Oakwood’s New President Is Dr. Gina Spivey-Brown
by Pamela Maize Harris | 28 March 2025 |
Oakwood University’s Board of Trustees has announced Gina Spivey-Brown as the new president of Oakwood University.
The Board of Trustees of Oakwood University TODAY is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gina Spivey-Brown, Ph.D., RN, MSA, FAAN, FNAP, FADLN as the 12th president of Oakwood University. The announcement concludes a comprehensive and prayerful search process. Dr. Spivey-Brown will officially assume leadership on July 1″, 2025, succeeding Dr.
Leslie Pollard, who has led the institution over the last 15 years.
Carlton Byrd, who was the favorite candidate of some, also sent out a note that appears to be a joint statement by the two top candidates.
We write to you today with hearts full of gratitude and a deep commitment to the continued growth and success of our beloved Oakwood University.
Today marks a significant milestone for our institution. As we step into the future with a new president at the helm, we take this moment to celebrate the extraordinary leadership, vision, and camaraderie that have brought us here. While only one of us has been chosen to serve as president, we stand together in unity—demonstrating that leadership is not about competition but about service. We share the same mission: to uplift Oakwood University; support its students, faculty, and staff; and honor the legacy that has shaped our institution. What could have been a day of division is instead a celebration of unity, collaboration, and shared purpose. We are partners in progress.
Three candidates were interviewed.
- Dr. Gina Spivey Brown, alumna of Oakwood University and former faculty at Oakwood.
- Dr. Carlton Byrd, Oakwood University alumnus and former pastor of the Oakwood church.
- Dr. Heather Knight, Oakwood University alumna, former president of Pacific Union College, and former provost at Andrews University.
Dr. Gena Spivey-Brown was a finalist in a previous search for Oakwood’s president. Les Pollard, who has been Oakwood’s president for 15 years, has accepted a call to the North American Division
The new president will face unprecedented challenges, including results from a comprehensive, one-year-long Deloitte research report. It is believed that Oakwood University acreage sold in April, as well as another parcel now on the market, is one of the outcomes of that report.
One point of concern is the question of whether this land is part of the original plantation farm, which Ellen White recommended to be purchased and “never, never sold.”
