Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, joined Huston-Tillotson University as President and Chief Executive Officer July 1, 2015. Dr. Pierce Burnette is an experienced leader in higher education with a deep commitment to student success. Dr. Pierce Burnette knows the meaning of “humble beginnings” and has combined her intelligence quotient (IQ), emotional intelligence (EQ), entrepreneurial spirit, and technical knowledge to forge successful careers in engineering, information technology, and education. Before transitioning into higher education, Dr. Pierce Burnette worked as a Computer Analyst at The Washington Post, was an Operations Support Engineer at Proctor and Gamble, held the position of Director of Information Systems at Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., and ran her own computer consulting firm, CompuMent.

Pierce Burnette has served on numerous boards and committees including Co-Chair Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities, Leadership Austin, Austin Community Foundation, Austin YMCA, Austin Area Urban League, Greater Austin Black Chamber, Girl Scouts of Central TEXAS, Austin Area Research Organization, Greater Austin Early Childhood Matters, Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Wright Patterson Air Force Base 2020 Taskforce Committee, African American Male Leadership Institute Steering Committee, Ohio State University College of Engineering Advisory Committee, and Central State University’s Campus Climate Committee.

Her many honors include the Ohio State University Outstanding Engineering Alumnus Award, Anti-Defamation League Community Hero, Austin Mosaic Legacy Award, Urban Land Institute Austin Vision Award, Fabulous Five Seedling Mentors, Austin Women’s Hall of Fame, United States Army Distinguished Civilian Volunteer Service Medal Award, Thurgood Marshall Foundation Chief Information Officer of the Year Award, Dayton Business Journal Chief Fiscal Officer of the Year Award, and the National Diversity Council Glass Ceiling Award.