Renowned actress and Howard University alumna Phylicia Rashad will step down from her position as dean of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts after the 2023-2024 academic year.
The news of her departure was announced on Monday by Howard president Wayne A. I. Frederick via an email sent to Howard students and faculty.
“We deeply appreciate Dean Rashad’s selfless contributions and commitment to our alma mater during her leadership of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and the many contributions she has made to Howard University’s students, graduates, and global community,” the announcement read.
Rashad graduated from Howard in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and is best known for her performance as Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom, “The Cosby Show.” In 2004, she became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for best actress in a play for her role as Lena Younger in a revival of “A Raisin in the Sun.”
In 2021, she returned to her alma mater to lead the re-establishment of the College of Fine Arts.
Frederick credited Rasahad with bolstering faculty and revitalizing and increasing contributions to the College of Fine Arts in his announcement.
The university said it will begin the search for a new dean shortly.
According to Diverse Education, a spokeswoman for Howard said that Rashad will be issuing a statement concerning her resignation in the near future.
