Dillard University has named Dr. Darvelle Hutchins as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. In this role, Dr. Hutchins will guide the university’s philanthropic strategy, strengthen alumni and donor engagement, and oversee external relations across community, government, and strategic partners.
Dr. Hutchins joins Dillard with a unique blend of academic expertise and sports-industry leadership. He most recently served as Vice President of Social Impact and Culture at GMB Management, parent company of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans. His earlier work includes faculty roles in communication studies at California Polytechnic State University and teaching cultural intelligence for the U.S. Army.
He holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Ottawa University (KS), a master’s degree from Marquette University, and a Ph.D. in organizational communication from the University of Missouri.
Dillard has also appointed Dexter I. Odom as Vice President for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer, where he will be responsible for all areas of the university’s financial operations and stewardship.
Odom brings deep experience driving financial transformation at HBCUs. He previously served as CFO at Tuskegee University, where his leadership contributed to doubling cash reserves and net assets, reducing long-term debt, and securing consecutive years of budget surpluses. His career includes senior finance roles at Fort Valley State University, Hiram College, Jarvis Christian University, and Morris Brown College.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Valdosta State University and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University.