Hernando Reporter

The transformative ascendancy of Edward Waters University (EWU) as one of Florida’s fastest growing, best-in-class, and newest universities continues to move progressively forward as this week the institution announces the newest member of its institutional and academic leadership collective:

Dr. Malinda Wilson-Swoope has accepted an appointment as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs under the leadership of EWU Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Donna H. Oliver effective July 18, 2022. As an integral member of the Provost’s academic leadership team Dr. Swoope will be a champion for leading the fulfillment of the Provost’s vision for the division, the academic degree programs and the training and advancement of faculty throughout the University. Most importantly, she will support and assist the Provost in the achievement of the goals and strategic priorities of Academic Affairs including working with faculty to create new graduate and undergraduate degree programs.  Dr. Swoope will also have the unique opportunity to broadly influence the direction of the academic program, faculty and academic operations by leading and coordinating University-wide practices and policies associated with faculty work, the academic curriculum and academic standards, as well as academic affairs in general.  Additionally, she will provide mentorship and leadership training for current and future academic deans and department chairs.  Finally, Dr. Swoope will assist the Provost in providing intellectual leadership to create, advance, and implement the academic mission of the University and further support and develop the research capacity and endeavors of faculty.  She will play an integral role in the effective execution of academic practices in alignment with the policies and academic goals of the University while ensuring that quality educational services are being delivered in accordance with nationally established best practices.

“I am extremely delighted to welcome Dr. Swoope to the academic affairs administrative leadership team and academic community of faculty, staff, and students at EWU,” said Provost Oliver. “She is a consummate scholar-educator and a seasoned and adept academic administrator. Without a doubt, Dr. Swoope will be a team builder who will incite and inspire change and when it comes to executing those changes, she will be present, supportive and results oriented.  I look forward with great anticipation to working with such a vibrant and energetic scholar-leader,” Provost Oliver said.   

A scholar STEM researcher, professor, and accomplished higher educational administrator, Dr. Swoope brings nearly two decades of higher education experience to Edward Waters having most recently served as Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning and Initiatives at Alabama A&M University (AAMU). As Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning and Initiatives at AAMU Dr. Swoope served as the university’s SACSCOC liaison and led the organization, development, and implementation of the institutions 10-year (2015-2025) strategic plan. In addition, Dr. Swoope chaired AAMU’s first-year experience, retention, and persistence task force leading to an overall 12% increase in enrollment and a 30% graduation rate for first time, first year students. She formerly served as Coordinator of the Chemistry Department/Unit at AAMU where she led the department/unit towards achieving a $5 million renovation of its Chemistry Building (Carter Hall) and Instrumental Laboratory; initiated the certification of the B.S. in Chemistry program by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training (ACS-CPT); built the unit/departments online course curriculum; and provided leadership, training, and guidance in the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to Chemistry faculty recruitment, tenure and promotion, academic planning, curriculum development, and evaluation.     

While serving as Special Assistant to the President Dr. Swoope has dually maintained membership in the university’s professoriate as a tenured Associate Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in the University of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences. As a teaching professor and researcher Dr. Swoope has simultaneously taught lectures and laboratories within the Chemistry unit/department while advising and mentoring undergraduate chemistry majors. Having maintained a robust and contemporaneous scholarly portfolio, Dr. Swoope has published over 40 plus peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and/or other publications in chemical education and environmental chemistry and garnered over $6 million dollars in grant funding accruing to the university from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the American Chemical Society, the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, the United States Department of Agriculture, and Title III. She was recognized and awarded by the AAMU School of Arts and Sciences as the 2008 ‘Most Effective Young Faculty Member’ before being named by the AAMU College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences as the 2013 ‘Outstanding Faculty Member’.  

“I have marveled from afar at the  transformational progress and comprehensive ascension of Edward Waters  under the visionary leadership of President Faison and I am equally excited to join Provost Oliver’s dynamic team as she continues to lead the EWU faculty in support of achieving even higher academic heights personified through outstanding teaching, scholarly research, and committed service to the university and its students,” said Dr. Wilson-Swoope.

Dr. Swoope earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from Texas Southern University and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from the University of California—Davis. She is a 2018 Fellow of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Millennium Leadership Institute (MLI) and a 2015 Fellow of the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow. Additionally, Dr. Swoope is a graduate of AASCU’s ‘Becoming A Provost Academy’ and the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute (ELI).  She had served her community   executive board chair of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE); member of the American Chemical Society, executive board chair  of Girls, Inc. of Huntsville, AL; member of the United Way of Madison County; member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a proud initiate of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (DST).

She is married to Craig A. Swoope and have one son, John-Paul Wilson Gilmore.

_{Source:  https://www.ew.edu/dr-malinda-wilson-swoope-appointed-as-new-associate-provost-for-academic-affairs/}