Office of the President | Central State University
Source: https://www.centralstate.edu/office-president
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:22
Office of the President | Central State University
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Office of the President
Central State University: Destination Learning Environment
Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, Ph.D., took the helm as 10th President of Central State University on July 1, 2024. A 1985 graduate of Central State University, he brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision for the Institution’s future. Most recently serving as the vice president of Research and Economic Development and director of 1890 Land-Grant Programs, Dr. Kuti has already made significant strides in fostering change and addressing societal needs through research initiatives.
Read More
Get ready to witness a new era of research and transformation at Central State University under the leadership of President Kuti and his administration!
Key Strategies for the 2024-25 academic year
As part of its journey to become a
Destination Learning Environment
, Central State University will focus on four key strategies for the upcoming academic year, based on feedback from Presidential listening sessions and the Cultural Contextual Elements (CCE) survey:
Building Bridges Across Stakeholders
Strengthening communication and collaboration among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to foster a unified community.
Empowering Faculty and Staff
Providing the tools, training, and support for faculty and staff to thrive and contribute to the University’s success.
Prioritizing Student Success
Placing students' academic achievement, personal growth, and well-being at the forefront of all decisions and resources to ensure holistic success during and beyond their time at Central State.
Optimizing Campus Resources
Efficiently managing University assets, facilities, and personnel to enhance educational outcomes and operational effectiveness.
These strategies reflect our commitment to making Central State University a premier learning destination, with regular progress updates shared at Board of Trustees meetings and throughout the campus community.
Leadership
Morakinyo Kuti, Ph.D.
President
Email:
president@centralstate.edu
Office:
Lionel H. Newsom Administration Building, Office of the President
Amy Hobbs Harris, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Phone:
937-376-6228
Email:
ahobbs@centralstate.edu
Arlene Nicholas-Phillips, Ph.D.
President’s Chief of Staff
Phone:
937-376-6470
Email:
anicholasphillips@centralstate.edu
Rebecca Kocher
Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Foundation Executive Director
Phone:
937-376-6080
Email:
rkocher@centralstate.edu
Office:
Newsom Administration Building, Third Floor
Jose Ulises Toledo, Ph.D.
Vice President, Research and Economic Development, and Director, Land-Grant Programs
Phone:
937-376-6547
Email:
jtoledo@centralstate.edu
Office:
Louis Stokes Building, Room 106
Adrian Petway, Ph.D.
Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Phone:
937-376-6503
Email:
apetway@centralstate.edu
Arcola Whatley, Esq.
General Counsel & Secretary to the Board
Phone:
937-376-6013
Email:
awhatley@centralstate.edu
Kevicia Brown
Director, Intercollegiate Athletics
Phone:
937-376-6288
Email:
kabrown@centralstate.edu
Vonetta Whitacre
Executive Assistant to the President and Board Liaison
Phone:
937-376-6333
Email:
vwhitacre@centralstate.edu
Office:
Office of the President, Newsom Administration Building
Extended leadership
LaTonya Branham, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Enrollment and Academic Strategy
Phone:
937-376-6302
Email:
lbranham@centralstate.edu
Justyn Fry
Dean of Students
Phone:
937-376-6387
Email:
jfry@centralstate.edu
Ryan Morgan, Ph.D.
Vice Provost, Teaching, Learning, and Program Development
Phone:
937-376-6495
Email:
rmorgan1@centralstate.edu
Office:
Norman E. Ward Sr. Center, 2nd Floor
Frederick Aikens, D.M.
Dean and Professor, College of Business
Phone:
937-376-6442
Email:
faikens@centralstate.edu
Office:
Smith Hall, Room 151
Lillian Drakeford, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education
Phone:
937-376-6675
Email:
ldrakeford@centralstate.edu
Ramani Kandiah
Interim Dean of the John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture; Professor of Environmental Engineering
Phone:
937-376-6260
Email:
RKandiah@centralstate.edu
Thomas Spencer III, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Honors College
Phone:
937-376-6528
Email:
tspencer@centralstate.edu
Phillip Black
Director of Public Safety
Email:
pblack@centralstate.edu
Dr. Shau'De Knight
Interim Director of Human Resources
Phone:
937-376-6545
Email:
sknight@centralstate.edu
Karen Mathews, M.D.
Executive Director, Health and Psychological Services
Phone:
937-376-6076
Email:
kmathews@centralstate.edu
Kimberly Jones
Director, Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs
Email:
kjones@centralstate.edu
Karen Franklin
Executive Director, Title III
Phone:
937-376-6665
Email:
kfranklin@centralstate.edu
Tamika Law
Interim Executive Director, First- and Second-Year Student Success
Phone:
937-376-6408
Email:
tlaw@centralstate.edu
Office:
Norman E. Ward Sr. Center, Room T4
Skip to Content
Home
Office of the President
Central State University: Destination Learning Environment
Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, Ph.D., took the helm as 10th President of Central State University on July 1, 2024. A 1985 graduate of Central State University, he brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision for the Institution’s future. Most recently serving as the vice president of Research and Economic Development and director of 1890 Land-Grant Programs, Dr. Kuti has already made significant strides in fostering change and addressing societal needs through research initiatives.
