U.S. CAPITAL – As the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities will be established in May 2021, Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick and the Board of Trustees have approved the appointment of Phylicia Rashad, dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, to fill the position.
“Dean Rashad exemplifies the character, elegance, and creative genius that we want to be represented in an endowed chair as part of Toni Morrison’s legacy,” stated Howard University Provost Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D. We know that she will make important contributions to our students’ learning and artistic development as the first person to occupy this chair.
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A magnificent human being whose generosity of spirit continues to impact and inspire so many, Professor Morrison was, according to Dean Rashad. The appointment is a great honor for me.
From his award-winning work in the performing arts to his spectacular decanal leadership of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, Dean Rashad has an impressive track record of accomplishments in both the artistic and academic realms.
When she becomes the first Toni Morrison Chair, her efforts will be informed by her extensive background in the performing arts and arts management, including roles in theatre, television, film, and the visual arts.
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Dean Rashad, who holds the Toni Morrison Chair in Arts and Humanities, will work with academics from other departments to create a leadership laboratory for the arts and humanities and promote a thriving intellectual community in these areas.
The lab will set Howard University’s departments in these areas up as frontrunners in the fight against persistent social problems and the promotion of exciting new avenues toward individual fulfillment, while also preparing the university’s future leaders to thrive in an increasingly diverse America.
Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities will be held by Dean Phylicia Rashad, it was announced today by President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA.
To this day, Toni Morrison’s influence as one of the most significant personalities in American literature continues to reverberate across the literary and intellectual communities.
Our goal in naming this chair after Ms. Morrison is to honor her memory and expand the students’ exposure to the arts and literature. I am forward to seeing what Dean Rashad brings to the table in this new role.
