| Dr. Clarence G. Newsome |
| 13th President of Shaw University |
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Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, a native of Ahoskie, North Carolina, was named the 13th President of Shaw University on February 13, 2003. Since becoming President, Dr. Newsome has provided Shaw University with a leadership style that exudes energy, innovativeness and a steadfast commitment to excellence. President Newsome displays the characteristics of a leader who understands the importance of having a close relationship with students, faculty, staff, and alumni. In the past year he has met with these groups on numerous occasions, including holding ongoing meetings with student representatives to address their concerns. In addition, he has reached out to other University constituents, speaking at churches for Shaw Day, meeting with alumni and with local, state and national political leaders. President Newsome's administration has adopted the motto: "Strides to Excellence: Only the Best!" Prior to his appointment at Shaw University, Dr. Newsome served at the Howard University School of Divinity (HUSD) for 17 years. During his tenure, he played a major role in helping guide the school to an unqualified position of excellence and preeminence among theological institutions in the United States and Canada. His service at the HUDS began in 1986 as Assistant Dean. He was appointed the first Associate Dean in the School's history in 1989. In 1991, he was appointed Acting Dean upon the retirement of Dr. Lawrence N. Jones and in 1992, he was appointed the 14th Dean of the Howard University School of Divinity, joining the ranks of a distinguished line of religious leaders that includes Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, under whose leadership the School was accredited in 1940. As Associate Dean, he was primarily responsible for the School receiving an invitation to join the "Big Eight," an organization of theological school development officers from such institutions as Harvard, Yale, University of Chicago and Duke. Dr. Newsome successfully guided the School through two ten-year reaccredidation reviews, 1992 and 2002. A highlight of his administration was to have the School reaccredited without notation for the first time in its history. Under Dr. Newsome's leadership, the first Office of Student Services and the first Office of Institutional Advancement and Development were created. Between 1992 and 1995 the School won four major awards from the University's Academic Affairs Division for fund raising and alumni support. In 1996, he established an international component to the School by negotiating an agreement to collaborate with Honam University and Theological School in Kwanju, South Korea. In 1997, he oversaw the transformation of the School's facility into a "smart building" through the development and installation of one of the most comprehensive and cost effective videoconferencing systems in higher education. With the support of Computer Solutions of Newport News, VA, and Hughes Electronics, Inc., of Gaithersburg, MD, the School created a unique, multifaceted two-way audio video communications resource. His leadership facilitated an increase in registration by 59% and an increase in fund raising by approximately 100%. Dr. Newsome has held several positions in national organizations, among them President of the Society for the Study of Black Religion, a nationwide think tank of scholars engaged in studying the religious experience of African Americans. He has served on the Advisory Committee of the North American-European Theological Seminar of the American Academy of Religion, and on the Board of Directors of the Duke University National Alumni Association. He has also served as the Chairman of the Duke Divinity School Board of Visitors. Moreover, he has served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Washington Theological Consortium, an organization of twelve theological schools in the Washington, DC and Richmond, VA metropolitan areas. In addition, he has served on several major committees of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). In 2002, he was re-elected to the Executive Committee of the ATS, and in that capacity serves as "Secretary of the Corporation." In February 1998, Dr. Newsome was honored by the United States Senate. His name was "read" into the Congressional Record as one of the nation's outstanding religious leaders. A year later, he was invited by the Honorable William Cohen, then Secretary of Defense, to participate in the highly selective Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. Dr. Newsome received his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Duke University. He completed his undergraduate studies in three-and-a-half years and graduated from the Divinity School magna cum laude. A Dean's List student during his undergraduate years, he lettered in football and was twice named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All Academic Team, among the first Black athletes to be so honored. Sharing the podium with Walter Cronkite, now retired CBS anchorman, he was the first black student commencement speaker in the University's history. His speech, entitled "An African Concept of Time and a Theme of Liberation in the World Community," signaled even then the emergence of a captivating speaker with an exceptional mind and uncommon commitment to the well being of people the world over. While pursuing his master's degree, he interrupted his theological school studies for a year to serve as Acting Dean of the Office of Black Affairs (later Minority Affairs) and Director of the University's Summer Transitional Program. During his doctoral studies, he received a number of awards and fellowships, including the prestigious James B. Duke Dissertation Year Fellowship. He continued his professional career, serving on the Duke Divinity School faculty for eight years, teaching in the areas of American Christianity and Black Church History. In 1982, the graduating class honored him by selecting him to be their baccalaureate speaker. Dr. Newsome also served as pastor of Mt. Level Baptist Church in Durham, NC for a portion of the time he served on the Duke Divinity School Faculty. Throughout his education and professional career, he has held several positions in national organizations, among them President of the Society for the Study of Black Religion, which is a nationwide think tank of scholars engaged in studying the religious experience of African Americans. Dr. Newsome is the recipient of many awards and honors, including the Distinguished Service in Education Award from the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., in 2000, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Duke Divinity School in 2001. His board memberships include the Alban Institute of Bethesda, MD, and the Duke University Board of Trustees. Dr. Newsome is the General Editor of the acclaimed Directory of African American Religious Bodies, Volume 2, and the author of several scholarly articles, two of which are regarded as noteworthy contributions in the area of religious biography. He is highly regarded throughout the nation as one of the most profound, insightful, engaging and sensitive thinkers of our day and is frequently called upon to share his oratorical talent. Dr. Newsome is married to the former Lynne Platt, an educator from Charlotte, NC. They have two daughters and a son-in-law. Brittany Ann is a freshman at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Gina Lynn is in her 3rd year of medical school at UNC Chapel Hill. Gina's husband, Michael B. Duncan, is a graduate student in medicinal chemistry at UNC Chapel Hill.
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