Stillman College, a private Presbyterian liberal arts HBCU located in Tuscaloosa, announced Thursday that Yolanda W. Page will serve as the school’s next president, beginning July 1.
Page, now the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Savannah State University, has worked in higher education for more than 30 years. She has worked in administration at four universities, two of which are HBCUs.
“Dr. Page has rich experience, having served at multiple institutions demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovative academic programing, robust fundraising, and solid financial acumen. We are confident that she can not only sustain but accelerate the momentum that Stillman has experienced in recent years,” Donald W. Comer, chair of the Stillman College Board of Trustees, said.
Her previous experience heavily focused on academics. She led development of six curricular and co-curricular programs at Dillard University and helped create six new certificate programs at Savannah State University. She has also raised approximately $40 million in funding at her four previous institutions.
“I knew Stillman would be the right place to make the type of impact I’ve strived to make in my career and, ultimately, I’d like to continue to make as a president,” Page said. “That impact is grounded in student, faculty, and staff success and providing each of those groups with the tools and the access to resources that will allow them to grow and achieve what they feel are their missions in life.”
A candidate search began last fall after current Stillman president Cynthia Warrick announced her retirement. Stillman trustee retired Marines Lt. Gen. Willie Williams chaired the committee which used the search firm Greenwood Asher & Associates.
According to Williams, Page’s administration aims to focus on “the three Rs”: Recruitment, Reputation, and Resources. The focus on resources will include administration of the $5.4 million in federal grants Stillman received to upgrade their fiber optic network and cybersecurity training center.
“She expects and wants to continue to grow Stillman in a way that reshapes Stillman to align with the emerging workforce needs and workforce trend in Alabama,” Williams said. “With her vision and the way she is able to create new curricula, it really does lend itself to reshaping that liberal arts profile.”
