Marvalene Hughes, Ph.D.
President, Dillard University

Marvalene Hughes, Ph.D. serves as the ninth and first woman president of Dillard University in New Orleans, a historically black, 4-year, comprehensive liberal arts college established in 1869. Dr. Hughes began her tenure as president of Dillard July 1, 2005. Her leadership has been most profound as she continues to guide the university through the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the nation’s most devastating natural disaster.

With unwavering determination, she has guided Dillard University and facilitated the rebuilding of the campus which sustained more than $400 million in flood, fire and wind damage. She is leading the university through the substantial rebuilding, reconstruction and remodeling of the 55-acre campus.

Prior to beginning her tenure at Dillard University, Dr. Hughes served as President of California State University at Stanislaus for eleven years where she is credited with increasing enrollment by 40%, fundraising by 416%, capital construction by 41%, and achieved many national rankings for the first time in the University’s history. In addition, she has served in a number of high-level administrative positions at major research institutions including the vice president and professor at the University of Minnesota; vice president and professor at the University of Toledo; associate vice president at Arizona State University; and senior-level administrator  and professor at San Diego State University.  

She has initiated international partnerships with the Arab American University in Jenin (Palestinian Territory) in 1995, the Ethiopian-African American University (Addis Ababa) in 1997, Hanseo University in South Korea in 1997, Evora University in Portugal in 1999, The University of the Azores in 2001, Tamkang University in Taiwan in 2002, Université de Cergy-Pontoise in France in 2004, Communication University of China in Beijing and Universidad Regiomontana in Monterrey, Mexico in 2005.  In these partnerships, she served as the founding American President who guided the universities through global partnership building. 

Dr. Hughes has conducted research and authored or co-authored numerous chapters and articles related to education, managing organizations, human behavior and diversity.  She has made hundreds of presentations to national and international audiences, and has given keynote addresses throughout the United States as well as in Austria, South Africa, Costa Rica, Russia, Lithuania, China, Bermuda, Jordan, the Emirates and Ethiopia.

She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling and Administration from Florida State University, after studying at Tuskegee University, New York University and Columbia University.  She has pursued post-doctoral study at three Harvard University Summer Institutes and one institute at Oxford University, England.  Her career reveals a deep commitment to academic excellence, community service and partnerships with public/private sectors.