The board of trustees of Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware, has selected LaVerne Harmon as the educational institution’s next president. When she takes office on July 1, she will become the first African American women to serve as president of a university in the state of Delaware.
Wilmington University is a private institution that enrolls nearly 9,000 undergraduate students and more than 6,000 graduate students. Women make up 64 percent of the undergraduate student body, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Dr. Harmon has worked at the university since 1989 and currently serves as executive vice president. She has also held the posts of director of human resources and vice president of student affairs.
In accepting her appointment as president, Dr. Harmon said, “I’m grateful for the board’s confidence and trust in me to lead the university into the next chapter of its history. It will be my privilege to work collaboratively with our talented staff and faculty to provide educational opportunities and ensure personal growth for students.”
Dr. Harmon holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wilmington University and an educational doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.