By Randall Barnes
Dr. Rochelle L. Ford, the eighth president of Dillard University, has announced her resignation effective July 1st per reporting by Gabriella Killett and Gordon Russell of NOLA.com. According to a university statement released on Friday, Dr. Ford is stepping down “to focus on her health and family.”
According to Killett and Russell, Erroll Williams, the Orleans Parish tax assessor who is a Dillard graduate and serves on the board of trustees, revealed that Dr. Ford had been on leave since before May’s commencement. However, her resignation was surprising. “It was unexpected to hear of her resignation,” Williams remarked.
Dr. Ford’s tenure at Dillard began two years ago when she succeeded Dr. Walter Kimbrough, who had served as president for a decade. Before joining Dillard, Dr. Ford was the dean of Elon University’s School of Communications, where she led more than 80 faculty members and 1,500 students across six undergraduate majors and one graduate program. She is also a 2021 fellow of Clark Atlanta University’s HBCU Executive Leadership Institute.
Ford earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Howard University. She then obtained a master’s in the same field from the University of Maryland at College Park, followed by a doctorate in journalism from Southern Illinois University. Additionally, she holds a graduate certificate in higher education administration from Harvard University.
Dr. Ford’s presidency at Dillard University has been marked by several notable achievements. Michael Jones, chairperson of Dillard, highlighted her impact in a statement by the institution obtained by NOLA.com celebrating her tenure.
“Under Dr. Ford’s leadership, the university repositioned itself as a ‘communiversity’ advancing health, safety, and innovation,” said Jones. “During her tenure as president, the university welcomed its first cohort of master’s nursing graduate students, earned Gold Certification from the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, secured federal funding to battle gender-based violence, and launched partnerships to advance the business of energy evolution.”
One of Dr. Ford’s significant contributions was her leadership in university funding efforts. These efforts led to the investment of millions of dollars to restore university buildings as part of her ambitious “Transformation 2030” strategic plan.
According to Ford, one of her most significant achievements was revitalizing the National Center for Black Jewish Relations and spearheading the efforts of the university’s Center for Racial Justice. In April, The Washington Post highlighted how Ford’s initiatives to rekindle Black-Jewish relations had thrust her into the national conversation about support for Israel during the conflict with Hamas, a move that had unsettled some Dillard students and alumni.
She was also savvy in utilizing local media such as NOLA.com to give her thoughts on topics in the realms of higher education as well as issues affecting Dillard. Monique Guillory, the newly appointed provost, will act as Dillard University’s interim president until a permanent successor is selected.
