Members of the Texas Southern University Board of Regents have unanimously appointed Mary Evans Sias, Ph.D. to assume the role of interim president. Dr. Sias, a member of the TSU Board of Regents and appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in October 2020, has resigned from her board role during this interim period. The role will become effective June 30th. The Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dakota Doman, will remain in place until the beginning of the interim presidency term.

“Dr. Sias brings a fresh perspective along with a nationally recognized reputation built on experience, success, and a proven track record of leadership as a chief executive officer and longtime university president. She is committed to using her wisdom and experience for navigating internal and external opportunities to ensure all our stakeholders: students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community supporters…remain TSU Proud. She has 100 percent support from the board,” said Albert H. Myres, Chairman of the TSU Board of Regents.

Nationally recognized as a higher education thought leader, longtime university president and administrator, Dr. Sias most recently served as the director of the Millennium Leadership Institute (MLI), the premier professional development program for senior higher education leaders who desire to become university presidents and chancellors. Additionally, she served as assistant to the president for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).

Prior to her appointment to the TSU Board of Regents, Dr. Sias spent more than three decades serving respectively as president of Kentucky State University (2004 – 2014), senior vice president for student affairs and external relations at the University of Texas Dallas (1995 – 2004) and chief executive officer of the YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas (1984 – 1995). During her career in academia, Dr. Sias has been an associate provost, associate professor and assistant professor at both Grambling State University and Southern Methodist University.

Dr. Sias brings a broad range of administrative proficiencies on a state and national level. She has served as chairperson of two of the big six national organizations in higher education: the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Additional board experiences include service as chairperson of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC), the Educational Testing Service Advisory Board for HBCUs and president of both the Tejas Council of Girl Scouts and The Dallas Summit.

Similarly, Dr. Sias has amassed a range of community engagement competencies serving on the board of directors for the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, the Oaks Bank and Trust Company, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Zoological Society, The Dallas Museum, Children’s Health Services of Texas, Children’s Medical Foundation and Leadership Women.

During her time as a member of the TSU Board of Regents, Dr. Sias chaired the Administration and Finance Committee. She and her husband, Shadrach, also have a named endowment benefitting deserving students with scholarship dollars at Texas Southern. They have one daughter, Adrienne M. Sias.

Dr. Sias received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Tougaloo College, a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Still, she earned a Master of Business Administration from Abilene Christian University. She was bestowed an honorary Doctor of Public Service from Central Michigan University.