Five Women Faculty Members Who Are Taking on New Roles in Higher Education

Ching-Hsun Huang has been named head of the department of sustainable biomaterials in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She was a professor of forest economics and forest management at Northern Arizona University.

Dr. Huang is a graduate of Chinese Culture University in Taipei, Taiwan. She holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a Ph.D. in forest economics from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Varsha Castro Gusman has been appointed as director of the new physician’s assistant program at Xavier University in New Orleans. She will also serve as a clinical assistant professor of professional programs in the physician assistant department.

Gusman earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Xavier University and a master’s degree in the physician assistant program at Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge.

Francesca dePasquale has joined the violin teaching faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio. She has previously taught at Rutgers University in New Jersey, the Juilliard School in New York, and the Heifetz International Music Institute in Staunton, Virginia.

DePasquale is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the Colburn School in Los Angeles.

Penny Yee will be the next associate dean of faculty at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. She will assume her new duties on July 1. Dr. Yee, who holds the James L. Ferguson Chair in psychology at the college, served as associate dean of faculty from 2013 to 2018.

Professor Yee earned a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in human experimental psychology from the University of Oregon. Dr. Yee joined the Hamilton faculty in 1991.

Tracy V. Dunbar has been named chair of the department of agriculture at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She joined the department’s faculty in 1997 and teaches graduate courses in ecological economics and environmental policy analysis and undergraduate courses in farm management and agricultural finance, policy, and marketing.

Dr. Dunbar has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She earned a master’s degree in agricultural economics-agricultural production and marketing from Pennsylvania State University and a doctoral degree in resource development-community economic development from Michigan State University.

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

Jennifer Glowienka Named the First Woman President of Carroll College in Montana

“I have dedicated my professional career to this remarkable institution, which prepares ethical leaders who engage the world with purpose and hope,” said Dr. Glowienka. “I look forward to strengthening and expanding the ways Carroll fulfills its mission, serving learners across all stages of their educational journey.”

Susan Stuebner Elevated to President of Simpson College in Iowa

Dr. Stuebner has led Simpson College on an interim basis since July 28. She has nearly 30 years of professional experience, including service as president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire.

Shari Veil Appointed Provost at North Dakota State University

“It is a privilege to work with people who care so deeply about students, discovery, and the future of North Dakota,” said Dr. Veil. “With its strong academic profile and land-grant mission, NDSU is well positioned for meaningful impact, and I look forward to partnering with my fellow Bison to advance that work.”

Mary Ann Villarreal to Lead California State University, Dominguez Hills

“As one of the most diverse campuses in the CSU system, Dominguez Hills is a vital anchor institution for the community it serves,” said Dr. Villarreal. “A beacon of inclusivity, it inspires hope – both for the community and for higher education in California.”

Penny Elkins Named the First Woman President of Mercer University

A member of the Mercer University community for over 25 years, Dr. Elkins is slated to become the institution's first woman president on January 1. She has been serving as Mercer's interim provost.

Assistant Professor Tenure Track Position — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiovascular Institute

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the tenure track.

Assistant Professor of Political Science, Quantitative Methods

The Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Quantitative Methods. This position will begin on or after July 1, 2026.

Tenure Track Position in Macro-Organizational Behavior and Organizational Theory

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business seeks to fill a full-time, tenure-track assistant or associate professor position in the Organizations and Entrepreneurship Area, starting as early as Fall 2026. 

Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice and John Carter Brown Library Joint Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University and the John Carter Brown Library invite applications for a postdoctoral research associate position focused on any area/theme of historical scholarship around racial slavery, and/ or Indigenous dispossession and slavery.

Teaching Faculty Position in Information Systems and Technology Management (ISTM)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Business invites applications for a full-time, appointment-stream faculty position at the Clinical Assistant Professor level in our Information Systems and Technology Management area starting Fall 2026.