Lincoln College Announces New Academic Affairs Vice-President
Dr. Donna Bradley Will Lead College’s Academic Departments

 

[July 25, 2020] 

Former attorney Dr. Donna Bradley will become the next Vice President for Academic Affairs at Lincoln College beginning January 1, 2021.

Dr. Bradley is currently the Lead Faculty for the Criminal Justice program at Lincoln College. Previously, Bradley taught human resource management and criminal justice courses to graduate and undergraduate students at Lindenwood University, Webster University, Maryville University, St. Charles Community College, and Columbia College.

Bradley notes that, “Education has always been really important to my family, instilled in me since childhood.” As a third generation college student, Bradley achieved the highest levels of academia that began with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brown University, a master’s degree in criminal justice from Columbia College, a juris doctorate from Howard University School of Law, and a doctorate degree in public safety and criminal justice from Capella University. Bradley expects to complete the coursework for her second doctorate degree in education from Lindenwood University in the fall.

“Though my mother taught elementary education for 40 years and encouraged me to pursue other degree paths, after three careers, I discovered my passion is education as well,” said Bradley.

Bradley is an attorney with more than 20 years of experience with a private firm, the Department of Defense, and the National Labor Relations Board. She also has more than 19 years of teaching and training experience in various venues.

For 16 years, Bradley served in a St. Louis inner-city ministry, practicing Christian Community Development, where she was responsible for ensuring compliance with human resource and employment law matters and advocating for a disenfranchised population, including ex-offenders, homeless persons, addicts, and other system-involved persons. During this time, Bradley moved to inner-city St. Louis, recalling hearing gunshots every night and having her home burglarized. “My job was to represent hope in the midst of hopelessness. My vision then was to transform lives, which is parallel to the vision Lincoln College has for its students. Our students overcome so many obstacles and barriers to success and make it,” said Bradley.

Licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bradley also served victims of sexual assault as a victim advocate, volunteer coordinator, and executive director of the Sexual Assault Center in San Joaquin County, California.

Bradley also spent time working as outreach coordinator at St. Louis Metropolitan Equal Housing and Opportunity Counsel, where she educated realtors, landlords, tenants, homebuyers, and the community about housing discrimination and their rights under the Fair Housing Act.

Though a long and impressive career history, Dr. Bradley encountered many obstacles leading up to her successes. Bradley was the first African American student to attend St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis, Tennessee. As a young girl in a class of just 42 students, she began her schooling in August 1968, 4 months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. “For many of the wealthy students, the maids, butlers, and gardeners were the only African American people they knew. Many of the girls didn’t want to include me or their parents wouldn’t allow them to invite me over,” recalled Bradley.

Though a difficult situation to endure, Bradley reconnected with her classmates from St. Mary’s years later during an alumni event. In October 2009, Bradley’s son, who had cerebral palsy and several psychological disorders, passed away at the young age of 27. Her high school classmates generously paid for his funeral expenses.

“After losing my son David, I fell into depression. My sons, Myron and Dominic, encouraged me to go back to school after 35 years and I haven’t stopped since,” laughed Bradley. “I went back to school in January of 2010.”

Additionally, St. Mary’s Episcopal School now honors a student who demonstrates leadership, courage, conviction, resilience, perseverance, and contributes to the discourse on diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus with the inaugural Donna Osborne Bradley ’74 Award. The award recipient must be a “student who embodied the spirit of diversity, equity, and inclusion and worked to demonstrate these beliefs within the St. Mary’s Episcopal School community.”

“Dr. Bradley will be an excellent addition to our leadership. We are very fortunate to have an administrator with her experience and academic accomplishments,” Lincoln College President David Gerlach said. Gerlach further stated, “Donna is the most academically qualified and credentialed person that I have had the pleasure to hire over the past thirty-five years.”

“We already know Dr. Bradley has an amazing rapport with our students and community members and received overwhelming support from the campus community from the search process. I’m excited to have her continue to lead the College forward, expanding our degree options, while maintaining academic excellence,” Dr. Gerlach added.

Dr. Bradley noted her excitement and eagerness to take on the VPAA role at Lincoln College. “I am grateful, humbled, excited, and hopeful.”

Lincoln College is entering its sixth year in the process of transitioning back to its roots as Lincoln University. The institution continues to offer two-year associate programs, baccalaureate degrees, and graduate degree options with a commitment to affordability.

Lincoln College also offers its highly successful Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE) program for working adults. The ABE program, offered on four Illinois campuses in Lincoln, Normal, East Peoria, and Ogelsby, allows adult learners to earn a bachelor’s degree while attending class one night a week in a concentrated five-week format.

As one of the fastest growing private institutions in Illinois, the College continues to add new degree options each year, along with expanded residential housing options for students. Lincoln College is also competing competitively in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), with additional athletic program opportunities added in 2020.

“Lincoln College will continue to expand our opportunities for students in the coming years, providing an exceptional education experience that is affordable for families,” said Gerlach.

[Lauren Grenlund
Director of Public Relations
Lincoln College]