1989 Ph.D. (Sociology), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
1986 M.A. (Sociology) University of Michigan.
1976 M.A. (Religion - Counseling) Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI.
1974 B.Th. (Honors) Caribbean Union College, Trinidad.

Dr. Leon C. Wilson recently served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, a position he also held at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama and the University of the Southern Caribbean in Trinidad. He received his MA (1986) and PhD (1989) in Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, majoring in Social Psychology, with a minor in Social Organization with significant advanced training in Statistics.  He also holds a MA (1976) in Religion and Counseling from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI and a Bachelor of Theology (1974) from Caribbean Union College (now University of the Southern Caribbean), Trinidad. 

Before moving to East Carolina University as Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology (2009-2011), Dr. Wilson spent almost twenty years at Wayne State University in ranks of Assistant Professor to Professor, and Department Chair for seven years.  He went to Alabama State University as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and in January of 2013 assumed responsibilities as Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Additionally, he was asked and served as Interim President of Alabama State University for almost a year.  His administrative experience spans more than two decades with numerous successes and accomplishments.

Dr. Wilson has taught courses in Introductory and Advanced Statistical Applications for almost twenty five years, along with other special topics in Social Psychology, African American Families, Family Theory, and Applied Sociology.  He is especially proud of his academic mentoring history and has to his credit over 90 PhD and MA committee memberships (40 chaired). He is the recipient of both teaching and mentoring excellence awards at Wayne State University, Distinguished Administrative Academic Leadership Recognition at East Carolina University. 

His main research applies statistical models to understand the relationship of structural, interactional and socio-economic factors to social psychological, health and mental health outcomes in families and individuals.  His many publications, which reflect these interests, appear in the nationally recognized and leading international journals.  Over the years, Dr. Wilson has received over $1.8 million to support his research and writing. Dr. Wilson has conducted some of the largest survey research projects on families and adolescents in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.  The most recent are Health and Well-Being of Adolescents in Guyana (2012); Media Habits of Adolescents in Guyana (2007-08); and Youth Trends (2009) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Wilson regularly organizes panels on Caribbean families and presents at national, regional and international conferences. He has delivered papers at Conferences in South America, Africa, France, England, several Caribbean Islands, and several places in these United States. During his career, Dr. Wilson received several awards for departmental leadership and civic involvement, including the Spirit of Detroit Award by the Detroit City Council; several international speaking invitations; and service appointment on the University of Southern Caribbean Board for almost a decade.

Dr. Wilson has three children. His youngest daughter attained a PhD in Speech Pathology from Howard University; his son received a PhD Computer Science (majoring in Cyber Security) from Johns Hopkins University; and his other daughter has an MBA in Health Administration and is Executive Director of a health care facility in MD.

 Dr. Wilson is a committed Christian and has served churches in Guyana and here in the USA as Pastor and Administrator. He enjoys cricket and table tennis.