Virginia State University has named Dr. Muriel Hawkins as the new Associate Provost for Partnerships and Engagement. In this position, Hawkins is responsible for leading and serving as executive officer on various University projects as assigned by the Provost or President. One of her initial projects at VSU is establishing a Dual Enrollment Partnerships Program with the local school districts.

The program will allow motivated and talented high school students opportunities to enroll in VSU college courses that will be taught by certified teachers at their respective school sites. Students can earn college credits while completing their requirements to graduate from high school.  VSU currently has partnership agreements to offer dual credit courses in the Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Prince George and Richmond School Districts.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hawkins has been a liaison between academia and the community and awarded grants that provided educational opportunities for student populations and members of the community. She previously served as Assistant to the President for Campus and Community Relations at Dillard University in New Orleans. In this role, she served as one of the President’s principal advisors on policies and procedures, and other matters as a member of the President’s Senior Cabinet. She also maintained liaisons with faculty, staff, students, Board of Trustees and other internal and external constituency groups, to enhance the reputation and stature of the University, locally, statewide, nationally and internationally.   Dr. Hawkins previously completed a one-year assignment as an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow at Dillard University. She is tenured as an Associate Professor in the Division of Education and Psychology.

Prior to her appointment at Dillard University, Dr. Hawkins served as Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Oshkosh, with programmatic and budgetary leadership for five departments, including representation at the UW System level as the campus’ diversity officer. She currently holds the status of Emerita as AVC and Associate Professor in the College of Education and Human Services. For many years, Dr. Hawkins served in a variety of capacities at Chicago State University in Academic Affairs and the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.

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