Acclaimed actress and director Phylicia Rashad will step down from her position as Dean of the Chadwick Boseman School of Fine Arts at Howard University after the 2023-2024 academic year.
Howard University President Dr. Wayne Frederick wrote in a statement: “Dean Rashad has long been committed to arts education and literacy; he has served as Assistant Professor, Principal Instructor, Visiting Artist/Lecturer, and Administrator at numerous colleges.”
Rashad is a Tony Award-winning actress and the first recipient of the Denzel Washington Chair in Theater at Fordham University. She is also the inaugural holder of the Toni Morrison Chair in Arts and Humanities at Howard University.
In 2021, Rashad became Dean of Fine Arts at Black D.C. Historic College and Alma mater, where she graduated cum laude.
“Dean Rashad has returned to his alma mater to lead the re-establishment of the College of Fine Arts as an independent college and its rightful place as a hub for the arts and creativity at Howard University,” the president wrote.
Throughout Rashad’s administration, contributions to Howard University’s fine arts programs increased dramatically. Donations include Netflix’s $5.4 million gift to establish the Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial Scholarship, which provides incoming theater students with a four-year scholarship to cover the full price of tuition.
“Dean Rashad has strengthened our esteemed faculty by appointing nationally and internationally recognized scholars, artists and innovators to serve as department heads, mentors, educators and role models for our students,” the statement reads, announcing that the school will begin Dikanal’s search for a new dean soon.
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