Dwaun Warmack

{{Short description|American university administrator}} {{Promotional|date=February 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Dwaun J. Warmack | birth_date = {{Circa|1977}}<ref name="STLPR" /> | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | alma_mater = Delta State University,<br/> Union University | education = Harvard University | office = 9th President of Claflin University | term_start = August 1, 2019 | predecessor = Henry N. Tisdale | office1 = 19th President of Harris–Stowe State University | term_start1 = July 14, 2014 | term_end1 = July 31, 2019<ref name="STLPR" /> | predecessor1 = Albert Walker | successor1 = Corey S. Bradford }} '''Dwaun J. Warmack''' (born {{Circa|1977}}) is an Amеrican univеrsity administrator and currеnt prеsidеnt of Claflin University, a historically black institution in Orangеburg, South Carolina. Hе became the 9th President of Claflin University in 2019. Before his tеnurе at Claflin, Warmack was thе 19th Prеsidеnt of Harris–Stowe State University, in St. Louis, Missouri, from July 2014 to July 2019.

== Education == Warmack attended Jared W. Finney High School in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Delta State University with a bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in sociology in 2006, the first generation of his family to do so.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Our President |url=https://www.claflin.edu/about/leadership/meet-our-president#:~:text=Delta%20State%20University.-,Dr.,sociology%20from%20Delta%20State%20University. |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.claflin.edu}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Bradley |date=2019-06-16 |title=Clafin's new president focused on values, family |pages=A1–A2 |work=The Times and Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119874245/clafins-new-president-focused-on/ |access-date=2023-02-28}}</ref> He received his doctorate in educational leadership with a specialization in higher education from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee in 2011. He completed his post-doctoral studies in educational leadership at Harvard University School of Education in 2015.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2019-06-16 |title=President (from A1) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119874377/president-from-a1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228070638/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119874377/president-from-a1/ |archive-date=February 28, 2023 |access-date=2023-02-28 |work=The Times and Democrat |pages=A1–A2 |format=Digital newspaper}}</ref>

== Career == In 1999, his work in higher education began at his alma mater, Delta State University, as coordinator of student development and activities and as a financial aid counselor until 2002 when he was then promoted to director of multicultural affairs and multicultural center.

He worked at Western Carolina University (WCU), as an associate director of the University Center and director of programs, before joining Rhodes.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2005-07-27 |title=Rhodes names Dwaun Warmack new associate dean of students |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119874511/rhodes-names-dwaun-warmack-new/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |work=Germantown News |pages=17 |format=Digital newspaper}}</ref> In July 2005, he began at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, as associate dean of students,<ref name=":2" /> where he founded the Western North Carolina Minority Networking Program. From 2010 until 2014, he was vice president for enrollment management and student affairs and senior vice president of administration and student services at Bethune-Cookman University.<ref name=":1" />

Warmack became the 19th president of Harris–Stowe State University on July 14, 2014, succeeding Albert Walker.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |date=April 22, 2014 |title=Harris-Stowe University names new president |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/harris-stowe-university-names-new-president/article_ae88b549-e4fe-50c1-baa4-364a906a5718.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025165349/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/harris-stowe-university-names-new-president/article_ae88b549-e4fe-50c1-baa4-364a906a5718.html |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-04-23 |title=Harris-Stowe's new president is educator from Florida |pages=A005 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119874608/harris-stowes-new-president-is/ |access-date=2023-02-28}}</ref> The following year, there was a 25% increase in enrollment, approximately 9 million dollars in external funding, and the passing of Senate Bill 334, which allows the university to grant master's degrees. He left Harris–Stowe in July 31, 2019.<ref name="STLPR">{{Cite web |date=2019-06-18 |title=Before Moving To New Job, Harris-Stowe President Reflects On The University's Progress |url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/education/2019-06-18/before-moving-to-new-job-harris-stowe-president-reflects-on-the-universitys-progress |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=St. Louis Public Radio (STLPR) |language=en}}</ref>

