Four Women Academics Announce Their Retirements

BSparksBeverly 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 BovaBreda 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_cottrellKaren 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.

landmesserLynn 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.

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

Anne Carson Wins the Nobel Prize in Literature

Dr. Carson is known for her work in poetry, fiction, and translation. She has taught at several educational institutions throughout Canada and the United States.

Kimberly T. Kostelis Selected to Lead Central Connecticut State University

Dr. Kostelis, the new interim president of Central Connecticut State University, has been with the university for more than two decades. For the past five years, she has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs.

California State University Dominguez Hills Extends Interim President’s Contract

Mary Ann Villarreal took the helm of CSU Dominguez Hills on January 1, 2026. She will continue to serve as the university's interim president through the 2028–2029 academic year.

Six Women With Academic Ties Named MacArthur Fellows

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently announced the 20 latest recipients in its fellowship program, commonly referred to as “genius grants.” Six of the awardees are American women with ties to the academic world.

Report Ranks the United States 47th Among World Nations in Gender Equality

Along with 31 other economies, the U.S. has reached 100 percent gender parity in educational attainment. But gender gaps in the U.S. persist in economic opportunity, health and survival, and political empowerment, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum.

Assistant Professor, Jazz

The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the area of Jazz.

Associate Professor, Piano Pedagogy

The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the area of Piano Pedagogy.

Future Faculty in the Physical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship

We seek to attract a diverse cohort of early career scientists who will conduct research in physics, broadly defined, including astrophysics, biophysics, geophysics, and planetary physics, independently or in collaboration with Princeton faculty, postdoctoral researchers and students.

Director of the School of Dance

The College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah invites nominations and applications for a visionary leader to serve as the next Director of its School of Dance.

Assistant Professor of Teaching in Neuroscience in the UCLA Department of Psychology and Undergraduate Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program

The UCLA Department of Psychology and the UCLA Undergraduate Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program invite applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Teaching who will develop and teach courses in Behavioral, Cellular, and Molecular Neuroscience.