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.

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.