Paine College has named Tywana Chenault Hemby, Ph.D., as its new provost and executive vice president for academic services, bringing more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership, faculty development, and institutional transformation to the HBCU.
Dr. Hemby most recently served as dean of social sciences at Columbia College in South Carolina, where she became the institution’s first African American dean of social sciences. Prior to that role, she was dean of the School of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences at Voorhees University.
Throughout her career, Dr. Hemby’s work has focused on advancing teaching excellence, integrating technology into education, addressing racial trauma in educational environments, promoting student success, and strengthening critical literacy.
“Paine College is not simply an institution — it is a mission,” said Dr. Hemby. “I am deeply honored to join this community and to serve its students, faculty, and the greater Augusta community. Rooted in Paine’s legacy of ‘Enter to Learn; Depart to Serve,’ I am committed to cultivating academic excellence, collaborating across our community, transforming our institutional culture, and serving with everything I have.”
A graduate of Voorhees University, Dr. Hemby earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice before completing a master’s degree in psychology and counseling at Troy University and a Ph.D. in psychology from Capella University.
Her appointment adds another experienced academic leader to Paine College’s executive team as the institution continues its efforts to strengthen academic excellence and student success.