On Wednesday, the Benedict College Board of Trustees announced the contract extension of Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, the college’s 14th and first female President and CEO, for an additional seven years through June 2031. This decision underscores the board’s confidence in her leadership and vision for the institution’s future.
Since Dr. Artis joined Benedict College in 2017, she has been credited with driving the college toward unprecedented growth and long-term success. Under her guidance, Benedict College completed its ambitious B.E.S.T. (Building Exceptional Scholars Together) five-year strategic plan in just three years. The college is now making substantial strides towards achieving the goals of its current strategic plan, B2 Focus on the Future 2023-2028, which prioritizes student success.
Charlie W. Johnson, Chairman of the Benedict College Board of Trustees, expressed his enthusiasm for Dr. Artis’s leadership. He stated, “We are exceptionally proud and fortunate to have such a strong leader guiding the College to higher heights and through the numerous challenges facing higher education institutions today. President Artis is keenly aware of the current issues students face, and she has demonstrated a deep commitment to providing students with formative learning experiences that prepare them to lead and succeed professionally and personally.”
Dr. Artis’s tenure has been marked by remarkable achievements and transformations at Benedict College. In July 2024, the college received the prestigious Institutional Excellence Award from the United Negro College Fund recognizing its exceptional performance and commitment to excellence. The college also secured a 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) with no recommendations, a milestone that had not been achieved in over a generation.
Benedict College has stabilized and improved financially, reducing its debt by nearly $56 million during Artis’s tenure. More than $25 million has been invested in upgrading campus facilities, and nearly $15 million has been allocated for enhancing technology infrastructure and computer labs.
The college’s graduation rate has soared by 233% since 2018, and the 4-year graduation rate has also increased. Dr. Artis’s initiatives have also led to the ABET accreditation of Benedict’s Environmental Engineering Program. Academic programs have been realigned to meet the demands of high-growth fields, including Cybersecurity, Computer Science, E-sports, and Entrepreneurship.
“The Board continues to applaud and unequivocally support the leadership of President Artis and her extraordinary team, added Chairman Johnson.” We are committed and excited to partner with her as she leads Benedict College into its next era of excellence.”