Chancellor Candidate Bio Summary USC Upstate

USC Upstate is pleased host the following final candidates on campus February 28 - March 4, 2021. Please refer to the university website for complete schedules, including public forums.

Dedric A. Carter serves as vice chancellor for operations & technology transfer at Washington University in St. Louis, where he is also professor of engineering practice in the department of electrical and systems engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering. Dr. Carter holds an additional appointment as professor of practice in innovation and entrepreneurship in the John M. Olin School of Business. His previous roles at Washington University include both associate provost and associate vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship, and associate dean of engineering for international education and research. Prior to joining Washington University, he served as the senior advisor for strategic initiatives in the Office of the Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation, and was also executive secretary to the U.S. National Science Board executive committee. He has an undergraduate and graduate degree in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, and a Ph.D. in information systems from Nova Southeastern University.

Bennie L. Harris serves as senior vice president at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and is responsible for institutional advancement, partnership expansion and external affairs. He has held leadership positions in institutional advancement at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee; DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois; University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Washington State University. While at Washington State University, he also served as the director for the Center for Human Rights. Dr. Harris holds a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from Mississippi State University, an MBA in strategic marketing from Washington State University, and a doctorate of philosophy in educational leadership and marketing from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is active in several local and national organizations, and is a frequent speaker on fundraising, strategic planning, diversity and leadership development.

Angela W. Peters is currently provost and vice president of academic affairs at Albany State University (ASU). Prior to her tenure at ASU, Dr. Peters served at various levels of leadership at Claflin University: vice provost of academic programs; department chair of chemistry; and professor of chemistry. She began her leadership career at the University of South Carolina in Columbia as the executive director for the South Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation Program. Dr. Peters earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemistry from Hampton University, and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of South Carolina, Columbia. She also attended the Management Development Program at Harvard University’s Institute for Higher Education. Dr. Peters’ numerous awards and accolades include the South Carolina Governor’s Professor Award and the White House Millennium Teaching Award.

Mrinal Mugdh Varma has served as provost and senior vice chancellor at Auburn University at Montgomery since February 1, 2017. Dr. Varma also serves as a tenured professor of healthcare administration. Prior to joining Auburn University at Montgomery, he served as associate vice president for academic affairs and deputy chief academic officer at the University of Houston - Clear Lake from 2008 to 2017. Dr. Varma received his B.S. (Honors), M.S., and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Delhi and his MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. His research interests include higher education policy, healthcare operations, and healthcare policy. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is board certified in healthcare management.