PHYLICIA RASHAD TO SERVE AS DEAN OF FINE ARTS AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Howard University announced Phylicia Rashad as dean of the College of Fine Arts. Rashad is a Howard University alumna and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in fine arts. As the dean, she will be reporting to Provost Anthony K. Wutoh.
“It is an honor to welcome one of Howard’s acclaimed daughters back home to Alma Mater. In this full circle moment, Ms. Phylicia Rashad will take the training and skills that she honed as a student at Howard and exuded in an outstanding performing career, and she will share those pearls of wisdom with the next generation of students in the College of Fine Arts. Her passion for the arts and student success makes her a perfect fit for this role,” said Wutoh.
Rashad became well known for her role as Claire Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” a character who is a successful Black family matriarch. She’s also played as Carol on NBC’s “This Is Us;” Diana Dubois on the Fox TV series “Empire;” Libba Gardner in Pixar’s Academy Award-winning animated feature, “Soul;” Grandmother Journey in the Netflix holiday musical “Jingle Jangle;” and many more!
“I can think of no individual better suited to take on this role than Ms. Phylicia Rashad,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA. “As we reintroduce our campus community and the world at large to Howard’s College of Fine Arts, the dean will play an instrumental role in ensuring an auspicious beginning for this reestablished institution. Given Ms. Rashad’s reputation as well as her capabilities and impressive list of accomplishments, she will undoubtedly empower the college to transcend even our incredibly high expectations. Under her leadership, Howard will continue to inspire and cultivate the artists and leaders who will shape our niche and national cultures for generations to come.”
The accomplished actor and stage director has received the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, BET Honors Theatrical Arts Award, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s Spirit of Shakespeare Award, and the inaugural Legacy Award of the Ruben Santiago Hudson Fine Arts Learning Center, amongst many others. In 2016, Rashad was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. Rashad also serves on several prestigious boards, including Brainerd Institute Heritage and DADA (the Debbie Allen Dance Academy). Rashad is recognized for her excellence by many universities, in which she was presented with honorary doctorates.
Notable Howard alum in the world of fine arts include the late Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, Empire’s Taraji P. Henson, and the first black cinematographer to be nominated for an Oscar Bradford Young.
