Four Women Who Have Been Named Deans in Higher Education

Elizabeth A. Klonoff was named dean of the College of Graduate Studies at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She will also serve as vice president for research. She has been serving as co-director of the joint doctoral program in clinical psychology at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Klonoff’s research has been focused on tobacco control and regulation. She holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon.

Suzanne Sears was named dean of Libraries at Texas Woman’s University. She will oversee all libraries at the Denton, Dallas, and Houston campuses of the university. She was associate dean for public services for the University of North Texas libraries.

Sears is a graduate of the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, where she majored in computer science. She holds a master of library and information science degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Ne’Keisha Stepney was promoted to dean for business and career technologies at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois. She has been serving as assistant dean since 2013 and has been on the staff at the college for seven years.

Stepney holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.

Phyllis Paul was appointed dean of the College of Creative Arts and Communication at Youngstown State University in Ohio. She was associate dean of the School of Music and Dance at the University of Oregon.

Dr. Paul is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, where she majored in music. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in music from Florida State University.