Three Women in New Faculty Positions

Jennifer Hamer was named professor of American studies at the University of Kansas. She has been serving as associate dean of graduate studies and is the former chair of the department of African American studies at the University of Illinois. Prior to her appointment at the University of Illinois, Dr. Hamer taught at Wayne State University, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She is the founding editor of Black Women, Gender, and Families.

Dr. Hamer is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio. She earned a master’s degree at Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Texas.

Jemima Pierre is a new assistant professor of African American and diaspora studies at Vanderbilt University. Since 2005 she has been serving as an assistant professor of African and African diaspora studies at the University of Texas. She previously taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Pierre is a graduate of Tulane University. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Texas.

Joan Rentsch was appointed professor of communication studies and director of the organizational research laboratory at the School of Communication Studies of the University of Tennessee. She was a professor of management at the university’s College of Business Administration.

Professor Rentsch is a graduate of Ohio State University, where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.