Broadnax named VPA director of strategic initiatives

Broadnax named VPA director of strategic initiativesSeptember 22, 2008Erica Blustesblust@syr.edu

Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) has named Angel W. Broadnax as its director of strategic initiatives. Broadnax began working in this newly created position on Sept. 2 and is responsible for a number of projects, including the management of the college’s various lecture series and its plans for a retail store at The Warehouse, SU’s downtown facility.

“Angel will play a critical role in strengthening the college’s prominence on and off campus,” says Ann Clarke, dean of VPA. “Her unique background combines organizational leadership with a love of the arts, and we welcome her expertise and perspective.”

Broadnax, who is originally from Baton Rouge, La., is a former U.S. Census Bureau statistician. Her career at Census spanned both demographic and economic survey/census operations and allowed her to work in the data user and human resources areas. She worked primarily at the Census’ Washington, D.C., headquarters as well as in the Boston and Atlanta regional offices. Through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program, she also worked in the New York State Data Center in Albany on loan from the federal government.

In addition to her federal experience, Broadnax worked in the private sector, serving as manager of data collection for the Gordon S. Black Corp. (now Harris Interactive), a full-service market research and polling firm in Rochester, N.Y.

Prior to coming to VPA, Broadnax lived in Atlanta, where her husband, Walter D. Broadnax G’75, served as president of Clark Atlanta University (CAU).

“We talked of the possibility of coming to Syracuse University 16 years ago, and at the time, I wanted to go elsewhere. Now I wonder what took me so long!” says Angel Broadnax. “We are happy here, and I am excited about making a contribution to my husband’s alma mater.”

While at CAU, Broadnax was immersed in university initiatives. She voluntarily created and chaired the marketing and promotions committee of the CAU Guild, a community-based organization that raises scholarship funds for CAU students participating in the arts and humanities. She also introduced a fashion designer lecture series and worked with designer Bernie Rohe of Bernie of New York to create signature CAU scarves, ties and pocket squares to benefit the university’s general scholarship fund.

Broadnax holds a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from Tarkio College in Missouri. Her graduate studies in statistics were conducted at American University and George Washington University, both in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Program for Senior Executive Fellows at Harvard University and holds several other certificates in leadership and organizational development.

VPA is the creative center of Syracuse University. The college comprises five areas: the School of Art and Design; the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies; the Department of Drama; the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music; and the Department of Transmedia. Together, students, faculty and staff play a vital role in the academic and cultural life of the University and Syracuse communities. Learn more about the college at http://vpa.syr.edu.