Fayetteville State University Names Erin N. White Dean of the Lloyd College of Health, Science, and Technology

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – With demand for health care and technology professionals rising across North Carolina, Fayetteville State University has appointed Erin N. White, Ph.D., as dean of the Lloyd College of Health, Science and Technology, effective May 1. She has served as interim dean since November 2025.

As she transitions from interim to permanent dean, White is focused on strengthening programs such as nursing, cybersecurity, forensic science, and mathematics. She is aligning academic offerings with industry requirements to ensure graduates are prepared for health care, research institutions, and technology sectors.

Allison credits White’s leadership with delivering measurable results and positioning the college to play a critical role in North Carolina’s future talent pipeline.

“Dr. White has clearly advanced the college in ways that directly support student success and workforce readiness,” Allison said. “Her steady leadership in leading us in the critical areas of science and technology is well documented; moreover, her recent efforts in expanding the nursing program and enhancing academic planning exemplify the results-driven approach that will only continue to elevate the college. With more than two decades of service with our storied institution, we couldn’t have a more fitting leader leading this college at this time.”

As interim dean, White led key changes, including overhauling the School of Nursing admissions process to accelerate program growth and launching student focus groups to identify barriers to degree attainment. These data-driven actions now drive strategies that measurably improve outcomes and keep academic programs tightly aligned with student and regional economic demands.

White’s extensive background in education enables her to connect long-term academic vision with the daily student experience. Since joining the faculty in 2005, she has held a variety of leadership roles, including associate dean, director of the Honors Program, and associate professor. Her portfolio spans curriculum development, accreditation, faculty mentoring, and academic strategy.

Beyond her campus leadership, White expanded educational access by securing funding, including co-leading a nearly $2 million National Science Foundation grant to support undergraduate scholarships and student mentoring in STEM fields. Additional grants from the U.S. Department of Education and industry partners have supported curricular innovation and research opportunities.

Her research focuses on student retention in higher education and explores factors that influence degree completion and academic success in the sciences. This work forms the foundation of her ongoing commitment to student achievement.

“It is an honor to continue serving Fayetteville State University in this role,” White said. “We have an opportunity to expand access to high-demand programs while strengthening the support systems that help students succeed. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, and alumni to build on this progress and prepare graduates who are ready to contribute on day one.”

White earned her doctorate in biochemistry from Meharry Medical College and completed postdoctoral training in cancer biology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Winston-Salem State University.

An award-winning educator, she has received Teacher of the Year honors from both the Department of Natural Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences at Fayetteville State University. She has also participated in national leadership development programs, including the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Emerging Leaders Program.