A Host of New Appointments of Women to Top Posts in Higher Education

Barbara Landau was named vice provost for faculty affairs at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She has been serving as the Dick and Lydia Todd Professor and chair of the department of cognitive science at the university.

Dr. Landau holds a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a master’s degree from Rutgers University.

Johnette McCrery was appointed interim vice chancellor of university development at Louisiana State University, Shreveport. She was the publisher of SB Magazine.

Dr. McCrery is a graduate of the University of Texas. She holds a master’s degree from Louisiana State University, Shreveport and a Ph.D. in mass communications from the University of Maryland.

Virginia Rentko was named medical director of the Foster Hospital for Small Animals and the Hospital for Large Animals at the Grafton campus of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Rentko is a graduate of Boston University. She holds a master’s degree in zoology from Ohio State University and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Pennsylvania.

Sonya Malunda was promoted to senior associate vice president for community engagement at the University of Chicago. She has served as an administrator at the university since 1998.

Jennifer Frum was appointed interim vice president for public service and outreach at the University of Georgia. She has been serving as interim director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the university.

Dr. Frum is a graduate of West Virginia University. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from George Washington University and a doctorate from the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia.

Ro Di Brezzo, University Professor of kinesiology and director of the Human Performance Lab in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, was named interim vice provost for academic affairs at the university. She will continue to teach in addition to her new administrative duties. She previously taught at Central Michigan University and Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

Dr. Di Brezzo is a graduate of Brooklyn College. She holds a master’s degree from Indiana University and a doctorate from Texas Woman’s University.

Asya Besova Cooley is the new assistant director of annual giving at the Mississippi State University Foundation. She was a research associate at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Cooley, a native of Russia, is a graduate of Alcorn State University in Mississippi. She earned a master’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University.

Jana Doggett was promoted to executive associate athletics director at Utah State University. For the past five years, she has served as senior associate athletics director for external operations at Utah State.

Doggett is a graduate of San Diego State University.

Tomalei Vess was appointed director of the newly created Office of Undergraduate Research at Virginia Tech. She was associate director for education, training, and academic development at the Institute for Genome Sciences and policy at Duke University.

Dr. Vess is a graduate of James Madison University and holds a Ph.D. in biology from Duke University.

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

Latest News

Jennifer Glowienka Named the First Woman President of Carroll College in Montana

“I have dedicated my professional career to this remarkable institution, which prepares ethical leaders who engage the world with purpose and hope,” said Dr. Glowienka. “I look forward to strengthening and expanding the ways Carroll fulfills its mission, serving learners across all stages of their educational journey.”

Susan Stuebner Elevated to President of Simpson College in Iowa

Dr. Stuebner has led Simpson College on an interim basis since July 28. She has nearly 30 years of professional experience, including service as president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire.

Shari Veil Appointed Provost at North Dakota State University

“It is a privilege to work with people who care so deeply about students, discovery, and the future of North Dakota,” said Dr. Veil. “With its strong academic profile and land-grant mission, NDSU is well positioned for meaningful impact, and I look forward to partnering with my fellow Bison to advance that work.”

Mary Ann Villarreal to Lead California State University, Dominguez Hills

“As one of the most diverse campuses in the CSU system, Dominguez Hills is a vital anchor institution for the community it serves,” said Dr. Villarreal. “A beacon of inclusivity, it inspires hope – both for the community and for higher education in California.”

Penny Elkins Named the First Woman President of Mercer University

A member of the Mercer University community for over 25 years, Dr. Elkins is slated to become the institution's first woman president on January 1. She has been serving as Mercer's interim provost.

Assistant Professor Tenure Track Position — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiovascular Institute

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the tenure track.

Assistant Professor of Political Science, Quantitative Methods

The Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Quantitative Methods. This position will begin on or after July 1, 2026.

Tenure Track Position in Macro-Organizational Behavior and Organizational Theory

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business seeks to fill a full-time, tenure-track assistant or associate professor position in the Organizations and Entrepreneurship Area, starting as early as Fall 2026. 

Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice and John Carter Brown Library Joint Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University and the John Carter Brown Library invite applications for a postdoctoral research associate position focused on any area/theme of historical scholarship around racial slavery, and/ or Indigenous dispossession and slavery.

Teaching Faculty Position in Information Systems and Technology Management (ISTM)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business invites applications for a full-time, appointment-stream faculty position at the Clinical Assistant Professor level in our Information Systems and Technology Management area starting Fall 2026.