Mhlanga appointed Lipscomb University’s vice provost
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb University has announced the appointment of Florah Mhlanga as vice provost, following a national search. Mhlanga served as interim vice provost during the 2024-25 academic year.
Florah Mhlanga
As vice provost, Mhlanga reports directly to the provost and provides leadership for a broad range of academic areas including the including the University Registrar’s Office; the Learning Commons, which comprises Beaman Library, the Academic Success Center, the Office of Accessibility and Learning Supports, Career Development and the Center for Teaching and Learning; the Honors College; the Journey Lipscomb Core curriculum; undergraduate curriculum; undergraduate student research; online learning; research; graduate studies; and global learning. She will also provide leadership for academic administration, policy and planning, and supports student success and persistence initiatives. In addition, Mhlanga advises the provost on key academic appointments, appeals processes, promotion and tenure, retention and other academic matters.
“Dr. Mhlanga is a well respected leader whose commitment to academic excellence and student success is evident in every aspect of her work,” said Lipscomb Provost Jennifer Shewmaker. “She has already made a tremendous impact as interim vice provost, and I am confident she will continue to strengthen our academic programs and support Lipscomb’s mission of shaping students for lives of purpose and impact.”
Prior to her interim appointment, Mhlanga served as associate provost for undergraduate academic affairs, senior associate dean in the college of Liberal Arts and Sciences and as professor of biology at Lipscomb. Since joining the university’s faculty in 2011, she has been a champion for undergraduate research, founding and growing Lipscomb’s annual Student Scholars Symposium into a key event that showcases student academic achievement across disciplines as well as the faculty research day.
“I am honored to continue serving the Lipscomb community in this new capacity,” said Mhlanga. “I look forward to working alongside our faculty, staff and students to build on our strong foundation and to continue advancing the mission of Lipscomb University to ensure that Lipscomb continues to be a place where lives are transformed.”
Mhlanga holds a Bachelor of Science honors degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Michigan State University. After completing her Ph.D., she returned to Zimbabwe to teach at the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Animal Science from 1994 to 2002, where she served three years as department chairperson. Her work on test-day methods of genetic evaluations laid a foundation for ongoing research and development in southern Africa.
Before her work at Lipscomb, Mhlanga also held faculty appointments at Faulkner University and Abilene Christian University. She and her husband, Fortune, have two sons, Craig and Carl.