Vishakha Desai was named professor of practice at the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University. When she comes to Columbia on January 1, she will also serve as special adviser for global affairs. Dr. Desai is the former president and CEO of the New York-based Asia Society. She has taught at Princeton University, Williams College, Boston University, the College of Charleston, and the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
Professor Desai is a graduate of Bombay University. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Michigan.
Nancy Grant Harrington will be the inaugural Douglas A. and Carole A. Boyd Professor in Communication at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Harrington is a professor of communication and associate dean for research in the College of Communication and Information at the university.
Professor Harrington earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Cincinnati and a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Kentucky.
Louise D. McCullough was promoted to full professor of neurology and neuroscience at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Professor McCullough holds bachelor’s, master’s, medical, and Ph.D. degrees, all from the University of Connecticut. She competed her internship and residency at Johns Hopkins University.
Jennifer Brandt was appointed an assistant professor of English and director of the women’s and gender studies program at High Point University in North Carolina.
Dr. Brandt is a graduate of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. She holds a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Rhode Island.
Dr. Soufleris, a three-time alumna of the State University of New York System, has more than 35 years of higher education experience spanning student affairs, enrollment management, retention, and student success initiatives.
Most recently, Dr. Van Vlerah served as vice president for student success and institutional strategy at Manchester University in Indiana. She is slated to become the fifteenth president of Notre Dame of Maryland University on July 6.
Dr. Egan comes to her new role as president of Bennington College from Connecticut College, where she has been serving as the Fuller-Maathai Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectionality Studies, dean of the faculty, and chief academic officer.
Dr. Pfluger has spent the past year as Bakersfield College's interim president. She previously served as vice chancellor of educational services and student success at the Kern Community College District.
Dr. Geneco comes to her new role from Tufts University in Massachusetts, where she has served as provost for the past four years. She is slated become the University at Buffalo's first woman president on August 10.