Fayetteville State University News February 3, 2012 Assistant VC for Student Retention Named By Public Relations Fayetteville State University (FSU) is pleased to announce that Dr. D. Jason DeSousa recently joined the Division of Academic Affairs as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Retention. Dr. DeSousa has over 10 years of diverse higher education administration experience, including serving as a chief administrative officer in Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Enrollment Management. A chair of the Morgan State University Student Retention Advisory Committee, DeSousa was appointed as an associate professor of higher education at Morgan State University, teaching graduate-level courses in student development theory and research, the American college student, multiculturalism and diversity issues in higher education, and urban and special mission institutions. Dr. DeSousa established and directed specialized initiatives for the academic and personal success of African American males at several Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including the Morgan State University Male Initiative on Leadership and Excellence (MILE). A former co-chair of the International Center for Student Success & Institutional Accountability's Internet-based "African American Male Student Persistence and Success Community of Practice," DeSousa has established enriching co-curricular programs that have focused on principled leadership, character development, civic engagement, service-learning, and social justice, including the Savannah State University Center for Student Leadership and Character Development and the Morgan State University Institute for Student Leadership, Character Development, and Outcomes. A considerable career highlight was participating in a two-year national study ("Documenting Effective Educational Practices"), which was spearheaded by The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Institute, of 20 colleges and universities with higher-than-predicted graduation rates. The study culminated in the publication of Student Success in College: Creating Conditions that Matter of which DeSousa was an associate co-author. He is past president of the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals (NASAP), served as the association's assistant editor of The NASAP Journal, received its Benjamin L. Perry Award, and is currently a member of its Foundation Board. Dr. DeSousa earned the Ed.D. in higher education administration at Indiana University Bloomington, a M.A. in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University, and a B.S. in sports administration from Morgan State University. His publications, professional presentations, selected invited professional presentations, grants, and professional distinctions reflect an interest and expertise in student engagement models, student cultures, and the participation of African American students in higher education. FSU is the second-oldest public institution in North Carolina. A member of the University of North Carolina System, FSU has nearly 6,000 students and offers degrees in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. For more information, call (910) 672-1474. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.