Five Universities Have Appointed Women to Dean Positions

Rae Matsumoto was appointed dean of its Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Dr. Matsumotohas served as dean of the Touro University California College of Pharmacy in Vallejo, California, since 2014. Earlier, she was the associate dean for research and graduate programs in the School of Pharmacy at West Virginia University.

Dr. Matsumoto is a graduate of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she double majored in psychology and biology. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Desha L. Williams has been named dean of the College of Education and Social Work at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She will begin her new duties on July 1. Since 2018, Dr. Williams has been serving as a professor of mathematics education and chair of the department of teacher education at Georgia College and State University. Earlier, she taught at Kennesaw State University in Georgia for 11 years.

Professor Williams is a graduate of Morris Brown College in Atlanta. She earned a master’s degree in mathematics education and a Ph.D. in teaching and learning from Georgia State University.

Allison Vorderstrasse will be the next dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She will take office on July 1. Dr. Vorderstrasse currently serves as a faculty member and director of the Florence S. Downs Ph.D. Program in Nursing Research and Theory Development at New York University.

Dr. Vorderstrasse received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in nursing from Yale University.

Heather R. Parker was appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Florida. Dr. Parker has served in the role on an interim basis since November 2018. Earlier, she served as associate dean. Dr. Parker joined the Saint Leo faculty in August 2006 as an assistant professor of history and advanced through the teaching ranks to a full professorship.

Dr. Parker earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in history, all from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Winona State University in Minnesota has appointed Marianne Collins as interim dean of the College of Business. Before her appointment, Dean Collins has been a professor in the university’s marketing department for 11 years, serving as chair since 2017.

Collins is a graduate of Colorado State University and holds a master of public affairs degree from Harvard University.

Related Articles

Latest News

Data Shows High Attrition Rates for Women in STEM Degree Programs

For women who began their four-year college career in a STEM discipline, 14 percent dropped out of college and 32 percent switched to a non-STEM major before earning their degree.

Monique Guillory Named Ninth President of Dillard University

Dr. Guillory has served as Dillard University's interim president for the past seven months. Her background includes over three decades of higher education administration experience.

Lynne Coy-Organ Is the First Woman President of Husson University

Lynne Coy-Organ has been named the first woman president of Husson University in Maine. She has served as the university's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the past 15 years.

Donna Hedgepath Will Be the First Woman President of Wayland Baptist University

Current provost of Campbellsville University in Kentucky, Donna Hedgepath, has been named president of Wayland Baptist University in Texas, making her the first woman to be selected for the position.

Three Women Scholars Appointed to Provost Positions

The new provosts are Elizabeth Dumont at the University of California, Merced, Marguerite Giguette at Xavier University in New Orleans, and Margaret Brown Marsden at Midwestern State University in Texas.

MOSDOH – Dean of the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health

The dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer for MOSDOH, leading a mission-driven dental school known for innovation, community partnerships, and service to the underserved.

Vice President for Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer

The successful candidate will have a strong financial and administrative background and demonstrated ability to excel in a fast-paced, dynamic and complex community college that values integrity, excellence, empowerment, inclusiveness, collaboration and stewardship.

Instructional Professor in Law, Letters, and Society (Open Rank)

The Social Sciences Collegiate Division at the University of Chicago is now accepting applications for a full-time Instructional Professor who will teach in the program in Law, Letters, and Society.

Instructor, Economics

The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics at the University of Chicago invites applications for tenure-track faculty positions in Economics at the Instructor position level to begin in the 2025-26 academic year and is renewable for up to three years.

Vice Chancellor for Student Success

The Vice Chancellor for Student Success will be a strategic, student-centered, data-informed, systems thinker who thrives in a fast paced, high-achieving environment.