PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Prairie View A&M University celebrated the formal installment of its new president, Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande, last week.
Following a week of campus-wide events, President LeGrande was inaugurated into office on March 22.
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The ceremony, fittingly held during Women’s History Month, was attended by state and local officials, delegates from renowned universities nationwide, and representatives from Prairie View A&M’s faculty, staff, and student body.
They collectively noted President LeGrande as a passionate, genuine, and driven leader, perfectly poised to usher the university into a new era of excellence and productivity.
In her address, President LeGrande demonstrated her unwavering commitment to PVAMU’s academic mission, serving as a compelling advocate for its continued advancement.
“The vision for Prairie View A&M University will continuously challenge the standard, and it will continuously push us past mediocrity,” said LeGrande. “The University will be a premier research-intensive public HBCU that serves as a national model for student success.”
Prairie View A&M’s Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michael L. McFrazier said the momentous occasion marked a new and exciting chapter in the University’s history. “Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande’s visionary leadership, prolific knowledge, and proven experience in advancing academic excellence, accessibility, and affordability in higher education will undoubtedly lead PVAMU to be recognized as a national model for student access and success.”
LeGrande was also presented with the Presidential Medallion by the Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System.
About Dr. LeGrande
Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande, Ed.D., took the presidency of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) on June 1, 2023, marking the start of a distinguished tenure defined by her extensive leadership experience and professional accomplishments in higher education.
Prior to her appointment at PVAMU, Dr. LeGrande held pivotal roles in academia, notably as the Vice President for Strategy, Enrollment Management, and Student Success at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). In this capacity, she spearheaded the development and execution of VCU’s strategic initiatives, enhancing its national reputation, forging strategic partnerships, and fostering student access and success. Her leadership journey also included senior positions such as Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the University of Houston-Downtown and Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at Winston Salem State University.
On a national scale, Dr. LeGrande remains actively involved in issues of access, equity, and leadership development in higher education. Her advocacy efforts have extended to congressional testimony and prestigious recognitions, including the Governor’s “Champion for Change Award” for the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2021.
Originally from Savannah, GA, Dr. LeGrande holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Savannah State University, an M.S. in Chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Texas Tech University.