Carolyn Hall
Hazel Green,AL
Summary
Higher education leader with 26 years of experience in academic affairs and student success. Expertise in senior-level leadership, academic planning, accreditation, and curriculum innovation. Proven track record of enhancing retention, persistence, and degree completion rates.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of the Center of Graduate Excellence
Alabama A & M University
Huntsville, Alabama
04.2025 - Current
- Directed academic programs to enhance student engagement and success initiatives.
- Managed departmental budgets to ensure responsible financial planning and allocation.
- Collaborated with senior leadership to set long-term objectives for the company.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive strategies to improve operational processes and organizational efficiency.
- Created detailed plans outlining timelines, goals, budgets, staffing needs and other requirements for projects.
- Managed budgeting and financial planning processes for the organization.
- Partnered with staff to create professional development plans to support personal and business growth.
Executive Leadership Fellow
Clark Atlanta University Executive Leadership Inst
Atlanta, Georgia
01.2026 - 06.2026
- Selected as a Fellow in Clark Atlanta University’s Executive Leadership Institute, a prestigious program designed to prepare senior-level higher education professionals for executive leadership roles, including Dean and Provost positions.
- Engaged in advanced leadership development focused on strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, and executive decision-making within complex higher education systems.
- Developed a deeper understanding of higher education governance, accreditation processes, enrollment management, and student success frameworks.
- Participated in case-based learning and collaborative problem-solving with peers and senior leaders, addressing real-world institutional challenges and designing innovative, mission-driven solutions.
- Strengthened expertise in organizational leadership, change management, and resource stewardship, with a focus on driving sustainable institutional transformation.
- Explored strategies for advancing equity, access, and student-centered excellence, reinforcing a commitment to improving outcomes for diverse student populations.
- Expanded a professional executive network, fostering relationships that support cross-institutional collaboration and leadership growth.
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Philander Smith University
Little Rock, AR
11.2022 - 03.2025
- Spearhead initiatives that enhance academic quality and foster student success through innovative programming, holistic engagement, and continuous improvement.
- Oversaw the development and implementation of academic policies, procedures, and programs.
- Led faculty development initiatives, including orientation and pedagogical training for adjunct faculty.
- Explored and initiated curriculum innovations, such as a proposed General Studies Associate degree program.
- Designed and implemented student-centered programs like Panthers Rise Up and Academic Success Workshops, aimed at improving retention, persistence, and academic engagement.
- Supported at-risk students through holistic interventions, including academic progress monitoring, peer support, and resource allocation.
- Addressed key student needs through workshops covering study skills, finances, mental health, and more.
- Led the collection and analysis of evidence for institutional accreditation, including contributions to the HLC 5-year accreditation review.
- Developed and implemented assessment strategies to ensure continuous improvement in academic programs and student outcomes.
Coordinator of Assessment & Continuous Improvement
Cheyney University
Cheyney, PA
08.2021 - 10.2022
- Provided support to faculty and staff to foster their academic and personal development. Collaborated with colleagues to enhance the overall learning experience.
- Managed data collection and analysis for assessment reports.
- Developed and implemented assessment strategies to improve program outcomes.
- Collaborated with faculty and staff to establish assessment goals and objectives.
- Facilitated assessment planning and evaluation processes.
- Designed and created an archive of assessment videos and literature to aid in the Middle States Accreditation process.
Graduation and Retention Coach
Fulton County Schools, College
Atlanta, GA
10.2016 - 05.2021
- Improve the graduation rate and align students with post-secondary opportunities by 20%.
- Conducting one-on-one mentoring and coaching sessions to address students' academic, social, and emotional needs.
- Monitoring student progress through regular check-ins, data analysis, and collaboration with teachers and counselors.
- Collaborating with school leadership and faculty to identify and address systemic issues impacting retention.
- Organizing workshops and support groups focused on study skills, time management, and goal-setting.
- Coordinating with community organization's to provide students with additional resources, such as tutoring, counseling, and career guidance.
- Facilitating events to celebrate student milestones and foster a sense of community and belonging.
- Analyzing student performance data to identify trends and implement effective interventions.
Lecturer
Spelman College
Atlanta, Georgia
08.2014 - 05.2016
- Developed engaging course materials for diverse student audiences.
- Facilitated interactive discussions to promote critical thinking among students.
- Mentored students in academic and career planning throughout their studies.
- Conducted research on educational practices and shared findings with peers.
- Evaluated student performance through tests, quizzes, presentations, projects, or other assessments.
- Created a positive learning environment by actively engaging with all students during class time.
Assistant Professor
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GA
08.2010 - 08.2014
- Taught a variety of undergraduate courses, helping students strengthen their critical thinking and writing skills.
- Presented research findings at national and international conferences.
- Worked on the pilot program for QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan).
