The Jarvis Christian College Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Cornell Thomas to serve as the eleventh President of Jarvis Christian College. After conducting a nationwide search, and a series of interviews, Dr. Thomas emerged as the successor to Dr. Sebetha Jenkins.
Cornell Thomas formerly served as System Vice President for Institutional Diversity at Oklahoma State University. He was responsible for institutional initiatives related to increasing and maintaining diversity within the university community and system, and fostering equal opportunity for all students, faculty and staff. He was also responsible for assessing, developing, implementing, and monitoring university-wide goals and activities designed to improve and promote educational equity and diversity, including the recruitment and retention of minority undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and personnel at all levels.
Prior to his work at Oklahoma State University, he joined the Texas Christian faculty in 1990 as an assistant professor of educational foundations and administration. Prior to that, he spent four years as a principal with the Dallas Independent School District, two years as an assistant principal, and six years as a teacher.
Thomas received his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, his master’s degree in music education from Jackson State University, and his Ed.D. in educational administration from Texas A&M University, Commerce.
In 1998 he received the Dean’s Teaching Award at TCU, and in 2000 was named the recipient of the Elizabeth Youngblood Proffer Award. He serves on several community boards and committees, is the author of nearly 100 refereed publications and numerous other publications, and has presented papers at international, national and regional conferences.
Thomas and his wife are the parents of three daughters, and have six grandchildren.
