New Assignments for Five Women Faculty Members at Colleges and Universities

Debra Pile was appointed associate dean for nursing practice and chair for the School of Nursing at Wichita State University in Kansas. Dr. Pile is a native of Wichita. Before joining the university in 2008, she served in a variety of roles at Wesley Medical Center, including manager of the pediatric and pediatric intensive care units.

Dr. Pile’s clinical specialty is pediatrics with a focus on children’s asthma and pain management. She holds a master’s degree in nursing and a doctorate in nursing practice.

Deidre Pierson, an associate professor of physical education at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, was appointed associate athletic director at the college with responsibilities as senior woman administrator, NCAA athletics diversity and inclusions designee, and director of compliance.

Pierson is a graduate of Boise State University in Idaho. She holds a master’s degree from the Cortland campus of the State University of New York.

Colleen Clark is a new assistant professor of jazz studies at the University of South Carolina. She had been teaching at the City University of New York’s Borough Manhattan Community College.

Dr. Clark is a graduate of Ithaca College in New York. She holds a master’s degree in jazz studies from Purchase College of the State University of New York System. In 2019, Clark became the first woman — and the first drummer — to earn a doctorate in jazz performance from the University of North Texas.

Cynthia Breazeal, professor of media arts and sciences and head of the personal robots group at the MIT Media Lab, was appointed senior associate dean of MIT Open Learning. In this new role, Professor Breazeal will focus on different aspects of developing and delivering courses, programs, training, and learning resources to professionals.

Dr. Breazeal received her doctorate in 2000 in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT. She is the author of Designing Sociable Robots (MIT Press, 2002).

Pamela Pike, the Herndon Spillman Professor of Piano Pedagogy in the School of Music at Louisiana State University, is the new associate dean of research, creative practice, and community engagement.

Dr. Pike earned a bachelor’s degree in music with honors in piano performance from the University of Western Ontario. She holds a master’s degree in piano pedagogy and music history from Southern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in music education and piano pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma.