Javaune Adams-Gaston

{{Short description|American psychologist and academic administrator}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.

| office = President of Norfolk State University

| termstart = June 2019

| predecessor = Melvin Stith

| image = Javaune Adams-Gaston.png

| caption = Adams-Gaston in 2022

| occupation = Psychologist, academic administrator

| alma_mater = Iowa State University

}}

Javaune Marie Adams-Gaston is an American psychologist and academic administrator. She is the seventh president of Norfolk State University.

Life

Adams-Gaston completed a Ph.D. at Iowa State University. She has published multiple articles during her career.

Adams-Gaston had a practice for 25 years as a licensed psychologist and as an educator. At the University of Maryland, Adams-Gaston held numerous positions including psychologist, associate dean in academic affairs, assistant athletic director, equity administrator, and graduate faculty member.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-31 |title=President Biden Announces Appointments to Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/31/president-biden-announces-appointments-to-board-of-advisors-on-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}{{PD-notice}}

Adams-Gaston worked as the senior vice president for student life at Ohio State University.

Adams-Gaston became the seventh president of Norfolk State University (NSU) in June 2019. She succeeded interim president Melvin Stith.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Saleen |date=2019-02-23 |title=Norfolk State University has new president |pages=A3 |work=Daily Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99439618/norfolk-state-university-has-new/ |access-date=2022-04-10}} She has advocated for increased financial support for the benefit of students, faculty, and staff and the stability of the institution. Adams-Gaston influenced the receipt of a $40 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest single gift in NSU's history. She has led the university in successful efforts to secure grants and partnerships from corporations such as Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, IBM, Dominion Energy, and others.

In March 2022, Adams-Gaston was one of 18 appointees to U.S. president Joe Biden's board of advisors on Historically black colleges and universities.{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Ali |date=2022-04-02 |title=Norfolk State president tapped for White House HBCU board of advisors |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/government/nation/vp-nw-nsu-president-hbcu-board-20220404-n6uz5acaqncp3ieyod6dlgjzsq-story.html |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=The Virginian-Pilot |language=en}}