Senior Leadership

Kimberly D. Whitehead comes to Medgar Evers College from the University of Maine, where she served as the vice president and chief of staff. As a senior confidential advisor to the president, she managed the complex daily operations of the president’s office. She recently led the completion of the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initial Findings and Recommendations Report and served as the higher educational advisor to the Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee. During the pandemic, her role expanded in response to the COVID-19 crisis, working closely with the University’s Emergency Command Center, monitoring operational requests, and reviewing decisions and messaging.

Prior to her tenure at the University of Maine, Dr. Whitehead served in various capacities at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, including interim associate vice president for academic affairs, vice provost for academic affairs, and interim provost and vice president. Under her leadership, the university underwent successful specialized accreditation visits for five distinct programs: Business, Marketing and Accounting; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Physical Therapy; Rehabilitation Counseling; and Nutrition and Dietetics.

Dr. Whitehead has held positions at West Virginia State University, Rowan University, Bowie State University, and Shaw University. She has twice served on the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, in 2015 as a peer reviewer, and in 2016 as a periodic review report evaluator.

Dr. Whitehead earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Norfolk State University and a Ph.D. in Genetics from North Carolina State University.

Antoinette A. Coleman comes to Medgar from the University System of Maryland where she served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for academic affairs. In her role, she worked closely with the Senior Vice Chancellor, 12 campus presidents, provosts, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission. She provided academic leadership to advance innovative and high-demand workforce academic programs, manages the transfer network for students, ensures compliance with USM policies, and works collaboratively to address complex higher education issues for all constituent groups. She secured funding support and led the implementation of the upgrades for ARTSYS – The Articulation System for Maryland in support of the transfer network responsibilities of her role.

Prior to her service at the University System of Maryland, Dr. Coleman served as Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor at Morgan State University, an HBCU, where she spearheaded the use of data-informed decisions to advance retention and graduation rates, implemented new initiatives for faculty development, course redesign, and provided administrative leadership for the development of innovative and industry-focused academic online, face-to-face, hybrid, evening and off-site programs.

Before her service at Morgan, Dr. Coleman held leadership positions at three other HBCUs. She has served as an academic program director and dean. In addition to Dr. Coleman’s outstanding higher education leadership experience, her research on African American males from impoverished communities will be an asset to the retention and graduation of Black males at MEC.

Dr. Coleman earned the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Social Work from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Salisbury University, Master of Social Work in Clinical Social Work, and a Ph.D. in Administration, Policy, and Research from the University of Baltimore School of Social Work. She was a post-doctoral fellow at the HERS Leadership Institute at Bryn Mawr. She also holds licenses and certifications in Higher Education Administration, Aging and Child Welfare, and the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW).

Jesse F. Kane comes to Medgar Evers College from Fort Valley State University, an HCBU in the University System of Georgia. He most recently served as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. As the chief student affairs and enrollment officer, he oversaw a number of areas, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Housing and Residential Life, Registrar’s Office, Office of Student Conduct, Campus Life, and the Center for Student Engagement.

An experienced leader, Mr. Kane previously served as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Dakota State University. There he led the development and implementation of the university’s strategic enrollment plan, co-authored the university’s student success model, developed and implemented the university’s first-year experience program, and was responsible for all retention-related activities. He also won significant grant funding for Native American student success.

Mr. Kane has held related positions, including interim associate vice president for enrollment management at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and dean of students at Bowie State University.

Mr. Kane earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bowie State University, and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology also from Bowie State. He is currently completing a doctorate in higher education administration from Morgan State University.

Jacqueline Clark, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, joined Medgar Evers College (MEC) in January 2015. In this role, Ms. Clark serves as the College’s Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for the financial, facilities, business, and administrative activities of the College.

Under her leadership, Ms. Clark provides sound financial stewardship of the College’s annual operating budget, business, finance functions, and management of its capital resources. She fosters a safe, secure, and technology-rich environment and establishes and implements the College’s sustainable financial model. Ms. Clark oversees Business Services, Budget and Financial Planning, the Controller’s Office, Procurement Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Public Safety, and Facilities Management.

Clark is a MEC alumnus and has over 20 years of experience as the Chief Business Officer in both the private and public sectors. Before joining MEC, Ms. Clark served as the Controller at York College. She earned recognition for the re-organization of the College financial structure, the implementation of the new annual budgeting and accounting systems, the establishment and enforcement of the current financial reporting practices; and, the improvement of the business services operation. Ms. Clark also served as Controller for the Organic Capital Group and the Director of Financing Program for the American Foundation for the Blind.

