Lincoln University Appoints Tikiy`a Henry as Assistant Dean for Student Engagement

Tikiy`a Henry, Ed.D., has been appointed as Lincoln Univeristy of Missouri's assistant dean for student engagement, effective January 5, 2026.

Lincoln University of Missouri has appointed Tikiy`a Henry, Ed.D., as assistant dean for student engagement. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Henry brings more than a decade of progressive leadership experience in higher education and a strong commitment to student engagement, retention and holistic student success.

Henry is a student-centered higher education administrator with experience spanning student affairs, enrollment management, first-generation student support and leadership development. She has held impactful roles at institutions nationwide, including Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Broward College and Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, where she previously served as coordinator of campus experience and recruitment. Her return to a Lincoln University, now in Missouri, marks a new chapter in her career and reflects her continued dedication to mission-driven institutions.

Most recently, Henry served as interim director of first-generation student success and associate director of programs and traditions at Florida Atlantic University. In those roles, she provided strategic leadership for campus-wide initiatives supporting first-generation, low-income and historically underrepresented students. Her responsibilities included program development, staff supervision, assessment and budget management, as well as cultivating cross-campus partnerships to strengthen student engagement, persistence and graduation outcomes. She is widely recognized for designing high-impact programs, mentoring staff and student leaders, and aligning student success efforts with institutional priorities.

Henry earned a Doctor of Education in higher education leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Her dissertation, Surviving or Thriving: Examining Issues Surrounding Enrollment Declining at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, explored enrollment sustainability and student success challenges at HBCUs. She also holds a Master of Science in higher education administration from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Arts in communications with a concentration in broadcasting and television from Florida Memorial University.

In her new role, Henry will lead student engagement initiatives, co-curricular programming, leadership development and student success strategies designed to foster belonging, persistence and achievement. Her work will focus on strengthening campus traditions, empowering student leadership and building inclusive systems that support student success.

Henry’s leadership philosophy is rooted in authenticity, confidence and purpose, guided by her personal mantra: “Always walk into a room and own it, no matter who is there.” Lincoln University welcomes Henry and looks forward to the impact of her leadership on the campus community.