The Graduate School Board of Visitors

The Howard University Graduate School Board of Visitors comprises a dedicated group of alumni, dynamic academic and research leaders, and seasoned industry professionals from across the private and public sectors who represent and value the diversity of experiences, fields, interests, and talents embodied by the School's graduate students, faculty, and alumni. An indispensable part of The Graduate School's governance team, the Board of Visitors serves an important advisory function for the Dean of The Graduate School. The board's members contribute their time, expertise, and leadership in service of the School's mission, strategic planning, policy-making and oversight.

2024–2025 Board of Visitors

Chair: Depelsha McGruder, MBA
Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer of the Ford Foundation & member of the Howard University Board of Trustees

Depelsha McGruder, MBA, is the chief operating officer and treasurer of the Ford Foundation and member of the Howard University Board of Trustees. Based in New York, she oversees Ford’s global operations and finances. Prior to joining the foundation in 2020, Ms. McGruder served as COO of New York Public Radio (NYPR), where she oversaw internal operations and strategic planning for WNYC, WQXR, Gothamist.com, The Greene Space, and New Jersey Public Radio. She also partnered with senior leadership to chart the course of local news, talk and cultural programming, as well as digital content, to build a sustainable future for NYPR amidst a rapidly changing media landscape. Before her tenure at NYPR, Ms. McGruder spent 17 years at Viacom in senior leadership positions at both MTV and BET Networks. During that time, she launched mobile, broadband, and video-on-demand businesses for MTV. In addition, she developed and operated two new cable television networks with programming designed to serve underrepresented Latino, African American, and youth audiences, resulting in triple-digit growth in both audience and revenue. She started her career as a broadcast journalist, working as an on-air reporter, anchor, and producer for two commercial television stations in Georgia. Ms. McGruder is the founder and president of Moms of Black Boys United and MOBB United for Social Change, sister organizations dedicated to positively influencing how Black boys and men are perceived and treated by law enforcement and in society. She serves on the boards of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, the Billie Holiday Theatre, the Harvard Business School Club of New York, Oaktree Capital Management, and Classy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast communications from Howard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Dara N. Byrne, Ph.D.
Dean of the William E. Macaulay Honors College

Dara N. Byrne, Ph.D., serves as the fourth dean of William E. Macaulay Honors College, one of the 25 colleges in the City University of New York system. Recognized as a 2024 Trailblazer in Higher Education by New York City & State, she reports directly to the Chancellor of The City University of New York. Byrne holds a pivotal role akin to that of a college president, overseeing academic and administrative affairs at Macaulay Honors College and sitting as a member of the CUNY Council of Presidents. As a visionary and strategic thinker, she has spent over two decades as a professor, researcher, and higher education leader developing innovative and enterprising student success programs that help fulfill CUNY’s century old promise to create a route out of poverty for first generation and low-income students. Prior to Macaulay, she was Associate Provost and Undergraduate Dean of John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she co-created a nationally-recognized program using artificial intelligence to boost John Jay’s senior graduation rate by 32 percent. This work was presented at the World Economic Forum at Davos (2020), Google IO (2023), New York City & State’s Education Summit (2023), Google’s inaugural Impact Summit (2024) and featured in Diverse Issues in Higher Ed, Hechinger News, Google Policy Forum, and The New York Times. She sits on the Board of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Advisory Council of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, and the President’s Council of Valley Health Hospital System in Northern, NJ, and is a member of the Women’s Forum of New York and Impact100 Essex. Dean Byrne earned her PhD in Rhetoric and Intercultural Communication from Howard University in Washington, DC. She is completing her MS thesis in emergency and disaster management from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Karen Francis, Ph.D.
Principal Researcher at the American Institutes for Research (AIR)

Karen Francis, Ph.D., is a Principal Researcher at the American Institutes for Research (AIR). Dr. Francis is a medical sociologist and has grounded her work in the principles of cultural competence and a commitment to address disparities across social, health, juvenile justice and educational service systems. Dr. Francis has more than 28 years of experience managing, planning, and delivering training and technical assistance (TTA) at national, state and local levels that have also been accompanied by countless presentations to national, state and local leaders, policy makers and practitioners. Her expertise spans a variety of issues, including, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, children’s behavioral health, gender responsive programming, rural behavioral health, youth violence prevention, safe and supportive learning environments, health disparities, cultural and linguistic competence, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Her current research is focused on addressing health disparities in Mid-life and Older Black Women. She has developed several tools and resources to guide jurisdictions as they attempt to address these issues. As a Commissioner on the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Caribbean Affairs she led initiatives to promote health literacy and access to health and behavioral health services. Dr. Francis, holds a Ph.D., Medical Sociology, Howard University, MA, Sociology, American University and BA, Sociology, Catholic University of America.

Henry T. Frierson, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Education Psychology & former Associate Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Florida

Henry T. Frierson, Ph.D., is a former Associate Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School and Professor Emeritus of Research and Evaluation Methods at the University of Florida (UF). He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and educational psychology, respectively, from Wayne State University, and his Ph.D. in educational psychology from Michigan State University. Before joining the faculty at UF, Dr. Frierson was at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Professor of Medical Education at the School of Medicine and later, a Professor of educational psychology in the School of Education. He was the Associate Dean of the UNC-CH Graduate School and later, the director of the Research Education Support Program, a large multi-faceted initiative largely funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) to support underrepresented minority undergraduate students as they engaged in quality research, to support graduate students completing research for their Ph.D., and to support undergraduate students from across the country to participate in full-time summer research experiences. As the UF Graduate Dean, he expanded the Graduate School, substantially increased funding for Ph.D. students, provided incentives associated with doubling the percentage of enrolled underrepresented Ph.D. students, substantially increased the Ph.D. graduation rate, and increased graduate student support overall. Dr. Frierson’s current interests continue to include graduate education and program evaluation in which he was instrumental in advancing culturally responsive evaluation approaches. He work also continues in examining the effects of mentoring; engaging in increasing the number of individuals of color in doctoral programs and research careers; examining effective and efficient production of Ph.D. recipients from quality programs; and encouraging Black undergraduate students to pursue postgraduate studies.

Ruth Ray Jackson, Ph.D.
President of Langston University

Ruth Ray Jackson, Ph.D., currently serves as President of Langston University, a role she assumed in April 2024 following her appointment by the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical Colleges. As the chief executive officer of Oklahoma’s only historically Black college and university, Dr. Jackson is steadfast in her commitment to advancing Langston University’s mission of access, excellence, and community impact. Her leadership is centered on fostering academic innovation, championing student success, enhancing the campus experience, and upholding the institution’s vital land-grant legacy. Dr. Jackson’s tenure at Langston University began in 2014, when she joined as a professor and dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Her visionary leadership and dedication to student achievement led to her progression through key administrative roles, including Associate Vice President for Student Success in 2018 and Vice President of Academic Affairs in 2019. In July 2023, Dr. Jackson was appointed Interim President, a position in which she demonstrated her capacity to lead with integrity, foresight, and an unwavering dedication to Langston’s mission. Before her contributions at Langston University, Dr. Jackson served for 11 years at Louisiana State University Shreveport. There, she held numerous leadership roles, including Associate Professor of Education, Director of the Master of Education program, and Chair of the Department of Education. Her career in education began as a public-school teacher and administrator, experiences that solidified her lifelong passion for equitable learning opportunities and the transformative power of education. Dr. Jackson is an alumna of the historically Black Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and English and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration. She later completed her Ph.D. in education and human resource management at Colorado State University.

Everette Joseph, Ph.D.
Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

Everette Joseph, Ph.D., currently serves as director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Previously, he served as the director of the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at the University at Albany, State University of New York. While at Albany, Dr. Joseph co-led the $30.5 million New York State Mesonet for advanced weather detection and the New York State Center of Excellence for the Weather Enterprise. He has served as principal or co-principal investigator on over $90 million in research grants from NSF, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, the Army High Performance Computing Research Center, and other agencies. He also is principal investigator for the NSF-sponsored US-Taiwan Program for International Research and Education and co-PI on the NOAA Aerosol and Ocean Science Expeditions, a series of trans-Atlantic intensive observation campaigns to gain an understanding of the impacts of long-range transport of aerosols over the tropical ocean. Prior to his position at the University at Albany, Dr. Joseph was director of Howard University's Program in Atmospheric Sciences, where he dedicated himself to teaching, mentoring, and inspiring the next generation of atmospheric sciences researchers. As director of the Beltsville Center for Climate System Observation, a NASA University Research Center, he brought together colleagues at Howard, NASA, NOAA, Penn State, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and other institutions to develop an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional, multi-agency center studying key atmospheric processes with particular relevance to predictive capability in weather, climate, and air quality. Dr. Joseph earned his Ph.D. in physics with an emphasis on atmospheric science from the University at Albany.

Paula D. McClain, Ph.D.
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Professor of Public Policy & former Dean of The Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education at Duke University

Paula D. McClain, Ph.D., is James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Professor of Public Policy and is the former Dean of The Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education (2012-2022). She moved to Duke from the University of Virginia in 2000. She also directs the American Political Science Association’s Ralph Bunche Summer Institute hosted by Duke University and funded by the National Science Foundation and Duke University. A Howard University Ph.D. alum, her primary research interests are in racial minority group politics, particularly inter-minority political and social competition, and urban politics. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals, including Journal of Politics, American Political Science Review, Urban Affairs Review, The Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race and Politics, Groups and Identities, among others. Westview Press will publish the eighth edition of her book, “Can We All Get Along?” Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics, with coauthor, Jessica D. Johnson Carew in early 2025. Her 1990 book, Race, Place and Risk: Black Homicide in Urban America, co-authored with Harold W. Rose, won the National Conference of Black Political Scientists’ 1995 Best Book Award for a previously published book that has made a substantial and continuing contribution. American Government in Black and White: Diversity and Democracy, co-authored with Steven Tauber, won the American Political Science Association’s Race, Ethnicity and Politics Organized Section Best Book Award for a book published in 2010. The 7th edition of the book will be published in early 2025.

Dr. McClain is past president of the American Political Science Association, past president of the Midwest Political Science Association, and past president of the Southern Political Science Association and the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. She is a past vice president of the American Political Science Association, served as Program Co-Chair for the 1993 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, served as Program Chair for the 1999 annual meeting of Midwest Political Science Association, served as Vice President of the Midwest Political Science Association, served as Vice President and 2002 Program Chair of the Southern Political Science Association, and served as a Vice President and Program Co-Chair of the 2003 International Political Science Association World Congress, which was held in Durban, South Africa in July 2003. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Duke University Blue Ribbon Diversity Award (2012), the Graduate School Mentoring Award (2010), the Frank J. Goodnow Award for contributions to the profession of political science from the American Political Science Association (2007), a Meta Mentoring Award from the Women’s Caucus for Political Science of the American Political Science Association (2007), the Manning Dauer Award from the Southern Political Science Association (2015), and 2017 Midwest Women’s Caucus of Political Science (MWCPS) Outstanding Professional Achievement award. She is an Associate Editor of the National Academy of Sciences’ journal, PNAS NEXUS. In 2014, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Tanjinatus Oishi, Ph.D.
Assistant Scientific Director in US Medical Affairs Rheumatology at AbbVie

Tanjinatus Oishi, Ph.D., is a seasoned professional in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, bringing over a decade of experience in research, development, and medical affairs. She earned her Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and furthered her education with a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Howard University. Prior to assuming her current position, Dr. Oishi worked at Pfizer from 2016 to 2017, where she initially joined as a Global Medical Affairs Intern before becoming a Global Medical Affairs Associate. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in conducting advisory board meetings for Spondylarthritis (SPA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) treatments, collaborated with key opinion leaders, and managed clinical trial data related to Xeljanz and its comparator products. She also coordinated international initiatives, including virtual global patient advisory boards and immersion workshops, enhancing global medical strategies for rheumatology. Since March 2021, she has been serving as an Assistant Scientific Director in US Medical Affairs Rheumatology at AbbVie. In this role, Dr. Oishi focuses on advancing therapeutic solutions for rheumatological conditions, contributing to the development of medical strategies and overseeing key projects in the field.

