Colleges and Universities Announce the Appointment of Seven Women to Administrative Posts

Yakut Gazi has been appointed the inaugural vice provost for learning innovation and digital education at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, effective July 29. She has been serving as associate dean for learning systems for Georgia Institute of Technology Professional Education, the university’s lifelong education arm and global campus. Earlier, she led distance education initiatives at Texas A&M University’s Dwight Look College of Engineering.

Dr. Gazi earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry education and a master’s degree in educational sciences from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. She holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Texas A&M University.

Chanelle Reese has been named the next university ombudsperson at the University of Iowa. Reese has been serving as associate ombudsperson at the University of California, Merced.

Reese earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She holds a master of science degree in negotiation and conflict management from the University of Baltimore.

Jaclyn Rossi is the new vice president of institutional advancement at Niagara University in New York. She has served in the role on an interim basis since last September. Earlier, Rossi served as Niagara’s director of alumni relations.

Rossi holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary special education and a master’s degree in literacy instruction from Niagara University.

Reneé Watson will be the next vice president of student affairs at Central Michigan University, effective August 1. Since 2018, Dr. Watson has served as associate vice president for student life for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Earlier, she was associate dean of students at Illinois State University.

Dr. Watson is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where she majored in African and African American studies. She holds a master’s degree in adult and higher education administration from the University of Missouri at St. Louis and a doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Kentucky University.

Julie Payne-Kirchmeier will be the inaugural vice president for student success at Indiana University, Bloomington, effective August 1. She has been serving as vice president for student affairs at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Before joining Northwestern University in 2012, Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier was the assistant provost for the University College at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University-College Station. She holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership, administrations and foundations from Indiana State University.

Mary Duvall was appointed vice president of development for Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She was associate vice president for advancement at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She joined the staff there in 2015.

Duvall is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Romy Riddick has been promoted to vice president for human resources at Princeton University in New Jersey. She has been serving as assistant vice president of the Client Services Team in the Office of Human Resources, which has responsibility for the areas of employee relations, talent management, labor relations and contract negotiation, learning and development, and diversity and inclusion.

Riddick has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland.