Oakwood's New Era: The Appointment of Dr. Gina Spivey-Brown
By now, news has circulated widely that Oakwood University has selected Gina Spivey-Brown, Ph.D., as its next president, an announcement fittingly timed to coincide with the concluding days of Women's History Month. The responses to this appointment have, unsurprisingly, been overwhelmingly positive. Dr. Brown presently serves as the Dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at Howard University, located in Washington, D.C. According to her official profile provided by Howard University, Dr. Brown received her doctoral degree in Nursing Administration, specializing in Policy and Ethics, from George Mason University in 1999.
In an informal survey I conducted among my Facebook followers, various names emerged as preferred candidates, including Toson Antwan Knight, Michael Timothy Nixon, and, somewhat unexpectedly, Whintley Phipps. Nevertheless, a majority of respondents clearly indicated a stronger preference toward Drs. Carlton Byrd and Sydney Freeman Jr., with Freeman notably garnering the greater portion of support. One respondent emphasized that the primary qualification should be that the candidate is not drawn from the pastoral ranks. That seems to have been prophetic.
I learned late that Dr. Byrd was, in fact, among the three primary candidates considered. Alongside the newly appointed president, whose name notably did not surface in my informal polling, Heather Joy Knight, former president of Pacific Union College, constituted the third finalist. Dr. Knight emerged as a particularly compelling candidate, distinguished not only by her tenure as one of the few women to have held such a position but also by her historic standing as the first African American woman to serve as a college president in North America. Clearly, the deliberation process was informed by substantive and nuanced considerations.
Many of us would have valued the opportunity to witness the interview proceedings firsthand. Imagine the privilege of serving as a proverbial fly on the wall, observing the articulation and exchange of visions for the university's future. Although such direct insight remains beyond our reach, it stands to reason that those less familiar with Dr. Brown's vision and leadership philosophy would greatly appreciate understanding the specific objectives she hopes to achieve in her forthcoming presidency.
Yet, despite our limited direct participation, there remains a meaningful action available to us. An influential voice, one deeply invested in the institution's continued advancement, could indeed initiate a dedicated day of prayer. Certainly, individuals are likely already engaging in private intercessions, and the university itself will undoubtedly incorporate prayer as part of Dr. Brown’s formal installation. However, envision the profound symbolism of a grassroots driven effort, independent of institutional arrangements, that mobilizes collective spiritual energy in unified prayer.
Such an initiative is both attainable and desirable. Imagine a specific, coordinated moment when all stakeholders (if we're calling it that), wherever they might find themselves, pause simultaneously in heartfelt supplication for Oakwood's future. Prayer at noon? Prayer at 2pm?
May God bless Dr. Brown, and may God bless Seventh-day Adventist Christian education through Oakwood University.