

Dr. Byrd has received numerous awards for her leadership, teaching, research, student and faculty mentoring, and community engagement. Such awards include the UNC Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), which was received at a White House ceremony from then President Barak Obama. This year Dr. Byrd received a Healthcare Pioneer for Black History Month, by the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission and Governor Roy Cooper.

Dr. Byrd has served on local, state and national boards for organizations such as the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences and the North Carolina COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee.

Dr. Joan Gallos

CASL Senior Advisor on Leadership & Education

Dr. Gallos is Professor of Leadership Emerita at the former Wheelock College (now the BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development), where she also served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and oversaw three major accreditations, as well as faculty development, academic programming, and educational innovation consistent with the College’s mission. Gallos holds a bachelor’s degree cum laude in English from Princeton and a masters and a doctoral degree in organizational behavior and professional education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is an award-winning educator, author, and scholar in the fields of leadership and management education; a passionate program designer; and a consultant who has engaged in leadership development and organizational start-up and change projects for private and public organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Gallos currently serves as a member of the core faculty for Harvard’s Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians (LIAL) and as Senior Consultant for Leadership and Education for CASL and for the CASL Fellowship Program.

Her scholarship centers on innovative leadership and management education for a diverse work world; organizational change; professional effectiveness; and evolving conceptions of what, how, and why professionals learn. Gallos has six published books (Business Leadership; Organization Development; Teaching Diversity: Listening to the Soul, Speaking from the Heart (with V. Jean Ramsey); and Reframing Academic Leadership [first and second editions] and Engagement: Transforming Difficult Relationships at Work (all three with Lee G. Bolman); multiple sets of curricular and training materials for the organizational and management sciences; and a goodly portion of her first novel. For more, see www.joangallos.com.

Dr. Vann R. Newkirk, Sr.

President of Fisk University

Dr. Vann R. Newkirk, Sr., a native of Elizabethtown, North Carolina, was named the 17th President of Fisk University by the Board of Trustees on February 15, 2021. He served as Fisk’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs from 2018 until his Presidential appointment. Dr. Newkirk has an extensive leadership record with proven evidence of effectiveness on many levels. For instance, he has a 25-year career in creating innovative educational programs which, have enhanced enrollment, at each institution in which he was formerly employed. Over his career he also built and managed off-campus degree programs, enhanced sponsored programs productivity, and played major roles in the administration of institutional research and effectiveness. Newkirk has worked with organizations such as the SACS Consulting Network, the Capacity Building Institute of the UNCF, and the Patterson Research Institute. In these roles he led more than a dozen colleges and universities through initial accreditation or through reaffirmation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Finally, he has played important roles in improving institutional efficiency and in resource husbandry at institutions across the Southeastern United States. These efforts have required consensus building within each institution, inside institutional governing boards, and with state coordinating agencies.

Newkirk’s experiences have allowed him to build and maintain relationships with a wide variety of constituencies on all levels. A noted historian, Newkirk has written extensively on crime and punishment in the state of North Carolina. He is the author of the seminal work on subject, Lynching in North Carolina (2008), which won the Willie Parker Peace History Award for the best non-fiction study of North Carolina in 2009. Other publications by Newkirk include, “That Spirit Must be Broken: The Mutilation of Joseph Needleman and North Carolina’s Effort to Prosecute Lynch Mob Participants During the 1920s,” Southern Jewish History (Vol.13, 2010), and “Washed Down in Blood: Murder on the Schooner Harry A. Berwind,” North Carolina Historical Review, (January 2014). An HBCU advocate, his book, New Life for Historically Black Colleges and Universities seeks to identify the challenges that Black Colleges face, explore the historic origin of Black college management systems, and identify models of success that will improve the long-term viability of HBCUs. He is currently writing what will be the seminal work on the history of African Americans in Alabama. Newkirk formerly served as Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Professor of History at Elizabeth City State University. Newkirk and his wife, Marylin (deceased), are the proud parents of three adult children – Vann Newkirk II, a television personality and writer; Casandra a biologist; and Richard, a college student/aspiring graphic artist. Dr. Newkirk attended North Carolina A&T State University and holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Barber-Scotia College; a Master of Arts degree in History from Winthrop University a Master of Science degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University; and the Doctor of Philosophy in History from Howard University.

