Welcome from the Chair
Dr. Mary Howard-Hamilton
Dr. Mary F. Howard-Hamilton is the Bayh College of Education Dr. Lotus Delta Coffman Distinguished Research Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at Indiana State University. She received the George D. Kuh Outstanding Contribution to Literature and/or Research Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators in 2021, the Presidential Medal from the Association for the Study of Higher Education in November 2018, and was a recipient of the Contribution to Knowledge Award from the American College Personnel Association in 2017. Indiana State University awarded her with the Presidential Medal for Exemplary Teaching and Scholarship and the Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Award in 2015. She also received the Bayh College of Education, Holmstedt Distinguished Professorship Award for 2012-2013. Dr. Howard-Hamilton received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from The University of Iowa and a Doctorate of Education, Ed.D., from North Carolina State University. Dr. Howard-Hamilton has served as a higher education student affairs administrator for 15 years and a full-time faculty member for 24 years. She has spent her entire professional career in higher education for a total of 37 years working at eight institutions.
As a researcher, Dr. Howard-Hamilton has published over 90 articles and book chapters. The most recent co-authored books are, “ Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Student Affairs Practice: A Professional Competency-Based Approach”, “Diverse Millennial Students in College”, “Multiculturalism on Campus: Theories, Models, and Practices for Understanding Diversity and Creating Inclusion”, “Unleashing Suppressed Voices on College Campuses: Diversity Issues in Higher Education” and “Standing on the Outside Looking In: Underrepresented Students’ Experiences in Advanced Degree Programs”. Dr. Howard-Hamilton has been a presenter at the Oxford Roundtable in Oxford, England. She has also served as a consultant and instructor for the Student Housing Training Institute in Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Currently, Dr. Howard-Hamilton is a member of the Editorial Boards for the Journal of College Student Development, The Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, as well as The Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education.
Dr. Howard-Hamilton is a member of three boards, The United Campus Ministry in Terre Haute, The Dr. Melvin C. Terrell Educational Foundation, Inc., and the Equity Conscious Community College Pathways Advisory Board. Previously Dr. Howard-Hamilton has served on the Executive Board for the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) as the Member-at-Large from 2014-2016. She also served on the Board for the Association of College and University Housing Officer International (ACUHOI) as the Knowledge Enhancement Director from 2011-2014. Her other honors include being selected by the American College Student Personnel Association to serve as a Senior Scholar from 2013-2018, the Diverse Issues in Higher Education Top 25 Women in Higher Education and Beyond in 2018, the Champion of Diversity Award from the Indiana Minority Business Magazine in January 2013, The Terre Haute Human Rights Commission Diversity Award in October 2013, The Garcia Exemplary Scholarship Award from the Council on Ethic Participation – Association for the Study of Higher Education, in 2011, “Robert S. Shaffer Award” for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member and the University of Iowa, Albert Hood Distinguished Alumni Award. She also received The Monroe County (Indiana) Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor of the Year Award for 2006.
Dr. Howard-Hamilton is a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Immediate Past President of the Bloomington Alumnae Chapter and has served as the Secondary Advisor for Zeta Nu Chapter at Indiana State University. She serves on the Delta Sigma Theta National Institutional Research Committee as well as the Sister Scholars Research Task Force. Serving the Terre Haute community, she is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, was a clarinetist for the inaugural New Horizons Community Band at Indiana State University, and former member of 100+ Women Who Care Vigo County.
Her primary avocation is gardening in which she is a Bronze Certified Master Gardener and member of the Wabash Valley Master Gardener’s Association. Dr. Howard-Hamilton has a passion for reading afrocentric literature and going to the movies. She has a beautiful furry child, Nala, an 8-year-old rescued German Shepheard.