Denmark, SC – Voorhees’ Provost and Vice President, Dr. Damara Hightower Mitchell has been selected to participate in the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA). This yearlong program is jointly sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI). Dr. Hightower-Mitchell was one of 36 chosen from a competitive pool of applicants.
Dr. Hightower-Mitchell came to Voorhees in 2020 as the Founding Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation. She was appointed Voorhees Provost and Vice President in 2021. Since her appointment, her focus has been on amplifying the contributions and scholarship of Voorhees University Faculty and staff, increasing the breadth and depth of experiential and integrative learning experiences for Voorhees students, and fortifying the infrastructure of new programs and academic services for continued growth and expansion.
Her credentials include a Doctor of Education degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Education degree in educational leadership and supervision K-12 from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English education from Benedict College.
ELA prepares experienced provosts and vice presidents to move to positions of greater responsibility, including presidencies. Since 2009, more than 100 participants who completed the ELA program have been appointed as presidents or chancellors, and many more have advanced to other senior positions.
“CIC is deeply committed to developing talented leaders for our diverse campuses,” said CIC President Marjorie Haas. “The ELA program meets these challenges by bringing together engaged and emerging leaders and providing them with the community, network, skills, and knowledge they need to transform higher education in ways that serve students and communities.”
