Texas College Dean Becomes New President of Clark Atlanta University

Clark Atlanta University has named Ronald Johnson, the dean of Texas Southern University Jesse H. Jones School of Business, as its new president.

Effective July 1, Johnson will become the fourth president of the HBCU following Carlton Brown, who retires in June after leading the institution for seven years.

Johnson was unanimously selected by the university’s board from a pool of more than 100 applicants before being selected as one of three finalists. He has served in his position at Texas Southern since 2011 and prior to that Johnson served as dean of the business college at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. He has worked in leadership positions at other academic and private-sector businesses, including Houston-based Smith Graham & Co. where he managed $3 billion in assets as the firms president and chief investment officer. He holds an MBA in finance and a BA in economics from Adelphi University, as well as a Ph.D. and MA in economics from Stanford University.

[Related: Mary Schmidt Campbell Named President of Spelman College]

“There are few institutions in the United States, HBCU or otherwise, with the rich dual history, the intellectual legacy and the tradition of scholar- activism that defines Clark Atlanta,” Atlanta Business Chronicle reports Johnson saying in a statement. “Now the University will look to its future, harnessing a tremendous wealth of academic talent, a nation-wide expanse of passionate, multigenerational alumni and opportunities to create strategic alliances that will elevate its competitive advantage.”

Johnson’s announcement follows the news of fellow HBCU, Spelman College, selecting former NYU dean Mary Schmidt Campbell as its new president.