GRAMBLING, LA. - Yesterday, marks President Frank G. Pogue last day as President of Grambling State University. Pogue announced that he would retire as of June 30th from being President of the University.
As the Chief Gramblinite prepares to leave the stomping grounds of Grambling, Johnson Place, the president's home for the last few years, is full of packed boxes and boxes being packed. Where the Pogue's will be moving our and the Warrick and her husband will be moving in.
The UL Board System named Cynthia Warrick as interim president until an permanent replacement is filled. Warrick is being transition in as Pogue prepared for his leave.
"It was important to me, and this fine institution, that we do something that isn't done as often as it should happen," said Pogue, who heads to his retirement home in Delaware soon. "It is rare in higher eduction that one president welcomes another, for a variety of reasons, but when it can happen it provides a wonderful opportunity for the incoming leader to hear some things directly from the outgoing president, face to face and eye to eye."
"I decided I wanted to do that for whoever Grambling State University's next leader would be, even before I knew it would be Dr. Warrick." added Pogue. "But I'm glad I've had time to meet and dine with Dr. Warrick, and her husband, and to set up some key administration, faculty and staff meeting before she get started and really digs in."
Warrick, a pharmacist with extensive academic and research experience, is becoming GSU's chief executive officer from her role as senior fellow at the Center for Minority Health Services Research at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She was confirmed as Grambling State's interim present by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors on Friday (June 27) meeting.
"It was a nice opportunity to see many of the people whom I will be working," said Warrick. "I enjoyed meeting administrators, faculty and staff, especially students who are our reason for existence."
Pogue and first lady Dorothy Pogue got the chance to dine with Warrick and her husband, Jan Jasper, in the presidential dining hall Tuesday night.
A native of San Antonio, Texas. Warrick has served as interim president at South Carolina State University; dean and chief research officer and professor of pharmacy at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina; associate professor and director of environmental & occupational health at Florida A&M University and assistant professor in the Division of Management, Policy & Community Health at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston.
Warrick earned a doctoral degree in environmental science and public policy at George Mason University, a master's degree in public policy from Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Howard University.
The D.J's Music Site HBCU Campaign sends our well wishes to Warrick during her time as interim president at Grambling State University and hope for an successful term.