Who's who in Fayetteville State University leadership: 12 associate and vice chancellors
Sandra “Sandy” D. Yates is the latest person appointed to Fayetteville State University’s senior leadership team, the university announced in July.
Yates was appointed as associate vice chancellor for development, effective June 19.
In that role, Yates will manage the day-to-day activities of principal and major gifts fundraising programs, campaign planning, annual giving, and corporate and foundation relations.
She will advise the vice chancellor for university advancement in forming policies, procedures and programs and will also manage a portfolio of major and principal donor prospects.
Yates has more than 25 years of experience including at Wesley College, Swarthmore College, Lincoln University, Talladega College, Thomas University and The Nature Conservancy, according to the news release..
She most recently led advancement operations at Morehouse College, where she secured donations as large as $6 million and played key roles in multiple capital campaigns including those at Spelman College ($250 million) and Morehouse College ($500 million).
A native of Philadelphia, Yates is also an Air Force veteran and an ordained minister, with a bachelor's degree in economics from Delaware State University, and is pursuing a master’s of divinity degree from Turner Theological Seminary at The Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.
Yates is the 11th person appointed to a vice chancellor or associate vice chancellor position since Chancellor Darrell T. Allison was named head of the university in March 2021.
Wanda Jenkins, FSU's vice chancellor for legal, audit, risk and compliance, and Anthony Bennett, FSU's athletic director, have been in their roles since before Allison's appointment.
Here’s a look at who is in the university’s other top leadership spots, according to university news releases and biographies on the FSU website.
Omar Bell
Omar O. Bell was appointed vice chancellor for university advancement, effective May 8.
In the role, Bell serves as a member of Allison’s cabinet, is executive director of the FSU Foundation and directs the activities of the Division of University Advancement which oversees the Office of Development, Alumni Relations, Advancement Services and Career Services.
Bell also provides leadership in areas such as soliciting principal and major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, alumni relations, gift processing and acknowledgments, and prospect research and leads efforts to increase the university’s endowment.
Bell has prior experience in institutional fundraising and has also taught physical education and coached youth basketball.
He’s served as assistant director and director of advancement for the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; associate director of individual giving at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C.; and associate director of development for strategic markets at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Bell earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Dr. Roderick T. Heath
Roderick Heath was named assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, effective Dec. 5.
In the role, Heath provides leadership, strategic vision and administrative oversight of campus-wide programs, services and operations with a focus on increased retention and graduation rates of students.
Before joining FSU, Heath served as director of the Men’s Achievement Center & African American Male Initiative at North Carolina Central University in Durham, where he delivered academic, social and personal support to students through research, theory, co-curricular development and experiential learning.
While at NCCU, Heath also served as a case manager in the dean of students office and was a male achievement program coordinator in the division of student affairs. Before that, he worked as a student support specialist and graduation coach for Communities in Schools.
Tina Raines
Tina Raines was named FSU’s inaugural assistant vice chancellor for marketing and creative services, effective Nov. 18. She has served as FSU’s executive director of marketing since 2016.
As director of marketing, Raines implemented FSU’s marketing plan aimed at engaging internal and external audiences to boost attendance and support for the university.
Raines also introduced advertising campaigns focused on recruiting traditional and nontraditional students.
She’s also led a website redesign effort for uncfsu.edu and marketed new fundraising initiatives to attract new donors and increase per capita giving.
Raines has more than 30 years of experience in marketing, project management, fundraising, event and volunteer management.
A native of Rocky Mount, Raines holds a bachelor’s degree from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington.
Dr. Lillian Wanjagi
Lillian Wanjagi was named vice chancellor for business and finance and chief financial officer, effective Oct. 17.
Wanjagi previously served as chief financial officer and vice president of administration and finance at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where she planned, directed and led the institution’s financial and administrative operations.
She also served as the executive director of facilities administration at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she oversaw administrative services, facilities and an operations division of more than 1,200 employees.
Wanjagi earned her bachelor’s in business administration in accounting from Wingate University, a master’s in business administration in international business from Gardner-Webb University and her doctorate in higher education administration–leadership from the University of Houston.
Wesley Fountain
Wesley Fountain was named vice chancellor for external affairs and military relations in May 2022, after previously serving as associate vice chancellor for community relations and economic partnerships.
In the new role, Fountain serves as a liaison and the point of contact between the university and all levels of community agencies and organizations within the Sandhills region.
