The head of Grambling State University’s visual and performing arts has assumed the role of interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. King David Godwin, who has worked at the university since 2007, now leads the institution’s largest college.
“Dr. Godwin has been a strong leader across the entire campus, but especially in the performing and visual arts areas and a strong proponent of academic integrity,” Connie Walton, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said about Godwin, who has nearly 40 years of academic experience. “When this opportunity became available, it was obvious what we needed to do and who we needed to call upon.”
Godwin, the son of illiterate foster parents who strongly encouraged him to pursue a good education, is the youngest of 14 siblings by his biological parents and was the first to attend college. “My foster parents instilled in me a thirst for knowledge and a desire to never give up. These are challenging and difficult times, and I am thankful that the president and the provost are confident in my abilities and skills to take on such a large responsibility,” said Godwin, who lives in Ruston. “This college has a number of wonderful things going on, and it’ll be my duty to help the faculty and staff enhance the good work to best benefit our students.”
Born in Florence, SC, and raised in Lake City, SC, Godwin has more than 30 years of academic experience as a faculty member, department head and administrator. At Grambling State he has been responsible for or led the efforts to get a number of grants for academic support and scholarships. In addition to Grambling State, he has worked at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Voorhees College in Denmark, SC. Godwin has been a recipient of the Fulbright and Salzburg fellowships and studied abroad in Egypt and Salzburg, Austria. Read More
