(Updated on 6/18/ 2021)
The Texas Southern University Board of Regents unanimously selected Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young as TSU’s 13th president following today’s vote of confirmation. Dr. Crumpton-Young will assume her role at TSU on July 1.
“Dr. Crumpton-Young is the leader TSU needs to usher in a new era of greatness. Her vision for TSU will shift our graduates forward on the path toward even greater academic excellence,” said Albert H. Myres, Sr., chairman of TSU’s Board of Regents.
Dr. Crumpton-Young – an established senior administrator, executive and tireless advocate for students – was chosen as the sole finalist following a nationwide search. She will succeed Kenneth Huewitt, who served as TSU’s interim president since April 2020.
“The Board of Regents wishes to thank Ken Huewitt for his outstanding service to the University. Ken was asked to step up during a critical and difficult time at TSU. His steady presence and leadership helped us navigate the pandemic, reaccreditation and the legislative session. We look forward to Ken co-chairing our Presidential Transition Team with Regent Stephanie Nellons-Paige,” Chairman Myres said.
After the vote, Dr. Crumpton-Young said, “This is a very special time, and I’m reminded of something that my late mother said to me frequently as a child—’You were born to serve.’ As president of TSU, I am fully committed to working tirelessly with our regents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, elected officials and industry partners. Together, we will transform lives by providing an outstanding educational experience.”
Dr. Crumpton-Young has a distinguished career in higher education, including her most recent post as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. A native of Texas, Dr. Crumpton-Young’s academic career includes teaching and senior leadership posts at Tennessee State University, University of Central Florida, Texas A&M University and Mississippi State University. She served as program director in the Education and Human Resource Directorate of the National Science Foundation and received the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) from President Barack Obama in 2010.
Dr. Crumpton-Young ushered in an new era at Morgan State University after instituting her three core principles:
- Innovation – engineering strong, forward-looking academic pathways that give students every critical tool needed to excel.
- Disruption – interrupting the status quo to engage and uplift the university and the community at large.
- Transformation – increasing the velocity of learning and attainment with a focus on elevating the thirst for knowledge.
Her leadership at Morgan State led to an increase in cutting-edge research, scholarship and creative activity. She initiated new hiring strategies to diversify faculty, introduced and broadened participation in high-demand academic fields and led initiatives to obtain seven-figure transformative gifts to support student and faculty success, and increased diversity, equity and inclusion.
Dr. Crumpton-Young earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and a doctorate degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University, and a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee State University. She holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in engineering.
