Dr. Tymon M. Graham

Erin Wiggins Gilliam, PhD is currently the Assistant Vice President for Student Retention and Matriculation Success at Texas Southern University. She is responsible for programs and services that promote, strengthen, encourage, and support student development and retention. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Gilliam served as the Dean of the Whitney Young Honors College and as associate professor of History at Kentucky State University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in American History specializing in African American and Southern History from the University of Kentucky. Her dissertation focused on the rich history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. With over 15 years in education, Dr. Gilliam has served as an educator and advocate. It is her goal to ensure that African American perspectives are included in the narrative and helps to address societal issues of race and class.

Dr. Gilliam is the author of several peer- reviewed articles and is currently working on book about the galvanizing power of the poet, scholar, and activist Dr. Maya Angelou. She has won several teaching awards such as Professor of the Year. She was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship with the West African Research Center in Senegal. She currently serves as a board member on several history and activism community organizations that highlight her active role in academic scholarship, student engagement and developing student leaders as they become the next generation of scholars.

Dr. Tymon M. Graham currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Success and Engagement at Edward Waters University. Prior to joining Edward Waters University, Dr. Graham held administrative roles at South Georgia State College, Coker University, and Kentucky State University in Enrollment Management, Campus Life, Student Success, and Strategic Initiatives. A native of Sumter, South Carolina, Dr. Graham earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Family & Consumer Sciences: Business with a concentration in Child Development from South Carolina State University, a Master of Education degree in Professional Counseling with an emphasis in College Student Affairs from the University of West Georgia, and a Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education and Organizational Change from Benedictine University. Dr. Graham’s leadership has resulted in significant achievement noted by the uptick in student success percentages, increased retention rates, and the growing of institutional enrollment numbers. Acknowledged for his successes in implementing ambitious strategic plans and enhancing institutional policy and operation, Dr. Graham has enjoyed a higher education tenure working across divisional lines for institutional and operational successes. As a scholar-practitioner, Dr. Graham has joined his administrative career with traditional academics by serving as a classroom professor, publishing scholarship, and presenting research both nationally and internationally related to student success, educational leadership, and historically black colleges and universities. Dr. Graham has received numerous awards for his work in higher education. Dr. Graham is a graduate of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Millennium Leadership Initiative (MLI), a graduate of the Academic Leadership Academy at The Pennsylvania State University, and holds a certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace from University of South Florida. Dr. Graham is the Principal Consultant at TMGraham Consulting, LLC, a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and a loyal life member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, Incorporated. He serves on the Board of Directors for The Collegiate Black Male Network, Incorporated as the Vice Chair and Secretary and a Board Member for #FreeFoundation (Hashtag Free Foundation).