Dr. Tywana Chenault Hemby appointed as Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Office of the President | Paine College | Augusta, Georgia | 706.821.8200
AUGUSTA, GA – Paine College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tywana Chenault Hemby as Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Services, effective June 22, 2026. Dr. Hemby joins Paine College as its Chief Academic Officer, bringing over two decades of distinguished experience in higher education leadership, faculty development, and institutional transformation.
A scholar, administrator, and servant leader, Dr. Hemby most recently served as the first African American Dean of Social Sciences at Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina. In that role, she provided executive-level leadership across curriculum development, faculty personnel, academic policy, and institutional effectiveness. Her tenure was marked by a deep commitment to student success, faculty excellence, and the integration of faith-grounded values into institutional culture – qualities that align closely with Paine College’s historic mission.
As HBCU Alumna (Voorhees University), Dr. Hemby holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, a Master of Education in Psychology and Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in Theology and Higher Education Leadership. A tenured professor and former Department Chair and QEP Director, Dr. Hemby has served at multiple higher education institutions across the Southeast and Midwest. She holds a Certificate in Higher Education Teaching from Harvard University and is a graduate of the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute, the Academic Affairs Leadership Institute, the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (HELF), and the CIC Senior Leadership Academy.
Dr. Hemby currently serves as Advisory Board Chair for the Teaching Professor Conference, bringing a national platform in faculty development and pedagogical innovation directly to Paine College. Her work has consistently centered on culturally responsive pedagogy, data-informed academic leadership, and the distinctive strengths of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She is recognized for establishing Psychology as a standalone academic major at Voorhees College and for earning SACSCOC approval as QEP Director – achievements that reflect her capacity to lead institutional change with vision and precision.
“Paine College is not simply an institution – it is a mission. I am deeply honored to join this community and to serve its students, faculty, and the greater Augusta community. Rooted in Paine’s legacy of ‘Enter to Learn; Depart to Serve,’ I am committed to cultivating academic excellence, collaborating across our community, transforming our institutional culture, and serving with everything I have.”
-Dr. Tywana L. Chenault Hemby
Beyond her academic accomplishments, Dr. Hemby is an active civic and community leader. She serves as President of her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. graduate chapter, and is a member of Jack and Jill of America, The Links, Incorporated, and Top Ladies of Distinction. She is a Minister in Training at New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and is the founder of Woman In the Word, a ministry brand dedicated to faith-based women’s leadership.
Dr. Hemby will provide strategic leadership for all of Paine College’s academic programs, faculty development initiatives, student success efforts, and institutional accreditation. She will also oversee the Library and Learning Resources Center, the Academic Center for Excellence and Success (ACES), the Office of the Registrar, the Area Health Education Center, the Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Office, Upward Bound, and Student Support Services.
Paine College welcomes Dr. Hemby to the PC family and looks forward to the transformative leadership she will bring to this historic institution.
About Paine College
Paine College is a historically Black liberal arts institution located in Augusta, Georgia. Founded in 1882 through a partnership between the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Paine College is dedicated to providing a liberal arts education of the highest quality- emphasizing academic excellence, ethical and spiritual values, social responsibility, and personal development. For more information, visit www.paine.edu.