Three Universities Announce the Appointments of Women to Dean Positions

Deidré Keller will be the next dean of the Florida A&M University College of Law in Orlando. She has been serving as a professor and associate dean of the Claude W. Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University in Ada. Professor Keller joined Ohio Northern University in 2010 as an assistant professor of law. She was promoted to full professor with tenure in 2016. Professor Keller will begin her new job in July.

A native of Georgetown, Guyana, Professor Keller grew up in the Bronx, New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and sociology from Yale University and a juris doctor with honors from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta.

Martha Banz was appointed as dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Banz has been serving as interim dean of the college while also serving as associate provost for continuing education. Dr. Banz came to the University of Oklahoma in 2010 after serving in director, dean, and vice provost roles at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Dean Banz is a graduate of Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma, where she majored in psychology. She holds a Ph.D. in quantitative psychology from the University of Oklahoma.

Michele Marcolongo was appointed the Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, effective July 31. A faculty member in the College of Engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia for more than 20 years, Dr. Marcolongo has served as associate vice provost for research, senior associate vice provost for translational research, and associate dean for intellectual property development.

Dr. Marcolongo earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania.