The Black Scholars Index

[ HBCU_PRESIDENTS ] Dr. Mary Sias: Kentucky State University

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by Leshell Hatley in HBCU Presidents, Scholarly Celebrations

Dr. Mary E. Sias

Selected as the 13^th president of Kentucky State University in 2004, Dr. Mary Sias has focused on creating an environment of accountability, transparent communications and collegial decision making since her arrival. She has a strong concern for and demonstrated commitment to students and to building stronger relationships with the broader community. Under her leadership, new graduate programs are being added, there has been a focus on KSU’s Land Grant status and significant improvements in technology are taking place on campus to prepare students to meet the global challenges facing them. In addition, fund-development efforts of the university have improved substantially.

In 2007, Kentucky State University, an HBCU, was listed among the Princeton Review’s “Best Southeastern Colleges” and U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges 2007.”

KSU President Mary Sias told members of the House Education and Labor Committee,

“I am often asked whether HBCUs continue to be viable. The answer I give is a resounding yes. HBCUs are as vital now to the educational is America as they have ever been.”

Prior to coming to Kentucky, Dr. Sias served nine years as senior vice president for student affairs and external relations at The University of Texas Dallas, where she was also an associate professor of sociology. She also served as chief executive officer of the YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas for 14 years.

Throughout her professional career, volunteerism has been an integral part of her life, and she has received numerous awards for her community efforts, including the “She Knows Where She’s Going Award,” given by Girls Clubs Inc. Since coming to Frankfort, Dr. Sias has joined the Board of Directors of the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA Board, Leadership Kentucky and the University of Kentucky Museum of Art Board.

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Sias earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Tougaloo College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was awarded a Ford Foundation doctoral fellowship and pursued her Master’s and Doctorate in sociology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She also received a master’s in business administration from Abilene Christian College.

If you are student at Kentucky State, you should enter our HBCU Clips Challenge and represent your school!

More Related posts:

1. [ HBCU_Presidents ] Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers: Norfolk State University
2. [ HBCU_Presidents ] Mary McLeod Bethune, Bethune-Cookman College
3. [ HBCU_Presidents ] Chancellor Harold Martin, NC A&T State
4. [HBCU_Presidents] Dr. Ronald Mason: Jackson State University
5. [ HBCU_Presidents ] Dr. Mickey L. Burnim: President of Bowie State

Tags: A Piece of the Action, Abilene Christian College, Andrew Young, Best Colleges 2007, Best Southeastern College, Black Women in America, CEO of YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas, Dr. Mary Sias, Emerging Scholars, Ford Foundation Doctoral Fellowship, Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Institute of Technology, Girls Clubs Inc., GMAC, HBCU Hearings, HBCU President, Head of the UCLA Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program, House Education and Labor Committee, Howard University Players, Kentucky State University, KPMG, Larami Corporation, Leadership Kentucky, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, National Park Service, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Foundation Board, Presidential Medal of Honor, Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Shaker Heights High School, STEM, The Unversity of Texas Dallas, Tougaloo College, University of Kentucky Museum of Art Board, University of Washington in Seattle, University of Wisconsin-Madison