Maryville College taps Dr. Ja’Wanda Grant as new vice president and dean of students
Feb. 15, 2023
Dr. Ja’Wanda Grant has been named Maryville College’s next vice president and dean of students.
Grant, who is currently serving as manager of educational and pathway programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and was previously ORNL’s lead for university and student affairs, will begin her appointment at the liberal arts college on April 13.
As VP and dean of students at the College, she will be a member of the College’s Cabinet and provide leadership for the Student Affairs division, which includes several areas that focus on campus life outside the classroom, ranging from student housing to community engagement.
In a memo distributed to the campus community on Wednesday, Maryville College President Dr. Bryan Coker said the College was fortunate that Grant has developed “a strong affinity for MC,” adding that he and others had become acquainted with her through recent collaborations with ORNL.
“Dr. Grant brings a multitude of higher education experiences to the VP/dean of students role, including posts at Vassar College, Xavier University of Louisiana and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL),” he wrote. “The bulk of her experience has taken place in the nexus between student affairs and academic affairs, focused on student academic success and high-impact experiences, such as undergraduate research.
“I believe her background and experiences will enable her to bring an innovative approach to the position, as well as promote a unified student experience across the College,” he added. “I am asking Dr. Grant to focus intensely upon relationships and collaboration across campus; so, I know all of you will look forward to getting to know – and working with – her.”
Grant earned a doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Mississippi. Additionally, she was a postdoctoral fellow at New York University (NYU) School of Environmental Medicine and has served in various roles in the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Leadership Institute for Women.
A native of South Carolina, Grant and her sister co-founded Celebrate Sisters Foundation, a non-profit foundation that provides mentorship and college scholarships to young women in the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast region.
Grant moves into a position currently held by Dr. Melanie Tucker, who has accepted a position at a university out of state and will be leaving the College March 8. Sara Quatrocky, the College’s athletic director, will serve as interim vice president and dean of students until April 12.
In the memo, Coker explained that because of the nontraditional approach to filling the vacancy (without a formal search process and committee), Grant’s initial appointment is for 14 months, at which time he and Grant will evaluate the appointment, which could ultimately become permanent.
“I know that all of you will join me in welcoming Dr. Grant to campus, and in thanking Sara Quatrocky for her willingness to provide interim leadership for the division of student affairs,” Coker wrote. “Their roles and work are key, as we endeavor to fully realize the rich potential for campus life at MC.”