Ms. Clark holds a Master of Science degree in Accountancy from Post University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Medgar Evers College. She is involved in many professional organizations, including The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), The Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE), The New York State Internal Control Association (NYSICA), and The National Association of Professional Women.

Dr. Castro began her distinguished career as a student-teacher while still an undergraduate at Morgan State University. Upon graduation, she returned to New York City, where she earned a double Masters of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street College of Education, a Masters in Education, and Masters in Education Administration, both from Columbia University. Dr. Castro was also an associate dean at Long Island University and served as an associate professor and dean of Liberal Arts and Education at Hunter College, with more than 18 years in higher education as a vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment.

While pursuing her post-graduate education, Dr. Castro continued teaching in the New York City Public Schools. Quickly identified as a gifted educator and strong administrator, she rose to the position of principal, initially at Magnet School P.S./I.S. 308 and later at the Hunter College Elementary School, a laboratory school for gifted students in New York City. She served as director of Early Childhood for New York City Public Schools. In addition to her success in pre-kindergarten through high school public school education, Dr. Castro has extensive teaching experience within the City University of New York. She has been a faculty member at Hunter College, Queens College, Brooklyn College, and Medgar Evers College. Her experience in these different academic settings, coupled with her success in improving instruction and her extraordinary leadership skills in staff development settings, created the foundation for her later appointment to the superintend of District 17. Described by many as an “inexhaustible hands-on and visionary leader,” she has been characterized as a parent advocate with a strong belief in the efficacy of community outreach.

Dr. Castro presently serves as dean of the School of Professional and Community Development at Medgar Evers College, which has 20 youth programs that include four Beacons, and five Cornerstone, Adult and Continuing Education, Upward Bound/Liberty Partnership, GED, Summer Youth Employment Program, and award-winning Science Engineering Technology and Physics Program (STEP). Dr. Castro has served as warden and vestry member of the St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, a Scholarship and Educational Chair, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and the Lunch and Dinner Dance Chairperson. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., president of the Brooklyn Links Incorporated, and is an alumna of Jack and Jill of America. Dr. Castro was married to the late Raymond D’Arceuil and had two sons and nine grandchildren. She believes that through Christ, all things are possible.

Ms. Irick joins Medgar Evers College as a litigation strategist with extensive courtroom experience in both criminal and civil courts. She most recently served as agency attorney for the Central Office of Procurement in New York City’s Department of Correction. Her office was responsible for the administration of all contract review to establish compliance with New York City mandated policies.

She previously served as counsel for Thomas & Spikes. There, Ms. Irick litigated, negotiated, and conducted legal matters in various practice areas, including family, divorce, and criminal. She was also managing partner for Hercules & Irick, a general practice law firm with a concentration in family law, estate planning, and probate administration.

Ms. Irick honed her extensive experience and knowledge over nine years with the New York County District Attorney’s Office. She held numerous positions there, including assistant district attorney and bureau coordinator of the Domestic Violence Unit, representing the People of the State of New York in criminal matters in the Supreme and Criminal Courts. She presented over 1,000 cases to the Grand Jury to return felony indictments on cases ranging from homicide, burglary, robbery, assault, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, forgery and theft.

She is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the New York City Bar Association, where she served on the LGBT Rights Committee. She is also a Professional Registered Parliamentarian and a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, where she served on the executive board of the East Kings County Alumnae Chapter.

Ms. Irick earned a juris doctor from Brooklyn Law School, where she was also inducted into the Moot Court Honor Society. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and African American Studies from Columbia University.

Ms. Haynes brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having held many HR management and leadership roles in various industries over the past 25 years. Ms. Haynes was formerly in a human resources management role for Time Warner Cable of NYC, where she supported a multi-site location for approximately 750 employees. She also assisted a start-up company in Manhattan, DSL Telecom company, in developing their human resources department for 125 employees; she served as the human resources manager at the Albany Georgia Police Department, where she developed a succession plan for the police officers and civilian staff; has held HR management roles at the Home Depot in both New York City markets and Southwest Georgia, and also worked for Mars Chocolate North America as the people & organization manager where she assisted in developing a diversity and inclusion circle for women aspiring to move into leadership and technical roles. Ms. Haynes comes to Medgar Evers College from Albany State University, where she managed the staff and faculty wellness and benefits programs.

Ms. Haynes, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Bernard M. Baruch College (CUNY), a master’s degree in organizational leadership from LaGrange College, and a post-bachelor diploma in human resources management from New York University. Ms. Haynes holds the distinction of being a certified human resource professional and a “Leadership Albany” alumna. Ms. Haynes is working on a Doctor of Business Administration degree at Georgia State University.