Theresa A. Powell (February 10, 1952 – January 2, 2023) was an American academic administrator who served as the vice president for student affairs at

Temple University Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist ministe ...

and

Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a Public university, public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. B ...

. She was the first African American woman president of the

National Association of Student Personnel Administrators The NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education is a U.S.-based student affairs organization with over 13,000 members at 1,400 campuses in 25 countries. Founded in 1919 at the University of Wisconsin, NASPA focuses on professionals ...

Life

Powell was born on February 10, 1952, in

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, covering nearly into Denton County, Texas, Denton, Johnson County, Texas, Johnson, Parker County, Texas, Parker, and Wise County, Te ...

. She was raised in Stop Six, Fort Worth, Texas where her family attended Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. She graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in 1970. Powell earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...

. She earned a master's degree in student personnel services from

Texas Christian University Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private university, private research university in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. It was established in 1873 by brothers Addison Clark, Addison and Randolph Clark as the AddRan Male & Female College. It i ...

. She completed a doctorate in educational administration at the

Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...

. Powell was a tenured professor and the vice president for student affairs at

. She joined

in 2002 as its vice president for student affairs. She served as the president of the

from 2000-2001. She was the first African American woman to serve in that role. Powell died on January 2, 2023, in Texas.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Theresa A 1952 births 2023 deaths Educators from Fort Worth, Texas University of Pennsylvania alumni Texas Christian University alumni Ohio State University alumni Western Michigan University faculty Temple University administrators African-American women academic administrators American women academic administrators African-American academic administrators 20th-century African-American academics 21st-century African-American academics 21st-century American academics 20th-century African-American women 21st-century African-American women 21st-century American women academics 20th-century American women academics 20th-century American academics