He also manages the day-to-day operations for the external affairs and military relations departments, overseeing relationships with local and county officials, state and federal representatives, military partners and key stakeholders and business development leaders.
Prior to joining FSU, Phillips served as chief of staff at North Carolina Central University, where he provided direction for Title III programming designed to improve and strengthen academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability of the university.
Joy Cook
Joy Cook was named associate vice chancellor for strategic communications in February 2022.
Cook oversees the Department of Communications and manages the day-to-day operations for internal and external audiences.
She works with the chancellor, cabinet and deans to promote the university’s goals and initiatives and chairs the university-wide Communications Council.
Cook, previously served as FSU’s interim media relations director and university spokesperson.
She previously worked at North Carolina A&T from 2016-2019 in a variety of roles, including interim media relations director, marketing & public relations manager, and communications specialist.
Dr. Hector Molina
Hector M. Molina was named vice chancellor for information technology and telecommunications services and chief information officer in January 2022.
In the role, Molina is responsible for overseeing a division of 45 information technology and administration professionals.
Prior to his arrival at FSU, Molina served at East Carolina University for seven years as the deputy chief information officer.
Throughout Molina’s career, he has overseen the technology procurement processes, compliance, data security, physical security, as well as standards and practices areas.
Molina is also a Marine Corps veteran who served as an ITTS/Telecommunications supervisor.
He has also served as an adjunct professor at institutions such as Sanford-Brown College and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Dr. Nicole Lucas
Nicole Lucas was named associate vice chancellor for institutional effectiveness, research and planning in September 2021, after serving as interim director in the role.
Lucas is responsible for spearheading long-range strategic university-wide planning and assessing FSU’s strategic plan.
Lucas also serves as FSU’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges liaison.
She previously served as FSU’s sociology department chair for five years and chair of the Council of Chairs for three years.
Lucas holds doctoral and master’s degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Her bachelor’s degree is from Oberlin College.
Dr. Juanette Council
Juanette Council was named the vice chancellor for student affairs in August 2021, after previously serving as interim vice chancellor.
In her role, Council provides oversight, support and direction to the major units within the Division of Student Affairs.
Council has served more than 30 years in the Division of Student Affairs at FSU.
She started her career at FSU in 1990 and rose through the ranks, previously serving as a drug education and prevention coordinator; director of student activities; assistant vice chancellor for student affairs; and associate vice chancellor for student affairs
Council earned her bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, a master’s degree from Hampton University and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from FSU.
Here are 20 notable people who have graduated from Fayetteville State University
Dr. Monica T. Leach
Monica Leach was named provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, effective June 2021.
In the role, Leach oversees the Division of Academic Affairs, which includes four colleges, and manages numerous academic programs.
Leach previously served as senior associate vice chancellor for enrollment management and academic affairs at NCCU.
At NCCU, Leach was responsible for leading numerous enrollment management departments and oversaw a division budget of more than $144 million, which included administering scholarships and student aid.
Prior to joining NCCU, Leach served at North Carolina State University for nearly 18 years in many capacities including assistant dean for academic affairs, director of diversity programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; assistant vice provost for enrollment management and interim department chair in the Department of Social Work.
She also served as a tenured associate professor at NCCU and NC State.
Samantha McKenzie Holmes
Samantha McKenzie Holmes was named Fayetteville State University’s vice chancellor and chief of staff in March 2021.
In the role, she is responsible for the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the university while working with the chancellor and cabinet members and also providing oversight for the Office of Communications and Human Resources.
Holmes has more than 25 years in the communications field, including 15 years within the University of North Carolina system.
She previously held a position as the director of marketing communications for the UNC System, where she served as the marketing and communications staffer on the Board of Governors Historically Minority-serving Institutions Committee and the Racial Equity Task Force.
She’s also served as a prior director of marketing and communications in the Division of Student Affairs at North Carolina Central University, and director of media relations at North Carolina A&T State University.
Others in key spots include Gregory McElveen, associate vice chancellor for strategic initiatives, who was promoted to the role in November after serving as special assistant to the chancellor for strategic initiatives and has been with the university for more than 12 years in various roles.
Others in leadership roles
Dr. Pamela Baldwin, who had been serving as associate dean of academic partnerships, in now interim assistant vice chancellor for enrollment.
Kenneth Spayd is associate vice chancellor for finance.
Sandra Williams was named associate vice chancellor for budgets, financial planning and analysis in April after serving as director of academic budgeting and administration for more than 15 years.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3428.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Who's in Fayetteville State University's key leadership spots?
