Phylicia Rashad named Dean of Howard University’s Fine Arts College

Tony-winning and Emmy-nominated actress Phylicia Rashad has been appointed dean of Howard University’s newly reestablished college of fine arts.

Howard University conducted a nationwide search before appointing Rashad, an alumna of the school.

She will begin her new role on July 1 and will report to Provost Anthony K. Wutoh.

“It is an honor to welcome one of Howard’s acclaimed daughters back home to her Alma Mater,” Wutoh said in a statement.

“In this full circle moment, Ms. Phylicia Rashad will take the training and skills that she honed as a student at Howard and exuded in an outstanding performing career, and she will share those pearls of wisdom with the next generation of students in the College of Fine Arts. Her passion for the arts and student success makes her a perfect fit for this role.”

In an interview with Variety, the Howard Alumna who graduated magna cum laude says she was honored and surprised by her appointment.

“I never saw myself as a dean,” she says with a laugh. “But then, I’ve never thought of myself as many things that I’ve been. “It’s a privilege to be a part of reestablishing the College of Fine Arts, to engage with the administration, the faculty, the students, the alumni, as well as artists around the country. It’s exciting to think about building towards a future with a College of Fine Arts and Howard University.”

Rashad is no stranger to facilitating higher education.

She has previously served as a guest lecturer and adjunct faculty member at Howard with “This Is Us” co-star Susan Kelechi-Watson and the late Chadwick Boseman among her students.

“I started teaching at the invitation of Al Freeman Jr., who was a former chair of the department of theater. He was a friend. We had also worked together in a soap opera. He was from the state of Texas as well,” she recalls.

“At the time that I was teaching this masterclass at Howard, I was taping ‘Cosby’ in New York. I would fly down every Friday after tape day to conduct. What was supposed to be an hour-long class, which ended up sometimes being three hours because students wouldn’t leave.”

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