Roslyn Clark Artis, J.D., Ed.D.
In June, 2017, Dr. Artis was unanimously elected the 14th President of Benedict College. She is the first-female President in the 147-year history of the college which was founded by a woman, Mrs. Bathsheba Benedict, in 1870.
Intentional, professional and thoroughly committed to the proliferation and transformation of colleges and universities that serve underrepresented men and women of color, Dr. Artis brings to Benedict College a depth of knowledge in higher education and enthusiasm for students’ success that is unmatched in higher education today. She comes to Benedict College from Florida Memorial University where she served as the 13th and first female President in that University’s 138-year history.
Dr. Artis is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she earned a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy. She also holds a Juris doctorate from West Virginia University College of Law, and her BA in Political Science from sister HBCU, West Virginia State University. Dr. Artis also holds a Certificate of Fundraising Management from Indiana University and a Certificate of Mastery in Prior Learning Assessment from DePaul University.
She is a member of the Presidents’ Advisory Board for Title III Administrators and serves on the Board of the UNCF and the Council of Independent Colleges. Dr. Artis serves as Chair of the Education Committee for the Department of Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC) to which she was appointed by former U.S. Secretary Jeh Johnson under the administration of President Barack Obama.
A prolific speaker, critical thinker and fierce advocate for educational access, Dr. Artis has been recognized for her work locally and nationally and is frequently engaged as a mentor, lecturer, and catalyst for strategic transformation.