October 09, 2014
Dr. Frank G. Pogue named interim president of Cheyney University
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg – Dr. Frank G. Pogue, who retired in June as president of Grambling State University
in Louisiana, today was selected by the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State
System of Higher Education to serve as interim president of Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania.
Dr. Pogue was president of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for 11 years, from
1996 through 2007. He then served briefly as interim president of Chicago State University
before taking over first as interim president of Grambling in December 2009, then
as permanent president six months later.
He will assume the duties of interim president of Cheyney University Nov. 3. Provost
and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Phyllis Dawkins will continue in her dual
role as the university’s acting president until then.
“Dr. Dawkins has provided immeasurable contributions as acting president and will
continue to do so when she resumes her role as provost—guiding the next evolution
of Cheyney’s academic enterprise,” said State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan.
“We were extremely fortunate to find an interim president for Cheyney University who
has more than 50 years of distinguished service in higher education, including nearly
two decades as the president or interim president of four different institutions,”
said Board of Governors Chairman Guido M. Pichini.
“Dr. Pogue knows the State System from the 11 years he served as president of Edinboro
University,” Mr. Pichini continued. “He understands the unique challenges facing Historically
Black Colleges and Universities from his recent leadership of Grambling State University.
He will provide a strong, steady hand to lead Cheyney during this period of transition
and has both the experience and the vision to move the university forward.”
Edinboro University experienced unprecedented growth and advancement in academic programs,
graduate enrollment, campus facilities and fund raising during Dr. Pogue’s more than
decade-long tenure as its president. The student center was renamed in his honor following
his departure from the university.
“In Frank Pogue, Cheyney University will have a leader who throughout his career has
always put students first. He will be a great addition to the leadership team at Cheyney,”
said Mr. Brogan. “I look forward to his return to the State System and to working
with him to help ensure a bright future for the university.”
“The selection of Dr. Pogue to serve as interim president of Cheyney University is
great news for the institution,” said Council of Trustees Chairman Robert W. Bogle.
“He is a proven, experienced leader who we already know. He has the demonstrated skills
to lead an institution like Cheyney, and I am confident he will do an outstanding
job for the university and our students.”
Dr. Pogue said he is looking forward “with great anticipation to joining Chancellor
Brogan, Trustee Chair Bogle and the entire Cheyney family to continue a relationship
that I have had with the university for many years.”
“Although I have not been formally employed by Cheyney, I have worked around the university
for many years,” he said. “I am fully aware of the many academic success stories that
are about the institution and I am also aware of some of its current challenges. I
am going to use the experience that I have to build on the successes of Cheyney University
and will work with everyone to prepare the university for new presidential leadership.”
“I look forward to working with Dr. Pogue,” Dr. Dawkins said. “He has extensive experience
in higher education. Working together with the help of faculty, staff, students and
alumni, I am confident we can move Cheyney University forward to new heights and carry
on our rich legacy of educating and grooming future leaders.”
Prior to assuming the presidency of Edinboro University in 1996, Dr. Pogue, served
as vice chancellor of student affairs and special programs in the State University
of New York (SUNY) system. He previously was vice president of student affairs at
SUNY-Albany and a senior medical research associate at Meharry Medical College in
Nashville, Tenn. He was founder and director of Afro-American Studies at Chatham College
in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Pogue earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Alabama State University,
a Master of Arts degree in sociology from Atlanta University and a Doctor of Philosophy
degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Cheyney University was founded in 1837 as the Institute for Coloured Youth, with the
specific mission of educating “the descendants of the African race.” Today, it stands
as the oldest HBCU in the nation and is a comprehensive university that offers baccalaureate
degrees in more than 30 disciplines and a master’s degree in education.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with about 110,000 students. The 14 State System universities
offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.
The universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro,
Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock
and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operates branch
campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP) and Clearfield (Lock
Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the
Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.