E. Cheryl Ponder Named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advocacy, Inclusion and Support

After a national search, E. Cheryl Ponder has been named assistant vice chancellor for Advocacy, Inclusion, and Support Programs in Student Affairs and Campus Life. 

Ponder had served as interim assistant vice chancellor since May 2022. “Since arriving on campus last spring, Dr. Ponder has been a fierce and thoughtful advocate for our students, and I am thrilled to welcome her into this role permanently,” said Brandi Hephner LaBanc, vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. 

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Ponder previously served as vice president for Student Affairs at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, where she provided leadership, management and supervision for a comprehensive array of student services and departments, including admissions, recruitment and retention, academic advising, counseling and career services, student activities, student conduct and discipline, counseling, accessibility services, career services and TRIO programs. 
 
“Dr. Ponder is an equity champion committed to supporting organizations to be diverse and inclusive,” LaBanc adds. “She is known for her ability to work authentically and empathetically with students, faculty and staff. A core focus of her leadership is developing collaborative relationships that create and sustain meaningful engagement aligned with core values.” 
 
Most recently, Ponder was a fellow in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Oklahoma (OU). While at OU, she was instrumental in founding the annual SOUL conference (Sisters of OU Learning/Living/Loving/Leading) to create community and professional development opportunities for African and African American students, faculty, staff and alumni. In 2018, she was a chair of the National Council for Black Studies annual conference. 
 
Ponder earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s in business administration from Clark Atlanta University, and a bachelor’s in political science and history from Dillard University.