Edward Waters University recently announced the appointment of Dr. TaKeia N. Anthony as the Executive Director of the A. Philip Randolph Social Justice, Law, and Economic Policy Center and the Dean of the Honors College. Dr. Anthony is an accomplished scholar and advocate, who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to these vital roles.
Dr. Anthony, a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, made history as the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in history from her hometown. She is an alumna of Howard University and North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where she was inducted into the 2016 Class of 40 Under 40.
As an Associate Professor of History, Dr. Anthony’s areas of expertise include the African Diaspora and Archiving. Her extensive contributions to the field have seen her lecture and speak on panels across the United States and internationally, including in South Korea, The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Columbia, London, and Ghana.
As a 3X HBCU grad, Dr. Anthony’s commitment to preserving and promoting African-American history is evident in her role as the branch Historian for the James Weldon Johnson Branch (Jacksonville, Florida) of The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH), where she curated archival records.
In addition to her academic achievements, Dr. Anthony is a recipient of the Freedom Scholar Award from ASALH in 2023 and has been part of prestigious fellowships and programs, including Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Academic Leadership Academy (ALA), the Academic Leadership Development Institute (ALDI), and the Howard University Social Justice Consortium.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. TaKeia N. Anthony to our university community,” said Edward Waters University President and CEO, A. Zachary Faison Jr., J.D. “Her extensive background in academia, dedication to social justice, and her commitment to preserving African-American history make her an invaluable addition to our leadership team.”
Prior to joining Edward Waters University, Dr. Anthony held key roles at Kentucky State University and North Carolina Central University, where she earned accolades for excellence in teaching and research.
“It is an honor to return to Edward Waters University to serve as the Executive Director of the A. Philip Randolph Social Justice Institute,” said Anthony. “I look forward to building lasting partnerships and cultivating change on campus, in Jacksonville, and beyond.”
Dr. Anthony’s impressive career is marked by numerous awards, including the Women of Achievement, Native Daughter Award, given by the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission in 2015, and induction into the Jacksonville Black Pages 20 Under 40 in 2016.
