Eleven Universities Announce the Appointment of Women to Dean Positions

Lepaine Sharp-McHenry has been named dean of the College of Natural, Behavioral, and Health Sciences at Simmons University in Boston. She currently serves as dean of the College of Nursing at Oklahoma Baptist University.

Dr. Sharp-McHenry holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in nursing practice and executive leadership from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.

Jennifer D. Greer has been named dean of the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky. Currently, Dr. Greer serves as a tenured professor and associate provost at the University of Alabama.

Dr. Greer is a graduate of the University of Missouri where she earned two bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. in mass communication/media studies from the University of Florida.

Sian Mooney has been named dean of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. She currently serves as the associate dean for interdisciplinary programs and initiatives in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, and as a professor in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University.

Dr. Mooney is an honors graduate of the University College of Wales-Aberystwyth where she majored in agricultural economics. She holds a master’s degree in agricultural economics and farm management from the University of Manitoba in Canada and a Ph.D. in agricultural and resource economics from Oregon State University.

Bonnie Rush has been named dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. She is a professor of equine internal medicine and has been serving as the college’s interim dean since 2017.

Dr. Rush holds a master’s degree and doctor of veterinary medicine degree both from Ohio State University.

Elizabeth Skomp has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. She currently serves as a professor of Russian and as the associate dean for faculty development and inclusion at the University of the South in Tennessee.

Dr. Stomp is a graduate of Indiana University. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of London.

Kimberly Lawless has been named dean of the College of Education at Pennsylvania State University. She currently serves as associate dean for research in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Lawless is a graduate of Boston College where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. both in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut.

Andra Basu has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. She most recently served as dean of humanities and social sciences at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Basu is a graduate of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. She holds a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in social personality psychology from the City University of New York.

Coleen Pugh has been named dean of the Graduate School and associate vice president for research and technology transfer at Wichita State University in Kansas. She currently serves as a professor of polymer science at the University of Akron in Ohio.

Dr. Pugh is graduate of the University of California, Davis where she earned a bachelor’s degree in textile science and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in macromolecular science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Adrea Lawrence has been named dean of the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education at the University of Montana. She has been serving as interim dean at the college for the past 17 months.

Dr. Lawrence holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies and a master’s degree in secondary social studies instruction and curriculum both from the University of Colorado. She holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from Indiana University.

Deborah Rifenbary has been named interim dean of the College of Education at the University of New Mexico. She has been a faculty member at the university since 1990, most recently serving as associate dean for academic affairs and faculty development.

Dr. Rifenbary is a graduate of Rosemont College in Pennsylvania, where she majored in English. She holds a master’s degree in the art of teaching in English from Fairleigh-Dickinson University in New Jersey, a master of education degree in counseling and human development from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and an educational doctorate in counseling from the University of Virginia.

Zoe Woodell Locklear has been named interim dean of the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She recently retired from the university in 2017. She was provost and a professor of teaching special and birth-kindergarten education.

Dr. Locklear is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She holds a master’s degree and doctorate in special education both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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

Tawny Dotson Named the First Woman President of Mt. San Jacinto College

Dr. Dotson spent six years as president of Yuba College in California. Earlier, she served eight years as a senior administrator with Clover Park Technical College in Washington.

Duke University’s Svati H. Shah to Lead the American Heart Association

Dr. Shah is the Ursula Geller Distinguished Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases and associate dean for translational research at the Duke University School of Medicine. She will serve as president-elect of the American Heart Association in 2026–2027, followed by a one-year term as president in 2027–2028.

Melissa Batten to Lead Horry-Georgetown Technical College in South Carolina

Dr. Batten will become interim president of Horry-Georgetown Technical College on August 1. She most recently served as the two-year college's vice president for student affairs.

Leamor Kahanov Appointed President of Notre Dame de Namur University

Dr. Kahanov became the twentieth president of Notre Dame de Namur University in California on July 1. She previously served as provost at Alvernia University in Pennsylvania, Stockton University in New Jersey, and SUNY Oneonta.

Jennie Sanders to Lead Academic Affairs at Purdue Global

Most recently, Dr. Sanders served as vice president of experiential product management and interim vice president of product and technology at Western Governors University.

Professor of Africana and Digital and Computational Studies

The Program in Africana at Bates College, in conjunction with the Program in Digital & Computational Studies, invites applications for an open rank tenure-line position in the data sciences that spans Africana Studies and Digital & Computational Studies, to begin in July 2027.

Assistant Professor of Biology (Two Tenure-Track Positions)

The Department of Biology at Haverford College invites applications for two tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in Biochemistry or Cell Biology, beginning July 1, 2027 (or possibility of July 1 2028 if preferred by the successful candidate).

Pediatric Gastrointestinal/Liver Pathologist – Assistant Professor – Clinician Educator Track (CHOP)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the non-tenure clinician educator track. Expertise is required in the specific area of gastrointestinal and liver pathology.

Pediatric Gastrointestinal/Liver Pathologist – Associate Professor – Clinician Educator Track (CHOP)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Associate Professor position in the non-tenure clinician educator track. Expertise is required in the specific area of gastrointestinal and liver pathology.

Pediatric Gastrointestinal/Liver Pathologist – Assistant Professor – Academic Clinician Track (CHOP)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the non-tenure academic clinician track. Expertise is required in the specific area of gastrointestinal and liver pathology.