Dr. C. Ellen Washington

CASL Manager of the Leadership Learning Community

Dr. C. Ellen Washington is a Core Faculty member in BA Psychology Program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Previously, Dr. Washington was the Director of STEM Continuing Education at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA. Before joining Fielding, Dr. Washington was the Assistant Director of Leadership Development and Scholar-in-Residence at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Her foundation for leadership in higher education was from her seven years as Chair of the Department of Psychology and Chair of the IRB Committee at Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, NC. Dr. Washington's research area in recent years has focused on leadership development. She completed the African American Board Leadership Institute. Dr. Washington is a graduate of Leadership Raleigh and Emerging Leaders both which are directed by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and is Goodman Fellow having completed the Leadership Triangle Emerging Leaders Program. Also, she is a graduate of the OURS Fellowship Program at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she earned a Post Doc Certificate in Academic Leadership. Dr. Washington offers significant experience in academic leadership, women in leadership, higher educational learning models, strategic planning, and organizational development. Her current research interests are leadership development for minorities in STEM and organizational change. She is also an avid proponent for diversity in the workplace, and leadership and social competencies.

Dr. Washington has published articles in the Oxford University Public Policy Journal and the International Journal of Business and Social Science. She presented this work at Oxford University Roundtable in 2010 and the London's Women's Leadership Symposium in 2012 in the UK. She recently received the 2020-2021 Multicultural Excellence in Teaching Award at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is earned her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology (Minnesota), M.A. in Counseling Psychology (Georgia School of Professional Psychology) and B.A. in Psychology (University of Arkansas). Dr. Washington's hobbies include reading, collecting art, international travel, attending music festivals and following the world of fashion.

Dr. Camille McKayle

CASL PI & Director of Research

Dr. Camille A. McKayle is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), and a lead PI for the National Science Foundation funded Center for the Advancement of STEM Leadership (CASL).  As Provost, she led the development of UVI’s first PhD program in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change, which graduated its first PhD recipients in 2018. She has successfully served as PI or co-PI on a variety of grant projects from National Science Foundation, NASA, Department of Defense, and the Mathematical Association of America.  Her grant projects have totaled more than $10 million for the university.  In addition to CASL, Dr. McKayle is also co-PI for the Florida-Caribbean Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Regional Center of Excellence (collaborative with Santa Fe College). From 2005 - 2008, Dr. McKayle was Program Officer at the National Science Foundation for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program, in the Division for Human Resource Development in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. Dr. McKayle received her Ph.D. in Mathematics, from Lehigh University (Pennsylvania). Her undergraduate degree in Mathematics is from Bates College (Maine) and she recently completed a Master’s Certificate in Creativity and Change Leadership from Buffalo State College’s International Center for Creativity Studies. Her current research interests are in the areas of Creativity Studies, Creativity and Leadership, STEM Education and HBCU STEM Leadership.

Dr. Karyl Askew

CASL Senior Research Scientist

 Dr. Karyl Askew is a Senior Research Scientist at the University of the Virgin Islands, funded by the Center for the Advancement of STEM Leadership (CASL), an NSF-funded project. Her professional work, scholarship, and service have focused on increasing the diversity of the next generation of scientists and scientific thinkers. Dr. Askew is an Educational Psychologist with 15 years of research and program evaluation experience applying a culturally responsive methodology. Overall, her body of work has centered on federal initiatives intended to broaden access for marginalized populations to innovative STEM education opportunities. Her research examines the convergence of psychological, cultural, and organizational factors that broaden participation and persistence in STEM pathways. She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications focused on gender differences in educational outcomes, HBCU STEM leadership in higher education, multicultural perspectives in the field of program evaluation, and reports that aid program leaders in integrating findings into policy and practice. Her portfolio of projects includes Investing in Innovation (i3; U.S. ED.), Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP; NSF) grant, and, Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL; NSF# DRL-1811234). Her scholarship is published in the APA Educational Psychology Handbook, the Handbook of Motivation at School, and Evaluation and Program Planning, along with reports that aid educational leaders and policymakers. Several regional and national organizations have invited her to share her culturally responsive equitable evaluation and research expertise, including the American Evaluation Association (AEA), local AEA affiliates, and private foundations. Dr. Askew holds doctoral and master’s degrees in educational psychology, measurement, and evaluation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Dr. Askew currently resides with her family in Hillsboro, OR.

