Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young named as next president of Texas Southern University

HOUSTON (June 17, 2021) – The Texas Southern University Board of Regents unanimously selected
Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young as TSU’s 13th president following today’s vote of confirmation.
Dr. Crumpton-Young will assume her role at TSU on July 1.

“Dr. Crumpton-Young is the leader TSU needs to usher in a new era of greatness. Her vision for
TSU will shift our graduates forward on the path toward even greater academic excellence,” said
Albert H. Myres, Sr., chairman of TSU’s Board of Regents.

Dr. Crumpton-Young – an established senior administrator, executive and tireless advocate for
students – was chosen as the sole finalist following a nationwide search. She will succeed Kenneth
Huewitt, who served as TSU’s interim president since April 2020.

“The Board of Regents wishes to thank Ken Huewitt for his outstanding service to the University.
Ken was asked to step up during a critical and difficult time at TSU. His steady presence and
leadership helped us navigate the pandemic, reaccreditation and the legislative session. We look
forward to Ken co-chairing our Presidential Transition Team with Regent Stephanie Nellons-Paige,”
Chairman Myres said.

After the vote, Dr. Crumpton-Young said, “This is a very special time, and I’m reminded of
something that my late mother said to me frequently as a child—’You were born to serve.’
As president of TSU, I am fully committed to working tirelessly with our regents, students, faculty,
staff, alumni, elected officials and industry partners. Together, we will transform lives by providing
an outstanding educational experience.”

Dr. Crumpton-Young has a distinguished career in higher education, including her most recent post
as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Morgan
State University in Baltimore, Maryland. A native of Texas, Dr. Crumpton-Young’s academic career
includes teaching and senior leadership posts at Tennessee State University, University of Central
Florida, Texas A&M University and Mississippi State University. She served as program director in
the Education and Human Resource Directorate of the National Science Foundation and received
the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring
(PAESMEM) from President Barack Obama in 2010.

Dr. Crumpton-Young ushered in an new era at Morgan State University after instituting her three
core principles:
• Innovation – engineering strong, forward-looking academic pathways that give students
every critical tool needed to excel.
• Disruption – interrupting the status quo to engage and uplift the university and the
community at large.
• Transformation – increasing the velocity of learning and attainment with a focus on
elevating the thirst for knowledge.

Her leadership at Morgan State led to an increase in cutting-edge research, scholarship and
creative activity. She initiated new hiring strategies to diversify faculty, introduced and broadened
participation in high-demand academic fields and led initiatives to obtain seven-figure
transformative gifts to support student and faculty success, and increased diversity, equity and
inclusion.

Dr. Crumpton-Young earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and a doctorate degree in
industrial engineering from Texas A&M University, and a Master of Business Administration from
Tennessee State University. She holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman to
receive a Ph.D. in engineering.