Three Women Who Have Been Appointed to Provost Positions

Abby Parill-Baker was named provost at the University of Memphis. Dr. Parill-Baker has been with the university since 1998 and currently serves as its dean for the College of Arts and Sciences as well as a professor in the chemistry department. She will begin her new duties on July 1.

Professor Parill-Baker is a graduate of Central Michigan University. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Arizona.

Laurie K. McCauley has been selected as the next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan. She has served as dean of the School of Dentistry since 2013. Dr. McCauley is the William K. and Mary Anne Najjar Professor of Periodontics with an additional appointment as a professor of pathology in the university’s medical school. She joined the faculty at the university in 1992.

Professor Mccauley holds a bachelor’s degree in education, a doctor of dental surgery degree, a master’s degree in dentistry, and a Ph.D. in veterinary pathobiology, all from Ohio State University.

Melanie Stein was appointed provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ithaca College in New York. She has been serving as interim provost since August 2021. Prior to taking on that position, Dr. Stein served as dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, from July 2019 to August 2021. Earlier, she was dean of academic affairs and professor of mathematics at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

A native of Ithaca, New York, Dr. Stein holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in mathematics from Cornell University.