South Dakota State University in Brookings has announced a field of four candidates who are finalists for the presidency of the educational institution. All four candidates have visited the campus this week for interviews and public forums. One of the four finalists is a woman.
Zulma R. Toro is executive vice chancellor and provost at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She has held this post since 2013. Previously, Dr. Toro was dean of the College of Engineering at Wichita State University in Kansas. Earlier, she was dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of New Haven in Connecticut and chancellor of the Mayaguez campus of the University of Puerto Rico.
Dr. Toto is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, where she majored in industrial engineering. She holds a master’s degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.
Update: Barry Dunn, the endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, director of SDSU Extension, and professor of animal science at South Dakota State University was selected as the next president of the university.
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.
The new presidents are Laurie A. Boeding at the Technical College of the Lowcountry and Melissa Frank-Alston at Northeastern Technical College. Both women are expected to begin their presidencies on July 1.
Dr. McEwen comes to her new appointment following four years as president and vice chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Earlier, she served in several leadership roles at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She received some of her education in the United States.
The new provosts are Barbara Rodriguez at the University of New Mexico, Bridget Chalk at Manhattan University in New York, and Jaci Lederman at Vincennes University in Indiana. All three women had been serving as their university's interim provost.
Dr. Howard joins Spelman from Ohio State University, where she has been serving as dean of the College of Engineering. She is a nationally recognized expert in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-centered technology.