A Trio of Women Appointed to Positions as Deans at Major Universities

Adrian Parr was named dean of the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington. She has been serving as a professor at the University of Cincinnati with a joint appointment in the department of political science and in the School of Architecture and Interior Design. She holds the UNESCO Chair on Water Access and Sustainability at the university.

Dr. Parr holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in politics and philosophy from Deakin University in Australia. She earned a Ph.D. in philosophy and cultural studies from Monash University in Australia.

Jelena Kovačević was appointed dean of the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University. When she takes office on August 15, Dr. Kovačević will become the first woman dean in the school’s 164-year history. Currently, Dr. Kovačević is the Hamerschlag University Professor and chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. She joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon in 2003.

Professor Kovačević is a graduate of the University of Belgrade in Serbia. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in New York City.

Roberta Olson will serve as interim dean of the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University, beginning on May 1. She is a professor emerita at the College of Nursing and previously served as dean from 1994 to 2013. She will serve as dean while a national search is conducted to find a permanent dean.

Dr. Olson is a graduate of South Dakota State University. She earned a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a doctorate from Saint Louis University.