PVAMU welcomes Fulbright scholar to business faculty, leadership

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Jan. 24, 2025) - Prairie View A&M University recently welcomed Fulbright Specialist Dr. Aneika Simmons to its College of Business (COB) as a full-time professor. Simmons, a Houston native, teaches human resource management, organizational behavior, strategic management and business policy.

PVAMU's certification as a Carnegie-classified R2-High Research Activity, Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, and its distinguished university leadership drew Dr. Simmons to "The Hill."

"I am excited about PVAMU's R2 status, strategic vision of the leadership, doctoral program in the College of Business and the honor to join a university with such a rich and excellent history."

Simmons, who has been named interim dean of COB beginning in the spring of 2025, graduated with a BBA in management information systems and a minor in finance from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996, a master's in speech communication from the University of Houston in 2002, and a PhD in management from Texas A&M University in 2006. For the last 18 years, Simmons has worked as a professor of management at Sam Houston State University, holding various administrative roles, including interim associate vice provost for faculty success.

Last summer, she participated in a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Specialist Program at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. During her scheduled two-week visit, she exchanged ideas with her peers, addressing key topics such as diversity management and tools to build burnout resistance. She also highlighted advocating for women's equality and advancement.

"It was an enriching and enjoyable experience as I prioritize understanding the global marketplace," Simmons said. "It was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, as I believe in cultivating an environment of healthy organizational behavior among colleagues and professional settings and ensuring key elements of human resources are understood. I also believe in normalizing the reality of burnout while helping to build burnout resistance."

The U.S. Department of State in September recognized PVAMU and 18 other Historically Black Colleges and Universities as "Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders," highlighting notable engagement with the Fulbright Program during the 2023-2024 academic year.

[Link]

Being part of PVAMU also hits close to home as Simmons' paternal grandmother, born in 1930, was honored to take courses at PVAMU. Although she didn't graduate, her grandmother sought to further her education during a time when "options for a black woman were limited."

Simmons added, "I am grateful to continue her legacy as a participant in the excellent Panther Experience."

By Christine Won

-PVAMU-