Dr. Bennetta Cannon Horne is a seasoned higher education leader with more than two decades of experience advancing academic excellence, student success, and equity-centered institutional transformation. She currently serves as Assistant Dean for Admissions at the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM), where she leads mission-aligned admissions initiatives grounded in cultural competency, community engagement, accreditation compliance, and student support. A respected strategist and educator, Dr. Horne is recognized for her ability to build inclusive learning environments, strengthen institutional culture, and champion pathways for learners historically underrepresented in medicine.

A former Assistant Dean for Academic Excellence and Community Engagement at Tulane School of Medicine (TUSOM), Dr. Horne brings deep expertise in holistic review, bias mitigation, and mission-aligned applicant evaluation. Her leadership history extends across LCME, ACGME, and AAMC accreditation domains, where she has experience in confidential data reporting, continuous quality improvement, and alignment with national standards. She also remains an adjunct faculty member at TUSOM.

Dr. Horne’s career reflects progressive leadership across academic medicine and STEM education. Prior to her current role, she served as Director of Academic Excellence and Community Engagement, Manager of Multicultural Affairs at TUSOM. She also served as Program Manager for multiple federally funded research and training programs at Tulane and Xavier University of Louisiana. Her portfolio includes grant management, program development, student research coordination, and large-scale event and conference leadership. Across these roles, she has consistently advanced equity, belonging, and student achievement.

A scholar-practitioner, Dr. Horne earned her PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of New Orleans, where her dissertation examined the predictive ability of MCAT scores on the pre-clinical success of Black medical students—work that informs her ongoing commitment to equitable admissions and data-informed student support. She also holds an MS in Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology from LSU Health Sciences Center and a BS in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Dr. Horne is a sought-after speaker on bias in medicine, anti-racism, DEI leadership, and student success in academic medicine, with invited talks for the American Medical Women’s Association at TUSOM, University Medical Center New Orleans, and national conferences including NCORE and ABRCMS. Her service includes board roles with Phoenix Communities of NOLA, The 15 White Coats, and the Foundation for the New Orleans Charter Science & Math High School
Her contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Tulane University EDI Excellence Award, New Orleans CityBusiness Health Care Hero, and multiple TUSOM Owl Club Awards for student advocacy and institutional impact.

Dr. Horne’s leadership is defined by her unwavering commitment to equity, community partnership, and the success of learners across the medical education continuum. She continues to shape the future of academic medicine through strategic vision, compassionate leadership, and a deep belief in the transformative power of education.