About our Provost

Dr. R. Timothy McDonald was born and reared in Pittsburgh, Penn., the oldest of four children born to Ralph and Harriett McDonald. When he was a teenager, the family joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church as the result of an evangelistic campaign.

McDonald graduated from Oakwood College with a bachelor's degree in elementary education; from Atlanta University with master's degree in education and supervision; and from the University of Miami with a doctorate in higher education administration.

Dr. McDonald has served at all levels of education within the Adventist church and at secular institutions as well. Currently, he currently serves as provost and senior vice president at Oakwood University. Previously he worked at Oakwood as director of the Adult and Continuing Education Program (LEAP). Prior to that, he was vice chancellor at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (UEAB), in Kenya. Other administrative posts included: vice president for Information Technology, and vice president of Advancement and Development, at Oakwood University; director of development at Morehouse School of Medicine; director of development at Baltimore County Community College; and The Ohio State University. Earlier, he served as director of education for the Columbia Union Conference of SDA, and vice president for Academic Affairs at Barber Scotia College. He has also worked as a teacher and principal in several places, including Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy, DuPont Park School in Washington, D.C., and the Larchwood SDA School in Philadelphia, Penn.