Berea College appoints Shewanee Howard-Baptiste as new provost and vice president for academic affairs

BEREA, Ky. - Berea College President Cheryl Nixon announced the appointment of Shewanee Howard-Baptiste, Ph.D., as the College’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs, effective July 7, 2025.  

Howard-Baptiste brings more than two decades of experience in higher education to Berea College, along with a deep commitment to academic excellence, student success and innovative academic leadership.

Howard-Baptiste currently serves as vice provost for undergraduate affairs at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). She has spearheaded visionary initiatives, such as overseeing a grant-funded program that delivers mobile healthcare services to underserved communities and partnering with local high schools to create a dual enrollment “University High” program.  

Connecting academic excellence to student support is a hallmark of Howard-Baptiste’s strategic leadership. Her career is dedicated to student access, retention and achievement, and she brings this student-centered focus to Berea.  

Notably, Howard-Baptiste served as a faculty-in-residence at UTC, living in one of the campus’ residence halls. Most recently, her position as vice provost focused on working closely with faculty on new academic program development, accreditation and strategic planning.

Howard-Baptiste is a full professor in health and human performance at UTC, bringing a teaching-focused approach to her administrative work. She earned a doctorate in educational administration at Miami University of Ohio, building on her undergraduate degree in exercise science and master’s degree in health appraisal and enhancement.

She teaches in areas such as health behavior, personal health and community and environmental health and has taught courses in Haiti focused on working with teachers to develop a health and physical education curriculum.

 “Howard-Baptiste’s visionary approach aligns perfectly with our mission of providing a high-quality, tuition-free education for students who deserve a transformative college experience,” President Nixon said. “I am confident she will be a tremendous asset as we continue to build a vibrant, inclusive academic community.”