Universities Announce the Appointments of Three Women to Dean Positions

Leigh Small was appointed dean of the Michigan State University College of Nursing. Small has served as interim dean since November 2021, after coming to Michigan State in 2020 to serve as a professor and associate dean of academic affairs. Earlier, she spent nearly four years as associate dean of academic programs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Dr. Small earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1981 from Keuka College in New York. She holds master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Rochester.

Jennifer Friend has been named dean of the College of Applied Studies at Wichita State University in Kansas, effective January 9, 2023. Dr. Friend comes to Wichita State from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, where she is the associate provost for academic affairs and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Previously, she spent 12 years at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she was associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Dr. Friend holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in urban leadership and policy studies in education, and curriculum and instructional leadership from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Holly Taylor is the new dean of student life and leadership at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. She was the assistant dean of students and director of the office of student conduct at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Earlier, she held similar roles in student affairs at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Taylor is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she majored in communication studies. She holds a master’s degree in college student affairs from the University of South Florida.