Eight Women Appointed to Positions as Dean

Helen Easterling Williams was appointed dean of the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, effective August 1. She has been serving as president of Health Education & Welfare International. Earlier, she was dean of the School of Education and professor of doctoral studies at Azusa Pacific University in California. From 1997 to 2006, Dr. Williams held several leadership posts at the University of Delaware.

Dr. Williams is a graduate of Jersey City State College in New Jersey. She earned a master’s degree in speech and language pathology at Towson University in Maryland and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Delaware.

Michelle L. Janssen was named dean for college advancement at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. She has been serving as vice president of alumni and college relations at Berea College in Kentucky. She is the former executive director of development at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

Janssen is a graduate of Valparaiso University, where she majored in speech communication and public relations.

Linda Schadler was appointed dean for undergraduate education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. When she takes office on October 13, she also will also hold the title of vice provost. Dr. Schadler has been on the faculty at RPI since 1996 and was promoted to full professor in 2003.

Professor Schadler is a graduate of Cornell University where she majored in materials science and engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Sirena Cantrell is the new dean of students at the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. She has served as interim dean of students since September 2013 and previously was the director of housing and residence life. Earlier in her career, she held several administrative posts at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Cantrell is a graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree in counselor education and is completing work on a doctorate in counselor education at Mississippi State University.

Tracey Matthews was named dean of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Springfield College in Massachusetts. Dr. Matthews has been on the faculty at the college since 2002 and served for six years as chair of the department of exercise science and sports studies.

Dr. Matthews holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in physical education from Springfield College. She is the co-author of the textbook Designing and Conducting Research in Health and Human Performance (Jossey-Bass, 2011).

Robin Groce was named interim dean of the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. She is an associate professor of curriculum and instruction and since 2011 has been serving as assistant dean of field experiences. Dr. Groce has been on the university’s faculty since 2004. She will serve as dean for the 2014-15 academic year.

Dr. Groce holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, all from Texas A&M University.

Cyndi Banks was appointed interim dean of University College at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. She has been serving as associate vice provost and associate dean of University College.

Dr. Banks holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She earned a Ph.D. in criminology from the University of Cambridge in England.

Inge-Lise Ameer was named interim Dean of the College at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. She has been serving as senior associate dean and has led the Student Academic Support Services and Campus Life units of the Dean of the College division.

Before joining the staff at Dartmouth College, Ameer was an assistant dean at Harvard University