Denise Rolark Barnes, JD
Publisher of The Washington Informer

Denise Rolark Barnes, JD, is the publisher of The Washington Informer, the award-winning weekly newspaper serving the African American community in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She is a second-generation publisher, succeeding her father, Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, who published the first issue on October 16, 1964. Under Rolark Barnes’ leadership, The Washington Informer has evolved into a multimedia platform, encompassing an online publication, as well as WIN Daily—a daily e-newsletter, a robust social media presence on platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube and a weekly video YouTube podcast called “Let’s Talk” on WIN-TV. In a recent endeavor, Rolark Barnes, alongside her son, Lafayette Barnes IV, launched WI Bridge, a monthly publication targeting millennials and Gen Zs, further expanding the publication’s reach and relevance. Rolark Barnes is also dedicated to community service, evidenced by her establishment and stewardship of The Washington Informer Charities. This non-profit organization sponsors the annual D.C. Citywide Spelling Bee and the Prince George’s Spelling Bee. It also provides internships for local college students, hosts writing competitions, and offers scholarships for aspiring journalists. The organization's partnership with Report for America underscores Rolark Barnes' commitment to supporting local journalism and addressing under-covered issues and communities while providing opportunities for up and coming journalists. She is also the visionary behind the Annual Washington Informer African American Heritage Tour, which attracts hundreds of participants each year. In addition to her leadership at The Washington Informer, Rolark Barnes holds esteemed positions within various organizations, including Chair Emeritus of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, Founding Member of Word In Black, and board memberships with organizations such the DC Martin Luther King Holiday Commission, Leadership Greater Washington, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the Pan African Collective and the Maryland, Delaware, DC Press Association (MDDC). Rolark Barnes is a graduate of Howard University, where she earned a BA degree in journalism, and Howard University School of Law, where she obtained her JD degree.

Michael G. Spencer, Ph.D.
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Morgan State University

Michael G. Spencer, Ph.D., was born in Detroit, MI, and raised in Washington DC. He received the B.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1974, 1975, and 1981, respectively. He is currently a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Morgan State University; he is also a Professor Emeritus of engineering at Cornell University. He has more than 36 years of research experience in compound semiconductors, such as GaAs, SiC, and AlN and more recently graphene, materials growth and characterization of these systems, as well as the fabrication and measurement of microwave devices, solar cells, and betavoltaics. His particular interest has been in the correlation of device performance with material growth and processing parameters. Recent work has emphasized graphene and wide band-gap materials (with focus on cubic Boron Nitride). He taught for 18 years in the Engineering School of Howard University. He has authored more than 2350 publications and is a co-founder of the startup company Widetronix (which is developing nuclear batteries made from SiC).

Thomas A. Searles, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago

Thomas A. Searles, Ph.D., is a quantum engineer and experimental condensed-matter physicist from Albany, Georgia. He graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics and Rice University with a doctorate degree in applied physics. In 2021, Searles joined the University of Illinois, Chicago faculty as an associate professor, under the University of Illinois System’s Distinguished Faculty Recruitment Program. Before coming to UIC, he was a Martin Luther King Visiting Professor at MIT and a co-founding director of the IBM-HBCU Quantum Center at Howard University. Dr. Searles currently leads a multiyear, multimillion-dollar consortium for quantum engineering education sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. In recognition of his research in light-matter interactions and his capability to mentor students in physics and engineering, he received the inaugural AIP-NSBP Joseph A. Johnson Award for Excellence and an National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award.
Medgar Evers College.