Dr. Damara Hightower Mitchell will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation at Voorhees University.
Dr. Damara Hightower Mitchell publicly announced that she is transitioning from Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Voorhees University to focus on her true passion, educator preparation. Dr. Hightower Mitchell founded the Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation commissioned by President, Dr. Ronnie Hopkins, in 2020. She will now serve as its Chief Executive Officer. Her decision comes as this national 501(c)3 nonprofit, established to address teacher shortages and academic disparities in South Carolina and the nation, experiences tremendous growth.
After more than 30 years in leadership roles in K-20, state government, and the nonprofit sectors, Dr. Hightower Mitchell expressed excitement about devoting herself as CEO of the EPI Center, fully engaging in this innovative and rewarding work.
“For the past several years, I have essentially been trying to divide myself between the Division of Academic Affairs and the EPI Center. As the needs of the Center continue to expand, to be the most effective leader I can be, I realize that I need to give it the attention it deserves and requires,” said Dr. Hightower Mitchell. “The thriving outlook on the EPI Center’s future opportunities and the significant impact it can have on education requires this prioritization.”
After beginning her tenure in 2020, Voorhees received approval to offer graduate degrees and the Master of Education degree in Teaching and Learning was launched in December 2021 as a part of one of the funded projects. Under her visionary and passionate leadership, the EPI Center has received numerous grants to advance its work including a grant totaling $18.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) to prepare teachers to improve student learning outcomes under the Supporting Effective Educator Development program. In 2023, the USDE awarded the EPI Center a $26.7 Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program grant to elevate educator effectiveness and improve student achievement in Fairfield County School District and Georgetown County School District. The EPI Center is a
growing business enterprise working closely with educators in more than 25 K-12 public school districts across South Carolina.
