New Women Deans at Five Colleges and Universities

Weiping Wu was appointed interim dean of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University in New York City, effective January 1, 2022. She is a professor of urban planning and director of the master’s degree and Ph.D. programs in urban planning at the university. Professor Wu joined the Columbia University faculty in 2016, after serving as professor and chair in the department of urban and environmental policy and planning at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

Dr. Wu earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tsinghua University in China. She holds a Ph.D. in urban planning and policy development from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Jennifer Faison Kelly is the new dean of the School of Education at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She is the first African American to hold the position. Dr. Kelly is a tenured professor of education and has served on the faculty at Capital University since 1999.

Professor Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. She earned a master’s degree in adapted physical education and a Ph.D. in sport and exercise education from Ohio State University.

Lisa Macklin will serve as interim dean and university librarian at Emory Univerity in Atlanta. She has been serving as associate dean of research, engagement, and scholarly communications for the library system at the university.

Macklin holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master of library and information science degree from the University of South Florida. She holds a master’s degree in English from Texas Woman’s University and a juris doctorate from Georgia State University.

Johannah Williams has been hired as the dean of the STEM Division at Nashville State Community College in Tennessee. Most recently, Dr. Williams held the position of associate vice president of STEM and Workforce Programs for Phi Theta Kappa, the nation’s largest honor society for community college students. She is the former chair of the chemistry, physics, and computer science department at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi.

Dr. Williams received a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in Spanish from the University of Mississippi. She holds a master’s degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University and a master’s degree in computer and information science from Alcorn State University in Mississippi. Dr. Williams. earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Susan Murin has been appointed interim dean for the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Murin most recently served as vice dean for clinical affairs, executive director of the UC Davis Medical Group, and associate clinical strategy officer.

Dr. Murin received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She earned her medical degree at New York University School of Medicine. She subsequently received a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health and an MBA from the University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management.