Provost Richard English is a former dean and professor of the School of Social Work from 1985 to 2003, English has an extensive career in higher education. Before joining Howard, he had an accomplished 18-year career at the University of Michigan where he served as a member of the faculty, assistant dean of the School of Social Work, chairman of the Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Social Science, and associate vice president for Academic Affairs.

Dr. English is widely published within academia, covering subjects such as human service organizations, African-American families, refugees and immigrants, the homeless, education, child welfare, social welfare policy, social policy, and mental health and welfare reform.