Read More
Get ready to witness a new era of research and transformation at Central State University under the leadership of President Kuti and his administration!
Key Strategies for the 2024-25 academic year
As part of its journey to become a
Destination Learning Environment
, Central State University will focus on four key strategies for the upcoming academic year, based on feedback from Presidential listening sessions and the Cultural Contextual Elements (CCE) survey:
Building Bridges Across Stakeholders
Strengthening communication and collaboration among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to foster a unified community.
Empowering Faculty and Staff
Providing the tools, training, and support for faculty and staff to thrive and contribute to the University’s success.
Prioritizing Student Success
Placing students' academic achievement, personal growth, and well-being at the forefront of all decisions and resources to ensure holistic success during and beyond their time at Central State.
Optimizing Campus Resources
Efficiently managing University assets, facilities, and personnel to enhance educational outcomes and operational effectiveness.
These strategies reflect our commitment to making Central State University a premier learning destination, with regular progress updates shared at Board of Trustees meetings and throughout the campus community.
Leadership
Morakinyo Kuti, Ph.D.
President
Email:
president@centralstate.edu
Office:
Lionel H. Newsom Administration Building, Office of the President
Amy Hobbs Harris, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Phone:
937-376-6228
Email:
ahobbs@centralstate.edu
Arlene Nicholas-Phillips, Ph.D.
President’s Chief of Staff
Phone:
937-376-6470
Email:
anicholasphillips@centralstate.edu
Rebecca Kocher
Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Foundation Executive Director
Phone:
937-376-6080
Email:
rkocher@centralstate.edu
Office:
Newsom Administration Building, Third Floor
Jose Ulises Toledo, Ph.D.
Vice President, Research and Economic Development, and Director, Land-Grant Programs
Phone:
937-376-6547
Email:
jtoledo@centralstate.edu
Office:
Louis Stokes Building, Room 106
Adrian Petway, Ph.D.
Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Phone:
937-376-6503
Email:
apetway@centralstate.edu
Arcola Whatley, Esq.
General Counsel & Secretary to the Board
Phone:
937-376-6013
Email:
awhatley@centralstate.edu
Kevicia Brown
Director, Intercollegiate Athletics
Phone:
937-376-6288
Email:
kabrown@centralstate.edu
Vonetta Whitacre
Executive Assistant to the President and Board Liaison
Phone:
937-376-6333
Email:
vwhitacre@centralstate.edu
Office:
Office of the President, Newsom Administration Building
Extended leadership
LaTonya Branham, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Enrollment and Academic Strategy
Phone:
937-376-6302
Email:
lbranham@centralstate.edu
Justyn Fry
Dean of Students
Phone:
937-376-6387
Email:
jfry@centralstate.edu
Ryan Morgan, Ph.D.
Vice Provost, Teaching, Learning, and Program Development
Phone:
937-376-6495
Email:
rmorgan1@centralstate.edu
Office:
Norman E. Ward Sr. Center, 2nd Floor
Frederick Aikens, D.M.
Dean and Professor, College of Business
Phone:
937-376-6442
Email:
faikens@centralstate.edu
Office:
Smith Hall, Room 151
Lillian Drakeford, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education
Phone:
937-376-6675
Email:
ldrakeford@centralstate.edu
Ramani Kandiah
Interim Dean of the John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture; Professor of Environmental Engineering
Phone:
937-376-6260
Email:
RKandiah@centralstate.edu
Thomas Spencer III, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Honors College
Phone:
937-376-6528
Email:
tspencer@centralstate.edu
Phillip Black
Director of Public Safety
Email:
pblack@centralstate.edu
Dr. Shau'De Knight
Interim Director of Human Resources
Phone:
937-376-6545
Email:
sknight@centralstate.edu
Karen Mathews, M.D.
Executive Director, Health and Psychological Services
Phone:
937-376-6076
Email:
kmathews@centralstate.edu
Kimberly Jones
Director, Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs
Email:
kjones@centralstate.edu
Karen Franklin
Executive Director, Title III
Phone:
937-376-6665
Email:
kfranklin@centralstate.edu
Tamika Law
Interim Executive Director, First- and Second-Year Student Success
Phone:
937-376-6408
Email:
tlaw@centralstate.edu
Office:
Norman E. Ward Sr. Center, Room T4