Winston-Salem State University will mark a historic milestone this fall with the formal investiture of Dr. Bonita J. Brown, J.D., as its 14th Chancellor on September 19, 2025. The ceremony, to be held at the Benton Convention Center, will celebrate Dr. Brown’s appointment as the first woman to lead the university—a powerful moment of pride for the institution and the broader HBCU community.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Dr. Brown is no stranger to WSSU. The daughter of two alumni, she previously served the university as assistant university attorney from 2004 to 2006, bringing her full circle in this new leadership role. Prior to her appointment, she held senior positions at Achieving the Dream, Education Trust, University of North Texas, and served as interim president of Northern Kentucky University, where she led key efforts to increase student retention and manage institutional change.
Since assuming the chancellorship in July 2024, Dr. Brown has launched several new initiatives, including a statewide “Ramily Road Tour” and a strategic partnership with Wake Forest University School of Law to expand legal education access for WSSU students.
The two-day investiture celebration featured campus beautification service projects, a public ceremony, and a black-tie gala headlined by Grammy Award-winner Lalah Hathaway. The university also launched the Hairston-Brown Legacy Endowed Scholarship in honor of her family’s longstanding ties to WSSU.
Dr. Brown’s leadership signals a new chapter for WSSU—one rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and reflective of the transformative power of HBCUs.