Howard University’s Dr. Joyvina Evans, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, was recently selected to serve as a 2025-26 Leadership and Mentoring Institute (LMI) Mellon fellow, an initiative that assists higher education professionals in developing their leadership skills.  

The fellowship, sponsored by the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE) and the Mellon Foundation, is a year-long program that provides mid-level administrators and tenure-tracked faculty with tools and resources to advance to more senior positions. The program aims to increase the number of Black professionals in senior academic leadership roles across the nation. 

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized as an LMI Mellon fellow,” said Evans. “This opportunity is a significant step in my career and will greatly benefit me as an educator at Howard.”  

Advancing Excellence 

During the program, LMI Mellon fellows participate in a week-long “Leadership and Mentoring Institute Experience” event, which took place at Emory University last summer. Participants also have access to leadership and research institute seminars, quarterly webinars, one-on-one career coaching, and attendance to the AABHE’s annual conference, the next one set to take place in Baltimore Apr. 11-14. The fellows also work together on a team-based project. Evans and her cohort team are working on a marketing and recruitment project.  

Evans shared that she is excited about the opportunity to network with colleagues from around the country in addition to expanding her skillset with guidance from her LMI mentor.  

“I love the executive coaching and mentorship I’m getting with Dr. Tera Jordan out of Iowa State University,” said Evans. “She’s providing me with the tools I need to go to the next level of my career.” 

The LMI Mellon fellowship, Evans adds, directly aligns with her commitment to leadership, student mentorship, and equity in education and health care. Evans serves as the graduate chair of Howard’s Master of Health Administration Program. She helped to develop the online master’s program, which launched in 2024 with its inaugural cohort of 25 students. Since its launch, 14 students have graduated from the program.  

“The program expands access to health administration education [while] preparing culturally competent, equity-focused health care leaders,” Evans explained. 

In recognition of her work, Evans was also a recipient of the 2025 Presidential Medal for Service and Excellence by the Society of Transnational Academic Researchers Scholars Network.