16th President of Fisk University | |
Term Start: | July 1, 2017 |
Term End: | August 25, 2020 |
Predecessor: | H. James Williams |
Successor: | Vann R. Newkirk |
Title2: | 19th President of Lincoln University |
Term Start2: | June 1, 2013 |
Term End2: | June 30, 2017 |
Predecessor2: | Carolyn Mahoney |
Successor2: | Jerald Woolfolk |
Alma Mater: | Morehouse College (BA) University of Georgia (MA) University of Texas at Austin (PhD) |
Residence: | Nashville, Tennessee |
Profession: | Academic administrator |
Spouse: | Stephanie Baker |
Children: | 2 |
Kevin D. Rome Sr. (born May 29, 1966) is an American university administrator. He served as the 16th president of Fisk University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] He was previously the president of Lincoln University from 2013 to 2017.
Kevin Darnell Rome was born May 29, 1966.[2] He was educated at the Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia.[2] He graduated from Morehouse College,[3] where he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1989.[4] He earned a master's degree of education in College Student Personnel from the University of Georgia in 1991 and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001.[3] [4]
Rome was assistant vice chancellor for student life and diversity at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, vice president for campus life at Clayton State University, and vice president for student services at Morehouse College.[3] He was also the vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management at North Carolina Central University until 2013.[3]
Rome was the president of Lincoln University from 2013 to 2017.[3] During his tenure, he focused on rebranding the school and recruiting students from all over Missouri, especially "better-prepared students."[5] In November 2016, he urged students to focus on building careers and pursuing leadership positions instead of protesting.[4] Rome succeeded Frank L. Sims as the 16th president of Fisk University in June 2017.[3] [6] Rome departed Fisk in August 2020, following the filing of a restraining order alleging that he had threatened a man that he had an intimate relationship with.[1] The man also alleged that Rome drugged him.[7] Rome and his attorney stated the allegations were false and no official charges were filed against Rome at the time of his removal. [8] [9]
Rome is a lifetime member of Phi Beta Sigma. Rome and his wife, Stefanie Baker Rome, have twins; son, Kevin and daughter Kendel.[5] He met his wife in 2000 on a blind date in Los Angeles, where he traveled to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune and won $5,000.[2]