Belinda C. Anderson

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Belinda C. Anderson

| office = President of Virginia Union University

| termstart = 2003

| termend = 2008

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|06|21}}

| birth_place = Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.

| birth_name = Belinda Childress Anderson

| predecessor = Bernard W. Franklin

| alma_mater = Radford University
Virginia Tech

| successor = Claude G. Perkins

}}

Belinda Childress Anderson (born June 21, 1954) is an American academic administrator who served as the 11th president of the Virginia Union University from 2003 to 2008. She is its first female president. Anderson was later dean of the Norfolk State University college of liberal arts and a professor of history and interdisciplinary studies.

Early life and education

Anderson was born June 21, 1954, in Roanoke, Virginia.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Michael Paul |date=2005-04-16 |title=Va. Union installs its 1st female president |pages=A1 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119826188/va-union-installs-its-1st-female/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |via=Newspapers.com}} She graduated from Germantown High School.{{Cite news |last=Gammage |first=Jeff |date=2013-06-20 |title=At Germantown High, a sad farewell |pages=A07 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119826386/at-germantown-high-a-sad-farewell/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |via=Newspapers.com}} She earned a B.S. in history and social science and a master's degree in history from Radford University. Anderson completed an Ed.D. in community college education from Virginia Tech.{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Gary |date=2004-05-26 |title=VUU names first female president |pages=A1 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119826131/vuu-names-first-female-president/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |via=Newspapers.com}} Her 1986 dissertation was titled, A descriptive analysis of differentiated patterns of decision-making in choice of educational major.{{Cite thesis |last=Anderson |first=Belinda C. |title=A descriptive analysis of differentiated patterns of decision-making in choice of educational major |date=1986 |degree=Ed.D. |publisher=Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |oclc=14687774 |url=https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/49975/LD5655.V856_1986.A523.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y}} Anderson's doctoral advisors were Don G. Creamer and Lawrence H. Cross.

Career

Anderson was a social studies teacher in Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia. She worked as the director of academic advising services at Radford University. Anderson served as a dean and professor in the school of general and continuing education at Norfolk State University (NSU). She was later the associate director for student affairs and the senior academic affairs for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. In November 2002, Anderson, the vice president of academic affairs at Virginia Union University (VUU), and 15 other employees were laid off.{{Cite news |date=2003-10-11 |title=Wilder's resignation from board latest blow |pages=2 |work=The Daily News Leader |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119826256/wilders-resignation-from-board-latest/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 2003, she returned to VUU as its interim president following the resignation of Bernard W. Franklin.{{Cite journal |last=Bates |first=Gerri |date=2007 |title=These Hallowed Halls: African American Women College and University Presidents |journal=The Journal of Negro Education |volume=76 |issue=3 |page=382 |issn=0022-2984 |jstor=40034579}} She was inaugurated as the 11th president on April 15, 2005. She is the first female VUU president. Anderson served as president until 2008 when she was succeeded by Claude G. Perkins.{{Cite web |title=Our History & Our Purpose {{!}} Virginia Union University |url=https://www.vuu.edu/about-union/about/our-history-our-purpose |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.vuu.edu}} In 2012, Anderson returned to NSU as its dean of the college of liberal arts.{{Cite web |date=2012-04-26 |title=Three African American Women Named to Prestigious Posts in Higher Education |url=https://www.jbhe.com/2012/04/three-african-american-women-named-to-prestigious-posts-in-higher-education/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education}} In 2018, she was a professor of history and interdisciplinary studies at NSU.{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2018 |title=Board of Visitors Board Meeting |url=https://commonwealthcalendar.virginia.gov/File/Index/8921 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=www.commonwealthcalendar.virginia.gov}}