Hilton Kelly is the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and will begin at Elon on June 1. Kelly serves as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Gabie Smith, the current dean of the college, announced she was stepping down at the end of the school year last August. Smith was the fifth senior staff member to leave her position in the past two years.
Kelly spoke to the Elon community as a dean candidate on Dec. 4 where he said he was attracted to Elon for its bold choices, and location as a North Carolina native.
“I am excited about the possibility of returning home and using all that I have learned as a teacher, scholar, administrator, leader, fundraiser and liberal arts and sciences advocate to be boldly at Elon,” Kelly said.
According to Today at Elon, at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Kelly oversees seven departments. In this role he has led strategic planning, fundraising and inclusive excellence initiatives. Prior to this role, he worked as a professor at Davidson College after co-founding the Africana studies department. Kelly did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.