Changes in leadership are coming to Troy University’s Phenix City Campus and College of Education.

Effective Oct. 1, Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims, current Dean of TROY’s College of Education, will become Vice Chancellor of the Phenix City Campus, replacing Dr. David White, who is retiring after nearly 24 years of service to the University.

Dr. Kerry Palmer, a TROY alumnus who currently serves as Associate Dean for the College of Education since January 2019, will become the college’s new dean.

“The most important thing we do at Troy University is serve our students. The second most important thing we do is hire good people,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor. “Dr. Rosser-Mims and Dr. Palmer bring expertise and experience, as well as a proven track record of leadership, that make them well suited for their new positions.”

Dr. Rosser-Mims joined the TROY faculty as an adjunct professor in 2005 and then as a full-time faculty member in 2007. She also has served as Site Director and District Director for TROY sites in Georgia and Associate Director of Academics for the University’s Southeast Region.

Dr. Rosser-Mims became Associate Dean of the College of Education in 2016, and since 2018, she has served as the College’s Dean.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed serving the College of Education students, faculty, and staff for over a decade,” Dr. Rosser-Mims said. “While I am proud of the progress we have achieved to rebrand CoE as a college of excellence, I am most proud of how we pulled together to convert our overall enrollment growth to positive status and to more effectively share the good work occurring in the college as we carry out our charge to prepare our students to lead and be difference makers. I thank Chancellor Hawkins and Dr. Tatum for recognizing my hard work and believing I was ready to take on this new role.”

Prior to joining the TROY faculty, she served as Leadership Development Associate for the Fanning Institute for Leadership at the University of Georgia and research coordinator at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. In addition, she served as chief executive officer of Team One Associates, which provides training and facilitation services for community-based and for-profit organizations in the areas of team-building, group dynamics, leadership assessments, conflict management, communication, board development, strategic planning and experiential learning.

Rosser-Mims received Troy University’s Wallace D. Malone, Jr. Distinguished Faculty Award in 2013 and TROY’s Global Campus World Class Leader Award in 2010. She holds a doctorate in adult education and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia, and bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, psychology and sociology from Piedmont College.

Dr. Palmer previously served in administrative leadership roles at Montgomery’s Trinity Presbyterian School for more than 10 years, including nearly six years as Head of School. Prior to joining the team at Trinity in 2008, Dr. Palmer taught band and served as a K-12 school administrator for thirteen years.

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve the students in the College of Education each day,” Dr. Palmer said. “Our professors, administrators, and support staff work as a team to deliver outstanding educational services despite the many challenges we have faced this year. Dr. Rosser-Mims has demonstrated tremendous leadership during her time as dean. My goal is to work with our assistant deans and department chairs to continue in that tradition moving forward.”

Dr. Palmer earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from TROY in 1995. As a student, he was active the University’s band program, serving four years as a section leader in the Symphony Band and three years as drum major of the Sound of the South marching band.

Dr. Palmer also earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Auburn University at Montgomery and a Ph.D. in Education from Auburn University. He and his wife, Robyn, have two children, one of whom is a current TROY student.