Alumna Dr. Annie McGowan promoted to vice president, associate provost of the Office of Diversity at Texas A&M
An Alcorn State University alumna’s success in leadership has landed her a promotion at one of the country's most notable universities.
Dr. Annie McGowan ’84, a Port Gibson, Mississippi native who earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, is the new vice president and associate provost for the Office of Diversity at Texas A&M. McGowan was the Office's interim since Dec. 1, 2020.
Prior to her current role, McGowan served as associate dean for Undergraduate Programs at Texas A&M’s Mays Business School, where she provided strategic oversight for the assessment of learning and operational leadership for curriculum innovations designed to improve the quality of undergraduate education.
The promotion allows McGowan to fulfill her mission to assist minority and low-income students in reaching their potential.
“I have enjoyed helping students prepare for careers in business,” said McGowan. “However, as a first-generation college student and an African American female, I have been able to offer unique support to students from underserved communities. I am honored to have this opportunity to lead the university in this critically important area.”
Providing equal opportunities for everyone has been one of McGowan’s passions for years.
“I have always engaged principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all the roles that I have held. My focus has been to improve my sense of community in an environment that did not meet my cultural needs. However, my service evolved to a selfless focus on the students. I’m passionate about the work that this role allows. I hope to leverage my passion for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion along with my background in business and education to help the university to serve the state of Texas equitably.”
McGowan believes that she’s equipped to join the fight to remove barriers that prevent minority students from achieving their educational and career dreams.
“It is abundantly clear that a failure to educate individuals from diverse communities will threaten the future competitive posture of the United States. I believe that I can contribute to eliminating some of the barriers to accomplishing that goal. My ultimate goal is to help Texas A&M lay the foundation for a diverse and engaging learning environment where students from all backgrounds can receive a world-class education while enjoying their college experience.”
