MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It is always important news when top leadership at any of our local institutions of higher learning changes hands. So naturally, it’s worth noting the selection of Vernell Bennett-Fairs as the next president of LeMoyne-Owen College.
Bennett-Fairs will become the school’s 13th president when she takes over January 5th. Her priorities for the historically black institution, include recruiting and retaining students, along with shoring up revenue and building relationships throughout the community and beyond – all of which impressed the college’s board of trustees.
She takes over at LeMoyne at a difficult time – with COVID-19 surging in Memphis. Campus life has been completely upended, and most students will continue virtual learning for the foreseeable future. It’s a daunting challenge for anyone, aut Bennett-Fairs comes to Memphis with a solid background in college administration – having spent the last four years as vice president of student affairs at Delta State University in Mississippi. One of her three degrees is from historically black Fisk University in Nashville, and she also worked at another HBCU, Kentucky State.
Meanwhile, I cannot end without paying tribute to LeMoyne-Owen’s interim president, Carol Johnson-Dean, who brought much needed stability to the college over the last year and half. She also played a pivotal role in the school landing a $40 million endowment earlier this year from the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. So to Bennett Fairs, welcome. And to Johnson-Dean, thank you. And that’s my point of view.