Cecil Howard, J.D. has been appointed as the new associate provost for Academic programs at the FAMU College of Law. He will based in Orlando and will serve as a liaison to the university provost.
Howard, who started work in early November, will play a key role in the strategic planning, management, and oversight of the college.
He is expected to collaborate with the college’s faculty and staff to enhance the overall academic experience for law students. This includes the oversight of faculty affairs in teaching, research and service, and the management of targeted bar passage rates and accreditation activities at the academic program and institutional level.
In recent years, graduates of the College have struggled with passing the Florida Bar. In September, graduates who took the exam for the first time had the lowest bar pass rate in the state, moving down from the third lowest the previous year.
The FAMU Board of Trustees has long been concerned about issues at the College and set up a special committee to look for strategies to improve student outcomes.
Allyson L Watson, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, hailed Howard as an outstanding addition to her leadership team. “I am looking forward to the positive and transformational impact he will undoubtedly make in helping to shape the future of our law programs to ensure academic excellence and student success thrives throughout the FAMU College of Law,” she said.
Howard, a member of the Florida Bar, brings with him a wealth of experience and executive leadership in higher education having worked at the University of South Florida, University of California, Shippensburg University, and Tufts University, Watson added.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cecil Howard to the FAMU College of Law community. His extensive experience and commitment to academic excellence align perfectly with our mission to empower the next generation of legal professionals,” said Dean Deidré Keller.
Howard earned his juris doctorate from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and has a bachelor’s degree in government from Florida State University.
