TSU Women's History Month

Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young

Dr. Crumpton-Young attended Texas A&M University where she earned her bachelor’s master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial Engineering. She holds the distinction of being the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Engineering from Texas A&M, and she’s one of the first African American women in the U.S. to reach the rank of full professor in engineering. She also earned an M.B.A. from Tennessee State University. Prior to becoming President of TSU, Dr. Crumpton-Young excelled in several leadership capacities – Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs for Morgan State University, Vice President for Research and Institutional Advancement at Tennessee State University, and Program Director at the National Science Foundation and much more.

In 2022, President Crumpton-Young was selected to serve on the United Way of Greater Houston Board of Trustees. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Houston Partnership.

 VP Michelle Penn-Marshall

Dr. Michelle Penn-Marshall is the inaugural Vice President for Research and Innovation at Texas Southern University. Credited with launching the division, Dr. Penn-Marshall is nationally recognized as an acclaimed researcher. Her mission is to elevate the institution’s Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education status as a Doctoral University of High Research Activity. Under her leadership, TSU is growing by transforming its research capabilities and investments. Since starting at TSU in 2022, Dr. Penn-Marshall has been successful in all aspects of research and innovation by securing and expanding funding, partnering with top-tier agencies and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the research process. All are critical qualities to the institutional growth initiatives.

Her previous work as a provost, vice president of research and program officer with the National Science Foundation has provided first-hand knowledge of leading institutions and how to heighten levels of research. She knows that maintaining a high research classification brings with it top talent for the new division that will fortify TSU’s commitment toward providing data-driven solutions for urban communities and beyond.

 Julie Wenah

Julie Wenah is a respected attorney specializing in global rights, privacy and product inclusion. She earned her J.D. from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She is the associate general counsel for civil rights for Meta – the parent company of Facebook - and is organizing The Album, a collective for creative minds.

Wenah has distinctive résumé that included serving as Airbnb’s community senior counsel and acting regional counsel for Africa, counselor and policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce, associate and policy intern in the executive offices of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and a legal fellow at NASA when she was a law student at TSU. She became connected to President Obama’s staff in 2007 through her work as a field organizer and campaign coordinator for the Democratic Party in Harris County and the Obama for America Coordinated Campaign.

 Wenah, a native of Nigeria, is an advisory council member for the Tahirah Justice Center, an organization dedicated to supporting human trafficking survivors. She received a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University and dual degrees in political science and chemistry from Lamar University. Lamar honored Wenah in 2022 with its Distinguished Alumni award. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.