Tuesday, February 1, 2011
PRINCESS ANNE – (Jan. 28, 2011) – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has a new Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Dr. Anthony L. Jenkins.
Jenkins, whose higher education career spans 15 years, spent the past four years as the dean of students at the University of Houston- Clear Lake.
A Washington, D.C. native, Jenkins said his move from Houston – “the fourth largest city in the United States” – to the Lower Shore, has been a smooth transition.
“I love it,” said Jenkins, who settled into a Salisbury home with his wife, Toinette, and daughters, Ashley and Alicia. “I feel very comfortable here. Everyone has been welcoming and friendly.”
Jenkins, a 1995 graduate of Fayetteville (N.C.) State University, received his Ph.D. in student affairs from Virginia Tech University. His administrative career began as the assistant dean of students at Northeastern Illinois University. There, his accomplishments included expanding the Greek Life system and establishing a Civic Engagement Center.
Jenkins later became the associate dean of students at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington. In that role, Jenkins expanded services for commuter students, and co-developed a crisis management team as well as academic retention/success strategies.
“Working with and mentoring students is very important to me,” said Jenkins. “That’s why I got into this line of work.”
More recently, Jenkins has written and delivered presentations on educational and public policy issues, including mentoring, retention, academic success, leadership, and first generation college students.
In some cases, Jenkins draws on his personal experiences.
“I’m a first-generation college student who came from a single-parent home with three other children,” he said. “But I wear that with a badge of honor.”
Jenkins has been a featured speaker for National Black Graduate Students Organizations, as well as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and the Boys and Girls Club. He has delivered graduation addresses and spoken on violence issues at several high schools throughout the District of Columbia, North Carolina and Texas.
At UMES, Jenkins hopes to focus on recruitment, seeking out the “best and brightest students,” who have a lot of potential.
“My high school English teacher helped me understand the untapped potential that I had,” Jenkins said. “She saw my leadership qualities and that was really the turning point for me.”
After high school, Jenkins served four years with the United States Army as an Air Defense Artillery specialist. His assignment: “Identify aircraft that entered unrestricted areas.”
“Serving my country was always something that I wanted to do,” he said. “But I think it started with my high school teacher’s encouraging words.”
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Candice E. Latshaw, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-6669, celatshaw@umes.edu.
Bill Robinson, UMES Office of Public Rel
