NEW ORLEANS – Camellia Moses Okpodu, Ph.D., professor of biology and director of the Group for Microgravity and Environmental Biology at Norfolk State University and Director of a Designated IC Center of Academic excellence (DIA), will become the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for Xavier University of Louisiana.
"We are tremendously excited about what Camellia will do to enrich Arts and Sciences and Xavier as a whole," said Xavier's Senior Vice President and Provost, Anne McCall. “Given the unique role Xavier plays in America as the only Black, Catholic university founded with a mission of creating a just and humane society, Dr. Okpodu’s leadership will be crucial to ensuring that Xavier continues its’ tradition of excellence in educating our students to become servant-leaders of the future."
Previously, Dr. Okpodu was director of Norfolk’s NIH Extramural Research Office and an American Council on Education Fellow. Her leadership experience also includes serving as Chair of the Biology department at Norfolk State as well as at Hampton University, where she held her first faculty position and at Elizabeth City State University, where she held the university’s first endowed professorship.
Dr. Okpodu earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Ph.D. degree in plant physiology/biochemistry from NC State University. Her post-doctoral work in Plant Molecular Biology was conducted at Virginia Tech.
Her research focus on environmental topics including climate change, sea-level rise and coastal resiliency, and agriculture is timely and resonates particularly with our region. She has spoken at several national environmental conferences and published multiple articles in her discipline as well as on minority student retention in STEM fields. Dr. Okpodu readily shares her knowledge more broadly and has been a panelist on the Oprah Winfrey show.
Okpodu was drawn to Xavier University of Louisiana and its mission. Her goals include creating an environment that embraces and expands the Arts and joins it to the STEM programs in an effort to create graduates who are capable of going to the global corners of the world and make real impact on the world.
Camellia’s approach as dean will be to strengthen the university’s liberal arts enterprise by building and enhancing research capabilities and interdisciplinary collaboration. “Xavier University has a wonderful history and a distinguished reputation,” Okpodu said. “The College of Arts and Sciences will continue to fill the strong and influential role that is expected of a premier institution educating students in an HBCU setting. I am strongly aligned with the history and mission of the University and look forward to expanding our work across all fields of inquiry to meet the evolving needs of our students.”
The search committee consisted of a representative group of the Xavier community and included faculty, staff, students and alumni. The committee was chaired by Maryam Foroozesh, chair of the Divisions of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and of the Division of Biological and Applied Health Sciences. She stated, “It is with pleasure that on behalf of the members of the Dean of Arts and Sciences Search Committee, I welcome Dr. Camellia Okpodu to Xavier. During the search process, we were very impressed with Dr. Okpodu’s qualifications, interdisciplinary background, and enthusiastic personality, and we are looking forward to working with her as she joins the College of Arts and Sciences”
“Xavier sits at the edge of her tomorrow. I am happy to welcome Dr. Okpodu to our family as we grow and expand to meet the ever changing needs of our students while honoring our Xavier heritage of excellence in education for students who will make a positive impact in the world.
Okpodu replaces Dr. Anil Kukreja, who has served as the Dean to the College of Arts and Sciences since June 15, 2011. Okpodu will officially join Xavier in her new role starting July 2018.
