Kendra Sharp Deas, Ph.D.
Strategist Strategy Development
Dr. Kendra Sharp Deas is an experienced HBCU leader, having served at five HBCUs: Livingstone College, Wilberforce University, Wiley College, North Carolina Central University, and most recently, North Carolina A&T State University. Known for her strategic vision and passion for student success and fundraising, she currently drives innovation as a strategist at ICB, where she leads a portfolio of transformative initiatives.
With over a decade of experience and a deep commitment to institutional growth, Dr. Deas blends fundraising, program development, and high-level collaboration to strengthen HBCU capacity. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education, is an alumni fellow of Clark Atlanta University’s Executive Leadership Institute, and currently resides in Charlotte, NC, with her husband Gregory and their mini goldendoodle, Kairo.
Additional Links:
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Higher Education Leadership Foundation Podcast Interview: Chasing The Alphabet Soup
This podcast features Dr. Deas as a guest during the early days of her graduate school journey. In this episode, she joins Dr. Herman J. Felton, 17th President of Wiley College for a candid conversation about her path through higher education and her pursuit of “chasing the alphabet soup”—reflecting on the motivations, challenges, and milestones that shaped her academic and professional journey up to that point.
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Diverse Issues in Higher Education Feature: Kendra Sharp | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education
This article, features Dr.Deas as she reflects on her early academic struggles and the journey that followed. She candidly shares her experience as a poor-performing high school student and how she overcame those challenges to become a respected leader in higher education. Her story is one of resilience, growth, and the power of second chances.
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Blk In Grad School Podcast Interview: Ep. 147 Scholar Stuff with Kendra — BLK + IN GRAD SCHOOL
In this episode, Dr.Deas shares how HBCUs played a pivotal role in her life, saving her from becoming a high school dropout and ultimately paving the way for her successful career in academia. Her story highlights the transformative power of HBCUs and their impact on personal and professional growth.