Florida A&M announced Tuesday the appointment of new deans for its agriculture and journalism schools.
Robert W. Taylor is the new dean for FAMU’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, and Ann L. Wead Kimbrough is the new dean for the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. They are scheduled to begin on Aug. 13.
“We… believe that we have appointed individuals who are leaders in their fields and will produce graduates who will contribute greatly to the fields of journalism, agriculture and food science,” Interim President Larry Robinson was quoted as saying in a press statement from FAMU.
Search committees had for the past few months been working to get new deans to run these two schools.
Biographical Information provided by FAMU:
Ann Kimbrough:
Kimbrough currently serves as the senior administrator of Webster Universitys two largest Arkansas graduate campuses. Webster University is an accredited, 97-year-old non-profit, top-tier global university. She is also a visiting professor at the Arkansas Baptist College instructing students in the areas of global communications, entrepreneurship, marketing, ethics, and sustainability strategies.
Kimbrough has been an advisor to a student newspaper, faculty sponsor, grant writer, fundraiser, faculty liaison to the universitys presidents office, internship coordinator, limited time manager of university relations, and a tutor. As a faculty member, Kimbrough has led courses in basic journalism, financial journalism, public relations, strategic communications, international business and cross-cultural communications. She has served as the chief of staff to the chief executive officer of DeKalb County Government (Ga.) where she successfully launched a countywide public awareness and educational campaign for successful passage of a $250 million bond referendum. In addition, she is a veteran, award-winning journalist who has served as president of the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists.
Kimbrough has completed numerous financial journalism assignments for organizations including Georgia Public Television, The New York Times, Atlanta Journal/Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Business Week, Time, U.S. News and World Report, Fortune, Essence, Black Enterprise, Marketing Management, Advertising Age, Chicago Tribune, Ebony Jr!, and Twins.
She received her bachelors degree in mass communications from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga.; a masters degree in financial journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.; and a doctor of business administration (DBA) in international business from Argosy University in Atlanta, Ga.
Robert Taylor:
Taylor currently serves as professor of soil and environmental sciences at Alabama A&M University. He formerly served as dean of the School of Agricultural and Environmental Science where he led the school through three successful accreditations. During his tenure as dean, he also helped faculty acquire grants either directly or indirectly, which resulted in a significant increase in competitive grants awarded to the school.
Taylor has served in various capacities such as the director of NSF/CREST Center for Forest Ecosystems Assessment; professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry and director of the Center for Environmental Research and Training at Alabama A&M University; and acting deputy division director for Biological Infrastructure, Division of Biological Infrastructure at the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia. He currently serves on the National Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Economics Advisory Board.
As a faculty member, Taylor has taught various undergraduate, graduate, and dual level courses. He also has published more than 50 papers in professional journals.
He received his bachelors degree in agronomy from Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala. and a masters degree in soil microbiology and a doctorate (Ph.D.) in soil chemistry from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.