Phylicia Rashad, well-known actress and Howard University alum, will be concluding her time as dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. Rashad, who rose to fame for her role as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” has been serving as dean since 2021.
During her tenure, Rashad played a vital role in revitalizing the prominence of the fine arts college. The university praised her for attracting notable scholars, artists, and creatives to the institution. Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick commended Rashad’s leadership in a note to the campus, stating that she successfully reestablished the College of Fine Arts as an independent college.
However, Rashad declined to comment on her impending departure, which will come at the end of her three-year contract. In a 2021 interview with The Washington Post, she expressed her hopes for the fine arts college, emphasizing the importance of contemporary programs while retaining knowledge and empowering faculty to create a robust program. Rashad also emphasized the importance of engaging students in the disciplines of fine arts and producing artist-scholars.
Rashad’s appointment as dean marked a significant turning point for the fine arts college, as it regained its status as an autonomous school within the university. In 1998, the college was merged with the larger College of Arts and Sciences due to financial considerations, causing discontent among students, faculty, and graduates. Rashad was among the voices expressing dissatisfaction with the merger.
Months after Rashad’s appointment, Howard University announced that the fine arts college would be renamed after the late actor Chadwick A. Boseman, who was also a Howard graduate. As dean, Rashad supported the creation of initiatives such as the Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial Scholarship program, which received a $5.4 million contribution from Netflix. Additional support from organizations like Capri Holdings, Microsoft Corp., and The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation further expanded the college’s resources and reach.
Despite her successes, Rashad’s tenure faced controversy. In 2021, she faced criticism for a tweet expressing support for Bill Cosby after his release from prison due to overturned sexual assault charges. Rashad apologized for the tweet, acknowledging the harm it caused to many individuals, both inside and outside the Howard community.
Earlier this year, Rashad was named the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities at Howard University. She has also served as the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre at Fordham University. As Rashad transitions, Howard University is preparing to search for her successor. The university also announced the upcoming departures of deans Gracie Lawson-Borders of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications and Sandra Crewe of the School of Social Work by the end of the academic year.
In September, Ben Vinson III will assume the role of Howard University’s 18th president, succeeding Wayne A.I. Frederick, who has led the university for nearly a decade.