Antonio D. Tillis
Academic background
Education	Vanderbilt University (BS) Howard University (MA) University of Missouri (PhD)
Academic work
Discipline	African-American studies Latino studies
Sub-discipline	African-American culture Latin American culture Afro-Latino culture Afro-Latino literature Latin American literature
Institutions	Dartmouth College College of Charleston Purdue University University of Houston–Downtown Rutgers University-Camden
Chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden
Incumbent
Assumed office July 2021
Preceded by	Margaret Marsh
President of the University of Houston–Downtown
Interim
In office July 2020 – July 2021
Preceded by	Juan Sánchez Muñoz

Antonio D. Tillis is an American academic administrator currently serving as the chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden. He assumed office on July 1, 2021. Faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences voted no confidence in him in November 2021.^[1] Since the vote, Tillis has elevated Rutgers-Camden in national and international prestige. His focus on student success has caused an increase in retention and graduation rates. In addition, enrollment has increased under his leadership. Tillis is a visionary leader and continues to be an actively engaged scholar-administrator.

Education

Tillis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Spanish from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Arts in Spanish literature from Howard University, and a PhD in Latin American literature from the University of Missouri.^[2]

Career

Tillis has contributed articles to several academic publications, including The Afro-Hispanic Reader and Anthology, Callaloo, Hispania, Mosaic: An Interdisciplinary Critical Journal, CA, and Transit Circle. He co-authored The Trayvon Martin in US: An American Tragedy and edited Critical Perspectives on Afro-Latin American Literature. Tillis served as the dean of the School of Languages, Culture & World Affairs at the College of Charleston. He also chair of the Latin American and Latino studies department at Purdue University. He was also the chair of the African and African-American studies department at Dartmouth College.^[3] Tillis joined the University of Houston–Downtown as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. He was selected by trustees of the University of Houston System to serve as interim president on July 2, 2020.^[4] On April 27, 2021, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway announced that Tillis would assume the post of chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden on July 1, 2021.

Tillis' research focuses on Hispanism, African-American studies, Latino studies, African-American culture, Latin American culture, Afro-Latino culture and literature,^[5] and Latin American literature.^[6]

References