In a significant development for Benedict College, President Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis has secured a seven-year extension of her contract, through 2031 ensuring continued leadership and vision for the institution. Since her appointment in 2017, Dr. Artis has been instrumental in shaping the college’s strategic direction and fostering an environment of growth and excellence. The institution also honored her by naming the administration building after her in the Spring.
Dr. Artis, who became the 14th president and first female CEO of Benedict College in 2017, has made a significant impact during her tenure. She completed The B.E.S.T. five-year strategic plan in just three years, setting a new benchmark for the college.
Her impressive academic background includes a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University, a Juris Doctorate from West Virginia University College of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from West Virginia State University. Before coming to Benedict College, Dr. Artis served as the 13th president and first female president of Florida Memorial University in Miami.
Under her leadership, Benedict College won the 2019 ACE/Fidelity Investments Institutional Transformation Award and was named “HBCU of the Year” by the HBCU Digest in August 2019. Benedict has also seen unparalleled success in athletics, including the hiring of Chennis Berry to lead the football program in February 2020. Under his leadership, Benedict went undefeated in the SIAC in 2022 & 2023 and won back-to-back SIAC Championships while also clinching a spot in the NCAA Division II Playoffs as the top seed in NCAA Super Region II.
Charlie W. Johnson, Chairman of the Benedict College Board of Trustees, highlighted Dr. Artis’s dedication, saying, “President Artis is keenly aware of the current issues students face, and she has demonstrated a deep commitment to providing students with formative learning experiences that prepare them to lead and succeed professionally and personally.”
