Welcome to the Office of the Provost

TYWANA L. CHENAULT HEMBY, Ph.D.

Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Services

Provost Tywana C. Hemby, Ph.D., is the chief academic officer of Paine College. Collaborating with the Chairpersons of the Departments, Directors of various units, and the College’s Registrar, the Provost oversees the appointment, advancement, and retention of faculty; the articulation and deployment of all academic and research programs; and the development of strategic plans to renew the College’s enduring excellence in research and scholarship, instruction and mentorship, professional service and leadership, and community engagement.

Dr. Tywana C. Hemby brings to Paine College more than two decades of experience in higher education administration, teaching, and student success leadership. She joins Paine from Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina, where she served as Dean of The School of Social Science. Her career reflects a consistent commitment to academic excellence, faculty development, and mission-driven leadership within institutions of higher learning.

Dr. Hemby holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Capella University and a Master of Education from Troy University. She earned her undergraduate degree from Voorhees College, where she now serves as Parliamentarian the Board of Trustees. She has furthered her leadership development through executive programs including Harvard University, the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta, and the CIC Senior Leadership Academy.

Known for her guiding philosophy, “The Spreadsheet and the Sanctuary,” Dr. Hemby leads at the intersection of data-informed decision-making and mission-centered care which are grounded in four pillars: Cultivate, Collaborate, Transform, and Serve. Beyond the academy, she is a Seminarian and church leader at New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and is active in civic and service leadership as an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Chapter President (Nu Tau Omega Chapter) and as a member of The Links, Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and Top Ladies of Distinction.

She is married to Robert M. Hemby, II. They are the proud parents of Kayla, Kiara, Russell, and Hannah. 

Dr. Hemby is passionate about equipping students for lives of purpose and scholarship, and positioning Paine College for the next era of academic distinction.