President’s Bio
Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks
14th President of Clinton College
Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks serves as the 14th President of Clinton College, bringing over 25 years of progressive experience in higher education across public and private institutions. A mission-driven academic leader and accomplished educator, Dr. Wilks is widely respected for her commitment to academic excellence, institutional growth, and student-centered innovation—particularly within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
A native of Hollister, North Carolina in rural Warren County, Dr. Wilks is a proud first-generation college graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Professional English and a Master of Arts in English, Afro-American Literature from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in English, Literature and Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Wilks began her educational career teaching ninth through twelfth grade English at Western Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. She then transitioned into higher education, teaching African American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Winston-Salem State University, and North Carolina A&T State University. She later served as Assistant Professor of Languages and Literature at Johnson C. Smith University, where her passion for teaching and scholarship laid the foundation for her rise in academic leadership.
Dr. Wilks has held senior leadership roles at several historically Black colleges and universities, where her impact has been both strategic and transformative, including Wilberforce University and Shaw University, where she served in the positions of Associate Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Associate Vice President, respectively. During a period of institutional transformation at Edward Waters University, she served first as Chief of Staff and Assistant to the President and CEO for Strategic Initiatives and later as Associate Provost, contributing to the college’s transition to university status and advancing efforts in accreditation, institutional effectiveness, and operational modernization. As Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Coppin State University, she oversaw the launch of new academic programs, strategic planning, managed a nearly $30 million operational and grant budget, and worked to secure a 153% increase in research and sponsored funding. Most recently at Paine College, Dr. Wilks served as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Services, where she oversaw enrollment management, initiated the reaffirmation process with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, and led strategic planning and fundraising efforts to support academic innovation and institutional growth.
Throughout her career, Dr. Wilks’ expertise extends across academic program development and review, institutional effectiveness, enrollment strategy, policy design, advancement, and ERP implementation. She has directed reaffirmation and restructuring efforts with several accreditation agencies including, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the Higher Learning Commission, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Her student success initiatives have resulted in year-over-year enrollment and retention growth at multiple institutions.
Further, Dr. Wilks’ leadership is guided by an unwavering heart for students, faculty, and staff. She believes deeply in the transformative power of education—not only as a pathway to personal growth and economic mobility, but as a platform for institutional sustainability and long-term community impact. Her dedication to the vitality and legacy of HBCUs is matched by her belief in collaboration, shared governance, and the importance of civic engagement in achieving institutional goals. As such, she has served in civic and professional capacities, including former board and/or committee appointments with the Yellow Springs Arts Council, the Institute for Women Entrepreneur Excellence, Inc./TEDCO, the Duval County Public Schools Sales Surtax Oversight Committee, the WCJT Community Advisory Board, the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the HBCU Campaign Fund, and the Urban League of Central Carolinas. Dr. Wilks is a Fellow of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation, and she holds a Certification in Retention through Equity from the Gardner Institute.
Her academic honors include recognition as a W.E.B. Du Bois Scholar as well as induction into several honors societies, including Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Tau Delta. In 2023, she was named a Distinguished Alumni Honoree by North Carolina A&T State University in recognition of her professional excellence and contributions to higher education.
Dr. Wilks and her husband, Dr. Christopher Wilks, are the proud parents of three sons—Anthony, Christopher II, and Joshua—and are honored to serve and lead as members of the Clinton College family.