Dr. Linda Liang

President, Organizational Resources, LLC

Dr. Linda Liang is a leadership expert with over 25 years of experience working with executives and organizational leaders to build leadership potential. Facilitated vision and strategy sessions to identify future direction, leadership competencies and skills needed to enhance organizational success. Identifies Diversity, Gender and Inclusion issues in organizations. Focuses on leadership development, workplace conflict, teambuilding and identifying gender issues, Linda's insight provided practical solutions. Coaches leaders on thinking strategically, increasing the capabilities of their teams, holding others accountable, being agile and compassionate leaders in higher education, Linda designed the leadership curriculum and is former Department Chair for the Ph.D. Program in Organizational Leadership.  She also held the position of Interim Dean for 10 online programs and 1,000 graduate students.  Regarding her assistance with Grants from the NSF, she served as Director of Curriculum for the OURS (opportunities for underrepresented leader and has coached over 100 leaders in STEM. She focuses on executive team engagement and leadership development, using assessments, teambuilding exercises and thought-provoking questions to assess strategic thinking, leadership competencies, power and politics and compassionate leadership. With an emphasis on leadership coaching and professional excellence, Linda coached top and emerging leaders on power and presence, conflict management, teambuilding and building leadership competence. Certified in assessing leadership competencies and strengths, communication styles and emotional intelligence. She is certified on the Leadership Effectiveness Analysis 360 (measures 22 leadership competencies), The Hogan Executive Suite (strengths, derailers and motivators, the DiSC profile (communication skills) EQ-1 (emotional intelligence, and others. Coached higher education leaders and faculty, and C-suite executives, and others to identify their blind spots and to achieve higher levels of success. Organizations walk away with leaders willing to take risks who motivate others to achieve excellence. Linda holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She has over 3,000 hours of coaching, including over 300 hours of diverse leaders in higher education, is an ACC (Associate Certified Coach) by the International Coach Federation, and former Manager in the consulting practice at Ernst & Young.  She also graduated from all six levels of improvisation at Second City, Chicago and has appeared on stage twice.  Linda is wise, insightful, practical, authentic and fun to work with. She understands the world of higher education, and uses her talents to help leaders to achieve even higher levels of success for themselves and their teams.

Dr. Claudia Rankins

Senior Research Associate, PRISSEM Academic Services, LLC

Dr. Claudia Rankins is a senior research associate for PRISSEM Academic Services, LLC, where she conducts faculty development and research development consulting activities, specifically aimed towards faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) pursuing National Science Foundation (NSF) funding in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and STEM education fields. She is a senior fellow at the Association of American Colleges & Universities and a Fielder fellow at Fielding Graduate University. Dr. Rankins recently retired from the NSF where she served as a Program Director in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. She directed the HBCU Undergraduate Program and the HBCU Excellence in Research program. Prior to this post, Dr. Rankins served at Hampton University for 22 years in a number of capacities, including endowed university professor, chair of the department of physics, assistant dean for research, and dean of the School of Science.  Her formal education includes military training, certification as translator and interpreter for German, French and English, a B.S. in Mathematics with a minor in Political Science from Christopher Newport University, an M.S. in Statistics from Old Dominion University, an M.S. in Physics and a Ph.D. in Physics both from Hampton University. Dr. Rankins is an advocate for STEM education and research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Her current research interests center around the history of STEM at these institutions. Her research in theoretical particle physics focused on the development of a model to describe distribution amplitudes and form factors of pseudoscalar mesons.  Dr. Rankins is the co-founder of the Society of STEM Women of Color, Inc.