Four Women Academics Announce Their Retirements

Beverly Sparks has retired from her post as director of University of Georgia Extension. She served in the post for seven years and was the first woman director. Before joining UGA Extension in 1989, Dr. Sparks was an extension entomologist at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Sparks was a graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and a master’s degree in entomology at the University of Georgia. Dr. Sparks holds a Ph.D. in entomology from Louisiana State University.

Breda Bova is stepping down as associate dean in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico. For 16 years, she was the university’s faculty representative for the Mountain West Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association and was responsible for verifying the eligibility of student athletes.

Dr. Bova is a graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkhill, New York. She earned a master’s degree in educational research at the University of Dayton in Ohio and a doctorate in adult education from the University of New Mexico.

Karen Cottrell is retiring as executive vice president of the College of William and Mary Alumni Association. She has led the alumni association since 2005. Dr. Cottrell will stay on at the university in a part-time role helping alumni navigate the admissions processes for their children or grandchildren.

Dr. Cottrell holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and an educational doctorate, all from the College of William and Mary.

Lynn Landmesser has retired as chair of the department of neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She has led the department for 15 years. An expert on spinal motor circuits, Dr. Landmesser is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She will stay on at the university in her post as the Arline H. and Curtis E. Garvin Professor of Medicine.

Dr. Landmesser has been on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University since 1993. Previously, she taught at Yale University and the University of Connecticut.