By Cynthia Hubert

February 26, 2025

Gladys M. Francis, a seasoned scholar educator, and administrator who most recently served at Howard University, will be Sacramento State’s next dean of the College of Arts & Letters.

Francis, who since July 2022 has served as associate dean for Academic Student Affairs and the Humanities in Howard’s College of Arts and Sciences, will join the Hornet Family in July. She will succeed Interim Arts & Letters Dean Christina Bellon.

“I am thrilled to join Sac State at a pivotal time in its history,” said Francis, noting the University’s recent recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as an institution with a high commitment to research. “I am eager to build on this momentum to further elevate our community spirit, research and academic achievements.”

Francis holds a Ph.D. in French and Francophone Studies from Purdue University with a concentration on Post/colonial, Caribbean, North and West African Studies. She earned a master’s degree in French Studies and French Second Language Acquisition from Purdue University, as well as a master’s in Education and Second Language Acquisition from the same institution. She received a Bachelor in the Humanities from the University of the Antilles in France.

Her research interests include Urban Studies, Africana Studies, Women’s Studies and Gender Studies.

Francis has held various leadership positions at Howard and at Georgia State University. Among other roles, she founded Howard’s Flagship Network of Excellence and directed its Flagship Ambassador Program, as well as its Study Away and Exchange Programs.

She said Sac State’s strong commitment to fostering student success through an inclusive and diverse environment resonates deeply with her values.

“I am a native of Guadeloupe, shaped by diverse cultural experiences during my studies in the Caribbean, Europe and North America,” she said. “My extensive work on initiatives in many countries has further enriched my understanding and appreciation of global education and collaboration.”

Sac State’s College of Arts & Letters comprises 10 departments offering 30 baccalaureate degrees, 24 minors and 15 master’s degrees in disciplines ranging from English and communication studies to music, dance and theater.

In an email to the campus community announcing Francis’s appointment, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carlos Nevarez called her a “seasoned educator” and “leading public humanities scholar with a strong commitment to linking equitable education, technology, and community to leadership development.”

“Dr. Francis is a leading public humanities scholar with a strong commitment to linking equitable education, technology, and community to leadership development,” he said. We are excited about the experience and expertise that (she) will bring to enrich our campus.”

As the new dean of the college, Francis wants to build collaborative projects that promote “innovation, foster academic excellence, prepare students for successful careers, recognize our faculty, safeguard the access and mobility of our college community, and strengthen our reach locally, nationally and globally,” she said.

“Together, we will shape a future where our collective efforts create lasting, positive change and inspire the next generation of leaders and visionaries.”