Kimberly D. Whitehead comes to Medgar Evers College from the University of Maine, where she served as the vice president and chief of staff. As a senior confidential advisor to the president, she managed the complex daily operations of the president’s office. She recently led the completion of the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initial Findings and Recommendations Report and served as the higher educational advisor to the Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee. During the pandemic, her role expanded in response to the COVID-19 crisis, working closely with the University’s Emergency Command Center, monitoring operational requests, and reviewing decisions and messaging.

Prior to her tenure at the University of Maine, Dr. Whitehead served in various capacities at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, including interim associate vice president for academic affairs, vice provost for academic affairs, and interim provost and vice president. Under her leadership, the university underwent successful specialized accreditation visits for five distinct programs: Business, Marketing and Accounting; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Physical Therapy; Rehabilitation Counseling; and Nutrition and Dietetics.

Dr. Whitehead has held positions at West Virginia State University, Rowan University, Bowie State University, and Shaw University. She has twice served on the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, in 2015 as a peer reviewer, and in 2016 as a periodic review report evaluator.

Dr. Whitehead earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Norfolk State University and a Ph.D. in Genetics from North Carolina State University.