Harris-Stowe State University News April 14, 2023 Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith is the 21st President of Harris-Stowe State University. She is the first woman to serve the University in this role. Collins Smith has more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience and an extensive administrative and program development background. She began her career in higher education at Harris-Stowe State University in 2010 and has served the University in several leadership roles. Dr. Collins Smith was the co-principal investigator of a $5 million National Science Foundation grant to substantially strengthen STEM in the state of Missouri, the largest grant in the history of Harris-Stowe. During her first year as President, HSSU made significant strides. Under her leadership, the University raised more than $3.9 million in scholarships and donations, including those designated for endowments and grants, which is a 462% increase from the previous fiscal year. In addition, Harris-Stowe kicked off renovations for the former Vashon Community Center Building, which will become home to the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute and National Black Radio Hall of Fame. The University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is in its early development phase. In 2021-2022, HSSU graduated its largest class in the University's history (236) students, and 51% graduated with honors. Dr. Collins Smith serves as chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Commission of Missouri and co-chair of the Concordance First Chance Campaign. In addition, she serves as a member of the following boards: the Higher Education Consortium of St. Louis, Greater STL, Inc., Boy Scouts of America Greater St Louis Area Council, and Ameren Missouri Community Voices Board. Collins Smith was instrumental in founding the University of Central Missouri Black Alumni Organization and is a member of the Alumni Board of Directors and Alumni Foundation Board at the University of Central Missouri. She is a charter member of Black Women College Presidents and Chancellors (BWCPC), a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a Silver Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Omega Chapter and member of Gateway (IL) Chapter of Links, Incorporated. Dr. Collins Smith has received several leadership and service awards, including the Equal Education Opportunity Group Pioneer Award, Resilience in Action Merchant of Hope Award, Delux Magazine's Power 100 in Education award, the 2022 St. Louis American Stellar Performer in Education Award, the 2022 Urban League Salute to Women in Leadership Award, the 2022 NAACP Frankie Muse Freeman/Norman A. Seay Commitment to St. Louis Award, the NAACP Excellence in Education award, the NAACP Ben Hooks Community Leader award and the AKA Central Region's Outstanding Educational Advancement Foundation Captain award. In addition, she is a 2019 Millennium Leadership Initiative Protégé, a St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellow, and a Higher Education Leadership Foundation Fellow. Dr. Collins Smith earned an educational doctorate in higher education leadership from Maryville University in St. Louis. She holds a master of social work degree and a master of public health degree from Saint Louis University. Her mission is to inspire change in others through the power of education, scholarship, and service. The installation ceremony will take place on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. in the Henry Givens, Jr. Administration Building, Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack Auditorium on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University. Everyone is invited to watch the ceremony via live-stream at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 14, 2023. LaTasha Denard Executive Assistant at HBCU Library Alliance<http://hbculibraries.org/> Phone: (678) 210-5801 ext. 102 Web: hbculibraries.org<http://hbculibraries.org/> Email: ldenard@hbculibraries.org<http://mailto:ldenard@hbculibraries.org/> Follow us on our social media: [cid:image001.png@01D96DE9.70466750] [cid:image002.png@01D96DE9.70466750] [cid:image003.png@01D96DE9.70466750] [cid:image004.png@01D96DE9.70466750] Sandra Phoenix Executive Director at HBCU Library Alliance<http://hbculibraries.org/> Office: (678) 210-5801 ext. 101 Mobile: (404) 702-5854 Web: hbculibraries.org<http://hbculibraries.org/> Email: sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Seek justice, honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. [cid:image005.gif@01D96DE9.EDA74430]<https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/> [cid:image006.gif@01D96DE9.EDA74430] <https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance> [cid:image007.png@01D96DE9.EDA74430] <https://www.instagram.com/hbcu_library_alliance/> [cid:image008.gif@01D96DE9.EDA74430] <https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/>