She was the first African American woman president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

[1] She was raised in Stop Six, Fort Worth, Texas where her family attended Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.

[2][3] She earned a master's degree in student personnel services from Texas Christian University.

[2][3] Powell was a tenured professor and the vice president for student affairs at Western Michigan University.

[2] She joined Temple University in 2002 as its vice president for student affairs.