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Fort Valley State University selects Andrews to serve as Dean of the University College

Fort Valley State University (FVSU) has announced Dr. Kimberly Andrews has been selected to serve as Dean of the University College. Dr. Andrews brings a strong commitment to enhancing higher education access and student success, as well as a rich background serving underrepresented and underserved populations to this leadership position of the University College.  

Prior to coming to FVSU, Dr. Andrews served as the Associate Vice President for Student Retention at Edward Waters College, where she oversaw first- and second-year advising, first- and second-year experience, and the Tiger Center for Academic Persistence and Success (TCAPS). She redesigned the curriculum and provided training to Duval County Public Schools for the Introduction to College course, a dual-enrollment partnership with Edward Waters College.

During COVID-19, Dr. Andrews was able to capitalize on her office’s use of technology and quickly transitioned to a virtual environment. She created “how to” videos for incoming students with regards to registration and did “virtual pop-ins” in general education courses to answer questions students had about the transitioning environment. She also provided training to faculty, staff, and tutors, and transitioned academic advising to a fully online model for first- and second-year students.

In her previous role at Virginia Tech, Dr. Andrews served as the Director of TRIO Programs, securing nearly $10 million in federal, state, and local grants. At the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, she served as the Director of the UT Outreach Center in Houston. During her time there, she established multiple pipeline programs to UT Austin through the development of collaborative relationships with the Houston Independent School District, the largest public-school district in Texas, and the 8th largest in the nation. She also served at Lone Star College – North Harris and Houston Community College, both in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Andrews earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Prairie View A&M University and her master’s degree in management, with a concentration in public administration, from the University of Phoenix. She completed her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, with a concentration in organizational management and change, at Our Lady of the Lake University.