On August 1, 2019, Warmack became the ninth president of Claflin University, succeeding Henry N. Tisdale.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Bradley |date=June 10, 2019 |title=Claflin names president;Harris-Stowe's Warmack to lead university; calls Tisdal 'a living legend' |url=https://thetandd.com/news/local/claflin-names-president-harris-stowe-s-warmack-to-lead-university/article_956badee-73e4-5b75-9c64-74caa94daac1.html |website=The Times and Democrat}}</ref> Warmack created several new programs at Claflin, including Claflin University's Quality Enhancement Plan, CU-S.T.A.R.S, and the "Elevation and Transformation" initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing CU S.T.A.R.S. |url=https://www.claflin.edu/news-events/news/2022/03/11/introducing-cu-s.t.a.r.s |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=www.claflin.edu}}</ref> This included the Pathways from Prison Program, a program in the Center for Social Justice that aimed to assist currently or formerly incarcerated individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-14 |title=Claflin University releases President Warmack's 2019-2021 report – 'Elevation and Transformation' |url=https://scicu.org/claflin-university-releases-president-warmacks-2019-2021-report-elevation-and-transformation/ |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=scicu.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Claflin University Pathways from Prison Program |url=https://www.claflin.edu/academics-research/special-programs-and-opportunities/claflin-university-center-for-social-justice/claflin-university-pathways-from-prison-program |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=www.claflin.edu}}</ref>

In March 2022, Warmack hosted a ceremony for a new three-story, 85,000-square-foot Student Center on Claflin's campus. The project received funding of 30 million dollars and was expected to be opened in late 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=DIONNE GLEATON T&D Staff |date=2023-01-29 |title=PROGRESS/MARCH 2022: Claflin breaks ground on $30M student center |url=https://thetandd.com/special-section/progress/progress-march-2022-claflin-breaks-ground-on-30m-student-center/article_f36e03cf-b28f-5b81-aa79-a99e3b339aab.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=The Times and Democrat |language=en}}</ref> Later in May, he signed an agreement with London Metropolitan University Vice-Chancellor Lynn Dobbs to begin an academic partnership between Claflin and London Metropolitan, offering research opportunities and study abroad programs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandra |date=2022-06-08 |title=Claflin University, London Metro University to Launch Historic Academic Partnership |url=https://uncf.org/the-latest/claflin-univ-london-metro-univ-to-launch-historic-academic-partnership |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=UNCF |language=en}}</ref>

== Affiliations, honors, and awards == In 2025, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) selected Warmack for its 2025 President's Award.  Also, in 2025, he was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission.

In 2024, Orangeburg's ''Times and Democrat'' newspaper announced that Warmack was named the publication's Person of the Year. It was a decision that recognized him for his bold and effective leadership and confirmed that the campus community, residents of the state of South Carolina, and beyond profoundly appreciate and respect the "Elevation and Transformation" that has permeated the campus since his arrival in August 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gleaton |first1=Dionne |title='It's God's calling' - Claflin's president named T&D's Person of the Year |url=https://thetandd.com/news/local/education/orangeburg-claflin-president/article_d3e4ace2-bee9-11ef-b515-e329307421c9.html |publisher=The Times and Democrat |access-date=19 June 2025 |date=1 January 2025}}</ref>

In 2000, Warmack was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa as a faculty and staff member at Delta State University.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Our President |url=https://www.claflin.edu/about/leadership/meet-our-president#:~:text=Delta%20State%20University.-,Dr.,sociology%20from%20Delta%20State%20University. |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=www.claflin.edu}}</ref>

He has appeared in the Detroit Free Press and on NPR to discuss educational issues that impact the nation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Rochelle |title=Uber kid goes to college, finds president's life mirrored his |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-riley/2016/08/06/uber-kid-delshawn-foster-college/88061166/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2017 |title=State Budget Cuts Hit Universities |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/02/25/517237139/state-budget-cuts-hit-universities |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=NPR |series=Weekend Edition Saturday}}</ref> He currently is on the boards of Cortex, the Saint Louis Science Center, the St. Louis Regional Chamber, The Muny, the Grand Center and the United Way of Greater St. Louis, and Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} Warmack was also selected as a 2019 Eisenhower Fellow. He was one out of 13 U.S. leaders selected and the only one from an academic institution.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pennamon |first=Tiffany |date=26 April 2019 |title=Harris-Stowe President Selected as 2019 Eisenhower Fellow |url=https://diverseeducation.com/article/144383/ |website=Diverse Education}}</ref> His research was on reducing mass incarceration through education and rehabilitation.

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warmack, Dwaun}} Category:Delta State University alumni Category:Union University alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Western Carolina University people Category:Bethune–Cookman University people Category:Harris–Stowe State University faculty Category:Presidents of Claflin University