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2025-2026 Bill 5105: Inauguration of Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks as Pres. of Clinton College - South Carolina Legislature Online
South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5105
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. King
Document Path: LC-0352HDB-GM26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 5, 2026
Adopted by the House on February 5, 2026
Summary: Inauguration of Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks as Pres. of Clinton College
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date
Body
Action Description with journal page number
2/5/2026
House
Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 12
)
View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/05/2026
A
house
RESOLUTION
To recognize and honor Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks
upon her inauguration as the fourteenth president of Clinton College.
W
hereas, the South
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Dr. Pamela
Richardson Wilks will be inaugurated as president of Clinton College on Friday,
March 6, 2026; and
W
hereas, as the
fourteenth president of Clinton College, Dr. Wilks brings over twenty-five
years of experience in higher education across public and private institutions
and is widely respected for her commitment to academic excellence,
institutional growth, and student-centered innovation, particularly within
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and
W
hereas, a native of
Hollister, North Carolina, in rural Warren County, she is a first-generation
college graduate, having earned bachelor's and master's degrees from North
Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University, as well as a
doctorate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; and
W
hereas, Dr. Wilks
began her stellar educational career teaching ninth through twelfth grade
English at Western Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. She
transitioned into higher education, teaching African American Studies at the
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Winston-Salem State University, and
North Carolina A&T State University; and
W
hereas, she served as
assistant professor of languages and literature at Johnson C. Smith University
where her passion for teaching and scholarship laid the foundation for her rise
in academic leadership.
She has held senior leadership roles at several
HBCUs, where her impact has been both strategic and transformative, including
Wilberforce University and Shaw University, where she served as associate
provost, vice president for academic affairs, and associate vice president; and
W
hereas, during a time
of institutional transformation at Edward Waters University, Dr. Wilks served
as chief of staff, assistant to the president, and CEO for strategic
initiatives, and later as associate provost, during which she contributed to
the college's transition to university status and advanced efforts in
accreditation, institutional effectiveness, and operational modernization; and
W
hereas, as provost and
vice president for academic affairs at Coppin State University, she oversaw the
launch of new academic programs and strategic planning, managed a nearly thirty
million dollar operational and grant budget, and worked to secure a 153% increase
in research and sponsored funding; and
W
hereas, most recently
at Paine College, Dr. Wilks served as provost and executive vice president for
academic services to oversee enrollment management, initiate the reaffirmation
process with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools,
and lead strategic planning and fundraising efforts to support academic
innovation and institutional growth. Her student-success initiatives have
resulted in year-over-year enrollment and retention growth at multiple
institutions; and
W
hereas, Dr. Wilks'
professional academic honors include recognition as a W.E.B. Du Bois Scholar, as
well as induction into honors societies, including Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Tau
Delta. In 2023, she was named a Distinguished Alumni Honoree by North Carolina
A&T State University in recognition of her professional excellence and
contributions to higher education; and
W
hereas, together with
her beloved husband, Dr. Christopher Wilks, she has reared three fine sons:
Anthony, Christopher II, and Joshua; and
W
hereas, the House of
Representatives congratulates Dr. Wilks as she begins as president of Clinton
College, and the members look forward to hearing of her continued success
there. Now, therefore,
B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:
T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, recognize and honor Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks upon her
inauguration as the fourteenth president of Clinton College.
B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks.
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This web page was last updated on February 5, 2026 at 10:57 AM