Five Women Who Have Been Appointed to Dean Positions at Major Universities

Stacy Reeder was appointed dean of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Reeder has served as a faculty member and administrator in the College of Education for the past 16 years. She has led the college as its interim dean since February 2020.

Dr. Reeder earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics from Oklahoma Baptist University. She holds a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Ph.D. in instructional leadership and academic curriculum with a concentration in mathematics education from the University of Oklahoma.

Linda Plank, who has served since last summer as interim dean of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University in Dallas, has been selected to serve as dean on a permanent basis. Before her service as interim dean, Dr. Plank was a clinical associate professor and senior associate dean of academic affairs at the nursing school.

Dr. Plank earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Baylor University. She holds a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Amy Schweinle has been named dean of the School of Education at the University of South Dakota. A member of the faculty since 2003, she was associate dean of research and graduate studies before being named interim dean in 2019.

Dr. Schweinle earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in experimental psychology, both from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Joanna Grabski will be the next dean for the College of Integrative Science and Arts at Arizona State University. She has been serving as director of the School of Art at Arizona State. She is the author of Art World City: The Creative Economy of Artists and Urban Life in Dakar (Indiana University Press, 2017).

Dr. Grabski holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in art history and African studies, all from Indiana University.

Sonia Altizer has been appointed interim dean of the College of Ecology at the University of Georgia, effective July 1. Dr. Altizer is the Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Ecology and is currently the Odum School’s associate dean for research and operations. From 2012 to 2017, she served as the Odum School’s associate dean of academic affairs.

Professor Altizer is a graduate of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.

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

Anne Carson Wins the Nobel Prize in Literature

Dr. Carson is known for her work in poetry, fiction, and translation. She has taught at several educational institutions throughout Canada and the United States.

Kimberly T. Kostelis Selected to Lead Central Connecticut State University

Dr. Kostelis, the new interim president of Central Connecticut State University, has been with the university for more than two decades. For the past five years, she has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs.

California State University Dominguez Hills Extends Interim President’s Contract

Mary Ann Villarreal took the helm of CSU Dominguez Hills on January 1, 2026. She will continue to serve as the university's interim president through the 2028–2029 academic year.

Six Women With Academic Ties Named MacArthur Fellows

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently announced the 20 latest recipients in its fellowship program, commonly referred to as “genius grants.” Six of the awardees are American women with ties to the academic world.

Report Ranks the United States 47th Among World Nations in Gender Equality

Along with 31 other economies, the U.S. has reached 100 percent gender parity in educational attainment. But gender gaps in the U.S. persist in economic opportunity, health and survival, and political empowerment, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum.

Assistant Professor, Jazz

The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the area of Jazz.

Associate Professor, Piano Pedagogy

The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the area of Piano Pedagogy.

Future Faculty in the Physical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship

We seek to attract a diverse cohort of early career scientists who will conduct research in physics, broadly defined, including astrophysics, biophysics, geophysics, and planetary physics, independently or in collaboration with Princeton faculty, postdoctoral researchers and students.

Director of the School of Dance

The College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah invites nominations and applications for a visionary leader to serve as the next Director of its School of Dance.

Assistant Professor of Teaching in Neuroscience in the UCLA Department of Psychology and Undergraduate Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program

The UCLA Department of Psychology and the UCLA Undergraduate Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program invite applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Teaching who will develop and teach courses in Behavioral, Cellular, and Molecular Neuroscience.