- Served on departmental committees and participated in curriculum development.
- Supervised students in their research projects.
- Facilitated workshops and training sessions to help faculty integrate high-impact teaching practices aligned with the university's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).
- Designed and implemented strategies to enhance student learning outcomes, emphasizing critical thinking, communication, and engagement.
- Provided ongoing support and feedback to faculty participants, ensuring the effective application of QEP objectives in their courses.
Instructor
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, GA
08.2003 - 05.2010
- Designed and delivered course materials, provided mentorship to students, and collaborated with colleagues to enhance the learning experience.
- Provided mentorship and support to students to foster their academic and personal development.
- Collaborated with colleagues to enhance the overall learning experience.
- Taught freshman composition courses, focusing on strengthening students' writing, critical thinking, and research skills.
- Taught First-Year Experience courses, equipping students with academic and personal development tools to support their transition to college.
- Designed engaging and culturally relevant lesson plans to connect course content to students' lived experiences.
- Provided individualized support to help students improve their writing and adapt to the rigor of college-level coursework.
- Participated in departmental initiatives to enhance curriculum development and student success programs.
Adjunct Instructor
Morris Brown College
Atlanta, GA
08.2000 - 12.2002
- Provided instruction in communication and professional writing to undergraduate students, enhancing their ability to articulate ideas clearly and professionally.
- Facilitated workshops to enhance public speaking skills for participants, fostering confidence and engagement in presentations.
- Facilitated group discussions and conducted individual assessments for College Composition, Speech Communications, and Developmental English, promoting critical thinking and effective communication skills.
Education
DOCTORATE OF ARTS - Africana Women's Studies
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, GA06-2014
MASTER OF ARTS - ENGLISH
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN08-2000
BACHELOR OF ARTS - ENGLISH
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN12-1997
Skills
- Program development
- Institutional accreditation
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Budget management
- Operational efficiency
- Assessment strategies
- Org development
- Organizational development
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Team leadership
- Process improvement
- Student support
- Relationship building
- Conflict resolution
- Professional mentoring
- Team collaboration
- Academic program development
- Continuous improvement
- Faculty collaboration
- Program assessment
- Accreditation processes
- Data analysis
- Institutional collaboration
- Faculty development
- Accreditation management
- Training delivery
Presentations
- HBCUs & The Necessity for Hip Hop Pedagogy: Creating a Connection Between Our Student Culture and the Classroom, Allen University's Hip Hop Conference, 03/01/16
- Harlem Renaissance: The Foundation for African-American Contemporary Artistry, Paine College's Harlem Renaissance Conference, 10/01/13
- Contributor and guest on Bleaching Black Culture, Moguldom Films, 01/01/14
- Antiracist Writing Assessment Ecologies, and Students' Rights to Their Own Language, UNCF/Mellon Teaching and Learning Institute, 06/01/16
- Fostering Empathy and Inclusion: A Workshop on Trauma Informed Teaching at HBCUs, 70th Annual National Association of Student Affairs Conference, 03/01/22
- The Necessity of Trauma Informed Teaching Strategies at HBCUs, UNITE UNCF Conference, 07/01/24
- Black Students and The Covid Learning Gap, National Association of African American Studies, 02/01/22
- Trauma Informed Teaching Strategies for HBCUs, National Diversity Council for Harvard's Women in Leadership, 10/01/24
- Lifting As We Climb: Black Female Leadership in Higher Ed, UNCF Unite Conference, 07/01/25
- The Necessity of HBCUs, College Board and UNCF Conference, 03/01/25
Accomplishments
- Most Influential Staff Award 2024
- Higher Education Leadership Foundation Fellow 2025
- 2X Professor of the Year Nominee
- Improved Student Graduation Rate by 10% 2017
- Spearheaded Academic Innovation Series 2024-2025
- Launched Academic Recovery Plan Fall 2023
Timeline
Executive Leadership Fellow
Clark Atlanta University Executive Leadership Inst
01.2026 - 06.2026
Director of the Center of Graduate Excellence
Alabama A & M University
04.2025 - Current
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Philander Smith University
11.2022 - 03.2025
Coordinator of Assessment & Continuous Improvement
Cheyney University
08.2021 - 10.2022
Graduation and Retention Coach
Fulton County Schools, College
10.2016 - 05.2021
Lecturer
Spelman College
08.2014 - 05.2016
Assistant Professor
Fort Valley State University
08.2010 - 08.2014
Instructor
Clark Atlanta University
08.2003 - 05.2010
Adjunct Instructor
Morris Brown College
08.2000 - 12.2002
DOCTORATE OF ARTS - Africana Women's Studies
Clark Atlanta University
MASTER OF ARTS - ENGLISH
Tennessee State University
BACHELOR OF ARTS - ENGLISH
Tennessee State University