TABPHE congratulates Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, named the 13th president of Texas Southern University. She will assume her role 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.

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.

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 (College Station), 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.