Maria Arvelo Lumpkin Is the New Leader of St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina

Maria Arvelo Lumpkin was appointed interim president of Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is the youngest person to lead the university in its 153-year history.

Saint Augustine’s University enrolls slightly more than 750 students, according to the latest data supplied to the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 91 percent of the student body.

In accepting the appointment, Dr. Lumpkin stated that “I am beyond thrilled to lead the Falcon Nation during this exciting period of growth in the life of the university. My appointment is especially meaningful to me, because I am a daughter of this great institution, and I know first-hand the transformational impact Saint Augustine’s education. I am supported by a treasure trove of dynamic faculty, staff, students, and board of trustees in co-creating a dynamic learning environment.”

In October 2019, Dr. Lumpkin was named chief operating officer at Saint Augustine’s University. Previously, she served as the special assistant to the president, and as the inaugural executive director of student retention and the center for scholar communities at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. Earlier, Dr. Lumpkin served in leadership roles in two of the largest university systems in the nation — the University System of Georgia and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Dr. Lumpkin holds a bachelor’s degree from Saint Augustine’s Univerity. She earned a master’s degree in urban studies from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Clark Atlanta University.