Phylicia Rashad resigns from her position as dean at Howard University

Phylicia Rashad is leaving her position at Howard University.

The two-time Tony Award-winning actress will step down from her role as dean of the historically Black university’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts following the 2023-24 school year, Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick announced this week.

“We deeply appreciate Dean Rashad’s selfless contributions and commitment to our alma mater during her leadership of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and the many contributions she has made to Howard University’s students, graduates, and global community,” Frederick wrote in an email to the school’s community on Monday.

The announcement comes two years after Rashad was appointed to the position. The search for a new dean will begin shortly.

Known for her roles in the seminal TV sitcom “The Cosby Show” and the Broadway revival of “A Raisin in the Sun” — for which she became the first Black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play — Rashad was tapped to helm the reestablished College of Fine Arts, which was renamed after the late “Black Panther” star in September 2021. Both actors are alums of Howard University.

Rashad graduated from Howard in 1970 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and has served as adjunct faculty and guest lecturer at several other institutions including The Juilliard School, Carnegie Mellon and Fordham University — where she became the first recipient of the Denzel Washington Chair in Theater.

“It is a privilege to serve in this capacity and to work with the Howard University administration, faculty and students in reestablishing the College of Fine Arts,” Rashad said when she was appointed to the role in May 2021.