Formerly Interim President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dixon is a physicist who has arguably trained more African American physics undergraduates than anyone else in the country. Dr. Dixon has worked as a faculty member and administrator at a half-dozen HBCUs over more than five decades. Serving as a provost, vice president, dean, department chair, professor, and as a director of a private sector engineering firm, Dr. Dixon brings a wealth of higher education knowledge in management, teaching, fundraising and research. His extensive administrative experience in education and business has given him insight into the major problems and significant differences encountered in managing academic and business organizations.
Leadership
Dr. Robert M. Dixon
Dr. Dixon earned his undergraduate degree in Physics and Mathematics from Morehouse in 1964. He then went on to earn his master’s degree in Nuclear Physics in 1966 from Rutgers University and his Doctor of Philosophy in Theoretical Nuclear Physics from the University of Maryland in 1977. Dixon returned to Morehouse in 1986 to join their faculty where he experienced great success winning a $7.3 million grant from a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) program designed to strengthen undergraduate science at HBCUs. Dixon used the money to create the Center for Excellence in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (CESEM) at Morehouse which provided scholarships and intensive academic and career guidance to students seeking a degree in the natural sciences, math, and engineering. The CESEM also served as a pipeline program for prospective Morehouse students looking to major in STEM fields and served as a recruitment tool to help boost undergraduate enrollment.
Dr. Dixon has maintained an active interest and involvement in the field of teacher education through his consulting work with various public-school systems in different parts of the country. A published author, he has engaged actively in research in nuclear reactions and has taught both college and graduate level physics courses.
“I am proud to lend my talents and expertise to such a historic and prestigious institution such as Rust College. I look forward to following in the traditions of past exceptional leaders who have served this institution during its 157 years,” said Dr. Dixon.
Dr. Dixon is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and is formerly a member of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees and served on the Advisory Board of the Center of Excellence in Nuclear and High Energy Physics at Hampton University. Currently, Dr. Dixon is a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Mathematical Association of America.
A widower, Dr. Dixon is the father of three adult children. He officially began serving as Interim President in May 2023 and as president July 2024.
Executive Team
Dr. Michael Harpe
Vice President for Student Engagement
UNCF Campus Transformation Officer
Angela Williams
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Director, Title III
Tanya Kelly-Kirk
Associate Vice President for Physical Plant Operations
Director, Special Events
Trustees List
1. Mr. Willie Beamon
Retired Insurance Agent
Jackson, MS 39206
2. Dr. Kimberly Bugg
Associate Library Dir./COO
Brooklyn, NY 11238
3. Mrs. Erma Robinson-Cook
Deputy Administration/Unemployment
Ins. Director
Jackson, MS 39211
4. Mr. Barkese M. Dalton
Regional Divisional Marketing
Manager, GMC
Canton, MI 48187
5. Dr. Darrell Ezell
Director of Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion, HudsonAlpha Institute of
Biotechnology
Huntsville, AL 35806
6. Mr. Keithney Glass
Senior Scientist Chemistry Deployment,
Mars, Inc.
Waukegan, IL 60087
7. Dr. Waynell Henson
Entrepreneur
Dallas, TX 57287
8. Mr. Fharon M. Hicks
Director, Retail & Delivery Analytics
(USPS)
Memphis, TN 38112
9. Dr. Lauren Horton
Director of Research
Royse City, TX 75189
10. Dr. Betty Baptist Jones
Healthcare Administrator
Atlanta, GA 30331
11. Mrs. Patricia Bruce-Lowe
Insurance Agent
Birmingham, AL 35210
12. Mr. Andre Mathis
Attorney
Memphis, TN 38119
13. Mrs. Audrey Miller-Okhiria
SVP/Area Investment Executive
Eads, TN 38028
14. Mr. Jonathan Rabb
Founder/CEO, Watch the Yard
Minneapolis, MN 55405
15. Mrs. Cecelia Wilson Sawyer
Retired CEO, Methodist University
Hospital
Memphis, TN 38112
16. Bishop James E. Swanson
Retired United Methodist Bishop
Acworth, GA 301102
17. Rev. Robert Ward
Retired United Methodist Minister
Urbandale, IA 50323
18. Mrs. Kimberly Avery Wright
Senior Engineer
Harvest, AL 35749
19. Dr. Jerry Young
Baptist Clergy
Jackson, MS 39206
Trustee Emeriti
1. Dr. Joe Bailey
Physician
Tupelo, MS 38804
2. Dr. Pearlene Carter
Retired, Chicago Public Schools
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
3. Dr. Earnest L. Henry
Retired United Methodist Clergy
Jackson, MS 39206
4. Dr. Leone Medin
Retired Director of Marketing
Minneapolis, MN 55403
5. Mr. Ted Moll
Executive Vice President
Tupelo, MS 38803
6. Dr.F. C. Richardson
Retired Educator
Merrillville, IN 46410
7. Dr. Barbara Thompson
Retired General Secretary
Silver Springs, MD 20902
Ex-Officio Trustees
1. Dr. Zachary Beasley
United Methodist Clergy
Holly Springs, MS 38635
2. Dr. Robert M. Dixon
President
Holly Springs MS 38635
3. Bishop Laurie Haller
Resident Bishop, Iowa Area
Des Moines, IA 50321
4. Bishop William T. McAlilly
Resident Bishop, Nashville Episcopal
Area
Nashville, TN 37212
5. Bishop Sharma Lewis
Resident Bishop, Mississippi Area
Jackson, MS 38206
Liaisons
1. Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson
Equity Officer & Assistant General
Secretary
Nashville, TN 38203-0007
Student Representatives
1. Mr. Walter Perry
President Freshman Class
2. Mr. Dontavious McGill
President Sophomore Class
3. Ms. Genesa Williams
President Junior Class
4. Ms. Kasinda Doe
President Senior Class
5. Ms. Miriah Medina
President Student Government Association
