Atlanta — March 12, 1997

A distinguished and accomplished educator from a leading historically black university has been appointed president of Savannah State University. Dr. Carlton E. Brown, vice president for planning and dean of the Graduate College of Hampton University, was named by the Board of Regents and University System of Georgia Chancellor Stephen Portch to lead Savannah State University over at least the next five years.

In addition, Portch and the board have tapped a senior University System official to join Brown in an executive team leadership role. Dr. Joseph H. “Pete” Silver, Sr., a veteran assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs with the University System of Georgia, has been named vice president for academic affairs at SSU and professor of political science. Silver also has been asked to serve at least a five-year term.

Both appointments were announced at a press conference held today at Savannah State University attended by Board of Regents Chairman Thomas F. Allgood, Sr., Chancellor Portch and Regents Juanita Baranco, Elridge McMillan, Donald M. Leebern, Jr., S. William Clark, Jr., and J. Tom Coleman, Jr.

Brown and Silver will begin their appointments on July 1, 1997.

“This is not a time for Savannah State University to have a vacuum in leadership,” Chairman Allgood stated. “Therefore, the board moved swiftly to secure the services of two seasoned educators who have the potential to be the best leadership team in the country.”

“We have made these appointments on behalf of the students who deserve strong and stable leadership,” Chancellor Portch added. “The historical record at SSU reflects decades of unparalleled presidential turnover, which demands an innovative solution. Naming the team of Brown and Silver to extended terms clearly conveys our respect for their leadership skills, the Board of Regents’ position regarding this unacceptable turnover, and our commitment to this institution.”

Portch also indicated that some measurable goals would be set for the institution during this five-year period to insist on shared responsibility for SSU’s success.

Brown has served in his current role at Hampton University since 1996. From August 1990-1996, he served as dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education, a restructured unit of the University formed in response to educational reforms that more closely integrate teacher education with central academic disciplines. From July 1987-1990, he served as dean of the University’s School of Education.

During 1992-93, Brown led Hampton University’s strategic planning process which resulted in a major restructuring of the institution. As dean, he also led the School of Education’s successful application for continued national accreditation.

A native of Macon, Ga., Brown received both his bachelor of arts and his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He earned his doctorate in multicultural education in 1979, and his bachelor’s degree in English and American Studies in 1971. Brown served on the faculty and in key administrative posts within the College of Education at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., from 1979 until joining Hampton in 1987. A presenter, consultant and trainer for a variety of civic, science and professional organizations, Brown also has been a member of the Hampton City School Board since 1992 and currently serves as its vice chair. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Holmes Group, serving as vice chair of this major collective of reform-oriented teacher education and research institutions from 1993-95. As of 1994, Dr. Brown completed a three-year term as chair of the Committee on Multicultural Education for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Brown is married to T. LaVerne Ricks-Brown, a Hampton City Public Schools teacher and a 1972 graduate of Hampton University. The couple have two children, Kwame, 23, and Jamila, 16.

Silver has served in his current role as assistant vice chancellor at the Board of Regents since 1986, following a year as a Regents Fellow in the Regents office. During his twelve-year tenure, he has been responsible for academic program development and evaluation, graduate education, promotion and tenure, and has been directly involved in developing the University System’s core curriculum and admissions standards. Silver helped develop a strategic plan for the system’s graduate education programs. He also developed and implemented the guidelines for the University System’s first strategic allocations process and chaired the task force to develop a program to increase educational attainment for students in at-risk situations, now referred to as the Post Secondary Readiness Enrichment Program (PREP). Silver has been widely recognized for his role as an advocate for equity in the University System and the community-at-large.

Silver earned both his master’s degree and his doctorate in political science with an emphasis in international relations and public administration from Clark Atlanta University, receiving the doctorate in 1980. He received his bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from St. Augustine’s College. From 1977-1985, Silver served as an instructor, assistant and tenured associate professor at Kennesaw State University, where he was cited for “Distinguished Service” and named a “Distinguished Teacher.” Involved in numerous professional, civic and community organizations, Silver is a member of the 1988 Class of Leadership Georgia and the 1990 Class of Leadership Atlanta. He is a member of the National Board of Directors of Girls Incorporated and the National Executive Board of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. He is the author of several published works.

Silver is married to Rosalyn S. Silver. The couple have two children, Crystal, 13, and Joseph, Jr., 10.

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