Five Women Named to Dean Positions

Donna Wagner was appointed dean of the College of Health and Social Services at New Mexico State University. She has served in the post on an interim basis since August 2014. Dr. Wagner joined the college in 2011 as associate dean for academic affairs. Previously, she was a professor of gerontology and health science at Towson University in Maryland.

Dr. Wagner earned a Ph.D. in urban affairs at Portland State University.

Elizabeth Wentz was named dean of social sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. She is a professor and has been serving as director of the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at the university. She has been on the university’s faculty since 1997.

Dr. Wentz holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State University. She earned a Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University.

Rebecca Biron was appointed dean of the College at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. In this role, Professor Biron will oversee all aspects of undergraduate academic life. Dr. Biron is a professor of Spanish and comparative literature at the college and will continue to teach at least one course each year while serving as dean.

Professor Biron joined the Dartmouth College faculty in 2006. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and earned a Ph.D. at the University of Iowa.

Mitzi Vernon was named dean of the College of Design at the University of Kentucky. She has been serving as a professor of industrial design at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg.

Vernon is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she majored in interior design. She holds a master of architecture degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in product design engineering from Stanford University.

Mary K. Stamatakis was appointed interim dean of the School of Pharmacy at West Virginia University. Since 2007, she has been associate dean for academic affairs and educational innovation at the school. Dr. Stamatakis has been on the university’s faculty since 1993.

Dr. Stamatakis holds bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in pharmacy from Ohio State University.