Dillard University, President

Rochelle L. Ford, APR, selected to serve as President of Dillard University. She will be the second woman named Dillard’s president in a permanent capacity.

Currently the dean of Elon University’s School of Communications, Dr. Ford brings extensive experience in higher education administration and instruction. She has earned a reputation as a hard-working transformative leader. Her scholarship and experience include diversity, equity, and inclusion, public relations, advertising, journalism, and media. Additionally, Dr. Ford is a 2021 fellow in Clark Atlanta University’s HBCU Executive Leadership Institute.

Among Ford’s numerous publications are “Administrative Challenges and Organizational Leadership in Historically Black College and Universities” and “Setting a New Agenda for Student Engagement and Retention in Historically Black Colleges and Universities”, both co-authored with Charles B.W. Prince.

Dr. Ford earned her bachelors degree in journalism from Howard, her master’s degree in journalism from University of Maryland, College Park, and her PhD in journalism from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Bud Moseley and Donna Cramer led this search with Afi Tettey-Fio and Mindy Cimini.

More information is available here.